Is it?

Ted thought quickly as the argument finally wound down. He knew he had heard the voice. But he couldn't just ask... it was too risky. What if it was all in his head? What if he was crazy? He'd be out on the street or worse.

"All this just because I asked if you need anything from the store," his mother finished in a huff, as Amber, having finally declared she didn't need anything, went off to brood in her room. "What about you, do you need anything?" she asked Ted.

"You're going to the store?"Ted thought for a minute. "Actually, could I come with you?"

"You have been cooped up in your room a lot lately," she replied. "I thought you had a lot of homework?"

"Oh, I'm all caught up on that," Ted replied truthfully. "It would be nice to get out."

"And you want to help me with the shopping?" she replied, looking perplexed. Ted nodded. "Well, alright I guess. Come on, then," she added, grabbing her purse and dropping her phone into it. "No complaining about how it is boring later."

Ted spent the ride to the store looking out the window, thinking about how to test things out without getting in trouble. He followed Amanda as she grabbed a cart, eyes on a swivel, taking in the woman around him. Then he had a moment of panic. What if he was just going crazy. What if he tried things out and they started screaming and calling for the police? He had to think of a safe way to test it. The pair of them wandered up and down the isles as he helped his mother get stuff off the shelves.

Ted noticed a teenager stocking shelves up ahead, her light brown hair in a pony-tail, clad in the store uniform. She was shoving cans onto shelves as she moved down the isle. She was kinda pretty, if a bit on the skinny side. Ted exaggeratedly made as if he was tripping, and one hand shot out, as if to catch himself, but landed squarely on one of her breasts instead of the shelf. As he did it, he thought about how stupid this was. There was no way anyone would buy his bad acting. There was no way this was real. He was going to get screamed at. His mom was right there. This was going to be so embarrassing. It was just a dream; it couldn't be real.

"Are you alright?" the girl asked, gripping his shoulders to help steady him, but making no move to remove his hand from her boob.

"Um, excuse me?" he said. "Sorry about that." Ted didn't take his hand off of her, hoping she wouldn't say anything, but afraid she would.

"Oh it's no problem," she replied. "Wouldn't want anyone to get hurt," she added, still making no move to remove his hand or reacting in any way to it. Ted gave her a light squeeze, feeling her bra and the firmness of her tit through her shirt. She actually pushed into his hand a bit, as if to give him a better feel, but otherwise didn't react. Ted pulled back in shock. "Ok? Great," she continued. "Well, I hope you find what you are looking for," she put in, turning back to the shelving.