Standing in front of the counter at the Cookie Factory, I place my order of a slice of cookie cake with a small diet coke as I always had in the past.
"That'll be $4.82 please."
Handing her a five dollar bill I think to myself, that's quite a bit more than the last time I indulged.
"Which design would you like?"
Glancing at all the frosting designs, I quickly spot the one. "Rainbow, please, always the rainbow."
I leave the Cookie Factory with my treats and walking briskly, I enter the food court and sit down at the first table near the front. After finishing my treats I leave the food court quickly before I decide to order another cookie! I guess this is what happens when one is away for too long. Being a weekday and still early, I feel as though I have the mall to myself although a few other shoppers are here enjoying this quiet morning as well. Opting to take the stairs instead of the escalator, I head up to the top floor and walk towards the Penny's end. There are a couple of stores I want to check out before leaving.
Staying to the left, I'm pleased with myself for remembering where the movie store is. I guess after working at a store downstairs for almost two years, one wouldn't soon forget where other stores are located even two years after the fact. I walk into the movie store and begin browsing the new releases. Purchasing season one of the Showtime show, "Dexter" for a friend and I Am Legend for myself, I ask if I can leave the movies behind the counter so I don't have to carry the bag around with me. My closest friend, Teri and I talk on the phone at least once a week to keep in touch over the past two years, and recently she mentioned to me "Dexter" is her new favorite show so I can't wait to see her face tomorrow when she sees what I bring her. I'm nearing my next stop when the woman walking a store's distance ahead of me suddenly drops a small piece of paper. She's busy fishing around in her purse, two big shopping bags dangling from her arms and obviously didn't notice.
"Miss?" I call out, walking a longer stride and reaching down to pick up the piece of paper. It's a yellow post it note. "Miss, you dropped..."
The woman stops and I hurry to catch up to her, not paying much, if any attention to her. "Here." I hand her the post it note. It's folded in half, but appears to have a phone number written inside.
"Oh, thank you, I wouldn't want to lose that."
"Sure, no problem," I reply on auto pilot, preparing to walk into my next stop which we now happen to be standing in front of.
As I pass the entrance into the store I hear, "Casey?"
Upon hearing my name, I turn to really look at this woman who obviously knows me. She's a bit taller than I, 5'8" possibly 5'9" and she has long wavy blonde hair which stops at her lower back. Her bangs have obviously met with a curling iron this morning, but it's her blue eyes that instantly captivate me, they are a very pretty shade of blue. Standing before me dressed in the shortest jean shorts with a green halter top, I admire the dark tan knowing she visits a tanning salon because it's only April, the last few days happen to be in middle 60's. Looking into those seductive blue eyes once more it suddenly hits and I do mean HITS me who she is. My jaw drops as my eyes bulge wide, "Ashley?"
"Oh, my goodness, Casey it really is you! How are you?"
She drops the bags, hurries into the store arms stretched out ready for a hug. It takes every bit of will I can muster to close my gaping mouth. We share a hug and leading me by the arm, she picks up her purse and bags and heads to the sitting bench around the fountain outside of the store, my eyes fixated on her bubbly expression as she talks the whole way.
"How long has it been? Ten years," she says laughing and releasing me from her sweet embrace to sit down and cross her long legs.
"Just over four years," I reply suddenly thinking I should sit down and stumbling a bit to even accomplish this simple task.
Trying desperately to regain some semblance of composure I casually ask, "So how have you been Ashley?"
"Doing well, thank you," as she runs her fingers through her long blonde hair. "I really look different don't I? Your expression was priceless!" She begins laughing. I notice the gentle rise and fall of her breasts while she laughs, the way her head tilts back exposing her neck. I smile self consciously replying, "Well after seeing you brunette for eleven years, yes it's certainly a shock."
If only she knew the real reason behind my surprised expression. "You look beautiful as always."
Her blue eyes sparkle as she receives my genuine complement. "Thank you Casey." She turns her body more to the side so she is facing me directly, her legs still crossed. "I wasn't sure it was you at first Casey, you look fantastic!"
"Thank you," I reply with great pride.
"You looked cute with glasses, but without is a welcomed change and your body oh la la, very sexy girl," she says playfully nudging me.
"Thank you," I respond in a low voice blushing all the while, but managing to maintain eye contact, barely. I glance at my watch which reads 11:22 am.
"I'm sorry am I keeping you?" She uncrosses her legs as she prepares to stand.
"No," I say so quickly I nearly startle myself. I have a habit checking the time too often and it's made worse when I'm nervous. I clear my throat. "No, not at all," I answer as cool and calm as I can possibly manage.
Boy I haven't felt this awkward since shortly after high school. Ashley settles, crossing her long slender legs once again, her facial expression visibly relaxes as she folds her hands in her lap and that's when I see it, a gold band with a small diamond on her left hand. My heart literally stops beating causing an instant pain in my chest. I force myself to smile as one should do at a time like this, disguising my true expression, and covering up my very honest feelings. "Congratulations."
She looks confused for a second before following my eyes and looking down. Her face flushes and she begins turning the ring in circles around her finger. "Thank you," following ever so quickly with, "Do you work here in the mall or just shopping around?"
Finding her actions strange, I look down and realize I'm wearing close to my old work attire. A pair of khaki slacks with a black silk blouse. "Visiting, browsing. I did work at store downstairs for nearly two years while attending college."
"Oh yes JCCC, I considered attending there."
In my home state here in the Midwest there are only a few good colleges and they are spread out. Obviously she hadn't gone to my school, but she wasn't offering anymore details so I let it go. For now.
"What did you study?"
"I just got a liberal arts degree before moving to California."
Her eyes widen. "You live in California?" she asks excitedly.
"Yes, Los Angeles."
She leans in closer. The smell of her perfume is intoxicating, the scent similar to vanilla. I take this opportunity to breathe in deeper, savoring the sweet scent.
"I've lived in New York and here in the Midwest, but would you believe I haven't even visited California?"
"Well I haven't been to New York, but I imagine it has terrible traffic like L.A. but instead of cars it's a string of yellow cabs."
