this charming man - j.k.

three

Juliette's POV

I never ended up going to their practice. I was busy, and did I feel slightly bad about it? Yes. I did feel bad because Jake did sort of invite me to come.

I didn't have to go though. Like it wasn't an obligation. Yet, I felt guilty. It had been a little over 2 weeks, so I think it was alright. I started to see them around school more often too.

Ronnie talked to me. It's not like we disliked each other, we just never went out of our way to talk to each other. Sam smiled at me in the hall. Jake said hi to me multiple times.

It was all just odd.

"Excuse me?" A voice said scaring me out of my daydreaming.

"Um, yes?" I said to the customer.

"Where would I find canned fruit?" She asked.

"Uh...either aisle 6 or 7." I said.

"Okay, thank you." She thanked me and wandered off.

I went back to stocking and falling back into my false reality.

I clocked out for the night, hung up my apron, and searched for my keys.

It was only about 5, but I had been here for 8 hours, and I was ready for home. I walked out looking through my phone, not caring to greet anyone. My social battery had been drained.

I walked past the exit and shopping carts to get to my car.

"HEY! Hey, Juliette, please." I was startled hearing my name, and in that urgency.

I turned around looking for who was calling my name, I could see anyone.

"Juliette!" The boy said again.

"Josh?" I asked still looking for a sight of anyone.

"Julie, look in the shopping carts." He said. I looked at the edge of the shopping carts and to my amusement, and shock, Josh was crammed into a shopping cart that had been attached to another.

"Oh, my, God." I said dramatically. I broke out in laughter I could not control.

He was stuck. Josh Kiszka was stuck in a shopping cart.

"Look, I know how funny this is, but I'm really in deep pain, so could you spare me and help me out." He begged.

"I'm sorry, this, this is too much." I said about to fall over. "I have to get a picture."

I pulled out my phone, much to his dismay, and took multiple pictures of his circumstance.

"How...did this even happen?" I asked sore from laughing.

"Jake and Hunter shoved me in here, then locked it." He said rather embarrassed. "Please get me out."

"Why should I?" I asked teasing him.

"Because...because....please, just let me out. I cannot think clearly." He begged. He was so funny distressed like this.

I tugged at the chain that bounded the carts together. They were the stupid ones that you had to put a coin into to use.

"I don't know if I have any change." I said trying to sound sorrowful. I did. Just wanted to see his reaction.

"Juliette, I will get on my knees and kiss the ground thanking you, please just let me out." He said. I looked at his face looking helpless and decided to end his misery.

I pulled out a coin and put it in. "How long have you been in here?" I asked struggling to get the cart to let him out.

"10 minutes." He said sounding like he had witnessed a war. I had to use all my strength to get him out from under the other cart.