Song: I've never Felt So Alone by Labrinth
Wednesday, 1:34 am

After not eating breakfast for the rest of the week and eating cheese and crackers for lunch, it was finally time for another Wednesday night grocery spree. With two five-dollar bills and a twenty stuffed in my pocket, I smile happily at the thought of finally eating some real food this week.

The aisles of the 'Friendly Market' are bare once again as I stroll down the produce section. My headphones are plugged into my walkman and I hum to the familiar songs as I examine the tomatoes. I pick out three, placing them in a plastic bag and drop them into my cart.

I rock on my feet to the rhythm of the soft song and glide to the freezer section, peering into the cold freezers. Hmmm, should I get some frozen waffles?

I open up the door and reach for the waffles at the top of the shelf, standing on my tip-toes and trying to stretch my 5'4 self. My fingers unsuccessfully grasp the cold air, inches from reaching the box of Eggo waffles. I huff and slouch back onto my feet, looking around the aisle for something to step on.

"A-ha!" I exclaim as my eyes zero in on an empty frozen pea box at the end of the aisle. I rush over and grab two boxes, placing them on the floor in front of the waffle and pancake freezer. I stack them carefully on top of each other before carefully stepping on them, watching my feet and slowing down when I begin to wobble.

I quickly gain my balance and finally reaching the bag of waffles but just as I'm about to step off the two boxes I hear a cough behind me.

Startled I jump, the boxes shaking underneath my feet. One of the boxes slips underneath my feet, causing me to fall for the second time in front of Tyler. My body falls on top of the boxes, crushing them as peas roll in all directions.

I guess they weren't empty after all.

I rub my sore butt and shut my eyes. I can't look at Solo right now, it's too humiliating. Just smile, just laugh it off.

I let out a shaky laugh, my smile faltering in embarrassment.

I feel two strong arms circle around my waist as Solo pulls me back onto my feet, I shakily grab his shoulders before dusting myself off and looking up at him with a sheepish smile.

"Thank you," I say, proud of how my voice isn't shaky but rather steady and confident. He nods before looking down at the floor and then back to me.

"This is the second time you've made a mess in this store." He says with a sigh, shaking his head, but I don't miss the amusement in his eyes.

"Haha...Yeah. I'm really clumsy." I laugh awkwardly, my cheeks heating up in embarrassment.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm not dead, so I'm okay."

His eyes scan my face before looking at something behind me, his ears turning red. I glance behind me and see a stack of toilet paper. Why was he blushing over toilet paper?

"Five dollars should fix the mess," he grunts, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Oh," I say frowning before covering it up with a smile, "Yeah, sorry-um here," I say while digging out one of my five-dollar bills from my jacket pocket. He takes the money before watching as I awkwardly stare at him, waiting for him to say something.

"So, you got the marker off your face!" I say, trying to break the weird silence.

"Yeah, it took a while," He looks at me before seeming to relax and let out a small smile. "I practically scrubbed my face off."

Well it still looks perfect, I think to myself.

Suddenly Tyler let's out a laugh, his eyes crinkling on the sides and his head slightly tilting back in amusement.

"What?" I ask with wide eyes. Did he hear what I said? I look at him, astounded. Did I say that aloud?

Tyler glances up at the frozen 'Eggo' waffles before smirking. "It's just that you're so short," He chuckles. "You had to step on two boxes to reach the top shelf."

My eyes narrow at this and I send him a small glare. "It's not my fault, that I'm short."

"Do you need help getting something?" Tyler coughs, trying not to smile as he looks up at the frozen waffles I had been trying to get.

My eyes narrow and my lips purse. "Yeah, that would be awesome."

Tyler nods at me before moving in front of me and grabbing the bag of waffles with ease, his arm muscles flexing under his shirt.

How in the Chimichanga was he doing that?

"Did it hurt?" I ask before I can stop myself. Audrey what are you doing?

"What?" Tyler asks, his bushy eyebrows drawn in confusion.

"Did it hurt when you fell from the vending machine?" I stumble. "Cause you're looking like a snack."

Cheese and crackers. Someone please come and whack me on the head with a machete. Please, just put me out of my misery. I am so stupid, I could literally be the fourth stooge.

My cheeks heat up in a blush and I stare at Tyler's ears, too afraid to look at his face. Suddenly I hear a small chuckle and my head snaps to Tyler's face, watching as his eyes light up in amusement.

"What was that?" He asks, still holding my waffles.

"A pick up line?" I say, although it comes out as a question.

"Oh my word, that was awful."

"It wasn't that bad!" I defend, crossing my arms.

"It really was," He says with a smile, his teeth showing just a tad.

"Oh whatever," I say embarrassed, grabbing my waffles from his hand and putting them in my cart. "I'm leaving now since my pick-up lines aren't being appreciated."

I begin to walk out of the aisle, leaving Tyler by himself with the peas.

"Hey, shrimp!" I hear him call out from behind me.

"What?" I ask, looking at him with a small frown.

"You have something right there," He says, motioning towards the back of my jeans. My eyes immediately drop down to my pants and my cheeks burn as I realize I had smushed peas all over my butt.

Oh my apples.

I quickly brush off some of the mess before holding my head high and pivoting on my feet. I walk away from a laughing Tyler and pretend with all my might I don't have smushed peas on my jeans.

I walk towards the cash registers and take out the last bit of my money from my pocket, looking at the creased papers before turning to my full cart. I sigh before taking out the eggs, tomatoes, and bacon, leaving the easy and less expensive meals in the cart.

Poptarts, milk, bread, frozen waffles, frozen pizza, and Ramen noodles. That should last me for the week.

Yeah, I tell myself, it's perfectly fine. Everything is fine.

I wheel my cart to the checkout, pulling into the only one open, lane four. The same cashier from last time frowns at me as he looks at me blankly.

"Hi again!" I say happily.

Grumpy nods.

"How's your day been?" I ask while smiling to help ease the tension. He looks up from the register and stares at me with blank eyes before continuing to swipe my food slowly across the scanner.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

I stare down at my feet the rest of the time, hoping to get out of there as quickly as possible.

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When I get back to my apartment I slip my sandals off and change into an over-sized shirt and long socks. I pull my long brown hair up into a pony tail and pull out a ramen noodle pack, quickly boiling some water on the stove. Staring out of the small window above the sink I watch, waiting for the familiar white mini-van to pull into the driveway.

I quickly pour the ramen into the water and stir it, waiting for the noodles to become tender enough.

Soon enough the Ramen noodles are done and I quickly divide it into two bowls, setting them on the table with two glasses of the last of the milk from last week.

I sit down in front of my bowl and wait.

4:45

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5:00

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6:30

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7:45

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8:00

I look at the clock and sigh before pushing back my chair and collecting the cold bowl of ramen, placing it in the microwave and the glass of milk in the fridge. I then grab my bowl and shuffle my way to the living room, sitting and eating my portion while watching the front door.

I eat my food hungrily, the weeks without breakfast or lunch finally catching up on me.

When I'm finished I wash my dishes in the sink and place them neatly in the dishwasher. I slouch back into the cushions of the worn couch before snuggling up with a thin blanket, placing one earbud in my ear, leaving the second one to dangle.

I close my eyes and place my head against the couch arm, I try to quiet the voices, the thoughts. I try to sleep.

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