The Benefits of a Best Friend | Hat Films

Chapter One: Shit...

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Thirty-three Weeks Prior to January 2018
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I had been standing in the middle of the aisle for probably fifteen minutes just staring at pregnancy tests. "Just pick one, Tess," I mumbled, trying to coax myself to grab one of the many pink boxes off the shelf. My eyes wandered to the dark packaged boxes under the tests for a moment, "Truly sick joke stores are playing on people like me." I said continuing the conversation with myself like a crazy person as I stared at the packages of condoms. Finally, with my head still down, I extended my arm to the boxes above the condoms and touched my hand against the one directly in front of me. I pulled it up to my face out of the self it was on to look at it in my hands. I quickly scanned the box with my brown eyes before reaching for another, I decided on picking three different brands just to be sure the one I chose wasn't faulty.

My heart pounded in my chest as I went up to the counter to check out the items. There stood a middle-aged man with a judgmental look on his face as I approached with the tests in my hands. He watched me with his eyes as I placed them on the counter searching for a ring I supposed. I pulled my hand out quickly pulling out some cash to pay with so I could be on my way because as it turns out I was late, again. I bit my lip trying to avoid his judgment and careful not to make eye contact with him in case of accidentally engaging in a conversation I didn't want to have with this greasy middle-aged man. As soon as he was done bagging the pink boxes I placed them in my purse and pulled my bag up my shoulder slightly.

"Thank you," I said still not making eye contact and nervously pushing my brunette hair behind my ear. A habit I have had for a long time. I quickly walked out of the store and down towards the coffee shop I was supposed to be at twenty minutes ago.

"Hello!" I enthusiastically called up the street when I spotted a tall man peaking over the rush of a morning crowd. I waved my hand over my head, so the brunette I was meeting could see me over the herd of people. My sudden jerky movements and loud voice earned me strange looks by people passing. I was unsuccessfully getting the attention of my best friend since I moved to England. He was standing under a cafe awning shivering in the unseasonably cold weather for April. The closer I got to him the more I could tell he was looking down at his phone; probably waiting for me to text him with an excuse as to why I'm running late, "Hey!" I tried again only a few steps from him. Alex jumped at my sudden outburst, but his surprise quickly turned to a pleasant greet-able face.

"You do know you are twenty minutes later than the time we agreed to meet. Tess, you left me in the cold for twenty minutes!" He childishly whined as I shuffled to the door. I presented the glass-windowed door to the warm cafe inside.

"You could have gone in, Smith." I rolled my eyes opening the door for him, "See, door. Is caveman too stupid to push not pull?" I gestured at the door like one of those sexy women on television. He just narrowed his eyes and glared at me with a flat expression.

"What a gentleman you are." He said sarcasm lacing his tone. I followed him into the refreshing warmth of the cafe. It smelled of baked goods and coffee beans, "So, what's your excuse for being late this time?" Alex asked me still with an annoyed tone that I left him to freeze. I could tell he was actually curious though by the way, he glanced out of the corner of his eye at me. He and I stood in line next to each other waiting for people to give their orders and pay in front of us.

"So, a bear escaped the zoo and..." I trailed as he turned to me unimpressed.

"Come on, Tess, you can do better than that." He chuckled.