DROWNING IN YOU // Rafe Cameron

8

It's a weird feeling, knowing a storm is coming that could either just pour rain or destroy every house on the island. The last time I had been close to a hurricane was 6 years ago, and all it gave us was a few drestroyed trees. From what I have been told, Agatha could do either, making me grow nervous for the following days.

I stopped at the first store I saw, pulling into Heyward's and parking my car. I left Sarah in the passneger seat and made my way into the small store. 

"You keep showing up where I am and I might just think your stalking me blondie." A voice spoke from behind the counter. My head popped up from looking at the vegetables, finding the blue eyes of JJ Maybank looking at me. 

"You know, I've never stalked someone before, but I might do it just to annoy you." I responded as I walked towards the counter. His stained blue shirt contrasted his tan skin, reminding me of how he was when we were kids. 

"Oh I wouldn't mind." He shrugged as he continued on with restocking the ice into the cooler by the counter. His flirty response caused me to roll my eyes as I laughed. "What might Olivia Dawson be doing on the cut at this time of day?" 

"Oh you know, I came to see the views." I joked as I spun myself around. 

"Well now that you've seen my beautiful self," JJ began, "Is there anything I can assist you in finding?" He asked as he closed the cooler door and turned towards me.

"Well I am in dire need of brussel sprouts and dinner rolls." I answered as I leaned on the counter. I could feel the air conditioning working to counter-act the brutal summer heat. He stood in thought for a minute as he ran his hand through his hair.

"Follow me m'lady!" The blonde boy ordered as he walked away. I followed, watching him swing his arms as he lead us through the isles. He brought me to the veggetable area, next to the frozen sea food coolers. He reached up, grabbing a bag of green brussel spouts and tossing them to me. I caught them as he turned towards me and walked past. I stood confused, yet began following him again. We conitnued to the bread isle, where he picked up a bag of dinner rolls. He decided against tossing them to me this time, and brought us to the check-out counter.

"Will this be all for you on this fine evening?" JJ asked as he went behind the counter and began scanning my two items and gestured to the large stack of sandbags a few feet way.

"I think so, my dad bought sand bags a few days ago." My mind wandered to JJ's house. Would any of the homes on the cut survive the storm? God my stomach hurt just thinking about the families. 

"Alrighty then, 10.55 for ya miss." I fished my card from my pocket and handed it to him. He swiped it before putting my things in a bag and handing me them. 

"Thank you JJ, excellent customer service." I told him as he handed me my card and bag. 

"Why thank you miss Dawson. I hope you come by again soon." The blonde replied as he saluted me. I laughed yet saluted him in return as I walked towards the door. Sarah looked up from her phone as the bell on the door rang.

"Took you long enough!" She yelled as I opened the car door and threw my bag of groceries in the back. "I was about to go in and make sure you weren't kidnapped."

"Oh please it was 15 minutes tops." I reversed out of the small parking lot and began towards our neighborhood. The wind blew our hair all around as we listened to music. 

After dropping Sarah at her house, I dropped the grocery bag in the kitchen while my mom cleaned up the house. I showered and curled my hair, and spent much too long picking out an outfit. A knock on my door startled me, forcing me out of my closet. I opened my door to Crater in a classic polo, not bothering to look at me as he typed on his phone.