The G(r)ay Area

Part Twenty-Five

Part Twenty-Five

"Three pints? Do we really need that many?" Mom asked, watching as I dumped the ice cream into the buggy.

"Yes, we do."

"I need to grab toilet paper and I'll be ready to go."

I nodded. "Okay. I'll meet you at check out."

"No more ice cream."

"Have a little bit of faith in me."

She sighed and headed for the paper aisle.

I walked to a section of magazines just beside the register and pulled one about celebrity scandals down. Two movie stars were getting a divorce after the wife had an affair. Another couple was breaking up because they realized they didn't love each other anymore.

It seemed like no one was happy in their relationships. That almost made me happy.

I put the magazine back and scanned the rest of them. Most were geared towards mothers or the elderly. Like teen boys didn't ever go shopping.

I stuck my hands in my pockets and headed toward the check out. Coming out of the freezer aisle with a gallon-sized container of ice cream was Lucas.

A smile spread across my face until I realized that I wasn't happy to see him. I was heartbroken.

Apparently he felt the same. His hair was uncombed, a five o'clock shadow was stuck on his face, and his shirt was wrinkled. He even had dark circles under his eyes.

I pressed myself up against the shelf behind me, praying he wouldn't notice me.

He walked by without much thought and went to the self-check out.

I ran across the aisle separating the magazines and the check out lanes and ran out the door. I wasn't sure if he saw me or not.

Mom opened the trunk and started loading the groceries in. She organized everything by what order it needed to be put away. Dairy, canned goods, pasta, etc.

I kept staring out the window, waiting for him to walk out and see us there. He had to know. He just had to.

When mom got into the car, she didn't start the engine. She just looked out the windshield like she was confused or something. Which wasn't like her.

"Can we just go?" I asked, getting impatient. I just wanted to go home, eat my ice cream, and cry some more.

"Aiden, you can't avoid him for the rest of your life."

My eyes widened. I thought my mom was supportive. I thought she took my side. "Are you kidding me? After what he did-"

"I'm not saying it's right. But you can't live like this. You can't be scared of running into him."

"Mom, you don't get it."

"I do, Aiden. When I see football clothes in stores, when I see dark blue Jeeps, when I smell that Jack Nelson cologne, I think of your father. I think of how many times I'd see those things or smelled that smell. I think of it all. All the time. And it hurts. I understand. But I'm not afraid of being around it. You can't be either."

"But it's Lucas, mom. It's... different."

"Aiden, I don't want you to feel like you cant go out or do things just because he might show up."

I shook my head and let my head fall on the window. "I just want to go home."

She sighed and started the car up.