Alone Awaken

Chapter 10: Colton

I walk towards the liquor store and replay the last 15 minutes of my life in my head. Remi came to life when she sang. It's like I saw a glimpse of her soul, who she really is. Who I knew she was and who she was hiding. She's so beautiful when she shows herself. I feel like she was going to tell me everything until Josh fucked it all up. I suddenly get mad. Why did he have to show up in that moment? I wanted to ask her to say what she was going to say before the interruption. But I told myself not to push her. To be patient like I always am. When she's ready to tell me, she will. When she's ready to let go of that pain, she will tell me.

I reach the liquor store and pull open the metal door. The bell rings and a girl with black circles around her eyes looks up at me from the cash register. "Can I help you?" She smiles at me.

"Yeah I'm here to pick up an order for Colton." She looks me up and down. I'm not phased by this. Girls usually just look at me. Who am I to embarrass them for pointing out their gawking.

She takes out a binder filled with random receipts. It's clear that the organization of this place is in shambles. She flicks through every piece of paper. "Two kegs?" She speaks without looking at me.

"Yeah." I take my wallet out to pay for them.

"ID first, then I'll bring them out."

I hand her my ID and wait what always feels like a century. I've been legal for a year now and I always come here. You'd think they'd recognize me by now being a small town and all.

She hands me my ID back and heads to the back. Moments later she's wheeling a keg on a dolly, while a fellow employee wheels the other keg behind her. She takes my card and swipes it. "Having a party tonight?" She asks trying to start small talk. I have no interest in chatting.

"Yeah." I look at the kegs. Fuck. I'm going to have to make two trips.

Sensing my distance, she hands me my card back without continuing the conversation. I slip it back into my wallet. "Thanks." I prop the door open and grab the first dolly. I walk towards the car and my eyes see the most magnificent vision. I stop dead in my tracks. Remi is singing along to a song but she's consumed in the song. Her hands move up and down in front of her. She touches her chest with every other word. Her eyes are closed and her head is moving side to side to the beat of the song. Her hair floats elegantly with every movement. The way she sways, can only mean she's moving her hips. The song ends and I wish it didn't. She giggles at herself. Wow. She leans back in the seat and starts pressing the presets to search for another song. I'm breathless.

I come back to reality and I walk to the car. I don't want her to know what I saw. I want to keep that for myself. I lean towards the window.

"You mind helping a guy out?" I smile at her. I know she can't resist my smile.

She slightly jumps in surprise.

"Oh, yeah, sure." She pushes the trunk release on the keys and leans out of the car. She walks towards the trunk and lifts the hatch.

I squat to lift the keg and lift it properly so I don't blow a muscle. I place it in the trunk and look over my shoulder. She's staring at my back muscles. Yeah I was slightly trying to show off. And it worked.

"I have to get one more, I'll be right back!" I pick up the dolly and jog back and repeat the same process.

I slam the trunk and pick up the dolly to return it. "Want to start the car? Get a song ready for us?" I ask eagerly