"Oh! Baby we're out of milk!" Her boyfriend sighed. As he lifted his head from the fridge. "Chad and Maurice will want coffee after dinner. Be a doll and go get some?"

Kuki turned to face him from the stove. She wiped her floury hands onto her apron and nodded with a small smile. "Sure. I need to leave this bread to rise for an hour anyway."

Billy, her long term boyfriend gave her a grunt as he walked over to pick up a glass and fill it with water from the faucet. Kuki cleared her throat as she pulled off her apron and folded it up to put it on the side. She then walked over to the tap next to him and washed her hands. Turning to him, she stared at him for a few seconds with a small smile.

"Want anything else?" She asked.

Billy looked down at her, running a calloused hand through his sleek brown hair. "What are you cooking us for dinner?"

"I thought maybe spaghetti?" Kuki blinked. Waiting for Billy's approval.

He thought for a second and then shrugged. "Okay, Get some garlic bread while you're out in case your dough balls don't work out."

Kuki gave a giggle. The garlic dough balls were a new recipe that she had searched and found following Billy taking her to Frankie and Benny's and them having dough balls as a side dish. She thought that she had fallen in love with food there and then...it was then that she understood how people could get fat.

"Okay." She smiled. She looked up at her partner with adoration and sighed before speaking quietly. "Billy?" He glanced down at her as he took a sip from the glass. His other arm folded across his torso. Kuki spoke again "I love you."

Billy gave a smile and placed his glass on the counter and then turned her back against it as he wrapped his arms around her and looked down at her. "I love you too Kitten." He pressed his lips firmly against Kuki's, so firm that her head was pushed back a little. His hands gripped her jeans to hold her close as they kissed, then one hand moved up to grip her high ponytail and pull her head up. Kuki gave a giggle and pulled back to meet his eyes.

He looked her up and down with a smile before pulling away. "Honey! Get that makeup off before you go out! You don't need it."

Kuki gave him a small smile as they kissed again. Billy then returned to his returned to his magazine. She beamed at her boyfriend before walking out of the kitchen and heading up to the bathroom. After she had wiped off her eyeliner and blush she descended the stairs, grabbing her coat and exiting the house.

She buttoned up her green trench coat as she stepped out of the house and closed the door. It was windy and there was a harsh chill in the air. Kuki pursed her lips and kept her head down as she walked. Luckily, the grocery store was only a block away. She could escape from the cold in the lovely, well heated market. When she arrived there she grabbed a basket and headed straight to the dairy aisle to get the fridge section over and done with before she could wander around the store to warm up.

Most women hated grocery shopping, Kuki on the other hand found it quite relaxing. Not having a job, Kuki enjoyed having a reason to get out of their small house and into the reality of life.

She gave a content smile as she walked into the next aisle to find garlic bread. Then headed up and down other aisles, picking up a few things that she remembered they were running low on. Finally she walked toward the beers. After picking up a large 24 pack of cans she balanced it against the basket in her other hand and then walked to the counter.

"ID please?" The emotionless woman grunted from behind the counter. Her dark eyes hidden behind thick rimmed glasses. A haired mole growing on the first of her three chins. Her short hair was mousey brown in what looked like a failed attempt at old fashioned pin curls.
Kuki didn't really take much notice of the woman's appearance. She never really did. She simply pulled out her identification and handed it over. Giving a polite smile when the woman observed it and then returned it with a disapproving nod, then continued to scan the next few items.

"Kuki?" A thick, australian accent made her turn around. "Kuki Sanban? Is that you?"

Kuki observed the man stood in the queue behind her. He was about an inch taller than her, his hair blonde and shaggy. He was wearing a shirt with blue trousers and a striped orange tie. The smart outfit however appeared messy. The shirt was somewhat wrinkled and worn, the top button was undone and the tie hanging loosely just below it.

Kuki blinked. "Wally?"

"Oh my god! It is you!" Wally's eyes opened widely. He stepped forward as if expecting something. Kuki blinked. Wally then moved closer again and pulled her into a hug, which she shyly and sheepishly returned. She messed with her ponytail as she looked up at him. He beamed. "It's been like five years!"

Kuki gave an awkward chuckle and Wally raised an eyebrow at her before asking. "How are ya?"

"I'm good." She nodded. "Thank you. What about you?"

Wally nodded back vigorously. "Still alive. That's got to be a good sign!"

"That's $12 please." The woman behind the counter projected impatiently. They both jumped and looked at her. Kuki cleared her throat, embarrassed. She looked back at Wally, followed by the growing queue, then rummaged through her wallet to find the money and then handed it to the woman. Taking her change and quickly packing her items.

Wally smiled as the woman then started scanning the items of items. Kuki glanced at them as they approached on the conveyer belt. A ready meal of beef dinner, a single bottle of beer and a microwave pudding.

"Yeah, I'm not much of a cook." Wally chuckled, looking down as if trying to hide a blush. "...Was in the office late and I kind of like the simple things in life."

Kuki gave a laugh. Wally packed his items with a grin toward his old friend and handed the miserable old woman a single note. "Keep the change. You deserve it for your customer service skills."

Kuki tried to stifle a giggle as the two began to walk away. She could feel the glare of the woman in their back and felt a stab of guilt. She struggled as she tried to balance the large crate of beer and her paper bag.

"Whoa. Easy!" Wally exclaimed as he grabbed Kuki's bag before it fell. "Here. Let me take that crate."

Kuki gave a blush. "Oh, no. I only live down the road. It's okay."

"Well, if it's only down the road then it's not really out of my way huh?" Wally gave a smile, pulling the crate of beer from Kuki's hands and swapping it for the two bags in his arms. The two began to walk.

Kuki pursed her lips as she cautiously glanced at Wally. "So, what do you do now?"

"I work in marketing." Wally shrugged, then chuckled. "I started my own business while I was in college to earn a little extra cash and decided it was better than what I was studying."

Kuki looked at him with curiosity as she listened to him. He continued to talk. "Companies come to me and me and my team advertise for them and get them more well known."

"Sounds great." Kuki beamed.

Wally smiled. "What about you?"

"Me?" Kuki asked. Then suddenly felt embarrassed by her answer. "I don't really do a lot. I moved in with Billy and...well I'm looking for a job right now."

"Billy." Wally furrowed his eyebrows. "That varsity guy that hung around with Chad? You're still with him?"

Kuki smiled and nodded. Wally blew a puff of air. "Wow. How long have you guys been...together?"

"Six years." Kuki grinned. "What about you? Do you have a girlfriend now?"

Wally scoffed. "Me? Seriously?"

Kuki giggled. "You haven't changed much then."

They both shared a laugh before Kuki stopped outside her house. "This is me."

"Okay. Well, it was great to see you Kuki!" Wally smiled, handing her the crate and holding it steady as she rearranged herself to hold that and the bag. He then took his paper bag from her. Kuki nodded. Wally smiled.

"Wait til I tell Abby I saw you!" He chuckled.

Kuki gasped. "You see her?"

Wally nodded. "Most of us meet up every few weeks. You should come one time."

"I'd like that!" Kuki agreed.

Wally beamed. "Great! Well, I could give you my number and…"

"Oh, no...I can't...That would be...you know weird." Kuki shrugged. "Sorry."

Wally raised an eyebrow. "Weird? Catching up with your friends is weird?"

Kuki scratched the back of her head. He wasn't in a relationship so obviously he wouldn't understand. She tightened her ponytail and shuffled with the beer crate and grocery bag. "No, I mean. You getting my number when I'm...you know. With someone."

"That'd be weird?" Wally asked. "I was getting it as a friend."

Kuki simply shrugged. "Sorry."

Wally raised an eyebrow and sighed. "It's okay. I guess I'll see you round."

Kuki nodded with a small smile. Wally smiled back at her and walked away. When she was enough of a distance away that she wouldn't hear him he turned around to glance back at her and then muttered to himself. "...weird."