EMMA

Reaching home, I took a bath and changed out of my coffee-stained clothes. My blouse was not badly stained and other than a slight red mark on my right hand, I was fine. Well, other than my precious boots which were ruined. Thanks to that jerk!

I lay on my bed and let out a frustrated sigh. The previous events playing in my mind. Definitely a hundred percent bad day. The way he acted like an arrogant ass and the way he got escorted by the chauffeur driving a million dollars Audi, I was sure he was one of those spoiled sons of a wealthy family. It wasn't unusual to see such people drive around Greenwich Village but it was unusual seeing him in front of the cafe. CafeDelights was not a small business but it wasn't that luxurious to catch the attention of some rich guy who just wanted to have a taste of good coffee.

I guess it really was my bad luck that brought him to that place, on the same day and at that time.

"I hate him." I groaned as his smirking face flashed before my eyes. And what was that, 'Till next time, Emma'? How did he know my name? And what next time? It's not like we would meet again unless he decides to pay Cafe another visit which if he did, I would make sure to get my revenge. Maybe I would mix something in his coffee. Or what if I spill hot coffee right on him? That would be the best way to get back at him for today. I would love to see his perfectly ironed black suit mixed with the favorite black color of his coffee.

"Emma! Are you home?" I heard Alice's voice from the living room "Yup!" I shouted back and heard the clicking of her heels coming towards my room as I sat up straight.

"Get up! We are going shopping!" She grinned.

"Alice! You just came. Aren't you tired?" I looked at her shocked. One thing I had learned in the past three months I stayed with her was, never and I meant never ever go shopping with Alice Wright because you would regret the moment you stepped into the mall.

"The last time I went shopping with you, you spent two hours in one shop, and in the end, you bought only one dress." I reminded her of the time when she was stuck between choosing the right dress and how many times she went to the changing room to choose the perfect outfit for her birthday party. I swore if she had the chance to buy the whole store's stock she would have bought it.

"That wasn't my fault! They were all so pretty. It was hard to choose." She pouted like a child, making me shake my head. "No!"

"Please, Em! Please! I am leaving tomorrow," she said with puppy eyes.

"That emotional blackmailing is not gonna work here." I stood up and walked towards the living room.

"Come on, Em! It's one last time. Please please please please." She followed me to the living room, still chanting the word please in her high-pitched voice. "Please please please please."

Alice was a sweet girl but she can be annoying. Like now. Alice Wright was one of the few friends that I made since I moved to Manhattan. An over-energetic girl with curly blond hair, a petite figure with all the curves at the right places, and blue eyes.

Blue eyes. Those deep blue eyes beneath those black shades.

What the hell! What did I think of? I shook my head. This was not good.

"Okay fine! Just stop with this. You'll make me go deaf," I sighed in defeat.

"Thanks, Em! See! Works every time." She hugged me and I rolled my eyes. "You are annoying as hell. You know that?"

"Yes! And I'm proud of it." She smiled. I shook my head at her childish behavior. "You'll never grow up, would ya?"

"Nope! Never!"

"God! Let's go then." Although a part of me wanted to back away but another part of me - the wise one - thought this would be a good distraction. A good way to forget about what happened today. A good way to forget about him, his handsome face, his arrogance, and his deep blue eyes.

I hope so...

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As soon as I stepped into the next shop, I regretted agreeing to Alice and all to blame was myself. Why did I come here in the first place? Why did I even agree? Did I lose my mind for a minute? I shouldn't have come. I should have refused. The thought of hearing her continuous chattering of pleases would have been so better than this. At least then my legs wouldn't have been hurting with throbbing pain like now.

We came to the mall at six in the evening and now according to my phone, it showed ten and Alice has so far gone to ten shops. It had been four damn hours and she had just bought one dress. One fucking dress in four damn hours. I had been following her for hours and now my feet and legs were hurting like hell I was afraid I might fall on the tiled floor any minute now. I was dragging my poor body against its will.

"Alice! Just choose already." I told her for the fifth time while groaning and shifting from one foot to another. I was tired as hell! Damn! Why couldn't she just choose one?

"But which one?" She pouted, making me curse under my breath on my not-so-lucky day. Definitely! This day was a stroke of pure bad luck. I think in my all days experience, the most dreaded one might be this thing we call shopping. I don't get it. How do people so easily walk for straight six to seven hours in a mall?

"Emma! You ain't listening!"

"What? No no, I am."

Damn! Where have I gotten myself into?

"Emma! Choose." She was holding two dresses. One, a red lace dress with a neckline, and the other, a knee-length black dress.

"Just choose any." I groaned trying my best to finish with this as soon as possible. I turned my head to one side and then the other to ease the cramp in my back. "Emma, you are supposed to help me which you are not!" She retorted making me sigh in defeat. "Fine! Just take the black one."

"Are you sure?" She asked whilst taking a look at the black dress I nodded trying to convince her so we could head back home. I missed my comfy pajamas and my bed. She stood there looking between the two dresses then she gave a smile. "I will try them just one more time and you better give me an honest opinion this time."

"Hey wait—" She rushed into the dressing room before giving me a chance to say something. She left me hanging on to my poor tiny legs again. "Argh!!!" I groaned. My eyes roamed around the store to find any seat where I could sit down. It wasn't even a weekend and still, the store was crowded enough. There was no use in me protesting. So, I did the only thing I could do and that was to wait. After a few minutes, she stepped out of the changing room wearing the black dress and twirled in a circle in front of me. "So, how do I look?"

"You look great. Now, can we go?" I gave a thumbs up trying my best to leave. I just wanted to leave this hell and nothing more. Was that a lot to ask? "Emma!" She lightly yelled, making me cry inwardly at my fate. "Aaah, fine! It looks great but I think the dress could get some fitting done. Don't you think?" I stated the truth as she took a look in the mirror. "Yeah, you're right. Lemme try the other one," she said while controlling her joy and all I could do was stand there and wait for her, once again, without any choice.

I had never been a fan of shopping. It was one of the things I dreaded the most and in these three months, Alice had made me face this enemy of mine four times and I regretted it every single time. I would rather take a stroll in the park or a beach than kill my poor legs in a shopping parade.

The door of the changing room clicked open and Alice stepped out in the red silk that had her body wrapped up on all the right places showing her curves along the way. The neckline of the dress circled her porcelain neck making her shoulder blades stand out more and the red lace at the bottom reached just below her knees. The dress brought out her features making her look exceptionally beautiful and I was sure she can easily pass for a model.

"So?" She raised her eyebrows as I gave her two thumbs up with a big smile - a genuine smile.

"WOW! You look hot! This is the one. Take it!" She grinned at my compliment. "Really?!" She chirped and I nodded. "I am buying this one." She declared. Finally! A success. She changed back into her clothes, went to the cashier, and paid for it. "Thank you," she whispered to the young boy who handed her the bag.

As we stepped out of the store I inwardly thanked god that this terrifying trip was finally coming to an end. Now all we had to do was head back to our apartment where I'd embrace my comfortable night pajamas and fall into a deep and peaceful slumber. A smile formed on my lips just thinking about it until Alice's words registered in my mind. "Now where to?"

What? Did I hear her right? Where to?

"No!" I glared at her. "The only stop we are making next is our apartment." No way my legs could take another four hours of continuous walking.

"What? But I bought only two dresses. That's not enough." She pouted. "I want to buy more and we haven't even checked the cosmetics section yet. Make-up is a must!"

"Alice! You spent four hours on that and I am not spending another four for your make-up. I am leaving." Giving my final words, I headed towards the exit.

"But we've been to only a few shops," she said as I stopped mid-track and turned around. I stared at her dumbfounded. A few... She called them a few? I swear... We had gone to at least ten shops and she called that 'a few'. What was this girl? A robot?

"Emma! Look, there are plenty of other shops left," she grabbed my arm, trying her best to stop me from exiting. "We haven't stopped by them yet."

"No! I'm heading out."

"Em! My sweet sweet friend." She stood in front of me still holding onto my arm. "My best friend in the whole wide world, my-"

"Stop with your words. That's not gonna work," I rolled my eyes. "Emma!" This time, she whined. "Look! We have only been to a few... say five shops. That's not enough." A sly smile hung on her lips as she looked at me with her doe eyes.

"Five?" I glared at her. "No! Not five. Ten. Freaking ten shops." I reminded her. "And I am not entering another one."

"I promise I will pay you back! How about a date? With one of my classmates? You remember Ben? Brown short hair, chocolate-brown eyes, dimple on the right cheek? He's cute." She winked at me. "I can set you up before leaving. It's just one call away."

I scrunched my nose up. She clearly knew how I was when it came to dating. It was simple. I don't do boyfriend shits and I don't date. That's not something I could afford. Not again, not ever.

"Don't you dare! I will kill you and him and leave no mark!" I freed my arm from her grip and straightened myself.

"Fine. Fine." She waved her hand in the air, a smile still resting on her lips. "But give me one more hour and then we can leave."

What did I say? Alice was a sweet girl but sometimes can be annoying as hell, and unfortunately that sometimes was now. "One. And that's it. Consider this as your goodbye gift." I finally gave in because I knew that she won't be stepping back, not when it comes to spending her time in a mall amidst the things she love the most. Clothes, Purses, Shoes, Cosmetics, and last but not least, jewelry. Malls were practically her little heaven.

"Thanks, Em!" She hugged me and with that, I was back in hell.

By midnight, Alice was finally done. As I stepped into my room and climbed on my bed, I let out a frustrated sigh. Today was a failure. The purpose for which I went out wasn't fulfilled because as I lied down and closed my eyes, his piercing blue eyes followed by his not-so-handsome face and that smirking lips made their way to my mind. A shudder traveled through my spine as his words rang against my ears, 'Till next time, Emma!'

What does he mean next time? Did he know me? Would he be coming back? Why would there be even a second time?

Stop! Snap out of it, Emma! What has gotten into you? It's not like you'll see him again.

Right! It's not like I'd meet him again. I fell into a tiresome sleep with a promise that I wouldn't be thinking about him ever again.

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