Greer sighed as she headed to the store. It had been five days since the shopping insanity and the boys were all very insistent on what she should and should not wear out. Right now, she was wearing the pink frilly blouse and one of the new pairs of jeans that Dewi helped her get. Dewi had said she should try wearing it out so she could feel more comfortable in it, and the others had agreed. “Plus, what if you see Officer Cutie today, hmmm? Or maybe it’ll make you feel confident enough to CALL HIM.”

Greer relented when that was said. It had been a few days since she tried to text him. Obviously, something went wrong, but Greer was nervous about looking creepy to him. She wondered if men ever stressed this much about talking to a girl. It didn’t seem like it most of the time to her, but Greer had heard stories from the boys about them talking to each other. As Greer walked around the store getting the things, she wanted for lunch this week, she pulled out her phone. Really… she was out and about. She wasn’t getting anything cold yet. She could happen to call him and maybe just happen to meet up with him during a break? Maybe grab some snacks… hey, maybe she’d see him as she left the store after calling him. She was so excited about this idea she missed the feeling of sliding. Some part of her noticed but... Well…

As she was about to hit call, her phone started ringing instead.

Johnson hadn’t heard back from Ms. Greer and was starting to worry. Not being able to hold off any longer, he picked up his phone and started to dial her number as he waited for the cashier to grab him a pack of cigarettes from behind the counter. He bit his lower lip as he waited for a response, obviously nervous and scared. Finally, the call connected and he heard her voice.

“Uh, hello? Greer Smith speaking.” She silently cursed, she knew it was his number why was she acting like she didn’t have a clue.

The husky voice from the other side was like honey and music combined in his ear. “Ms. Smith? This is Officer Bardoe. I wasn’t sure if you got my voicemail asking how you were holding up, so I decided to try calling again…” He silently cursed to himself. Why did he have to sound so professional?

Greer smiled and started walking down another aisle. “Uh no I didn’t…. I guess you didn’t get my text? I um had some drama… work gave me a new assignment, special project, and um… my phone sorta… fried. Kind of almost caught on fire. Then I needed to get some things…. And yeah… sorry.” Greer was now convinced she sounded like an insane, hot mess. There was no way he was going to believe all that.

“Oh wow. This really has been a month for you hasn’t it… I’m just glad you seem to still be mostly OK… I heard about the hospital visit, and had gone to see how you were fairing, but you had already been discharged…” Johnson almost thought he heard an echo from her end, but had decided that it was just him hearing things and wishing them to be true.

Greer dropped some cans in the aisle she was in and started to pick them up. “Shit! Uh sorry so… you heard about that huh? Guess your buddies told you?” She was praying to all that was good and holy in this world to not have had HIM be the one at the scene when she was out cold. The sound echoed through the store and the phones.

Johnson cocked his head at the noise and got distracted, so he started to say the first thing on his mind. “Yeah, I really started to panic and had took an early break to rush to be by your side.” Johnson immediately shut himself up when he realized what he had admitted out loud.

Greer tried to quickly pick everything up. She was sliding… she was sliding nononono… this as the worst time for something to go wrong. Oh god it was gonna go wrong and she couldn’t even figure out how right now. “That’s really sweet, sorry for the noise… you caught me shopping. Ran out of some lunch basics…” Really, really now Greer? You were going to talk PACKED LUNCHES?!

“Wow, I’m also shopping!” Johnson laughed. “My friend who is a detective sent me out to pick him up more cigarettes while he is on a stake out.”

Greer stood up, going around the next corner. That’s it, she’s stressed. She decided to pick up some soda. She didn’t notice how wobbly the shelves were as she looked. “Really? Huh! Small world.” Greer saw a flavor she hadn’t seen before. Olive? She bent down to take a look.

“Indeed.” Johnson noticed one of the shelves wobble slightly in front of him and hurried to see what was on the other side in case someone might need help in a moment.

Greer was still incredibly worried something was going to go wrong. She started to stand up and saw him. “Uhhh…hi...” Her voice echoed between the two phones, distracting her for a moment. She then saw a boy behind Johnson, just out of martial arts, kicking and her eyes went wide. Oh no, not now! Johnson saw her eyes glowing bright green just as the kid kicked the shelves, causing the shelves to fall and the soda with it behind her. It was an explosion of soda everywhere, and all over her pretty,

pink, fluffy blouse. She just stood there as she got covered, no point in fighting it after all. It was already done.

Johnson quickly tried to cover Greer from the explosion of soda, but he couldn’t shield her from most of it due to the angle he was coming from. All he could do now was slip off his leather jacket and place it on her shoulders. Since he also worked out for his job it was slightly large on her.

Greer let out a long slow breath. She looked at him, dark cola running out her hair and face.

Johnson couldn’t help himself and let out a chuckle. “At least you are now as sweet as you are on the inside.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. Greer decided to hell with it… just tell him. “So…. this is probably a 3rd date thing here but um…. Hi… Im Greer Smith…. My power is good and bad luck on myself. I have trouble controlling it when nervous...Nice to meet you… Um… now what?” She laughed again; this entire thing was just crazy. She wasn’t even sure he’d hang around after this.

“Well Greer Smith, I believe this is the moment that I, Johnson Bardoe, ask you out on a proper date. Can I bring you to an aquarium this Saturday?”

She smiled. “Yeah, but, ah first…” she chuckled. “You are covered… do you live anywhere near here?”

“Actually yeah, it’s within walking distance from here. I don’t go home for very long usually since I’m always working, but I definitely have clothes I can change into. I might even have something for you since my older sister is always leaving a spare set of clothes at my place.”

“Oh uh, no really I normally buy from the men’s rack… fits my frame better.” Greer made a muscle. Johnson tried to keep his cool as she did that. “And I live in walking distance too…. I’m gonna go. I’ll get one of the bros to get my stuff later… can’t stand being sticky. Call in maybe… an hour to set up the time? Assuming my phone doesn fry again.” She started walking out, chuckling as he followed.

Johnson smiled wide. “That sounds great, we’ll figure it out then.” He held the door open for her as the poor store clerk went over to deal with the mess, debating on just closing up for the day.

As they kept walking, Greer got about halfway home before she looked to Johnson. Had he been walking with her the whole way? She had looked rather girly both times, maybe he thought she was, what’s the word… dainty? Of course, at this point maybe he was worried she’d get hit by a car. “I promise, I really am fine. You don’t have to come all the way.”

Johnson looked a bit awkward. “I promise my apartment really is this way.”

After a few minutes they both ended up at the same door. Greer looked. “Um this is my stop… almost anyway.”

He looked surprised. “... This is my stop.” Johnson realized with the talk about trying to visit her and following her home he had to look like a stalker. He fumbled with his wallet, desperate not to look bad after this whole thing. Greer waited and looked at the license, she almost felt a twinge of something being released her in mind.

He had been living on the first floor, back hall this entire time.