Five Seconds

Chapter 1: Pizza Rolls

I've got thirty dollars to buy myself food for the next week and a half. What can I say, it was either pay this months' rent and be a little hungry until my next paycheck or have food in my gut but be homeless and on the streets.

I chose paying the rent.

Now I have to see what kind of food I can buy with thirty measly dollars to last me a week.

Unfortunately, this isn't the first time I've been forced into this situation. I push my empty Walmart cart towards the cereal aisle, the wheels squeaking every three seconds.

I pass all of the name brand family sized bags of cereal until I hit the generic brand oatmeal's, and cereals. Last week I got some rip-off cheerios and those weren't too bad so why not do it again. I grabbed the massive eight dollar bag off-brand cheerios threw it into my squeaky cart and, made my way to the refrigerated aisle to grab some almond milk.

No, I'm not a vegan or vegetarian, I think I'm a little lactose intolerant and the only thing that triggers it is plain milk. So, cheese isn't bad but milk does me the dirty. Besides, almond milk tastes pretty great.

I walk down the aisle and see a sale sign and as I walk closer I see huge bags of pizza rolls.

"well shit." I mutter under my breath, "guess who's on a budget."

I grabbed a bag and just as I had it in my hand ready to pull it away, I felt someone hit me from behind, I, of course went right down. Completely expecting the cold tile of Walmart to meet my face, instead I felt someone's arm wrap around my waist and pull me away from my cold fate.

"What the fu-", I began to say until a hand clapped down on my mouth cutting off the curse word that was sure to be the grand finale of my sentence.

"I will take pictures and sign anything you want. Just please, do not attract any attention, please just be quiet." I looked at the boy who was silencing and holding me.

I pulled his hand off of my mouth. I'm not sure if I should be upset with this kid or happy that he caught me before I ate tile. I do know that he was definitely not hard on the eyes. He was wearing a black hoodie the hood pulled up and some sunglasses shielding his eyes, which was odd because it wasn't that bright outside today there were some clouds out and I could've sworn it was about to rain when I walked in.

"I don't really want to remember this moment, let alone have a signed picture of the guy who pushed me down when I was trying to grab pizza rolls from Walmart." I whispered to him.

"Wait, what?" he said while pulling off his sunglasses to reveal a set of gorgeous green eyes.

"Are you okay?" I asked giving him a look that hopefully said 'please don't be some high (on some god knows what) creep ready to go all Hunger Games on this Pizza Roll sale'

"You don't know who I am?" he gave me a very confused look in between checking the aisle to see if we had any new guests to join the party.

I finally took a step back, and took a real look at him. He was tall, wearing all black clothes, he looks like the kind of person who people are looking for. I mean really, all black? If he's trying to hide, he chose the worst disguise possible. I could see the smallest hint of dirty blonde hair peaking out of his hood. I wasn't as close now but there was the faintest dusting of freckles on the bridge of his nose, he looked like the kind of person who was voted prom king, twice. I honestly couldn't find a flaw, except maybe the stress lines between his eyebrows. I have no idea what this kid is scared of but he looks terrified.

"No?" I grabbed another bag of Pizza Rolls and put them in my cart. Maybe it's time to leave the attractive stranger to his stranger things.

"Really?" His voice was different. He has an accent, maybe. I just can't place it.