"Purple or blue?" She asks.

"How about...neither?"

Samantha groans in frustration.

"You already forced me to get three shirts! How many shirts does one person need?!"

"More than three!!" She exclaims. "You aren't adding onto anything, you need an entire wardrobe! Are you just going to wear the three same shirts forever?"

"Until I get a job, yes! You aren't paying for an entire wardrobe."

"My goodness you insufferable woman!" A mother and child look at her strangely, she smiles at them before turning back to me. "I have a job. I have money. You do not." She over pronounces each word, "I will give you clothes, food and a roof until you do not need my help."

"But-"

"Both? Good choice." She stuffs both shirts in the cart and marches toward the jean section.

We walk out of the mall carrying way too many bags for my taste. In the car Samantha tells me we need to stop at Trader Joe's, because "They have the only acceptable potatoes" or something along those lines.

She goes to grab a basket and tells me to grab some carrots. As I am grabbing the carrots, someone walks past me. He looks familiar somehow, but he is facing the opposite direction. He turns to the side and I place him.

The dark skin, short hair, dress clothes, Andy Warhol glasses, even the same leather satchel.

Paul. Paul Harte.

~

Muffling a squeak, I walk as fast as I can away without drawing attention to myself.

Sam raises an eyebrow. "What's up?"

"I think I just saw Paul Harte."

"Pristine Paul Harte?" She gapes.

"The one and only." I confirm.

"What'd you say to him."

"Nothing obviously, that would be socializing."

"You are socializing right now."

"You don't count. You don't judge, I could tell you I want to marry I turtle, and you'd help me plan the wedding."

"Ah, yes. True friendship." She sighs, "But you've known him since freshman year!"

"I haven't talked to him in ten years though."

"So?" She asks.

"So?" I repeat.

"Do you not realize who you are talking to at the moment? I have never had a boyfriend, how I am supposed to help?"

"I don't know. You are like four months older than me. Doesn't that mean you are all knowing?"

"Basically in every subject except for guys." She admits, "But I am pretty sure step one is talk to the person."

"...Or... I can avoid the situation altogether!" I chime.

She rolls her eyes, "Whatever, your loss."

We continue on, and luckily avoid him.

...Until we are in line.

Samantha suddenly realized when she asked me to grab milk, I had gotten cows milk, not almond. And being a vegan, she couldn't possibly survive with regular milk. She ran back to the dairy section, abandoning me in line.

That's when Paul walks up behind me.

Wonderful.

I hang my hair over my shoulder, making a makeshift wall. I continue loading food onto the conveyor belt.

Samantha returns, holding the milk like a trophy. "Em, grab some gum, will you?" She asks while typing something into the pin pad.

I cringe, hoping Paul isn't watching. Careful to keep my back to him, I turn around and, being the klutz I am, I accidentally dump the entire rack of gum onto the floor.

"Smooth, Em, real smooth." Samantha says, her head in her purse.

Paul, geez why did I pick such a nice guy, kneels down to help me pick it up. He hands me some, looking up at me.

Then he drops it. His mouth hangs open. He shakes his head and picks it up again. "I'm sorry, it's just, you look a lot like a girl I used to know."

"Oh, what a coincidence?" I laugh nervously and increase the speed I pick up the gum.

We put them all back on the rack and I quickly return to my spot in line.

Samantha looks slightly more stiff, though I can't imagine why, I am the one with my ex standing behind me.

We check out, and are at her car, talking about Paul, when I hear him.

"Ember?"

I whip around. Paul is standing directly behind me, carrying some bags. "I didn't think it was you, but when I overheard you say my name... What is-"

"I'm sorry," I say, "I think you have me confused with someone else, my names Emily, not Ember."

I don't know why I am lying, but it flows so easily.

"But I heard you say my name..." He turns to Sam, "You, you look familiar too but I don't know why."

"Maybe you have seen my channel? I don't know where else you would know me from." She lies.

"Maybe... I don't know..." He turns back to me, "I mean, you look exactly, like exactly, like one of my old friends. But you can't be, she died."

"I'm sorry for you loss," I say, "But her almonds are getting warm. It was nice to meet you, Paul."

I mentally slap myself. Dang it, dang it, dang it!!

His eyes light up, "I didn't tell you my name."

I sigh in defeat. "I know."

"Are you Ember?"

"I'm sorry, Paul. I wanted to spare you as much confusion as possible."

"Well that plan obviously failed. I thought you were dead! I saw your body, I went to your funeral, I was given Chewbacca!"

"You have Chewie?"

"What? No, he died like five years ago. But that's not the point! You. Died. How?"

"Sorry to interrupt, but she wasn't lying. My almonds are getting warm. Do you mind if you have this conversation somewhere besides a parking lot?"

In the end, it is decided Paul and I will go to his apartment...Alone.

Is it just me or does that just scream assault?

Oh well.

----------------------------------------------

Sorry it took so long to update. I finally got out of my reading slump and have just been devouring books. (We Were Liars, Lord of Shadows, Pride and Prejudice, and now, Fangirl)

Whoops. *Shrugs* I'll try to figure out a better schedule...