Chapter 2

"Groundhog's Day movie"

It couldn't have gotten any worse at work. The stress was getting to me, and I nearly thought about walking off with my finger in the air, but it didn't come to that. It was a week after the incident in the grocery store, and once again, my mother texted me to get a few things for diner tonight. I texted my disgruntled responce only to have my mother text me back with a list yet again and an unspoken command of 'Do it'. So, I begrudgingly drove to the store again, looking for the things on the list and checking them off as I went along. I head to the electronic section and browse through the CD's and found their new album. I silently congratulate myself for remembering to get it because, come on, they are my favorite!

I was looking at the back of the CD at all the songs I couldn't wait to hear when I ran into someone. We both hit the floor with that same seething expletive nobody should hear coming from a male voice.. Familiarity set in as I looked up and the same guy, sitting on the floor with the most complete look of utter disbelief on his face.

"I hope we don't keep meeting like this." He said with a chuckle.

This time I stand up on my own and believe this man is stalking me. Who'd want to stalk me?! I don't need this in my life.

"I am sorry, I should really pay attention to where I am walking. It was my fault this time." I reach out to him to help him up. He grabs my hand, and I manage to lift him up.

"You're strong. I thought I'd pull you down to the floor with me."

"Well, you gotta be tough with the job I do." I blurt out. Great. Now he must think I am some barbarian woman. And I kind of didn't want him to know what I do to try and stalk me. I try and ease away from the topic, but he quickly asked,

"Oh? What is it you do?"

"I, uh,"

His phone rang before I could try and make up a lie on the spot. Good, the caller bought me more time to make this elaborate fool-proof lie.

"Yeah, cousin. I am looking right now...The band is called what now?...What kind of name is that?...Sounds pretty stupid to me... Yeah, tell Mallorie I'll get her some diapers for Mila...Okay...Oka-...Okay, cousin... I'll see you in a while." He hung up on his caller.

"Do you know this band by chance? My cousin loves this band, and they released a new album today." He showed me his phone screen with the band name in his text.

"Yeah. It's these guys." I show him the CD I had. That's the one thing that didn't go flying out of my hand.

"Oh, cool. So, you like them too, huh?"

"Duh? They are a great band. You should listen to them."

"I pretty much called them stupid to a fan on them. Sorry about that."

"It's all good. Everyone has their own taste in music."

"Where did you get that?"

I pointed to the end cap with a bunch of their CD's and walked away as he went to get a copy.

"Hey, wait. Do you mind playing a few of their songs on your phone? I want to hear what they sing."

I expertly pull out my phone with a sort of smug look on my face that kind of gave him the impression I am the biggest fan of their music in the known universe, and coincidentally, I had one of their tracks on the current track. I held my phone to his ear mainly to drown out the horrible music the grocery store was playing, the background conversation, and screaming children and totally NOT just a reason to get close to him, to try and identify his cologne, or feel his warmth, or to feel how chiseled his body is.

He nodded his head to the music as it came to the chorus.

"These guys sound pretty good. Better than the shit my one friend listens to."

"And what would that be?" I found myself asking, prodding around his life to see what he does and what friends he has.

"Some electro-dancehall-techno-screachy music. It gives me a headache everytime I have to hear it."

"So, your friend parties at those clubs?"

"Oh no. He is just a major DJ at some weird sketchy backyard building."

I caught the sarcasm in his voice. He didn't mention anything else about his friend. He took my phone though, and for that very second, I thought he'd turn and burn with my cell phone, remembering what my mother said a week ago. Instead, he hit the "next track" and more of their music played. He cupped my phone around his ear and glanced around at various objects, forming an opinion on the music.

"Not bad. I like the beat of this one."

"What one is that one?"

He held out my phone, and I saw the track name. It was my favorite song by them. I failed at keeping my composure when thinking this handsome guy liked the same song I did when I dropped the CD I had. He handed me my phone back and picked up what my butterfingers dropped. He smiled at me at my clumsiness, and yet again, his phone rang again.

"What is it now, cousin?"

I tried to fine tune my hearing to hear the conversation and what could his cousin could be so impossibility impatient for to ruin this moment for me.

"Yeah, Roman. I found the CD for you...This girl I ran into inside likes them too. She helped me find the album...No, what do you mean?...No! She's not my girlfriend! I don't even know her." He mouthed the word 'Sorry' and pulled his phone away from his ear while his cousin blabbered on about who knows what.

"You'll have to excuse my cousin. He has this disorder where talks without thinking."

"That's too bad." I say with disappointment.

"Yeah. It's called Major Stupidity Disorder or MSD."

That had me laughing uncontrollably which, in turn, made him laugh. He brought the phone back up to his ear.

"Yeah...Yeah...Roman, yeah...diapers for Mila...Look, Roman, I gotta let you go. I'm losing you...". He made a shhhhhh sound, indicating that he just lost the cell phone service he had perfectly until now.

"Look, guy. I gotta get home. My mom is cooking diner tonight, and I had a bad day at work." I say stepping away.

"Got a hot date with that warming lubricant?"

Most women would have been slightly to moderately upset at this statement. Me, on the other hand, seemed to not be bothered in the slightest. It seems this man has actually done it. He made a friend before even knowing their name. I was already comfortable around him.

"Well, I was hoping someone would accompany me in using this." I must have caught that MSD from that Roman guy.

His phone rang again. He looked at the screen of his phone, and a new look sprawled over his face. The look of anger. As he answered the phone, his demeanor changed completely. He was no longer a happy go lucky guy. And his conversation only seemed to only consist of one word. Yes.

"Sorry. I actually gotta go too. I have an arr-angement."

"Hey, no prob-"

He walked away, leaving me to wonder who called him to change his attitude so quickly.