The fluorescent lights in the pharmacy are too bright and buzz distantly from the ceiling.
The offensive rod above the specialty chocolates is flickering with terrifying frequency, and I'm sure it's about to go out loudly and brightly, which will probably make me scream.
I grab the largest bag of milk Lindt chocolates and make quickly (yet hopefully casually) for the shampoo aisle.
They are out of my favourite blue razor cartridges, and I stand, staring, for a period of time trying to decide whether to buy the crappy "spa" ones with slimy soap attached.
My friend's voice in my head snarls, why shave your single legs anyway? Nobody's gonna see them.
Even if I wasn't single, though, my legs probably wouldn't be on display. She, however, is the sluttiest virgin I know.
I grab a package of plain disposable razors.
I start walking to the counter, looking down on the way, trying to see if they have that green-camomile lotion my mom found last month.
Then my shoulder hits a tall, unforgiving shoulder, and my basket goes flying. Right into the Tampax display on the corner, sending green and blue boxes everywhere.
I couldn't possibly blush harder.
His arms are around me, all long and lean, and he steadies me against him. I stare at his hands that have moved to my hips, and a black curl of ink on his wrist disappears beneath his gray cotton shirt.
I chance a peek up at him with a view of messy, nearly too-long gold hair and a crooked smile. It's the kind of smile that makes you go thermonuclear inside and feel as if kissing a stranger would be polite.
Oh, it's him. Adrian. From the park.
"Hi," he says. His eyes are smiling down at me, all blue and delectable. His eyelashes aren't overly long but curl delicately, looking like they can touch his eyebrows which are a couple shades darker than his pale hair.
"Hi," I say with brilliant eloquence. He lets me go, finally (or not finally, I don't know) and stoops to put my stuff back in the basket.
He glances up at me, curiously, and holds up one of the wayward Tampax boxed. "We're any of these yours?"
Yes, I could indeed blush harder. My face must be glowing. It feels even worse because he doesn't look embarrassed in the slightest.
"Uh, no." He laughs at my expression, I think it's my expression, and stands fluidly with my red basket full of chocolate, shaving accoutrements and cleanser. Joy.
Then his face lights up in recognition.
"Hey, did I see you in the park yesterday?" He grins, joyously, at placing me. "Yeah, I did. You were on the swings, right?"
"I was. I'm Grace, uh, McCauley." I hold out my hand for the basket but he takes it in his and shakes it. He's got a musician's fingers and on the side of his index finger is a simple tattoo of an elephant.
Who gets a tattoo of an elephant on their finger?
"Adrian Walker." He shakes my hand eagerly.
Adrian, I guess.
"Nice to meet you, " I say with a smile because his grin is infectious. "Can I have my basket back?"
"Oh, sorry." He lets go of my hand and gives back my things. The boxes are still all over but I can't bring myself to kneel on the floor with him to pick them up.
"Aw, dude, why?" A deep, disappointed voice calls behind me. Adrian looks up and grins.
A boy almost as tall as he is walks down the aisle and stands beside me looking at the mess with disdain.
His skin is a dark almost shimmering bronze, and it contrasts nicely with his bright red uniform.
His name tag is a sticker with Uriah printed across it in bold, exact type.
"Sorry, Uri." He replies, shrugging. "What can I say, I'm a mess."
The boy, Uri, ignores me completely and orders Adrian to help him clean up.
"I'd run while you can," Adrian stage whispers to me. At the end of the aisle I turn back and he waves at me. "Bye, Gracie."
Uri is already throwing questions at him before I get to the cash register.
