A Second Time Around

Chapter Fourteen

Diane looked like she's seen a ghost. She blinked a few times, focusing her gaze on Kevin, as if making sure he was really there. Then making a weird noise between a squeal and a wail, she lunged herself at him, her arms fastened around Kevin's shoulders so tightly in a vise grip that it knocked the grocery basket out of Kevin's hand.

Stacey gaped incredulously at Diane, while Andrew was surveying the scene, fascinated, one eyebrow raised in amusement. Kevin, on the other hand, looked stunned. He, too, blinked a few times as though confused, settling on the redhead who was at the moment resting her head on his shoulders. He must've gotten over his surprise because a moment later, he began patting Diane's head awkwardly.

"Uh, Diane?" He asked reluctantly.

"Hmm?" Diane sighed, her voice slightly muffled on Kevin's shirt.

"I can't breathe..."

For a moment, Diane didn't move from where she was, fully contented on embracing Kevin, oblivious to the staring grocery-shoppers moving past them, muttering about PDA. And then, the full import of what he just said struck home. Diane quickly released Kevin from her death-grip, as though burned. Her eyes seem a bit dazed.

She blushed. "U-um, sorry, K-kev, it's just that..." she stopped talking. And then her eyes clapped on Kevin's, as if really seeing him for the first time. Suddenly, the dazed look in her eyes vanished, replaced abruptly by extreme annoyance; Stacey was sure her eyes must be blazing.

"Kevin James Spencer!" Diane said furiously. "I'm going to-I'm going to-I'm going to maim you!!!" she yelled, and then began punching Kevin on every part of him she can reach.

"Ow! Diane, what the-" Kevin shielded himself from Diane's fists, which were determined to make some serious damage to his face. "What did I do?!"

"Oh, you're asking what did you do, huh?" Diane said angrily. "It's what you didn't do that's the problem, you egghead!"

"Huh? What are you-ow!-talking about?" asked a bewildered Kevin, trying hard to parry Diane's attacks without hurting her too. Stacey wondered whether she should help him out; if Diane continues hitting him like this, sooner or later a security guard might step in and haul all their sorry asśes out of the mall. Helpless, she turned to Andrew for assistance.

"Shouldn't we be stopping her?" she asked anxiously. Andrew turned an incredulous stare towards Stacey. "Are you kidding? This is the best part!" he said gleefully.

Helplessly, she watched as Diane continuously mauled Kevin. Both of them are too tall for her to break the fight (would you call that a fight? It's more like Diane's the only one who attacks while Kevin just defends) without earning some damage herself. They're beginning to attract more attention: little kids are now pointing at them, laughing, while their parents ushered them away, muttering about public assault.

"Can't even find time," Diane gritted out furiously, her handbag swaying dangerously on her arm as she kept punching Kevin. "To tell me where you've gone"-more hitting-"disappeared without a trace"-another punch-"never called or texted or e-mailed"-kicked, but missed-"and now you dare"-a series of slaps-"to come back here?!"

Stacey stared at Andrew imploringly. "Do something!" she hissed at him. Finally taking pity on his friend, Andrew walked carefully towards Diane and gently but firmly drew her away from the cowering Kevin.

"Di, that's enough." He spoke, shielding Kevin from her view. "Lots of people are staring."

Diane finally looked around and her eyes took in the stares she was receiving from fellow shoppers. She quickly plastered a cheerful smile at the watching crowd. "Hello there! Don't mind us. Nothing to worry about! Just, er-a little argument between long-lost friends, that's all." She told them, waving an airy hand.