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Chapter Seven --> Not so Pleasant of a Surprise

For the next two weeks things went downhill for Alexis. Every single day weekday she went over to the tiny ice cream shop and worked for eight hours until she was released to go home. On her way home she passed by the apartment complex that Ashton and Michael lived in. There was another way home, but Alexis did not feel like spending another half hour in traffic to arrive home when it was no big deal to pass by the apartment complex.

        The problem with passing by the complex though was the possibility of running into Ashton or Michael. Not that Alexis had anything against Michael at this point, but Ashton was another story. Perhaps if he had not made a move and kissed her under the smog filled night then they would still be on good terms. Well, as good of terms that they could be on when one person had taken steps to make sure the other was Deleted.

        Now Alexis was walking briskly past the apartment complex, keeping her eyes glued straight ahead. She was so close to actually not running into anyone when she heard that dreadful voice that she never wanted to hear again.

        “Alexis? Is that you?”

        Holding back a groan, Alexis plastered a smile on her face and turned to face Ashton. “Yes, it’s me in the flesh.”

       “No need to be rude,” Ashton said in a cheerful tone. “We are friends you know.”

        Friends; not once had Alexis mentioned them being friends. Had she? Now that she thought about it, she had. Her Aunt Bea had said that she could invite a friend to the art gallery. Instead of bringing one friend she had brought two.

        “Yeah, friends,” Alexis replied. Shifting her weight from one foot to the other she was not sure what else to say. Saying a comment about how she wished that night had never happened or maybe how the kiss was not that bad was an option. Then there was also the possibility of telling him a million other things. The problem was that none of those things happened to leave her mind to be spoken out loud.

        “About that night -” Ashton started, taking half a step towards Alexis.

     The expected reaction was for Alexis to back up and put more space between them while snapping at him. That did not happen. Instated, Alexis said good-bye with a wave of her hand and left Ashton standing there, a slightly confused expression etched on his face.

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Alexis found herself humming along to some song that was playing throughout the grocery store. It seemed that every single store played some sort of music in the background. Alexis knew that it was due to the fact the music actually could drive sales up or make people send a longer time in the store, which could lead to them purchasing items that they did not intend on buying when they arrived.

        As for Alexis, she was here to pick up some things for dinner with her Aunt and Uncle tonight and that was it. There was going to be no wandering around the store looking at all of the new products on display. Trying any of the food samples that were out was also forbidden. Alexis wanted to get in and get out. Naturally though, the universe would not let that happen.

        Turning the corner onto the aisle that sold assorted snack foods, she rammed her shopping cart into someone else’s shopping cart.

        “I am so sorry. I did not see you as I was coming around the corner. This has never happened to me before and I just want to apologize again,” rambled Alexis, her eyes darting from her cart to the other persons checking to make sure nothing had broken.

        “You know something,” said a male voice that belonged to none other than Ashton Irwin, “When I ran into at the party you snapped at me. You also did not let me finish talking when I ran into you outside the complex.”