"Boo!" I smiled; walking up to my best friend of five years at his register. Eric was working; as I had suspected; and I was in town visiting my family.
"Ashley!" He cried out; running over to hug me. My 10 year old sister was on my back (When we had gotten out of the car she had demanded a piggyback ride) but he managed to wrap his arms around my waist.
I smiled. "What's up?" I said; wrapping my arms around his neck. He smelled like Axe; something I had forgotten in the past year since I had seen him last. I kissed his cheek; which isn't something I normally would have done; but I had missed him so much.
"Nothing; working. Which is so boring I could shoot someone." I glared at him and nodded to my sister. He just smiled at her. "Hey Emily."
"Hey Eric!" She cried. She loved Eric; he was her favorite person I ever brought over to our house. Of course; I hadn't really brought anyone besides my two best friends; one guy I dated for a few months before he broke my heart; and Eric. Out of the corner of my eye I could see her pouting a bit. "How come you never come visit me anymore?"
I had to hand it to her. She took after her sister like a pro. I chuckled; and Eric smiled. "I'm sorry Em. I've been super busy with school."
"Oh." she said. "Ashley; can I go look at the candy?" I laughed and let her down; watching her run to the candy aisle.
Eric hugged me again; tighter this time. "Why didn't you tell me you were in town?" I shrugged.
"Wanted to surprise you. Nearly killed me when I talked to you these past couple weeks. I just wanted to be like 'Clear your schedule for some much needed Eric & Ashley time!'" We both laughed as he moved back to his register. Out of the corner of my eye I could see my sister still in the candy aisle.
"So when are we hanging out?" He asked; keeping an eye out for a manager.
"Whenever you want." I smiled. He grinned back.
"I'm off at eight. Give me an hour to get out of this ridiculous outfit and I'll come pick you up."
I smiled and started moving to the aisles to take my sister home. "See ya then!" I giggled.
As I stood in my full length mirror; checking my outfit for the fifteenth billion time; I bit my lip. Eric and I had been best friends since I started my sophomore year here in Illinois; moving in with my father after living with my codependent drug addict mother for several years. We ended up working at the same grocery store towards the end of my sophomore year. He was a grade ahead of me. We hit it off pretty well; talking a lot. At the time (actually; still) he hated most everyone there. His senior year, my junior year, we started hanging out outside of work. We went to different schools so we went to the football games we were versed against; hung out at each others houses; watched movies together. We talked about everything and everything; he truly was one of my best friends.
When I went away to college (5 hours away from the one he went to) we lost touch for a bit. When we came back for Christmas break we started talking again. By the time we went back to school; I was developing a crush on him. Of course; at the time I was dating a girl. So I couldn't do anything about it. We started visiting each other at school every couple weekends; and one weekend at a party we ended up making out. We were both pretty drunk; and never spoke about it again. A couple weeks later I decided to repress my feelings and focus on my schoolwork and my girlfriend. Of course we still talked; but not as often.
At the end of my freshman year I moved out east with my mom again; leaving me and Eric not seeing each other since April of my freshman year. We had talked almost daily since I had been gone; and when I made up with my dad and decided to come spend a couple weeks with him that summer; I couldn't wait to see Eric. The possibility and resurfaced my feelings; and I was having a hard time repressing them.
Looking at myself now; I smiled. My dark brown hair was straightened; my haircut that afternoon had left my hair soft and looked amazing; my bangs angled perfectly to slightly cover my right eye. I smiled as my bright green eyes looked at my reflection; the black mascara and eyeliner I had put on making them darker. My lips were a shiny pink due to my favorite lip gloss. I was wearing a tight green polo; unbuttoned. The hem of it was raised a bit to show off my tight tan tummy; my black lace cami's edge visible and falling just short of the top of my black mini skirt. I knew for a fact that Eric had a thing for legs; so I had made sure mine looked amazing. I had debated wearing stockings; but it wasn't a date and it was summer so that might have looked weird. So my legs were bare; tan and extending out of my short skirt. I wore simple 2 inch black heels; just a little strip with tiny bows by the toes holding them to my freshly pedicured foot. My toenails were red; as always; and I had gone for a French manicure this time. Grinning at my reflection; I knew I looked as perfect as I could. I was thankful I thought ahead of time and bought a purple pushup bra and boy short set; they both felt and looked amazing on me underneath. It was about 8:52 p.m.
My phone started ringing and I went to my desk to see who it was. When I saw Eric's name and a goofy pic of us laying on the track at my old college I smiled; flipping open the phone. "Sup playa?" I asked.
He chuckled. "I'm here." He said; honking for emphasis. I looked out my window and waved.
"I'm on my way out." I said; grabbing my small black Coach purse. I kissed my sister and brother; waving to my step mom (my father was working) and said I was out with Sarah; a lie but necessary for what I was planning.
We went to the park by his house; the summer night cool and dark. We laughed and talked; swinging for awhile before running around on the playscape. He chased me up the stairs; and I laughed and ditched my heels; running up to the top of the tower; which I barely fit in. I stuck my tongue out and let him catch me. He laughed as he ran into the tower; grabbing my waist as we laughed and caught our breath. As we stood there; crouched down a bit in the tower; I could feel an electricity between us. He grinned at me and I panicked.
I quickly ducked out of the tower and slid down the slide; giggling as I waited for him to come down. He did a moment later; hopping off the edge of the slide.
"Super cool," I grinned; mocking him. He punched my arm and I pouted.