one more light

Chapter Two

Hearing the sound of my stomach grumbling as the thunder rumbles, reminds me that I haven't eaten breakfast yet and I forgot to grab my lunch for today.

Shit, I grumble under my breath, I can't go without something being in my stomach in the morning and I have to have lunch or I will only be able to focus on my stomach eating me from the inside out and want to throw up the rest of the day.

Driving through the middle of town the rains starts coming down a bit harder on my windshield sliding softly down before being swept away by the wipers. I decide to stop by the store to grab something for lunch and a quick breakfast. Thankfully the store has a deli department with pre-made sandwiches and separate small bags of chips to choose from, I grab a ham and Swiss from the options and sun chips, the original obviously, with a bottle of water.

Walking through the aisles looking for the granola bars I'll just get a box and eat them the rest of the week. Searching intently for the dark chocolate chip ones which are the best, I apparently wasn't paying good enough attention cause next thing I know I'm bumping into someone... hard.

Knocking said person to the ground and dropping all of my items everywhere luckily none hit the person, and just barely stopped myself in time from falling on top of my poor victim. Oh my gosh I am soo sorry are you alright!?

Reaching my hand out to help the man up, under his black hoodie I could see him debating whether or not to take it but after a couple seconds he slowly reached out and took my hand gently, barely putting any weight in it while standing up and then I realize it's a young boy, who looks like he could be a sophomore in high school.

I can just barely tell that he has dark hair maybe brown and his eyes are a sweet tea kinda brown. I am so sorry are you alright, did you hit your head, do you feel pain anywhere? I kept looking him up and down to see if he was flinching or was showing any signs of being seriously hurt.

He hasn't said anything so I look at his face and see a look of discomfort from me analyzing him and I feel my whole face getting red, oh my gosh I hope I don't seem like a pervert looking over him.
sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable right now, I'm a nurse at Wakefield Hospital I just wanted to make sure you were alright.

  Pulling his hand out of mine that I didn't even realize I was still holding he shifts his body slightly away from me but not to much that it seems rude.
I'm fine, thank you, his voice low and soft but I can hear it clear.

Here let me help you pick up your things, I say as I reach down and start picking up his and my groceries. Seeing that he only had a single peanut bar and there was an open box a few feet away I quickly realized he was definitely not gonna pay for it.

I'm fine lady I can get it myself, he replied, I can hear the panic setting in his voice and he quickly starts reaching for the bar and the open box. I move back as I start grabbing for my crushed chips I semi stepped on and smushed sandwich that thankfully still looked edible.

It must have broken open when you bumped into me, I hear him mumble as his face started turning cherry red going all the way down to his neck. Shit, now I feel like an asshole, this kid clearly needed it. Standing up I look him over and see he's in a shaggy black hoodie that's losing its color, baggy dark blue Jean's which looks like they've seen better days, and his poor sneakers are a whole decade old I'm surprised they're still together.

Since this is completely my fault I would like to offer to pay for the box and maybe a drink for you as well? Please say yes so I can make sure you get fed and not caught stealing, I say in my mind.

Holding my hand out for the second time he takes it quicker than the first with one hand and the other holding the box that he put the single bar back in. Well, he pauses, since you're offering and- and it is technically your fault I- I'll accept the offer he stutters just enough to know that he's nervous.

I smile and start walking to the check out area looking behind me to make sure he was following. Seeing that he is walking but is keeping his distance I sigh in relief. Coming up to number two of three check out lanes I set my stuff on the conveyor belt I point to the cooler in front of the check out, pick anything out and if you want you can get two drinks, I say with a smile so he knows I dont mind.

Slowly he nods and walks over to the cooler and I can see his eyes going back and forth, up and down until he opens the door and pulls out a monster and a sweet tea. I smile a little more thinking about how I compared it to his eyes.

You know that is definitely an interesting combination and as a nurse I would recommend water as a better option but hey you do you, I say with a chuckle as I see an eye roll coming from him when he's setting down his stuff. Ma'am will this be all for you? I turn and see a elderly woman behind the register scanning all the items.

Ah yes thank you, alright it comes out to $19.21 she tells me politely. Pulling my wallet out of my back pocket I open it up and hand the woman a $20 bill. Thank you, she says and after entering it in she hands me the change along with the bags. I hope y'all have a great day and come back soon! Thank you ma'am you as well, I say as I grab the bags and hand the one with the kids things in it to him as we walk out the door.