Time Warp

Ch7-Killeen

She held onto me loosely as we walked. Many men and women said hello to me, sparing Fawn a simple glance in acknowledgment of her existence.

I already know I'm going to get bombarded with questions once word gets out about her.

The walk to the store wasn't long, but I could tell that Fawn thought it was by the way she practically dragged me to it once I directed us towards a specific shop.

Once we were inside, she promptly dropped my arm and walked away from me.

I kept my eyes on her, watching as she looked through the blouses. My arms rested behind my back, and I stayed off to the side, just making sure she didn't try to run.

"Lee baby!"

My eyes widened as my smile snapped to attention at the sound of the shop keepers voice. I shop here often...although usually, I'm shopping for myself.

Looking over, I spotted the plump middle aged woman, and she walked over to me with a big smile on her round face.

"Hello sweetie! You were just here the other day, what's got you hurtin for clothes, boy?" She asked me, putting her hands on her hips.

"Good morning, Miss Edith...I am actually not here for myself this time," I said, and her eyes widened slightly. My focus went to Fawn, and Edith looked over as well.

She then let out a gasp and put her hand over her mouth before turning to me with a bright smile on her face.

"Oh! You got yourself a little darlin! How cute, let me meet her!" She said, and before I could correct her, she hustled off to where poor Fawn was minding her own business sifting through the tops.

Quickly I followed, catching up with the short older woman just as she reached her destination.

"Hello dear!" She greeted Fawn, who jumped, and turned her now rounded eyes towards Edith. Then her gaze shifted to me and I could see the clear confusion in her eyes.

"Hi..." she greeted, and Edith motioned to me.

"Now what'd you do to get the attention of our Killeen? My, darlin, you must be a dime'a dozen...you're a looker for sure, sweetie, what's ya name?"

Fawn looked frozen as she blinked in response to those questions.

"Um...I'm Fawn," she said, and then looked at me with a slight scowl. I got the message and corrected Edith's assumption.

"Miss Edith, Fawn here isn't my gal," I said quickly, and Edith's expression faltered before her brows pulled together and she looked up at me.

"Whatcha mean?" She asked, and I rolled my shoulders back and stood up a bit straighter.

"She is not my partner...simply a good friend passing through, I've offered her my home for while she's here, and she needed a few items," I lied smoothly.

Edith pursed her lips, and huffed slightly.

She then took Fawn by her shoulders and spun her towards me, and her surprised eyes lifted up to meet mine.

A blush dusted her nose the moment our eyes met, and I just looked down at her apologetically.

"Killeen, you look at this pretty face...how are you gonna stand here an' tell me she ain't ya gal?" Edith scolded me, and I actually did take that moment to observe her features.

She had smooth, cool toned peachy skin...her eyes were green, bright like emeralds, and her lips—that were currently forming a pout—were full.

Her wispy eyelashes gave her eyes a very soft frame, and just like her hair they were thick, and tipped with blonde before getting darker at the roots.

"I never said she wasn't pretty, dear," I said softly, and then shifted my eyes to Edith, "I simply said she is not mine...that doesn't stop a gentleman from treating the lady, now does it?" I hummed, and Edith rolled her eyes.

Letting go of Fawn she smoothed out her dress and took her chin between her fingers, looking over her face. Fawn had her lips pursed and looked utterly uncomfortable.

After that brief observation, Edith looked to me and shook her head with a soft tsk. Then she walked away, waddling back to her post behind the register.

I let my shoulders relax slightly and Fawn turned to me.

"What just happened?" She asked me, and I chuckled slightly, tapping my foot.

"That was Miss Edith...she runs this store, and is very fond of expressing affection through touch," I explained, "I've known her for a long while now, I have been buying her clothing for 15 some odd years," I explained.

"How old are you?" Fawn asked suddenly, tilting her eyebrow at me.

"25," I answered, and then my eyes shifted to the clothes on her arm. Reaching forward, I took the stack and sifted through her choices.

Plain white, simple blouses.

"That's not too much is it...?" She asked timidly, "I can put some back, I just don't know how long I'm going to be here..." she said, her voice falling off slightly.

I gave a short, amused chuckled before I shook my head, "I was simply looking through your choices...but there's only tops here, don't you need bottoms?" I asked her.

She looked over towards where some skirts were displayed, and then shook her head, "do- do they have any pants I could try?" She asked.

I froze and then tilted my head.

Pants?

"Dear, it's not very...um...decent, for a woman to wear pants," I explained quietly, and her eyelids immediately lowered in what looked like annoyance.

"Please, educate me on how pants are indecent," she asked me before crossing her arms over her chest.

Thoughtlessly, I began to give my answer.

"Well, because of your..." my smile faltered and my words fell quiet when I realized what I was about to say.

She raised her eyebrows in challenge, "my...? Because of my what? Because of my ass?" She asked rather bluntly. I couldn't help the embarrassed blush that heated up my face.

"So, what, you're a pervert, too?" She asked me, alluding to me also being a murderer.

I pursed my lips and looked down at her, then sighed.

"If pants is what you prefer, cher, then be my guest...but don't complain when you get stared at or if another individual makes a comment about it," I said, then I put my hand on her shoulder, turning her towards the men's section.

"Over here," I hummed, leading her to it. Her body didn't tense up quite as much under my touch, so there was a bit of progress there.

When we reached the area that was housing the slacks, I started thumbing through the different sizes. Glancing at her, I clocked her height in at maybe 5'0-5'2...so she'll need some shorter hemmed pants.

She just stood next to me silently, keeping her eyes down.

Finally I found a pair that might fit her...I'm not sure how well they will fit her more womanly parts, but the length should be just fine.

So, handing them to her, I ushered her over to the changing area so she could see if they fit her. She followed my direction with no protest and I watched her walk away, sighing slightly.

Again I wondered if she could actually be telling the truth...about being from the future. I found her in clothing that was so unlike anything I'd ever seen before...and about the money?

Speaking about 2000 dollars as if it were nothing, and she didn't slip or hesitate once. Now this, being so defensive about wearing pants...when not one single woman I have ever met would even think of touching a pair of trousers.

It's just not...normal.

So, what, are you a pervert, too?

My cheeks heated up at the memory of that accusation. I most certainly am not a pervert, but a woman wearing pants is a no no...it's very scandalous.

Once again I was pulled to reality when the curtain separating her and I pulled back.

The moment my eyes landed on her form, they widened and my breath caught. Like I had feared, the pants hugged her thighs, accentuating them.

I know I shouldn't be looking, and I know it's quite rude of me, but how can I not. I've never seen a woman dressed like this, it's less of a s****l curiosity and more just...awe.

She walked out with not one single care in the world, looking as if she couldn't care less about what she's wearing.

I watched as she turned to a mirror and looked at herself, turning to look at her behind.

Which was also being hugged and accentuated by the pants.

She pursed her lips and turned to me, "what do you think? Do you think they look alright?" she asked me, and I quickly looked away from her legs.

Clearing my throat, I shrugged and nodded, "they look good dear...b-but are you sure you don't want anything a bit looser...?" I questioned her, to which she shook her head.

"These are already too loose..." she grumbled, and then sighed, "but they'll have to do..."

Too loose...? They were practically skin tight!

She disappeared back behind the curtain, re-emerging with the pants folded over her arm and her dress situated back to covering her legs.

I walked over and took the clothing item, looking it over in my hands.

I guess if this is what she's most comfortable wearing...

With a shrug and a sigh I just added it to the pile of clothes on my arm. Then she just stood in front of me, fidgeting.

"Are you finished...?" I asked her after a moment and she nodded.

A few blouses and some pants...I was expecting to spend a lot more money today.

"Ok..." I said and then made my way over to the register where Miss Edith was still standing, humming to herself.

"She find everything she needed, baby?" She asked me without looking up, and I hummed.

"Indeedy she did, it'll just be these and we'll be on our way," I answered as I sat the clothes down. Edith turned and froze.

Then she glanced at Fawn who was standing by my side before looking at me.

"Is...this all she wanted?" She asked, and I nodded.

So with a shrug, Edith looked over the price tags and added up my amount.

"That'll be five dollars, dear," she said to me after she'd gotten all of the clothes folded, wrapped and packed away.

I paid and tipped her, then once again Fawn and I set out into the bustle of the city.

Except, this time, I didn't even have to offer her my arm before she wrapped her fingers around it and held onto me.