Learn To Love Again

Chapter 12

Without thinking, I turned and started down the driveway, then crossed the road and headed toward the car.

As I approached the car, the window was rolled down and Malcolm's face came into view.

"Are you stalking me?" I demanded.

He smirked. "Stalking you? Why would I stalk you?" There was something about his voice that gave me the creeps.

"Then what are you doing here?"

"I'm waiting for someone," he said. I could tell he was lying.

"Who?"

"Someone."

I sighed. "What were you doing at the supermarket?"

He laughed. "What were you doing at the supermarket? I go to the supermarket too, you know. I eat... just like you."

"Who would've thought." I said blandly. "Just stop following me, okay? It's creepy. And what's with the flowers?"

"What flowers?"

"And why are you threatening me?" I said, ignoring his question. "I could get you arrested, you know."

"Arrested for what? I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, of course you don't," I said sarcastically. "Just know that if I see you around here again, I'm calling the police."

I had started to leave when he said, "Wait, can I ask you a question?"

I sighed. "What?" I said impatiently.

"Why won't you go out with me again?"

"Because you're rude, arrogant, and you don't know how to treat a lady."

"Ouch. Okay, so if I change that, will you go to dinner with me tomorrow night?"

"I don't know about that."

"And I won't send any more notes?" He said hopefully.

"Are you kidding me? You think saying 'go out with me and I won't threaten you anymore' is going to get me to say yes?"

He sighed, but kept his smirk in place. "Suit yourself," he said, then turned the key in the ignition, causing the car to roar to life. "I have to go."

"I thought you were waiting for someone," I said sardonically.

"And now I'm not," he said before the car started moving slowly forward. "Bye Anna." With that, he took off down the road.

I waited until his car disappeared out of view before returning to the house. It was dark by then and I flicked on the switches as I made my way to the bathroom to take a shower.

I was in my bedroom getting dressed when I got the sudden urge to go for a drive. I ditched the pajamas I had started to put on for a white, polka dotted dress that ended mid-thigh and a pair of black flats. I then searched for my phone, purse, and keys.

I turned off the lights on my way to the door, then exited the house and locked the door behind me.

I had been driving down the road for a good few minutes before I had any idea where I wanted to go. I accelerated in the direction of Tutti Frutti, a fro-yo store at Fairview Shopping Center.

I parked in front of KFC, which was on the same plaza, got out of the car, and walked into the shop.

I grabbed a medium-sized cup from the table and stood in front of the yoghurt machines, trying to decide what flavour I wanted. After a long mental argument, I decided on green apple. After three quartering the cup, I went over to the toppings. I got three strawberries, some blueberries, some coconut flakes, some gummy bears, some gummy worms, a square of cheesecake, some chocolate sprinkles...

"And this is how you get diabetes."

I stopped in the act of getting some chopped nuts and whirled around, only to come face-to-face with detective Sterling. Standing next to him was a little girl who looked to be about five and had the cutest little face imaginable.

"You're so pretty," I awed in a sweet, childish voice. "What's your name?"

"I'm Fantaysia," she said brightly, in the sweetest of voices. "But my mommy and my daddy call me Fancy. What is your name?"

"Anna," I said, reaching out a hand. "Would you like me to get your topping for you?"

She handed me her cup, which was almost full of strawberry yoghurt. I watched as detective Sterling lifted her into his arms and held her up so she could view the topping display.

"What toppings do you want?" He asked her sweetly.

It was such a cute sight, seeing him hold her so gently and talk to her so sweetly; it was like he was a completely different person.

"I want gummy bears," Fancy said.

I had begun to reach for the gummy bears when Detective Sterling's voice stopped me.

"I told you, no more sugar. Don't be like Mrs. Saunders."

I rolled my eyes at him.

"Pleeeeeeeaaee," Fancy pleaded. "Just some gummy bears."

"Stop being such a killjoy and let her have some gummy bears," I said.

He sighed. "Fine. But only a few."

I smiled as Fancy let out an excited shriek and piled gummy bears into her cup. I then added some fruits– detective Sterling's orders– and some nuts.

I then handed Fancy her cup and picked up mine from where I'd left it on the counter.

Detective Sterling put her on the ground again and began adding topping to him own cup, which were only fruits and nuts, as could be expected.

They followed me to the front of the store where I handed my cup to the cashier. After weighing it, she told me the cost and I reached into my purse.

Before I could pay, however, Detective sterling handed her a bill, along with the other two cups. "I got it."

"No it's fine. I'll–"

"Really, don't worry about it," he said with a smile.

"Fine," I said, closing my purse. "Thanks."

"No prob."

The cashier covered the cups and handed them back to us.

Fancy ran ahead of us to sit at one of the tables in the front of the store.

"I didn't know you had a daughter," I said as we followed her.

"I don't," he answered. "She's my niece."

"Oh."

He stopped at the table where Fancy was sitting at, already enjoying her fro-yo, and pulled out a chair, then walked to the other side, pulled out another, and sat.

I sat down, pleased to realize that some men still pulled out a lady's chair.

I sat back and enjoyed my yoghurt as I listened to Fancy's enthusiastic chattering.

________________________________________________________________________

A/N:

So what do you think of this chapter and the story so far? Don't forget to let me know.

Please:
Vote
Comment
Add
Share
Follow

★It's Carmen. Love y'all! ★