*2 years earlier*

My foot tapped rapidly on the tile floor. I was waiting for my friend Susan to finish trying on the dress her sister had picked out for her bridal party. I was growing impatient by each growing second. What was taking her so damn long?

After another two minutes the curtain was yanked back, revealing Susan in a short, purple, and tight fitting dress. It had a sweetheart neckline and it made her look absolutely gorgeous. This was the perfect dress for her. Her sister really knew how to pick a flattering dress.

"It looks perfect on you!" I smiled, letting out a squeal. Susan's blue eyes lit up with delight and she pivoted on her heel to get another glimpse of herself. Her black hair falling off her shoulders in the process.

"You really like it?" She asked

"Honestly, it looks great on you! And I'm sure a certain someone will just die looking at you in that!" Susan rolled her eyes at the mention of this guys named Chris, the boy she has liked since high school. She jumped up and down with excitement. Susan took off the dress and changed back into her denim skinny jeans and black knitted sweater.

"Are we doing okay here, ladies?" The attendant asked, poking her head into the small room that we had.


"Yes, I believe this is the dress I'm taking." Susan said with a smile. The attendant nodded and took the dress with her to the check out.

I felt my phone buzz and reached into my pocket to respond to the incoming message.

"Ashley? Can you reach into my bag and pull out my credit card to pay while I go look at shoes?" Susan asked me

"Yeah sure whatever" I responded typing away on my phone. I made my way to the register and slide her card threw.

"Thank for shopping with us today! Have a nice day!" The lady said handing me the bag filled with the dress. Reaching out I offered the lady a smile and turned away to find Susan.

When I found her she was trying on a pair of killer silver heels with diamonds down the back of the shoe. She sat admiring it and twirling her foot around for sometime before getting up and walking around the section to get a feel for them.

"Ashley look at these aren't they stunning?" Susan stuck her foot out as if they weren't noticeable already. Her face was of pure joy and astonishment. Never say a pair of shoes can't make a girl happy.

"They match your whore personality" I said in a joking manner. Susan pulled a fake hurt face and decided that my decision didn't matter. She mumbled something about going to pay for the shoes and walked away.

I went to go pick up a pair of leather boots and bring them to ask the man in charge if he could get my size.

Spotting a tall man with long messy hair dressed in a blue button down and pants I made my way towards him; he looked like he worked here. Closer examination showed that he had scruff all over his face and really bushy eyebrows. I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention.

"Excuse me sir? Yeah I would like to try these on in a six please." I handed him the shoe but all he did was give me a confused stare.

"Um, I think you've mistaken me for someone else." The man offered. He looked to be around the age of 23. I was taken aback by his handsome complexion and was unable to speak for a moment. "I don't work here." He concluded

"Oh sorry my bad it's just you're dressed like you work here, that's actually very stereotypical of me now that I say it outloud." I admitted, i felt my cheeks get red and I looked down. I was embarrassing myself for absolutely no reason.

"It's okay ma'am but make sure it doesn't happen again." The stranger said waggling those caterpillars he called eyebrows at me. I saluted him giving him a stern stare. He chuckled at my attempt to look serious. Backing away I took one last glance over my shoulder at the man only to find that he was smiling back at me. Shaking his head he walked off and out of the store. A sadness took over me, he was attractive and I never got his name. Shrugging my shoulders I headed back to Susan who was now going through the sale rack.

"Come one lets head out of here and get something to eat." I said tugging at her arm. After much resistance Susan gave in and followed me out the doors to her red BMW convertible. The interior was red as well and it came with every option imaginable. Sitting in the passenger seat I played around with the radio until I settled on a talk show about relationship dos and donts. I always found these entertaining.

Driving for a good half hour before we spotted a restaurant, we ended up eating at a local diner.

We walked in and was greeted by the aroma of fried food and cake. The hostess approached us and lead us to our booth in the corner of the diner. Soon, the waitress was over at our table asking us what we wanted. I ordered the usual strawberry milkshake and a cheeseburger. Susan ordered a coke and chicken wrap. We made menial conversation before our food came. Just about gossip and boys...the usual small talk.

"So how's the wedding coming along?" I asked through a bite of fries. Susan looked up from her phone and pursed her lips as if it was a hard question. Waiting for an answer I sipped slowly on my milkshake.

"My sister says that everything so far has been under control. Besides that she refuses to share all the details with me, even though im her sister." She let out an exasperated sigh. Her phone suddenly buzzed, she looked down then looked up. An unreadable expression stuck into her face and she started to gather up her things.

"Hey sorry I have to go my father needs me to help cook dinner for my sisters in-laws. I will text you okay?" Susan told me

"Yeah okay I will just take the bus home." I told her not wanting her to worry although it seemed like she wasn't worrying.

Susan grabbed her bag and headed for the door. Leaving me with the check, I took out my wallet and threw a twenty on the table. As I got up a person rammed into me sending me to the ground.

Looking up I saw the familiar eyebrows and scruff. The stranger offered me a lopsided smile and helped me up. He sat me down in the booth and sat across from me asking if I was okay or if I need ice or anything. I waved off his attempt at playing nurse and sat there cradling my head. The waitress came by with a bag of ice just in case but I never used it.

The last thing I wanted this man to think was that I was stalking him. First I embarrass myself by thinking he worked in the shoe department but obviously that wasn't enough embarrassment for the day. Then I needed him to ram into me making me look like I followed him here because out of all the places to eat nearby the mall we both happened to come here.

"I swear I wasn't following you" was the first thing that came out of my mouth. There was no filter in my mind, I said whatever popped into it. Explanation after explanation poured out of my mouth as the why I wasn't following him. He just stared at me, smiling every so often.

"I know, I know no need to build a case." He said holding up his hands, interrupting my rambling. His eyes made its way across my face taking in every detail. Suddenly feeling self-conscious I got up to leave.

"Bye, nice seeing you again" I mumbled in a rushed tone making my way for the door. I was almost out of there and away from embarrassment when he grabbed my arm.

"I never quite got your name" he stated

"Ashley, my name is Ashley" I extended my hand for him to shake

"Alex" he said taking my hand and shaking it like I had intended, and with that we both smiled at each other once more and headed our separate ways. I never expected to see him again.

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