Solecism (under revision)

Chapter Fifteen

Katherine Beauvais

 

 

            When you’re doing something illegal, stay calm and act like its normal.

            I am completely calm and I am completely acting like its normal.

            My hands are trembling as I arrange the bottles of energy drinks by color and expiration date in the refrigerator as fast as I can like it’s the Olympics.

            This shoplifting thing makes me feel uncomfortable but whenever I remember Camilla’s face when she said she’ll shoplift for this expedition, the embarrassment in her face, I feel horrible. I feel like I’m a spoiled bitch whose problems are nothing compared to theirs.

            I looked around to find Camilla and Aly as a bell rang. I immediately spotted Aly first, her orange head turning from side to side, looking for the source of the alarm. Camilla was slowly backing away from the dried fruits section, panicked.

            It seemed like everything was in slow motion. People are running towards the exit. We are probably not the cause of the alarm but what’s causing it? Not knowing what made me feel more anxious that is now laced with panic.

            “Tsunami!”  a man’s deep voice said through the speakers outside. He must’ve been a lifeguard. Through the large windows to my right I can see people backing away from the beach. This shop is not even by the shore.

            I started to feel lightheaded. I closed the fridge and held on one of the shelves. My trembling hands aren’t the only one’s sweating now. We should be running but I’m frozen. I’m having a panic attack. As this realization dawned on me my knees buckled and I knelt on the cold damp floor. I rested the side of my head on the shelf as I hear vague voices calling out my name.

Oh no, I think I’m going to pass out. No. No. No.

Hold that thought. I can’t faint, not on a cold wet floor.

My eyes shot open. What was damp awhile ago is now pooling with water. I rose to my feet shakily and called out to Aly and Camilla. My whole body is still shivering both from the cold of the water and the panic attack. I called out again and nobody answered.

I heard a laugh behind me. Its stupid of me to hope it might be Aly or Camilla because I knew it was a boy. I’m pretty sure I’m the one he’s laughing at. His coppery gold eyes were making fun of me.

“Your friends left you.” He gestured towards the doors or should I say door frame as the glass doors are detached from its metal frame. “Poor little creature. Good thing I came to save you. Now you cannot help but stare at my gorgeous perfection.”

My jaw dropped open. “Is this a prank?” I said as I raised an eyebrow. I regained my composure as my panic attack and anxiety ceased. “And seriously? Poor little creature? I’m sorry to break it to you but I’m 5 “5’ plus 5 inch heels which means I’m a freaking six-footer. Why would I want you to save me when I’m clearly not yet drowning? Why the hell do you think you are so good-looking? You look like you grew a snout. You’re the poor little- and did I mention hideous- creature!”