Inktober; Writers Edition!

Day 4: Dodge

   I looked at the chip selection in aisle 4 of the tiny gas station. It was a long, tiring day, and I wanted to reward myself with a little snack. The gas station was just about empty, except for me and I think just the cashier. Being a small woman is never safe in the dark night. You always have to be alert, and on it. I noticed that I was in a blind spot of the cameras, so I needed to choose a bag, and choose it fast. You can never be too safe. I was trying decide between dill and sour cream, when I heard the bell of the automatic doors ding.

   In walked a tall, handsome man who looked to be an a relatively good mood. He seemed around my age. Friendly looking man. He browsed the store, analyzing every other item for about a second each. He made me feel kind of embarrassed, as he was dressed in polo shirt, covered by a slick jacket, and dark grey work pants, while I had freshly slipped into my pajamas before I came here. Then again, it is just a gas station. Maybe he just got off his work shift. I looked back down at the chips, and when I looked up, he was standing right next to me.

   "Oh you should definitely get those, they're  my favorite!" He said to me with a smile on his face as he pointed to the bag of sour cream and onion crisps. I smiled back at him. "You think so? If been trying to decide for practically an hour." my reply was. "Oh absolutely, but- you know what- I'm sorry for bothering you- I'll leave you alone." He said insecurely. "You're not bothering me!!" I responded. "Ah, it's just.." I looked at him expectantly. "It's just pretty women such as yourself aren't usually very fond of me." He said. I frowned at him. "Oh I'm sure that's not true." I replied sympathetically. He stepped a bit closer to me. "Ah, that's kind of you to say. How 'bout I buy those there chips of yours for you? It would be the least I could do for your kindness." He said before pulling out his wallet and searching through stacks of cash. "Oh thank you, but I really can't accept that." I said to him. "No really it's my pleasure, miss." He insisted. "Really it's fine-" "Just let me buy you the damn chips!!" He interrupted, seeming genuinely frustrated. He chuckled awkwardly. I started to feel uneasy, like there was a pit in my stomach."Well, if you really insist." I gave in.

   As I said that, a look of relief filled his face, and we made our way to the counter. The same smile from before remained on his face, but it looked a little crooked. Somewhat forced. "I'll walked you to your car." He said with a grin as he put both his hands into his pockets. We walked outside into dimly lit parking lot. I heard him quickly exhale as his smile grew, and saw him begin pulling his left arm out of his pocket.

   "Molly?" I heard a familiar voice question. He put his hands back in his pocket. I turned around, and to my surprise, I saw my cousin. "Jackson?" I asked. "Molly what the hell are you doing, it's like 1 am." He questioned. "I could ask you the same thing, Jack." He looked to a filled parking spot, and that's when I recognized his car. There were 3 other boys in there, and they certainly didn't seem sober. Then I saw the red cups. Yea, they weren't. Jackson started getting a bit awkward and said "Uh, listen don't worry about it." I looked at him disappointedly and crossed my arms, smelling the alcohol on his breath."Are you drunk?" I asked him. "Whaaaaaaaat? Nooooo." he said has he wobbled a bit and then belched. Jack seemed to just notice the man next to me.

   "Who's this?" He asked. The man looked at him blankly, and then smiled. He stuck out his right hand for my brother to shake "I'm.. Joe." My cousin looked at him, then at his hand, then back at him. "I'm sorry, I don't think he's all there." I said as I looked at the man. "Oh, that's just alright." He said uncomfortably, side eyeing my cousin. "Let me drive you home, Jack." "No." "Yes." "Okay fine get in the car." Music blasted from the vehicle, and I looked at the man. "Thanks for being so nice today, you have a good one." I said to him. His energy seemed to be gone, as was his smile. "Uh huh."

   I awkwardly walked to my cousins car and waved to the man. When I got in the front seat, he just stared, both hands still in his pockets. So, I drove home, and that was that.

About 2 months later, I was scrolling though instagram, when I saw a familiar face. It was that man, and his mugshot. My heart sank. The name he held up was "Will Shlesky", not Joe. He was arrested for the sexual assault and murder of 3 different women. He was caught with an unlicensed gun on his person, and the slugs found in the skulls of each lady matched it. So they ran some test, and it was a match.

   I guess I really dodged a bullet.