7| Candy shop
It was about 6 in the evening and I was craving candy. All types of it. Gummy bears, sour candy, hard candy, sticky candy, the kind that sizzles on your tongue, Pop Rocks. You know what I'm talking about.
"Mom!" I called out, standing up from the couch. We were lucky to get the house fully furnished before we bought it and the fact that we bought it rather than leased it out suggests that we'll be here for a while.
"Yeah, honey?" she called back out from the kitchen.
"I'm going to the candy shop," I said while heading for the front door.
I decided to walk cause the store I'm talking about isn't too far from here.
It's called Candyland, boring, I know. But this store has been there since I was a kid and it sells all kinds of sodas and candy. It's basically a little kid's paradise.
"What? Candyland? Oh, bring me some," she chuckled. I told her okay and then pulled my slides on, heading for the store. When I walked in there, I saw the same man. He's really old now, whoa.
"Mr. Tommy?" I asked, that's the name he goes back.
"Yes, dear?" he smiled. He eyed me for a minute in confusion before recognition took over his features. "Oh, Emma Hayden, isn't that right?" he laughed.
I nodded, grinning at him, "I'm back. You still keep my favorite candy all the way at the back?" I asked.
"Sure do," he nodded, "Welcome back to town, kiddo."
"Thank you," I chuckled, walking back over to the store.
All the good candy, the ones I was talking about, he keeps back here.
It's something I feel like only his elite customers know about, aka, me.
I grabbed the gummy bears off the first shelf, easy.
Then I grabbed Sour Patch Kids, Warheads, then I grabbed 5 packs of Pop Rocks, I think I've rediscovered my obsession for them.
"Wow, you're a candy junkie too?" I jumped, looking up and seeing Nathan.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Getting candy," he deadpanned.
"Really? I had no idea." I rolled my eyes and grabbed the last of the candy I wanted.
"You enjoy Pop Rocks that much?" he asked, following me to the counter.
"Yes, I enjoy Pop Rocks that much," I said, placing the pile of candy on the counter.
"Looks like you're making up for all the years you missed," Tommy chuckled.
"I sure am," I smiled before turning to Nathan. "So, what are you really doing here? Other than feeding your candy obsession?" I glanced at the pile of candy in his arms as well. He took more Warheads than anything else. "You like sour candy?"
"You like candy that sizzles and pops on your tongue," he said accusingly.
"I didn't say liking sour candy was a bad thing, geez." I cleared my throat, turning to Tommy, noticing the way he turned up the radio when Candy Shop played.
"Still with that sad old joke, Tommo? Playing Candy Shop inside a Candy Shop?" Nathan asked.
He shrugged, moving around, dancing slightly while putting all my candy in a bag. "Thank you," I smiled, tipping him $15. I haven't seen the guy in years. I don't why, but even after my check out, I waited for Nathan.
"Can I help you?" he asked, taking money out and placing it on the counter.
"No," I shrugged.
He eyed me weirdly before taking all his candy in the bag. "Thanks," he nodded. He then turned to me, probably wondering if he made a mistake becoming friends with me.
I rolled my eyes at him, turning to leave but singing along to the song while pulling out one pack of Pop Rocks.
"So seductive, I'll take you to the Candy Shop," I mumbled, ripping the packet open with my teeth.
"I'll let you lick the lollipop," I scoffed.
The lyrics are so pathetic, why was this song ever a bop?
I turned and saw Nathan eyeing me, half with confusion, half with amusement. "Do you want any?" I offered.
"No thanks," he shook his head. We started walking the same way but in utter silence. The only thing I could hear was the Pop Rocks in my mouth. After about 5 minutes of walking, I realized he was still walking beside me.
I halted in my steps, turning to him when it dawned on me. "Are you walking me home?" I asked, biting back a smile.
"No, this is my way home too," he shrugged.
"Whatever you say," I shrugged. This may be his way home or it may not, but either way, he's indirectly walking me home, one way or another. "You're walking me home," I teased, linking my arm with his.
"No, I'm not, don't touch me," he said, pulling his arm out of mine.
I sighed, rolling my eyes, walking with him in the silence of my popping Pop Rocks. When we reached my house, he stopped too. If he was really just walking home himself, he wouldn't stop, he would have kept walking.
"Not walking me home, my ass," I laughed, walking up to my driveway. When I got to the front door and turned around to see him, he was now walking away, when I had already opened the door.
"Looked like he was making sure you were safe," my mom said as I entered the kitchen.
"Why were you watching?" I questioned.
"I was curious. By the way, your dad's coming home tomorrow," she said nonchalantly.
"Really? What time?" I asked, getting excited at seeing him. It's been 3 weeks since I last did.
"By 6 in the evening." Now, I shall look forward to 6 in the evening tomorrow.
"You've brought a lot of candy, do you think you'll be able to eat dinner after that? Or do I have to go back to taking your candy away?" she chuckled.
I eyed her for a minute before sighing in defeat, "Okay, we'll just save the rest of that for later," I said, pushing the bag away.
We had dinner and then talked for a little bit and then I went up to my room and my mom went into hers after I finished helping her with dishes.
I went to the bathroom where I changed into my pajamas, washed my face, and brushed my teeth first and then came out to my room where I went over to my desk first to grab a book to read because I wasn't sleepy just yet but I didn't want to do anything else.
I looked out the window where I saw someone walking around.
They seemed familiar. Then I saw the beer bottle in his hands, the cigarette in the other, and then I noticed the hoodie.
"Oh no, don't tell me it's you, Nathan," I mumbled under my breath.
I looked at the frame of the window, noticing the latch.
I pushed it open and then the window, sticking my head out to get a closer look.
"Don't fucking fall out, Emma," I told myself, holding onto the frame of the window tightly.
Judging from the way he's stumbling around, trying to walk in a straight line but failing, I'd say he's drunk.
"Oh, um, crap, uh, Nathan!" I called out, my heart falling out of my chest when he almost fell onto the road, off the sidewalk just as a car drove by him.
He caught himself when I called out his name and looked around in confusion.
"Shit, shit, shit, why am I the one always finding you in trouble?
" I asked myself. I pulled on my flip flops and ran downstairs.
"I have to go, I'll be back in one second!
" I called out, running out the front door.
I turned to the right where he was still stumbling but he was now spinning around a lamp post. I huffed, walking up to him. "Nathan!" I scolded.
"Hi," he grinned, and holy shit, his smile. His smile is seriously one of the prettiest things I've seen.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Spinning around a lamppost," he answered.
I grabbed onto his arm and pulled him away from the lamp post. "You uh, I think you've had enough," I said, taking the beer bottle and tossing it in the trash. "Of both those things," I said, snatching the cigarette and killing that as well. He stood there staring at me for a long time.
"Can you walk me home?" he asked. He seemed to be sobering up little by little now that more alcohol wasn't being poured into his system.
"Yeah, uh, tell me the way," I said, holding his arm tightly.
"It's just three houses down," he slurred over his words. "You're very nice, Emma," he said, holding my hand.
"Yeah, you're uh, you're welcome, no biggie," I chuckled awkwardly. "That one?" I asked, looking up what I'm assuming is his house.
"Mm," he nodded, letting my hand go and heading for the door, but tripping over the first two steps. I caught him again, leading him up to the front door and ringing the doorbell.
His father, I think, answered. He sighed, looking at Nathan with anger, frustration, and mostly disappointment. "I'm very sorry," he apologized.
"That's okay, I'm Emma, by the way, his friend, is he um, will he be okay?" I asked while his dad took him inside.
"Oh, you're his friend?" he asked, seeming surprised.
"Yeah, I'm a new friend," I smiled.
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