A Love Like Durian

Untitled Part 1

The night I first met you it was dark and cold. The wind picked up frozen flakes casting them in a blinding sheet around me. I hesitated for a second in shock then decided to keep going. I didn't see the sheet of ice. It would be romantic to say that you caught me just in time, but instead I crashed down on my rear which gave me a purple bruise the size of a grapefruit plastered there for over a week.

I sat there stunned. A second later the breeze dissipated and the street was once again visible. I stood on my knees as I gathered my fruit, that had spilled all over, into the reusable grocery bag I was carrying. I heard a noise and looked up as I grabbed an orange. There you were leaning against the wall sipping at a cup with froth escaping the top.

It was dark, but I know you saw me. I couldn't believe you didn't offer to help me. Actually right about then I was wondering if the noise I had heard was you laughing at me. I was nearly certain of it. Annoyed I shoved the orange in my bag, heaved the bag over my shoulder, and regained my footing.

I had planned on glaring at you when I walked by, but as I got closer I saw no hint of humor in your face. You glanced at me our eyes catching for the first time. Your golden, sun-tanned skin looked almost out of place in this weather. Your black curly hair was thick and surrounded your head in a mass of confusion. I looked back into the most hardened dark eyes I've ever seen. I quickly realized that you were scowling at me quite fiercely.

I was confused for a second until I realized that I had stopped in the middle of the empty sidewalk to gawk at you. Then I notice the intense heat that had undoubtedly been there since I'd started looking at him.

Completely embarrassed I snapped my eyes away and started off again. I walk-jogged down the street and around the corner. I stopped and took a deep breath. A flash of your image returns as I remember your hair, eyes, lips, and jaw. I took one last second to enjoy your image before I casted it out of my mind. Incredibly cute boy... yes, but also one without manners!

* * * *

I specifically planned to get home before mom. The fact that she never even tried to understand my lifestyle makes things awkward between us. So I try not to be around her when we have a reason to talk about food. The only way she agreed to let me eat the way I wanted was for me to shop, cook, and pay for all of my food. It didn't really bother me since I am eighteen and need to start paying my way anyway.

I dropped the bag on the counter and put all of the fruit inside it on the wire shelves near the pantry, leaving one bunch of speckled bananas on the counter. Then I emptied the veggies into the bottom drawer of the fridge.

I pulled out the large airtight container that I put my scraps in for the neighbor's compost pile and place it on the counter. As I peeled the bananas I thought about how my transition had not been near as hard as it had been to deal with my family and friends not supporting my decision to go vegan. I didn't get how they could care less if I'd eat three pieces of chocolate cake for dinner, or Roman noodles and a coke for breakfast, but the second I decided to not to eat animal carcases, chicken periods, or cow boob juice and start eating fruit and veggies they suddenly cared and somehow found it unhealthy.

After peeling the bananas I put them in a large Ziploc bag and chucked them in the freezer. I gathered the peels and toss them in the container then put the container back in it's place under the counter.

Exhausted by the day I scrambled down the hall into my room and collapse on my bed. I reached for my laptop and opened up Netflix.

* * * *

My alarm went off at five o'clock am. I shut it off and made my way to the fridge. I pulled out a jar of fruit infused water and chugged it all, but the fruit. I pulled my hair into a ponytail as I made my way back to my room. I casted off my tank, preferring to work out in my sports bra.

I set my timer and went for a thirty minute run around my room since it's way to cold and icy to run outside. Afterwords I did fifty pushups, seventy pullups, and four minutes of squats, with a one minutes plank in between each exercise change. Once I finish my workout I showered and got dressed and ready for work. I packed a lunch of fruit and made a mango, strawberry, and almond milk smoothie.

It had been a familiar run I knew all to well. After traveling down this path for 2 years it had become second nature. I sipped the sweet smoothie as I walked. I found myself scanning the the wall outside the Starbucks when I turned onto the road I had seen you on the night before. Disappointed not to have seen you I continued down the street and into the health store seven doors down. Adrianna's Health & Foods was my first place of employment and thanks to the already low prices and my employee discount it was also my favorite place to shop.

“Morning!”Adrianna the store owner chimes as I enter the break room. I dump my bag and coat on the table. It still baffles me that she's so young and already owns a business.

Adrianna is a spoiled rich girl minus the attitude (most of the time). If it wasn't for the fact that she chose to open this place instead of a free four year trip to collage this place wouldn't exist. Luckily her dad also hired her a bookkeeper to actually run the business.

“Morning!” I sung. “So did it come in yet?”

Adrianna looked at me mischievously. “Maybe...”

I squealed and jogged back towards the walk-in freezer. The freezer was littered with boxes waiting to be placed away. I searched the pile and finally find it. I pull at it and the six boxes on top of it nearly fall to the floor. I rip open the box and pull out two large spiky masses. Durian! The most amazing fruit in the world! I carried them with me into the break room. “Add to my tab!” I plop them down next to my lunch bag.

* * * *

After I stocked the freezer out in the store I checked all of the fresh foods for ripe or dented items for the discount rack. At the end of the day, if any is leftover then the employees get to take them home!

It was around two when you came in. I didn't notice you at first, just thought you were another customer, but when I looked up from the health magazine I was reading I saw you hunting through a bin of mangoes. You squeezed them searching for ripe ones.

My heart nearly stopped. No! There was no way you were an organic health freak to! You started my way. I wanted to hide, but seeing as I was the only cashier I had to stay put.

When you loaded the counter with six perfectly ripe mangoes and a bunch of speckled bananas I nearly fainted. Your knowledge of how to find ripe fruit proved that you were more familiar with produce than the average customer, who would buy yellow bananas or hard mangoes and eat them as soon as they got home. I quickly brushed away the thought of you being a vegan to, or even a vegetarian. I had given up the hope of finding a none-meat eating male in this town.

I was supposed to ask, 'Hi did you find everything ok?', but the words refused to come. As I put in the price of the mangoes I heard a cough of a laugh. I looked up and saw you smiling down at me. I wanted to ask 'What is so funny? Haven't you ever slipped on ice before?', but instead I picked the professional response. “Is something wrong sir?”

Your smile widened. “No, mam.” You laughed again.

Annoyed I place the mangoes in a bag and quickly bagged the bananas adding the half off price to his bill. “Your total is ten twenty three.”

You pulled out your wallet and tugged out a visa.

“We only take cash and check.”

When you reopened your wallet I glimpsed at your license. Name- Carter Thompson, age- twenty one, sex- male. I nearly laughed. That was (and still is) the worst fake ID I'd ever seen. I flick my eyes away as you looked up. I take your money and hand you your receipt. “Thank you, have a nice day.”

You smirk at me. “Yeah, well, thank goodness the snow is over with.”

I opened my mouth ready for a comeback, but before I could come up with one you were heading out the door.