Silver Crest

A Grocery Run and Unexpected Encounters

Cole's POV

The morning light streams through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow across the room. I'm sitting at the table, sipping the coffee Gran insisted I have, even though it's bitter and not quite to my taste. Gran moves around the kitchen with the energy of someone half her age, humming a tune that's vaguely familiar. Chara is setting the table, her movements careful and precise, as if she's trying to keep her mind occupied.

It's been a few days since the accident, and while the initial awkwardness has faded, there's still a lingering tension between us. It's not uncomfortable, exactly, but it feels like we're both waiting for something to happen, some unspoken truth to be revealed.

"Cole, dear," Gran says, interrupting my thoughts. "I need you and Chara to do me a favor today.""Sure," I reply automatically, not really considering what she might ask. After all, I'm still a guest in their home, and helping out with a few errands seems like the least I can do.

"I need you two to go to the grocery store and pick up a few things for me," Gran continues, placing a handwritten list on the counter. "We're running low on a few essentials, and it's about time to restock."

Chara glances at the list and then at me, a hint of amusement and something else in her eyes. I nod, figuring it'll be good to get out of the house for a bit, even if it's just for a grocery run.

"No problem," I say, getting up from my seat and stretching. "We'll be back in no time."Gran gives us a warm smile. "Thank you, dear. And Chara, don't forget to pick up that lavender tea I like. It helps with my joints, you know."

Chara rolls her eyes playfully. "I know, Gran. We'll get everything on the list, don't worry."As we head out the door, I notice Chara seems a bit more tense than usual. She's been quieter this morning, her usual lightheartedness dimmed by something I can't quite put my finger on. There's a story there, something she's not sharing, and I wonder if today's errand is tied to whatever's on her mind.

The drive to the grocery store is uneventful, the conversation light and easy, though I can tell Chara is distracted. When we arrive, I grab a cart, and we start making our way down the aisles, checking off items on Gran's list as we go.

"Gran's really stocking up, huh?" I comment, trying to keep the mood light.Chara chuckles softly. "Yeah, she always does. It's like she's preparing for a blizzard that's never coming."

We continue down the aisles, the rhythm of shopping almost calming. But as we turn into the cereal aisle, Chara suddenly freezes, her face going pale. I follow her gaze and see a couple standing a few feet away. The guy is tall, athletic-looking, with that easy, confident smile that probably charmed more than a few people in his life. The girl beside him is blonde, pretty in a polished, almost perfect way. There's something about the way Chara looks at them that tells me this isn't just a casual encounter.

"Chara," the guy says, sounding surprised but not entirely displeased. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Same, Derek," Chara replies, her voice strained but polite. "It's been a while."

The blonde girl smiles awkwardly, a flicker of something like guilt in her eyes. "Hi, Chara. It's good to see you."

"Hey, Jessica," Chara says, her tone tight. There's a lot left unsaid in those two words, but it's clear there's history here—messy, complicated history.

I can feel the tension radiating off Chara, and I instinctively step closer to her. It's clear this encounter isn't pleasant for her, and something inside me snaps into protective mode."Chara, aren't you going to introduce us?" Derek asks, his eyes flicking to me with a hint of challenge.

Before she can respond, I step forward, extending my hand. "I'm Cole Anderson," I say, keeping my tone friendly but firm. "Chara's boyfriend."

There's a brief moment of silence as Derek processes my words, his smile faltering just a bit. He shakes my hand, his grip firm but not as confident as it was a moment ago. "Derek Michaels," he replies, sizing me up. "Nice to meet you."

Jessica's smile tightens as she takes my hand as well. "I'm Jessica. It's nice to meet you, Cole.""Likewise," I say, my eyes flicking to Chara, who's standing a little straighter now, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly.

"So," Derek says, his tone a little too casual, "how long have you two been together?""Not long," I reply smoothly, glancing at Chara with a soft smile. "But it feels like we've known each other forever."

Chara looks at me, a mix of gratitude and something else in her eyes. She quickly turns back to Derek and Jessica, forcing a smile. "We're just doing some shopping for Gran. She's been keeping us busy."

Derek nods, but there's something in his expression that tells me he's not entirely pleased with this development. "That's... great," he says, his voice tight.

Jessica jumps in, trying to defuse the awkwardness. "We were actually planning to go out tonight, to that new club downtown—Eclipse. You guys should join us."I can feel Chara's hesitation, the way she's bracing herself to make an excuse, but I cut in before she can decline."Sounds like fun," I say, surprising even myself with how easily the lie slips out. "What time?"Derek raises an eyebrow, clearly not expecting me to agree so quickly. "Around nine. It's the new place near the waterfront. You can't miss it."

"Perfect," I reply, nodding. "We'll see you there."

As Derek and Jessica walk away, Derek throws one last glance over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. "See you tonight," he says, almost as if it's a challenge.

Once they're out of earshot, Chara turns to me, her eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and frustration. "What the hell was that?" she hisses, her voice low.

I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. "It looked like you needed an out. I thought I'd help.""By pretending to be my boyfriend?" she asks, clearly flustered.

"Well, it seemed like the easiest way to get them off your back," I reply, keeping my tone calm. "And I wasn't about to let you face them alone."

She stares at me for a moment, her expression softening as the reality of what just happened sinks in. "I don't even know what to say," she mutters, running a hand through her hair. "Why did you agree to go to that club?"

"Because," I say seriously, "if you're going, I'm going with you. I've got your back."She searches my face, looking for any sign of insincerity, but when she finds none, she finally sighs and nods. "Alright," she says softly. "Thank you."

"Anytime," I reply, offering her a small smile. "Now, let's finish this shopping and get back to Gran. We've got a long night ahead of us."As we continue down the aisle, the weight of what's just happened hangs in the air between us. Tonight is going to be interesting, to say the least. And as much as I'm doing this to help Chara, I can't help but feel like I've just stepped into something much bigger than I anticipated.