Chapter 12: A New Friend

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July parked her car and got out. Behind the counter was a girl; she looked a little older than her with long dark brown hair and brown eyes. Her skin was darker than her own but didn't look fake. She was looking back and forth between a book and a notebook she was writing in. As July walked in she looked up and smiled.

"Hi," she said being friendly.

"Hi."

"Can I help you?" she asked putting down her pen.

"Yeah, I was wondering if you had shampoo and stuff like that?"

"Oh, no we don't, sorry," she answered apologetically.

"Do you know where I could find a store that does?"

"You new here?"

"Does it show?" July asked with a chuckle. "I just moved in up the road." She gestured back with her hand, feeling comfortable with Mia. She gave off a friendly vibe that just made her want to talk.

"Well, my name is Mia," she said holding out her hand.

"I'm July," she supplied, shaking her hand, and couldn't help but notice how different their hands were. Mia's hands were very feminine compared to her own. Mia's were soft and her nails were nicely manicured; July's hands were slightly rough and calloused from working on cars and she couldn't remember that last time she had done her nails. If Mia noticed, she didn't give any sign of it.

"Well if you keep going down this road and take your second right and drive down about half a mile you'll come to a little super market."

"Down, second right, half a mile, got it," she repeated. "Thanks." July nodded her head and began walking back to her car.

"Hey, where exactly do you live?" Mia called out, forcing July to stop and turn around.

"Just up the street and to your left. I live at the end in the two story green one."

"Hey, I live on that street too. I guess you're our new neighbor. That house has been empty for a long time. Maybe we can hang out sometime or something? I could show you all the cool places and you can meet everyone."

"Yeah, maybe," July answered, thinking maybe she had found a friend.

"Well are you busy Friday afternoon?" she asked with a hopeful smile.

Friday, let's see, that's that day after tomorrow, and Arnold and I are going to the bank tomorrow and I could go shopping in the morning on Friday, she thought in her head.

"Well, no, I don't have anything planned for Friday, why?" she finally responded.

"Oh, well we usually do a barbeque up at the house and watch movies, and I thought maybe you'd like to come. The team is nice once you get to know them."

July hesitated for a moment. Did she really want to get herself into this? But then she remembered this was her chance to start over and figured why not.

"Sure," she answered, Mia's smile growing at her answer.

"Good, I'll come and get you around four on Friday, that sound okay?"

"Yup, sounds good."

"I'll see you then!"

"Yeah, bye. Thanks for your help again."

July got into got car and drove away following Mia's directions.

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tbc…