6) The Secret Smoothie Society

The best types of shops are the ones that are open until the early morning. Take Kmart as an example. If I want to buy a fuzzy cushion, a box of plastic balls and a mug with a corgi in a Thor costume printed on the front I can acquire this at 11:30 at night if desired.

But then again, nothing good comes out of decisions made after 9 pm.

When Sasha suggests that we get a drink after work my mind immediately goes to a family sized bottle of chocolate milk from the convenience store. She has other ideas.

The bright neon sign shines in the dark night, lighting up the surrounding buildings.

I pause at the door when I recognise where we are. "Smoothies. No, it's too late to drink blended fruit."

"Come on it not that bad. My main man Kyle is here," Rolling her eyes ushering me into the store which has some overplayed pop song playing in the background. The vibrant colours and tapestries on the wall clash with the white fluorescent lights. Shops should not be this bright at this time of night.

The guy behind the counter gives me a friendly wave while filling the straw dispenser. I don't trust him.

"Is this the part when you reveal you're actually a psychopath who has a dead body in the boot of your car and you need me to help burying it? Well too bad, I don't do physical activity."

I'm surprised to hear her laugh at my refusal "Chill your beans dude, we're here to obtain a well-deserved iced beverage for all our hard work."

"We refilled the chocolate fountain and ate all the leftover canapes."

She winks "Exactly. Hard work. Now pick something, I'm buying." my eyes wander to the large menu listed in front of us.

I skim over the menu scanning my limited options, "Are there any drinks without fruit in them? Like a normal chocolate thick shake or even frozen yoghurt would be nice?" I ask now looking at the display shelf of paleo snacks.

"If you don't like a something just ask them not to put it in the drink and they can add cacao powder if you want a chocolaty flavour." She suggests after ordering herself a 'blooming green machine' drink.

Hesitating, I take a step towards the counter which has a splatted paint effect that gives the illusion of spilt smoothies. "Oh hi, can I get the protein punch smoothie but without the strawberries, chia seeds, Kale, dates or yoghurt?"

Kyle blinks. Lifting his eyes from the computer screen to stare at me. "So you want Oreos, peanut butter and milk?"

"Yes. You see, I have fructose intolerance. Which mean no fruit or vegetables otherwise I'll become bloated like a balloon."

He pauses for a second then gives a forceful smile saying 'I'd rather be anywhere but here' "Sure. What type of milk would you like?"

"I have options?"

"Skim, lactose-free, soy, almond, macadamia, rice, coconut-" he says with a bored tone.

"What's next, yak milk?" I joke.

The blank expression is as close as I get to laughter, "We don't get that in until next week."

"Okay. Can I just get normal milk? The one that preferably comes from a cow. Oh but not skim, I don't trust cows that produce healthy milk."

He shakes his head while putting through my order without a word. Tough crowd.

After collecting from Kyle we thank him and making our way to a booth in the middle of the surprisingly not empty shop. Who knew smoothies at midnight were a thing?

Sasha takes her straw out and licks off the green smoothie, "So tell me about yourself Mackenzie."

"I'm not the most interesting human. I like eating, sleeping, writing and reading books in my bed to avoid socializing with people." A sluggish slurping sound is made when I attempt to drink mock Oreo and peanut butter milkshake. The sound draws attention to us from the customers and staff.

This is when I start to notice Sasha fidgeting with the napkins dispenser as she keeps glancing from the door to her wrist. Looking at he the door all I can see is Kyle hanging up a new sign advertising frozen avocado.

"You keep looking at your watch." I watch as her gaze falls back on me.

"Do I? I didn't notice." She says slightly dazed "Guess I just keep losing track of the time."

I scoff leaning forward over the table. "I know that look. What are we waiting-"

Sasha tugs my body under the table suddenly taking me and my smoothie by surprise. It is a well-known fact that gravity and I don't always get along very well, so it's no shock when I hit my elbow hard on the table and spill my milkshake over the ground.

The only type of warning she gives id yelling "DUCK" which only makes our spot more obvious.

Trying to keep calm is very hard when you're covered in milk "Who just came in? It's the police, isn't it? I knew I attracted the crazy people." I mutter the last park under my breath.

"Shhh. He'll hear you." she pokes her head out from the side of the seat, her dark braids falling down the side of her face.

"Sasha, I've got no clue who you're talking about, a bit of background would be nice."

A wide cheesy smile infects her face. "Okay so there is this guy that always comes into this place every day and I've made an executive decision that we are going to get married."

"Does he know that?" I ask suspiciously. When I'm tempted to look over my shoulder to scout out the new guy I'm pulled back to the plate with the giant cookie placed in front of us.

"No," she shakes her head.

I carefully inspect the cookie to make sure it has choc chips, not raisins "Have you talked to him before?"

"Twice." she says proudly "once about the rain when I 'accidentally' hit him with my umbrella and another time we had a great discussion about the best thing to eat for breakfast. I can definitely tell he could fell the spark as well."

"Are we going to discuss how you knew that he was coming in tonight?"

"Oh, that. Kyle messaged me saying he was coming to pick up a drink and muffin." She says like receiving a text alert that your crush is coming to a store is completely normal

I try to look over my shoulder to at least sneak a glance of the guy we're stalking but I am pulled back by Sasha's comment which catches my attention.

"So that guy in your picture, the one that was extremely sunburnt-"

"Lee?" I ask suspiciously, unsure of where this will lead.

She snaps her fingers as she has a lightbulb moment "Yes, Lee. That's his name. We're in the same classes at Uni, he is a total mad scientist. We've been to a few group gatherings and he brought his friend with him. It was love at first sight."

"Really?" compressing a heavy sigh is hard when you realise that you've just been dragged into something because your friend believes in fairy-tale.

"Oh but the way his eyes sparkle." Sasha's eyes glaze over and look into the light in what I'm guessing is a love-induced daydream.

I take this as my chance to finally check the mysterious guy out. I've got to say he isn't too bad to look at but he willingly comes to a smoothie shop in the middle of the night which is a big NO in my books.

"Wooh," she leans on her hands "he's a part of the triple 'S' !"

"Am I going to regret asking what the triple 'S' is?" I mummer under my breath.

"It's the Secret Smoothie Society." The excitement she has for this topic is slightly worrying "The SSS is made up of the top members of Groovie Smoothie. They get special discounts, benefits and their own secret menu with a drink named after them."

"That's pretty neat." My eyes follow him as he walks to one of the booths with a girl from behind the counter. She throws her head back in a fit of giggles after a comment he makes and finds a way to place her hand on his. "He must come here a lot."

Totally ignoring me she stands up from her seat "I agree. Let's go get a closer look and listen to what they're talking about."

"That's not a good- and you're always gone. Cool. And Zoe thought I was a crazy person."

This feels one of them crossroad moments. Do I follow my new friend over to the other side of the store and stalk her crush or do I stay here and pretend that I don't know her. The moment she craws behind the giant potted plant I know I really don't have a choice.

All for one and one for all. This is what I get for being nice and trying to make new friends.

It should be a well-known fact by now that I have as much stealth as an elephant dancing. So none.

My dreams of becoming a spy were immediately extinguished as soon as I fell down the stairs in fifth grade. And then again the following day when I tripped up the stairs.

Good times.

I awkwardly crouch and walk over to Sasha, still self-conscious about my stripy dress. It's not the most subtle outfit for snooping around in.

"Where exactly were you planning on sitting because squatting next to a plant is not the most ideal place to watch someone from," I say pulling down my skirt.

I follow her gaze to Kyle who is walking toward the table. Before I can ask what is happening she is already rolling, yes rolling, across the floor to the booth next to them.

Taking a deep breath I pray to God that I won't die. When I take a step out from behind the plant I don't take into account anyone that might be walking around. Kyle comes out of nowhere and I collide into him, rolling into a table.

It could have been worse.

Two head turn to stare down at me so I give them smile, hoping it will break the tension "Mackenzie?"

I push myself back up on my hand keeping as much dignity as possible, "Oh hey there Sam. Didn't know you came here. Just thought I'd roll into the convo and ah say hi."

The girl sitting opposite Sam stares at me perplexed. "THIS is Mackenzie? Her?" she asks the same time Sasha comes scattering over demanding how I know him.

The ten seconds of excruciating silence I start to recount all of the decision that leads to this unpredictable meeting "Sam this is Sasha. She thinks you have sparkly eyes."

He grins a million watt smile that makes Sasha lean against me for support. She better not faint on me. "It's nice to meet someone who appreciates me and my good looks" he gives me a playful glare which I barely shrug at. "I don't see it."

The other girl that seemed to be forgotten in our moment of introductions clears her throat. "Casey right?" I take her hand and shake it swiftly; she's got a tight grip that is going to crush my hand.

"Sam talks about you all the time Mary." Her smile is almost as fake as the Stiva sugar they add to the smoothies.

Sam slings an arm around my shoulder and pulls m into a bone-crushing hug. I have to stop myself from inhaling his intoxicating musky scent, "This is Mackenzie my-"

"Friend." I finish quickly to be safe. Casey looks like she wants to rip out my eyes which would be very painful. "We're close friends from school."

Sasha raises an eyebrow as Sam's smile falls.

"We should catch up sometimes."

Just as Sam is about to respond Casey tugs on his arm, "Can you drive me home. Remember you promised me a ride last time?" she twirls a piece of hair around her finger.

He looks between Casey and me. "Sure," he says following her out the door before giving me a quick glance over the shoulder as he leaves.

A throbbing pain comes from where Sasha hit me on the arm. "Did you seriously just do that? Girl, you are insane. How could you leave someone one like that with Casey?" She practically yells.

"You don't-"

"Oh, I do know. I can see it in the way he looks at you and you're the girl that Lee always talks about that Sam has been going crazy over for the past two years. I don't care that you've underestimated how much this guy likes you. You are going to his house and perform a big romantic gesture that wins back his love right this second because he needs this. I need this so can you video it for me" I push he playfully knowing she is right, I can't keep running away and avoiding the subject.

"Fine. Someone get me the free Wifi password so I can google romantic gestures."

This is going to be a long night.

Choc Chip Tip #6

Late night smoothie shops are not a good idea. Especially if they sell yak milk.

:):):)

I did it! I was on time (sort of).

I feel like a milkshake now. You deserve one as well!

Have I mentioned how awesome you are?! I hope you are having a fabulous week :)

The story is going somewhere now which is a relief!!

Lots of smoothie love

Theforgottonone