Old Love

Her hazel brown hair is what caught my eye.

Sure, many strangers could have hazel hair. Really, 11% of the world does, but I knew it was her.

Her long hair fell onto her shoulders, hints of strained blonde from the many attempts of bleaching. From what I'd remembered, each time she tried to bleach it, her hair seemed to have some kind of coating against the chemical.

She would call me at 3 in the morning just to tell me about some idea she'd had. Some thought towards her writing. Her poetry.

I would groan into the speaker each time, and she would chuckle before telling me anyways. Each thought something random. Really, really, really random.

Her style's the same.

Her clothes give the same feeling from years ago.

She wears jeans, long mom jeans, with a worn look. Patches and holes near the knee. Not many can pull that look off, but she can. She always has.

I watch as she turned around, giving me a look of confusion as she notices me staring. She waves lightly, and I toss a smile before her eyes widen.

Had she remembered me?

She glances back down at the pile of oranges before placing two more inside the bag, quickly turning to her cart and laying it inside.

A lump of spit sat in my throat, my mind instantly regretting the memories ever rewinding throughout my mind.

My head wanders back down, my eyes searching the rack of chips before a grab a bag. The bag crinkles as I place it within the center of my basket.

Looking back up, I glance back to where she'd been, nothing but a crowd of other people within sight.

So, that's it, huh?

I look the other way as a young woman with braided hair gives me a look, signalling it was time to leave.

I got what I needed. Chips, dip, beer, soda, and pizza. Done. Everything on the list's taken care of.

So why do I feel like I'm missing something?

Like I've missed a clue, some kind of important piece of this trip?

Walking towards the self checkout, I begin taking my things out the bag. Scanning each item before putting it into the plastic bag.

Chips.

Dip.

Beer.

Soda.

Pizza.

Total? $36.71.

My hands reach towards my wallet before I pull a wadded twenty and ten, quickly putting it into the cash in the module.

The screen says I need six more dollars. "Crap," I mutter, patting my sides as I quickly realize this.

I'd only brought 20.

Enough to cover the pizza, beer, and soda. If my brother noted he'd need the chips and dip ahead of time, I would've brought more than a measly 20.

The ten? Some random cash I found in my pocket.

"You alright?" A voice asks beside me.

There it is.

A voice I remember from so long ago.

A voice that would calm me within seconds, and very obviously still does.

Looking over, I notice her.

Her same brown hair draped across her shoulder as she leans towards me.

I lick my lips before replying, my heart pounding in my chest, reminding me of when I'd first met her.

"Yea, I'm good. Just need an extra six dollars," I mutter, pointing towards the screen.

"And 71 cents," She adds on before burrowing into her purse. I smile awkwardly before she hands me the change. "There," She smiles. "Thanks," I reply, quickly inserting the few coins before the cash.

Grabbing the recipt, I rip the bag from the rack before shoving the paper inside, quickly grabbing my phone as I toss the bag across my shoulder.

A new message from my brother, Jack, rests in my inbox, unread.

JACK| Hey, everyone's here. Where are you?

Looking up from the screen, I walk through the automatic doors before heading outside and across the street.

The parking lot's empty, aside from a few remaining cars including mine.

I open the passenger's door, toss the bag aside, and insert my key into ignition as I place my foot onto the pedal when I see her, again.

No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to just leave.

I can't do it, not again.

My eyes watch as she walks towards a silver honda, the lights flashing as it unlocks. Opening my door, I quickly get out, jogging toward her as she begins putting the many bags into her trunk.

"I didn't need help, really," She begins speaking, closing the door before looking up. She freezes in her sentence as she notices me.

She roughly swallows before her hands land onto the handle of the cart, pushing it towards the cart collector. "I don't know if you remember me?" I begin, my hands harrowing towards my neck as I speak. She doesn't respond, but instead stops in front of me. She looks up, my height just the same as before.

"Yea," She mutters. "Okay," I say, my arms now falling beside me.

"So, how've you been?"

I ask, and she doesn't say anything.

She just stares into my eyes, my heart slowly beating faster and faster.

"I've been good," I note, listening as I now begin to ramble.

"Never thought I would see you again," I chuckle unsurely.

She licks her lips before a small smile peeks through.

"I thought that, too."

She bites her top lip before saying anything else.

"Well, it was nice-"

I stop speaking, her lips interlocking mine.

I could push her away, ask if she's single, and if this is even okay, but I can't. I physically can't.

Her lips are warm, her hands give me chills as they trail along my neck. Everything begins rushing back to my mind.

The day we met. The day I asked her out. Our dates. Prom. Graduation.

The day she had to leave me.

But all of the sadness escapes my body that very moment.

That very moment she asures me that she'd never forgotten.

Never.