You Should Get The Concept Now (Present Day);

"Wow. Now, I feel kind of guilty. Sorry for putting all those bags on you, girl. The shoe sale was calling Eliza's name. You know how she is about shoes." Monica apologizes as she pulls her black hair back into a ponytail and politely grins.

We continue watching the movie as I think things through. Holding their bags doesn't bother me much anymore because they left me with a little company. I wasn't holding the bags alone.

Just wish that same company responded to me.

I groan and wish for them to talk to me. I can't go check my phone because the girls are here; they are my company now.

"Well, what did you want to talk about, Kassie? What was your announcement?"

My hand slides down my face and I'm about to tell her until "Liz, she just met a new friend and a possible man at the movies a while ago. Nothing too special."

Glad she was listening but she's just downplaying my story. How nice of her, right?

Well, Eliza's so excited about my new 'man' that she hugs me with so much strength. She wants to know more about this guy, probably to see if he's the right fit for me. You'd think she'd want to smash but Eliza doesn't do that when it comes to her friends. Big 'Girl Code' believer.

"Talk to us about him, Kassie. What's he like? Does he look good? Does he make a lot of money? You know we only want the best for you."

Well, what was there to talk about? What was there to really know besides the fact that he had a girlfriend? Should we talk about that?

Because, at that time, that's what I saw at the grocery store around New Years.

It was a cold January afternoon and I went to the grocery store for a few things to cook with. My plan was to cook some chicken alfredo with a good salad and wine. This was one of the few days I had off so I cherished every minute of it.

Walking around with the buggy, I went to the produce section first. It didn't hurt to have a few healthy options around the house. The deli was right across the way and a few friends, from high school, waved at me. All coupled up with kids.

I waved back shyly and kept looking for some fruits, something to snack on during my breaks at work. My eyes caught sight of a lovely couple, searching for meats. They looked familiar but wasn't worth the stare.

It wasn't until I heard the familiar voices and I took a second look. They were arguing over what kind of meat to use for their spaghetti. You could still see the knot but it shrunk since the theatre. Poor guy, I still felt so bad but what else could I do?

My favorite healthy drink was sitting right in front of me and I picked it up before going to a different aisle. This drink was filled with vegetables, fruit, and rich vitamins so plenty of bottles were needed.

My ice cream was running out and I needed a few frozen meals so I end up in the frozen section. My eyes searched for some chocolate ice cream and found the best one sitting in a freezer in front of me.

Grabbing a carton of chocolate ice cream, a familiar smell brushed past my nose. A woodsy scent with a hint of mint around the frozen section? That was odd.

I turned to see that one girl I bumped into at the mall...and the festival. Same look but different clothes. Long-sleeved shirt, sweatpants, with some tennis shoes on. Her curly black hair was pulled back with a few hairs falling close to her ears. She was laughing with a friend of hers while holding a frozen meal.

She wasn't looking at me but why am I seeing people I've bumped into and had bad experiences with? Could it have just be my bad eyesight? It couldn't have been a coincidence. It wouldn't be if I didn't say anything to her or actually bump into her. I just saw her.

So, I rush to grab some more ice cream, to cure my anxiousness, and look around for some frozen meals. The frozen meals I wanted were right behind her so I attempt to get some of the meals without being noticed. That was a failed attempt and we can blame my cart on that one because it bumped into hers.

This can't be a coincidence.

"Alright, I guess this is going to keep happening until we become acquainted with each other."

I sighed and folded my arms as her eyes moved up and down, studying me. Soon, she laughed out of the blue. What was so funny?

"Grab a bag of chips for me and make sure it's the ranch kind, please. I have some things to deal with right now."

'Things to deal with?' What did that mean?

As the guy walked off, she turned back to me and said "You don't even remember my name, do you?"

Do I? Doesn't it start with a K? Maybe Karen or Kari? Maybe it starts with a different letter. Could it be Dani or something?

Maybe I didn't remember and she knew I didn't because she laughed at me.

"It's Kai and I'll have to remind you...I told you so."

Yeah, she did but she didn't have to rub it in my face. If we bump into each other after this, we were going to have a problem.

"Yeah, I guess you did. Well, it was good to see you again but I have to go get some-"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Alright, but you keep leaving and see what happens. We'll find each other again somehow and, when we do, I'll say the same thing. It's bound to happen."

I swear, fate could kiss my ass.

I leaned on one of the freezer doors and fold my arms again. My lips were flatlined and I sighed. Why'd she have to be right?

"Okay, my name's Kassie. Glad to see there's still good people in this world. Now-"

"You think I'm a good person?"

That question caught me by surprise. My compliment just slipped since she did help me with the bags at the mall and offer a wet towel for me to use. I thought she was a good person.

"Are you? I don't believe I talk to bad people."

Rolling her dark brown eyes, she said "Bad people are the greatest people to talk to."

My eyebrows scrunched in confusion again. At that point, I had to go. She was talking crazy and I wasn't here to make conversation. There were groceries to get and food to make. Every minute counted.

Something stopped me from moving to a different aisle. I wondered why the hell she said that. Who gets excited to talk with bad people?

Shrugging her shoulders, she continues with "Good people never do stupid shit so they're boring to talk to. You talk to a bad person and they have all the tips and tricks to life."

I wished she stopped doing whatever she was doing with her eyes. Every movement of her eyes made me curious about what she'd say next. Plus, it's like she wants to eat me when she looks at me. Didn't know if I should walk away or continue listening.

Maybe I should walk away now.

"Well, it was good talking with you. Nice to meet you again and, hopefully, we can talk more someday."

"That can't happen without a phone number, right?"

Flirty eyes as she stepped a little closer and I became a little too uncomfortable. Bold much since she asked for my phone number. I set myself up for that one, I guess.

"Unfortunately, I don't just pass out my number like that so-"

"That's cool. If you have nothing to do, meet me at the park tomorrow at 2pm. I heard a local popular band is playing there and they seem pretty good."

Did I have enough time to even meet her there? I was on call, that weekend, so if she wanted me to hang with her, I didn't think I'd be there at two in the afternoon. I had to work.

I exited the frozen aisle, after she's flown the coop, and moved to the alcohol section. A girl's gotta have her Moscato and Zinfandel.

Grabbing a few bottles, I looked up to see the loving couple I bumped into at the movies. They were arguing over what kind of alcohol to get. It got pretty loud but that was none of my business, hoping that they didn't get kicked out of the store.

Placing the bottles in the cart, I was about to leave until "Aye, you! Can you help us?"

Here we go again.

I walked over to the loving couple and I caught the girlfriend rolling her eyes at me. Trust me, I didn't want to be there either.

"Tell her that this jack is better than that fruity shit." The guy demanded.

"Tyler, I don't drink that mess. I just want coolers because we'll get drunk and we may get hurt."

"That's the point, babe."

They got into it more and it made my head hurt. I broke it up with "Or! Or...and hear me out on this. You can just get both. Do you guys have enough for both?"

They nodded and smiled at each other, liking my answer. Thank goodness they liked my suggestion because I could get out of there.

Before I went to leave, the guy thanked me, winked, and blew a short kiss at me.

Damn it. I just came for groceries and I get hit on instead.

****
Ayyyyyyyeeeeeeee Yall!

Whats going on, yall?

Do you think that Kai was flirting with Kass? Or was she just trying to be nice?

What's up with Tyler though? Should a wink be a red flag?

Alright, that's all I got for now. See y'all when I see y'all because I feel my fingers tingling to write but may not because I'm tired. So, hopefully, I write something.

Love ya!