His Eyes, His Smile.

Part 18

Who would've thought that it would be here, at the local supermarket, that I'd see you again? I thought to myself as I caught a glimpse of James in the deli section. I cursed him under my breath, ducking into the household cleaning supplies aisle. 3 months and just out of nowhere I bump into you. Why now, today of all days?
My phone buzzed, Cody was calling me for the twentieth time. Sighing, I hit the ignore button on my phone again. I was not giving in this time. When you're right, and you know your right, you simply cannot comply.
This was about the third time me and Cody have fought since I moved in. Once about the coffee maker, another time it was about who left what mess and than today's argument. Cody does this thing you see when he gets defensive, his voice gets high, his cheeks redden, his eyebrows furrow. It's impossible not to notice. It was a simple question, all he had to do was answer truthfully. Had he or had he not been hanging out with Karly after work hours and calling it "over time". It wasn't even that I was mad or jealous but just that he would not admit it. Men can be so frustrating sometimes!

So here I am, slightly pissed off at Cody and now being presented with the possibility of getting stuck at the till behind James. How peachy.
Closing my eyes tightly I rubbed my temples, attempting to rub away my frustration.

"Alice?" A voice sounded behind me, the subtle Irish accent apparent.

My eyes shot open with panic and sure enough James was standing in front of me.

"J-James.. Um.." I stuttered unsure of what to say or do. The anger I once had toward him had cooled off but I knew I'd never forget the words that he had said to me.

"Doing some spring cleaning or something?" He asked looking around the aisle.

Stupidly I stood there just staring at him, words still refusing to form. My mind raced with emotions trying to figure out just what I was feeling. Anger, happiness, sadness; I couldn't tell.
"Uh.. Yeah.. Not really, guess I'm in the wrong aisle." I muttered, turning in the opposite direction and starting to walk away. A soft set of footsteps trailed behind me. I stopped at the end of the aisle and turned around to find James right behind me.
"Are you following me?!" I alarmed.
"Um, no. I was just leaving the aisle." He laughed.
Oh god Alice, I thought to myself, you're a freak. Now he is going to think you are obsessed!
"Well I'll see you around Alice. If you still have my number, give me a ring some time and we can catch up." James said with a friendly smile and a wave as he walked towards the bakery. "Oh and say hi to Cody for me!"
James continued to go about his shopping but I couldn't help but stand there with my jaw open, almost grazing the floor. How could he act so nonchalant, as if nothing had happened?! What bothered me even further was the fact that I still did have his number. He probably only mentioned it because he knew I wouldn't be able to delete it. Urgh he was so frustrating!!
Just then, my phone went off again, the piercing ringtone now severely getting on my nerves. I made a mental note to change it when I got home. With a sigh, I ignored Cody's call again deciding it would be best to talk in person. Mindlessly I continued my shopping, making sure to avoid James any further and get out of there as fast as possible.
As I drove home I replayed our encounter over and over again in my mind as if some part of me missed that sweet subtle accent of his. Other parts of me tried to counter this thought, depicting him as a devious mean man but its efforts did not work. I couldn't help but only see the James that I had first met, the one I had fallen in love with. He looked good, I thought. God did that smile get me every time. For a split second I forgot about everything he had done to me and considered texting him but quickly was brought back to the reality of the situation.
"You broke up with him, he's toxic Alice remember." I told myself aloud. And although I tried to sound convincing, I couldn't fool anybody. I missed James.