{ON HOLD} Melt|Zauren

M.2

"I'm back!" I declared from the living room. I followed the warm scent of rice into the kitchen. My mother was leaned up against the counter reading from a magazine about the latest scandal in Hollywood. I placed the bags down on the counter. My mom pulled the magazine down from above her nose and raised a questioning eyebrow at the brown paper bags that had PACHECO'S written across them in a rusty red color. "Pacheco's?" she asked going through the bags for her avacado and brownie mix. "What was wrong with somewhere closeby?" I pulled the cereal boxes out of the bag and found them a home in the cabinet. "They were having a really good deal on cereal. I couldn't pass that up," I explained. My mom didn't say anything further, she just concentrated on cutting the avacado into thin slices. "Go do me a favor," she eventually said again. "Go tell everyone dinners ready. I don't feel like yelling up the stairs."

-

"Lauren," Camila laughed. "Are you seriously searching for him in the employee directory?" Camila and I were on my porch as I scrolled through the Pacheco's website via my laptop. "Yeah," I said obviously. "I need to find out that boys name." I let out a frustrated groan when I realized this was just showing the CEO's and important names like that. "It's been four days," Camila stated. I turned to her and nodded.

"You're right. It has been four days and that's exactly why we need to go there today, like right now," I stood up and picked my laptop up. Camila followed my procedure and dusted off the back of her high waisted shorts. "Right now? You don't even need anything from there," she said trying to be a debby downer.

"Camz," I sternly said. "I actually do. I ran out of conditioner and I've got a crazy craving for potato chips. So, are you coming?" Camila threw her arms heavenward and groaned.

"Why am I always getting thrown into insane situations?!"

"It's usually the other way around, so hush up."

"Hey, can I help you find anything?" a british accent rang through my ears and I spun around only to be met by an attractive tall, curly haired fellow, also littered in tattoos. "We're looking for the hair products aisle," I said. His name tag read Harry. I could catch Harry checking Camila out and she must have sensed that he was because she looked away quickly, her cheeks turning the slightest shade of pink.

"Right. Just follow me," Harry said.

As we mazed through the aisles and Harry small talked with Camila, "Do you come here often?" I searched for the tanned God, a codename for him. "Right here is all your hair product needs," Harry gestured.

"Harry." We all turned around to find Normani standing there. "When is Zayn coming in?"

"I think he's scheduled in a few minutes," he answered her.

"Good because someone dropped milk and Todd's not here today, and I'm not cleaning that up," she said walking away.

"Don't you guys have janitors?" Camila asked. Harry laughed loudly at that and shook his head. "Don't be ridiculous," he said. "This isn't a school. I have to get back to the deli. Is there anything else I can help you with?" he asked. Camila shook her head.

"I saw a guy here the other day. He had loads of tattoos, he's tan. Do you know his name?" I asked.

"Zayn?" Harry questioned. I could see his eyes focus behind me. "Speaking of, hey Zayn!" he called out. I slowly turned around and saw Zayn who was walking by the aisle notice Harry. He waved and started making his way over. I could feel my heart beating fast. I grabbed any conditioner. "Kay, thanks for the help, see ya!" I grabbed Camila's wrist with my free hand and pulled her away.

"What was that for? Why don't you just talk to him?" Camila said as we made our way through the bread aisle. "He's probably going to think that I'm weird or something. No," I shook the thought of that out of my head.

"You do know that now that Harry kid is probably telling him that you asked about him. I mean you could've made up some lame excuse as to why you asked about him."

"How could I have made up an excuse in the span of 2 seconds? Zayn was right there." I let out a dreamy sigh as I said his name. "Zayn. He's so cute and his name fits him." I waved a dismiasive hand. "But enough about the tanned God, Harry was checking you out." Camila made a face at me and laughed.

"You think? I think I just had something on my face," she said swatting at her face.

"You can date Harry and I can date Zayn. How cute would that be?" I said.

"Oh my gosh," Camila laughed. "You sound like twelve year old me. Take a deep breath." I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes trying to find my center like in the meditation videos I watch on occassion.

"All the fucking time, why don't they get Marty to clean? I didn't even get to clock in yet, damn. What am I? A custodian?" I pryed one eye open at the angry outburst and saw Zayn walking past our aisle and Harry walking beside him. "He's british too!" I announced in an excited whisper. Suddenly, Harry took a few steps back and made his way back over to us. "I thought that was you too," he said. "We're leaving actually," Camila said. I looked at her with a who said that?! expression on my face. "Wait, before you go, may I ask for your number?" He held his phone out toward her. I watched as Camila reached out with a shaky hand and grabbed it, plugging her number in. Harry smiled once dhe handed it back. "Thanks. Maybe we can hang out when I'm off some day. That is of course if you'd like. Now back to the deli I go. Have a great day ladies."

When things were clear and Harry was gone I nudged Camila. "And you said he wasn't checking you out!" Camila just half-heartedly smiled. "That's the quietest I've ever seen you be, amazing," I sarcastically said.

"I don't know what happened. I just got really timid for no reason. He's a guy. He's just a guy. A really... cute guy with an accent," she swooned.

"I bet you're rethinking my whole cute double dating concept, huh?" I nudged her. "I just have to become my regular fearless self and talk to him. Why can't I approach him?" I rhetorically asked. "It's like this is new territory for me. I'm usually great at talking to guys.." It's almost as if I was having some strange identity crisis right in the middle of the bread aisle.

"You'll figure something out," she reassuringly said. I nodded and flipped my hair past my shoulder. "You're right. Unless I've lost my groove all together."

"You'll get your groove back," she said as we left the bread aisle and made our way toward the check out counters. "Oh my God, he's right there," I whispered trying to act like I was more interested in the dairy products then the tanned God mopping up the aisle. I felt like I couldn't breathe as we got closer to him. "Are you going to say something to him?" Camila asked.

"No. Are you loca in la cabeza?" I said.

"You guys would make a great looking couple so this is for your own good," Camila said. I raised an eyebrow unsure of what she was talking about and then I saw her foot stop in front of mine and the support of gravity was not on my side as I went crashing onto the wet floor.