INTUITIVE, austin butler

15

FLASHBACK:
A YEAR AND A HALF PRIOR
.•.

"Do they seriously have no shooters?" I scramble around a gas station looking for alcohol, my heels clicking against the tile as I do so.

"This is a pretty beat up gas station, Ri." Ray laughs as he follows behind me, looking for some alcohol too.

"Wait," I walk over to the end of the fridge, a small pack of vodka shooters sitting at the bottom, "I knew it."

"Kudos to you," He grabs the pack from my hands, taking it up to the register and paying.

I wrap my hands around his waist, hugging him from the back as we wait in line. It's Lana's birthday today, and all she requested is that we brought shooters to the pregame, so we had to deliver.

I sway my hips slightly to the beat of the music playing in the store, recognizing the song immediately. 'Lies in the Eyes of Love' by Part Time—a song I haven't heard in a very long time. Ray puts his right arm behind my back, pulling me into his side.

"You smell good." I smile at him.

"You're drunk." He laughs as he looks down at me.

"You aren't wrong." I admit.

I walk away from him, heading over to look at the selection of nic-nacs by the counter. I scan over the items, looking for something I can buy Lana, and choosing the disposable camera the minute I see it.

"Lana loves these things." I tell Ray as I hold the camera up in my hand. "She says they make her miss the 80s when she was 'young.'" I laugh thinking about how stupid Lana can be sometimes. She's stupid-funny, though, so it's okay.

"She kills me." Ray says as he steps up to the counter. It's finally our turn in line, and the cashier quickly rings up the alcohol and camera.

"He didn't even ask for my ID." I frown as we leave the store, "Do I not look 19 anymore?" I ask Ray.

He laughs, "Well considering you buy alcohol from that place all the time, I don't think he really needs to see your ID anymore."

I forgot that I go there all the time. I'm not sure why I choose to buy alcohol from the sketchiest store in this city, but it's like a second home. The cashier even knows my middle name.

Ray and I walk to the car, which takes us a few minutes, partly from my heels, and the fact that he parked as far away as possible. There's nobody else at the store tonight surprisingly, usually this place is packed with 16 year olds on Saturday nights. Maybe they have finals coming up or something.

My eyes scan over the silent parking lot, noticing a small grey car sitting in the corner of the lot, making it the only car here besides Ray's and the cashier's. After a painful walk to the car, we finally get in, and I immediately take off my heels for the five minute ride to Lana's. Something weird happens when Ray begins to drive though, as soon as he starts to exit, the small grey car does too.

"What are you looking at?" Ray asks as he drives out of the parking lot.

"That car," I point at the grey car, "It was sitting there and left at the same exact time as us."