It's Been A While Miss America

A Chapter by Allie-Shea

The drive seemed to drag out as my clouded and dysfunctional mind reminded me of every single mistake I had ever made...ever. Though, nothing seemed to seem as terrible as what I said to Alaska.

Honestly, I couldn’t even picture what expression was on that sweet face of her’s...actually I don’t think I even wanted to.

Pulling into the Walmart parking lot I let my dark sad eyes look around before I got out of the car. Locking it I hooked the keys onto my belt loop and sauntered into the store.

I grabbed a shopping cart and looked at the list in front of me. Focusing on only that. “Vanilla soy milk,” I repeated softly. Walking to the back of the store to the dairy products I grabbed the carton and placed it into the gray cart. “Cheerios,” I now said and pushed the cart to that isle. While off in my stressed out daze I bumped into someone. “Sorry,” I said in a hollow tone while.

A soft voice spoke up and pulled my attention.

“Tony?” the girl said in slight shock. When I turned around I saw her. The all American girl. Brown hair, brown eyes, slightly tanned skin, very plain, but attractive none the least. “Emily?” I questioned. It had been a while since I saw her she called me a lot, but usually I was too busy or tired to answer.

She smiled warmly and pulled me into a strawberry scented hug. Her brown eyes lit up with a spark of happiness and she laughed, “Where’ve you been! We haven’t talked in forever!” she chimed. I wasn’t sure what to reply with. Everything that was the truth was terrible in far too many different ways.

I was ignoring your calls, Emily. Why? Oh, because that girl, you know Alaska, hates you...and well...I’m pretty sure I love the b***h.

Or maybe this sounded better:

Eh...you know getting beat up by everyone. Hanging out with the wrong group of people. Getting lung cancer from second hand smoke. Oh, and most importantly...chasing after a girl that several other guys are chasing after as well. Here’s the catch to that last one, so way out of my league.

Without a doubt saying anything even along those lines was an absolute no. She looked at me waiting for an answer. Standing there awkwardly I put a box of whole grain cereal into the cart and replied, “Studying really. Staying out of trouble and trying to not get killed.”

She laughed for a moment assuming that I was joking, but the serious expression on my face told her everything.

I was not joking.

One the silence took over and filled the gap between me and Miss America I turned around and went on my way. The next item on the list was the fruit infused granola bars. Just as I was about to go to the next isle I felt a sharp jerk on my right shoulder as a small hand gripped it and pulled me back. Turning around I saw Emily’s deeply frustrated brown eyes staring right at me, “Meet me in the school parking lot at 4:30...try not to be late,” she whispered then sauntered away.

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