A Compulsive Criminal's Love Story

{1} Cocoa Puffs

It was like any other day for Pia Auri Paines as she went through her usual routine of crossing the busy street to her parked car opposite to the gym. She subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief to see it there, untouched. Technically, she wasn't allowed to park there because it wasn't the gym's parking lot but, the gym's designated parking was so small and cramped that it was impossible to get out of. Now, every day she'd somehow convinced herself that a little risk in life wasn't so bad.

The cool air nipped her skin surprising her, but it felt good against her hot flesh from the strenuous workout. She inhaled deeply, feeling the chilly air enter her lungs. 

Pia unlocked the door and sat down while blasting on the heat to warm up the car. She bobbed her head along with the steady rhythm of the song playing on the radio, before getting ready to pull out. Suddenly she remembered that she wanted to make a salad for lunch today, but her house was out of spinach. The car was warm now, and she was tired. 

In the future, Pia often looked back at this moment. There were two simple choices. One, decide that it wasn't worth it, and drive home and eat something else. Or two, decide that her determination to her resolution was serious and she needed that spinach. 

This was the first time she'd ever regretted being so determined to do the right thing.

She sighed before turning off the ignition, grabbing her wallet and trudging over to the grocery store that she was parked in front of. 

She grabbed a little basket, just in case she needed something else. Which is what happened, every. single. bloody. time. She'd come with the intention of buying one thing but would end up buying ten things that she'd suddenly remember or find things on sale that were just too good of a price to pass up on. 

She picked up not one, but two packs of spinach before grabbing a container of cherry tomatoes, because they'd taste better in the salad than the big tomatoes she had at home, already molding. 

"Oh my goodness, these cucumbers are massive." She whispered to herself as she turned the corner and picked one up, deciding that she should finish those veggies first before buying anything else.

Just then, she spotted large, round, seedless green grapes. And they're on sale! It's meant to be! And with that, her small basket was already almost full before she remembered that she'd finished the last of the cereal this morning. 

Now, let me tell you, Pia also looks back at this moment and hates that she'd finished all the cereal that morning. Why didn't she just have her usual breakfast smoothie? 

But the matter of the fact was that Pia couldn't change anything. It had all happened, and this is how it started. 

Killian Stryker was slowly making his way through each aisle. He liked to spend at least an hour shopping for groceries. He had nothing else to do, no purpose in life anymore. 

He was slumped on his cart as he entered the eighth aisle designated to cereals. He wasn't a big fan of cereal. He preferred oatmeal. Nevertheless, something urged him to continue down as he examined the different types. Just then his eyes caught hold of a tall brunette who looked to be just a couple years younger than himself. He stood straighter. He'd never seen anyone younger than fifty there at this time. He scrambles, not knowing what to do. Should he pick up a cereal and pretend to read the facts? Or should he continue to walk and leave the aisle? Would that be strange? To walk in a cereal aisle and not pick anything up? 

But the truth was that she hadn't even noticed Killian. She was mumbling something incoherent. But to who? 

His curiosity got the best of him as he stealthily crept a bit further to hear her whispering words. "Should I? No, I really shouldn't? But they're so good. Just once isn't going to hurt, right?"  She was holding two boxes of cereal, debating between cocoa puffs and some whole grain cereal with dried berries. She eventually set the cocoa puffs back and unexpectedly turned a little, noticing him watching. 

He blinked rapidly like he'd been caught committing a crime, but she smiled slyly. His spirit went soaring as he noticed her kind and beautiful face. He smiled back before taking a few steps and standing right beside her. Killian caught a waft of her sweet cranberry scent and could feel the warmth radiating off her and instantly became attracted. He leaned over and picked up the box of cocoa puffs she'd just declined. "Life's too short to sacrifice your favorite cereal." He murmured huskily, smirking. 

Pia watched him in awe before grinning and switching her cereal, choosing the cocoa puffs instead. He pushed his cart forward passing her and just as he turned to enter the next aisle his playful eyes met hers and she shivered. 

She didn't know what to think other than, he was right. Whoever he was. She closed off the nagging voice in her head that told her that the whole grain cereal actually tasted good and continued towards the cashier. She felt happier than usual, maybe it was the fact that she'd bought the cereal she'd secretly wanted, or maybe it was the way the handsome stranger smiled at her. 

It was definitely cold outside. It felt like five degrees celsius at most. The heat from her workout was starting to ease off as Pia instinctively rubbed her arms to ignite heat before getting into her car. She set the groceries in the passenger seat before turning up the heat. It felt colder in the car than it was outside as her eyes followed the fog of her breath. 

Killian didn't explore the other aisles and hid in an empty spot between toilet paper and paper towels. He watched the enchanting cocoa puffs girl leave the store. He observed how she rubbed her arms from the cold and immediately yearned to wrap his arms around her. His eyes followed her steps as she sat down in her car. 

He left his cart of groceries there and walked out of the store, hiding his face with the collar of his jacket. He made it to his car parked in the corner and watched as she blew into her hands. He smiled, she was cute.