Daisies

1.3

"Tell me what you see in me..."

***

A car driving way too close to the sidewalk speeds by causing the huge puddle from the street to splash, barely missing me as some droplets do get on my sweatpants. Are they fucking serious?

I decided to walk to Target because I need to buy some supplies before school starts. Though it doesn't start for another two and a half weeks I'm going anyways because I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't procrastinate anymore.

I shake off the bit of water that got on my shoes, curse at the weather reporter in my mind for saying it was only going to drizzle and keep on my path. The store is only about 15 minutes away from us and I'm more than halfway there so turning back would be pointless. I walk across the ACME Markets parking lot and finally see the bright red target symbol across the street.

As I get ready to cross at least 8 police cars speed down the street, followed by 2 ambulances and a firetruck. Being nosy I try to see how far they went but when they were out of sight I ran across the street. Trying to avoid puddles to no avail I quickly ran inside the store and dried my shoes on the carpet.

You came here to get supplies and that is it, I remind myself as I walk past all of the tempting for sale items. If I let my eyes wander even a little I may end up spending more than I even have. "Is there anything I can help you find today?" A very nice older woman with glasses that look like she hasn't changed since the 80s asks me. She reminds me of my grandma, which reminds me that I need to call my grandma. 

"No thank you, I'm all good." She walks into another aisle and I start to pick up some supplies that I knew I would need from what my professors have put online. When I embarrassingly realize that I won't be able to carry all of the things I've picked up plus my umbrella I put what I was holding back down and speed walk to the front of the store to grab a cart. I don't want anyone to take what I was about to buy even though it's an early monday afternoon so the store is relatively empty.

Not paying attention my foot slides on the wet floor of the entrance and I knock straight into a hard chest that grabs both of us before we fall. "Shit, I'm so sorry. It's these stupid slippery shoes on this stupid wet floor." I mention, trying to catch my balance. When I finally look up at the stranger I see a familiar face.

It's Jacob, of course it's Jacob. Is my life just one huge joke or something? I haven't seen him in the few days since his party. He even texted me on Saturday and I didn't respond, mostly because I didn't think I would run into him so soon.

I immediately step back feeling nervous, confused, and happy to see him. All somehow at the same time.  He's wet and his mind seems to be somewhere else until he finally realizes who he ran into. His face then contorts into what kind of resembles a smile, "Hm it's nice to know that you're just ignoring me and not in a coma or something." He walks away and I quickly grab a small cart and try to catch up to him. His long legs are making this more difficult than it needs to be.

When I had gotten home from his party I finally came to the conclusion that I for sure had feelings for him. But I know how I get when feelings are involved so I'm attempting to do what I do best when that happens. Just pretend the feelings aren't there, at least on the outside. I'm very much aware of the butterflies that appear in my stomach whenever I'm within two feet of him.

"I wasn't ignoring you! I've just been...busy. You know I'm still adjusting to the new....well new everything and you know I'm starting school soon, which has me so nervous. What if I walk into the wrong classroom or worse-" the lack of confidence in my voice is making this lie more unbelievable than it already was. Jacob shoots me a look back basically confirming that he's not buying anything I'm saying. "I don't have to explain myself to you!"

"Didn't ask you to. You just like to ramble when you know you're wrong." I open my mouth to argue what he said but realize he's right and just stop talking. When we get to the electronics section he grabs a charger and turns around to walk back to the front. He came to the other side of town to buy a charger?

Having nothing else to say I start back towards the office supplies section. On the way there I feel a presence behind me and don't even have to turn around to know who it is. "Forgive me that fast?"

"Well...maybe. Did you Uber here or something cause I know you don't have a car?" Feeling as though him mentioning I don't have a car was unnecessary I looked over at him once we'd finally stopped in the office supplies.

"No, I walked. I've been spending too much money with rideshare apps." I pick up the supplies I sat down earlier and continue to shop for more.

"Come hang out with me." He leans on to the cart awaiting my answer.

"I don't know, I was gonna make a smoothie when I got home. And don't you have friends that you can hang out with or something?" I know that I'm probably going to budge and go hang out with him but I'm at least going to make it seem like I'm trying to decide.

"I have a blender, plus I already saw them today. I'm offering you a free ride." If I hadn't made my mind up already that last part would have convinced me. It was grey, humid, and raining outside and I wasn't sure if I had it in me to walk back. I agreed and we started back towards the front of the store.

Jacob paid for my stuff even though he had to physically block me from the self checkout to do so. Most of the ride back to his apartment was either quiet or filled with small talk after I stopped lecturing him about how I could indeed buy things for myself. His driving was much calmer today but I'm pretty sure it's because he seemed to be distracted half of the time. Soon enough we were walking up the stairs to his apartment and he was unlocking the door. This is the first time I entered through this way. He said they were doing maintenance on the elevators, and I guess this was what that door with the stair symbol on it led to.

The cool apartment air hit me as soon as we entered, it was much cleaner since the last time I was here and I know there's no way that he cleaned it. He throws his keys onto the granite kitchen counter and I lay my bags down on the floor next to his couch. The black and white with random splashes of grey themed apartment was finally fully furnished. The furniture somehow made the apartment look even more expensive.

"So what do you want in this smoothie of yours?" He asks, breaking me out of my thoughts and opening his freezer. I take off my shoes and leave them next to my bags.

"What do you have?" After listening to him cluelessly explain to me what he had to make a smoothie, I told him to make me a mango banana. There is zero to little error for a mango banana smoothie so he shouldn't mess it up. He washes his hands then starts throwing the mango, bananas, and yogurt into the blender. I also made sure to ask him to put honey in there too, for extra sweetness which made him laugh for some reason.

He slides the smoothie across the kitchen counter to me then pulls out a stool to sit down. "Thank you." I keep my position, standing at the opposite end of the counter. Realizing how it's only us two in the quiet apartment I stare soley into my orange drink to avoid making eye contact. I hear the stool move back against the ground and can hear him walking closer to me.

"Come swim with me." He says and walks past me, heading towards the stairs that lead up to his room.
• • •
//unedited//