Meant to Be

Chapter 8 - Shopping

"Well, um, it's actually Josh's phone number." Nick frowned, but smiled before he thought that I could see. "Are you going to call him?"

"I don't know. I've been hanging out with this guy."

Nick looked over at me. "Where did you meet him?" Great. I'll probably be asked a thousand questions now.

"We have gone to school together for awhile but I just starting hanging out with him again. We used to be really close in middle school. He works in the hospital now, so I got to see him a little while I was there." Nick was about to say something, but his phone started playing 'Just a Sip' by Luke Bryan.

"Take a sip, just a sip.
Beer or whiskey if you're with me,
wet your lips.

Going to be mm so good, mm so nice.
Starting this night off so right with
Just a sip."

"Hey Robert." He paused. "Yeah, we will be there soon. She's going to want to shower first." He went on, "Okay well, we will see you later. I love you too." Nick hung up the phone. When we got back, Robert was watching tv in the living room.

"Hey Alice. You better get ready if you still want to shop." I walked to Robert's room to get clothes. I picked out black skinny jeans and my favorite sweater that I thought I had lost in the fire. I also grabbed a random bra and pair of underwear. I walked to the bathroom, which was down the hall. I shut the door, took the stuff out of my pockets and got undressed. Dried up mud was falling on the beige carpet that was right outside of the shower. I turn the hot water on then cold. It was just the right temperature. I wash my hair with my favorite coconut smelling shampoo. When I rinsed it, more chunks of mud fell out. I decided to wash it again to make sure there was no more mud. I finished my shower as quickly as I could.

I got out, dried off and began to get dressed. My sweater instantly warmed me as I pulled it over my head. I went straight to Robert's room because I had forgotten my shoes. I quickly slipped my feet into my simple black Vans. I picked up the picture that Josh gave me and added his number to my contacts. I then rushed to the living room. "Took you long enough." Robert said.

"Oh, hold on. I forgot to put my makeup on!" I said, joking.

"No, wait. I was kidding!"

I laughed and walked towards him. "Don't rush a girl. It will want to make her take longer to get ready. At least I didn't take an hour to get ready, it was only twenty-five minutes. Oh, and I used your brush."

He laughed. "Let's go!" We walked to my truck.

"You really need to get a job, blondie." I tell him, stealing Natalie's nickname. Robert gave me a death glare. I couldn't help but laugh.

I forgot the money that Nick gave me earlier. I got out of the truck, ran to Robert's room and snatched it from the table. "I forgot the money." I told Nick, who was looking at me like I was a crazy person. He shook his head and went back to cooking.

"Be careful and don't forget my cereal!" He said before I walked outside. When I got back in the truck, Robert stared at me. "I forgot the money." He laughed and drove away from the house. I turned the radio on and Nirvana was playing. I turned the radio up really loud, because honestly, who doesn't like Nirvana? I sang along to every word.

"We passed upon the stairs
Spoken was and when
Although I wasn't there
He said I was his friend
Which came as a surprise
I spoke into his eyes
I thought you died alone
A long, long time ago

Oh no, not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world

I laughed and shook his hand
And made my way back home
I searched for farming land
Years and years I roamed
I gazed a gazer stare
We marked a million hills
I must have died alone
A long, long time ago

Who knows?
Not me
I never lost control
You're face, to face
With the man who sold the world

Who knows?
Not me
We never lost control
You're face, to face
With the man who sold the world."

One of my favorite bands is Nirvana. I've always liked them, but I've been listening to them a lot recently. I turned the radio back down. There were a few other good songs that came on the radio, it was mostly crap though. Most of the ride was spent listening to music, not talking. When we arrived at the store, Robert finally spoke. "I don't know what I did or said to make you so angry, but I'm sorry."

"What makes you think that I'm mad at you?" He shrugged his shoulders.

"You have hardly talked to me since you got back with Nick. I don't know if he said something or if something happened. Whatever it is Alice, you can tell me."

"Nothing happened. Well besides Josh." I said softly. Robert's head snapped towards me.

"Who's Josh?" We made it into the store and I get a basket.

"Josh is this guy that I met today. He gave me his number and he has been on my mind. I've just been thinking about him."

Robert smiled. "Maybe you should ask him out." Maybe I should text him.. Or maybe I shouldn't. I don't know if it would be too soon for that. He gave me his number what? An hour ago. I'll just wait until later. Snap back to reality Alice! I head for the clothing section.

After spending about an hour in the store, we finally checked out. I unloaded the stuff that was in the shopping cart. I got a new CD and a couple new outfits too. Of course, I got bathroom stuff. That's what I needed most. I had spent all the money. At least I didn't forget Nick's cereal! After we checked out, we walked to the truck. I was ready to get out of here!