Secrets in the Ashes (Scarlett Johansson Fanfic)

Chapter 1: Lucky me

Luck had never been Dylan's best friend; in fact, it had hardly been a friend at all. If she'd ever experienced any type of luck in her life, it had consistently leaned toward the unfortunate. Today, it seemed hellbent on continuing that streak. The bottom of her cheap plastic bag from Whole Foods chose this precise moment to give way, sending her groceries–purchased with the last of her paycheck–crashing to the ground. They scattered in every direction, and two cans of corn burst open upon impact, spilling their contents across the pavement. Dylan no longer had the self-control to contain her frustration. It was just one thing after another.

"GOD DAMMIT!!" She yelled, her voice echoing across the parking lot. She immediately regretted her slip of self-control as several curious bystanders turned to look her way. Embarrassed, she ducked her head in an attempt to hide her face, which she was sure was now bright red.

Dropping down to one knee, Dylan began collecting the surviving cans, muttering under her breath, "For fucks sake. Can I just catch a damn break?" She impulsively shot two middle fingers at the sky. "Fuck you, universe. I just wanted to make Chili."

A few seconds passed, and then, out of nowhere, a voice broke through her grumbling. "Do you always flick off the sky?"

The unexpected voice startled Dylan, making her jolt in panic, her breath catching in her throat. Her hands flew up in surprise, inadvertently sending the three cans she had collected flying once again. She watched, as if in slow motion, as they smacked down one after the other onto the black pavement, and two more cans met their demise.

A gasp of shock came from someone nearby, and Dylan quickly turned around, her body bracing for fight or flight. But most of her tension faded when she realized the person was a woman. Despite the dim lighting of the Whole Foods parking lot, the shadow of a navy blue New York Yankees hat, and the dark oversized sunglasses, it was clear she wasn't a threat.

Dylan's eyes darted up the woman's body, still partly breathless, as she exclaimed, "Fuck. You scared the living shit out of me."

The woman looked down at her in horror. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you– I just saw you flip off the sky and didn't even think before I blurted that out. Let me buy you some new cans. It's the least I can do."

Dylan appreciated the woman's sincere apology, but everything in her mind was screaming no at the thought of letting her pay to replace her food. With a small grunt, she rose from her knee and shook her head. "No, it's okay, honestly. I should learn to be more aware of my surroundings."

"No, really, I insist. Let me do this for you." The woman's voice was firm as she reached for her purse, slung over her shoulder.

Dylan waved her hand back and forth, trying to dismiss the offer. "No. I swear it's okay......However, if you really want to help, helping me collect what's salvageable from my groceries would be nice. I don't have another bag and my car is a few parking spots down."

The woman seemed to sense that Dylan was stubborn and would not budge, no matter how much she insisted. Realizing this was the best she could do, the woman nodded and slipped her phone and wallet back into her purse. "Absolutely, I'd be happy to help."

Dylan felt a surge of relief. She knew she could be stubborn in her ways, and she appreciated that the woman was perceptive enough to recognize that. Tugging the bottom of her long-sleeved shirt up, she retrieved her car keys from where they were tucked between her skin and the waistband of her pants. She slid the key ring onto her index finger for easy access and bent down to start picking up what she could, the woman mirroring her actions. Dylan tried to gather the cans as quickly as possible, but just as she reached for the last one, the woman did the same, and their heads collided with a solid thunk.