Random Acquaintance

1

A man walks into a liquor store. He's there to pick some things up for his friends but he's not very booze-savvy. He takes out his phone and scrolls through the list of items he'd been instructed to pick up. Phone to face, he takes a step forward and bumps into someone, his phone falling to the ground, bouncing once.

Man: Oh shit, sorry

The man looks up at the person. It's a woman. She's just entered the store and is bundled up. Her hair falls freely and her eyes shine under the electric bulbs and neon beer signs. She's beautiful, he thinks. She brushes her hair behind her ear.

Woman: No worries, that's my bad. I wasn't looking where I was going.

She looks down at the fallen phone and goes to pick it up. He does too. They almost bump into each other again. She laughs.

Woman: I've got it! Least I can do…

She picks up the phone and notices the list of drinks.

Woman: Oh boy, there's enough here for a lot of lonely nights

She smiles and hands the phone back to him. He chuckles as he takes it back.

Man: -thanks- Ah, yeah. I'm actually not sure where to find it all. I'm kinda out of my element…

He looks around the store.

Woman: Really?

She taps her chin.

Woman: Well, it just so happens that I pretty much live here.

She smiles. He smiles.

Woman: You want some help?

Man: Uh, totally, yeah. Lead the way.

She leads him through the store, strategically weaving between aisles, piling drinks into his arms in all different shapes and sizes. They talk as they go. About the drinks, mostly. Once they finish, he goes up to check out while she grabs a single bottle off the shelf and gets in line behind him.

He pays for his things, and she does the same. They leave the store at the same time. He holds the door open for her with his back.

Man: Thanks for all the help, 'preciate it.

She walks through.

Woman: No problem! Seriously, I'm here so often it's like a second job.

Man: Except for the not getting paid

They both walk outside. She points at him.

Woman: There is that.

The two stand outside the store, both now on their phones. The man's bags sit on the ground. The woman peeks over at him.

Woman: Uber?

The man holds his phone screen up.

Man: Lyft actually.

He smiles slightly. She fakes a frown. They wait for a few minutes in silence until a car pulls up in front of them. A blue Sedan. The driver rolls the window down. He's burly and covered in jewelry. In a gravelly voice, he calls out.

Driver: You DAN?

The woman looks confused. Dan answers.

Dan: Yeah, hi. That's me.

He turns to the woman.

Dan: I guess this's my my ride. You good?

Woman: Uh yeah, that's my ride too! 

She looks down at her phone quickly and then shouts at the driver.

Woman: You're HENRY, right?

Henry: YEAH, you KRISTEN?

She smiles at Dan.

Kristen: Yes, I am.

She swings the car door open and waves Dan inside. He climbs in, and then she follows, shutting the door. Dan places his bags by his feet. Kristen hugs her bottle.

Dan: Wait, I thought you got an Uber

Henry: AHYEP, I actually drive for both, there.

Henry points to his windshield. A Lyft sticker sits above an Uber sticker on the lower right corner. Henry pulls away from the liquor store.

Henry: AWRIGHT kiddos. Who'm I droppin' off first?

Dan looks at Kristen.

Dan: If you're closest, I'm cool with you going first-

Kristen cuts him off, answering the driver.

Kristen: Actually, we're just gonna go back to my place.

Kristen: …If that's alright with you?

She looks at him and smiles. He grins like an idiot and shakes his head at Henry in the mirror. He looks at his phone for a moment.

Henry: OKEYDOKE, 24 HOMER STREET IT IS. BUCKLE UP BACK THERE. CLICK IT R' TICKET, Y'KNOW?

Kristen buckles her seatbelt. Dan's is already in. The car drives for a few minutes until Dan suddenly smacks his hand to his face.

Dan: D'oh, wait!

He looks at her.

Dan: I-I'm sorry. The drinks- I gotta get back to my friends' for a party. I actually just spent all of their money on these.

A short silence.

Dan: Can I give you my number? Maybe we do something tomorrow or I dunno…

She looks down for a second, then smiles back at him.

Kristen: Okay, sure! I wasn't even thinking. The drinks… yeah!

He smiles too as she hands her unlocked phone over to him. He begins to type.

Dan: Send me a text when you get a chance so I remember to add you in too, okay?

He hands her the phone back. She laughs.

Kristen: Yes, sir.

The driver stops in front of an apartment building. Kristen looks out the window at her place and then back at Dan. She smiles once more and then opens the door.

Dan: Ah, it was *really* nice meeting you, Kristen.

She gets out of the car. He scoots over and rolls the window down. He shouts out.

Dan: Thanks again for the help!

She looks back from the door to the apartment, still smiling. She waves as she unlocks the door. He waves back until the door closes. He rolls the window back up and returns to his seat.

Henry takes the car out of park and pulls away. He looks at Dan in the mirror.

Henry: That don't happen to you too often, does it, pal?

Henry laughs. Dan hangs his head.

Henry: Ah, cheer up there, pal. You still got a night of drinking ahead of yous. Where we goin' again?

Dan: Just a few streets over, actually.

His phone goes off in his hand. It's a text from Kristen reading: "Hey! Better not forget about me!!" He smiles and brings his phone to his chest.

End.