literature

Cookies and Cream

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As soon as we set foot within the boundary of the flea market, I walk off to the nearest booth with the mechanical part we need. At one place, there's just a box of them, so I begin digging through them, inspecting the quality of each part then tossing the useless stuff on the ground beside the box. When the owner of the junk looks over at me, he grumbles something about picking up the mess when I'm done.

At least five minutes later, I throw all of it back into the bin having not found what I'm looking for. I wipe my hands on my pants, stand up and find I've been followed.

"What do you want?" I spit icily.

"You of course," he replies.

I roll my eyes and start to trudge away. "Leave me alone, Hayden."

"Can't."

"You should."

"If you waited around long enough at the entrance, you would know I'm your buddy."

My body freezes in place. "My what?"

"Haven't you ever heard of the buddy system?" Hayden steps in front of me. "You can't go walking around strange, new places all on your own. You could get lost or something." The young man actually looks hurt by the idea. "I certainly don't like the thought of that, so I volunteered to be your buddy."

"I don't need a buddy." I shove him back a foot. "Especially not you. Especially since you're the klutz that broke most of the parts with your twitchy hand."

"But you do need a buddy. Someone to look after you."

My thumb jabs into my ribs. "I'm a big girl," I argue. "I think I can handle walking around without a babysitter." Though in our case, I'd definitely be the babysitter and he'd be the child.

He reaches for my arm, but I quickly snatch it away. "Oh, I know. I know you can take care of yourself, but I still want to care for you."

"I don't need you to and, frankly, I don't want you to."

"You don't have a choice in how I feel."

I bite my tongue, not wanting to go on another rant about how he thinks he feels, how he doesn't really love me, and that he has yet to realize any of this. I've gone blue in the face explaining everything, but he's too thick headed to listen to a word of it. By the end of each rant, he always has a stupid smile plastered on his face, still staring at me adoringly, and says something incredibly and disgustingly cheesy.

In fact, he has that smile on right now. "I'll always love you, Rozie." I can practically hear Jake and Macy's cooing over this statement like they have so many times before, with little sprinklings of I ship it thrown in. I bet they put him up to this whole buddy business. I make a mental note to kill them later.

My expression turns sour. "Is it too late for me to switch buddies?" I groan.

"Yep. Everyone else has already split up."

"Fantastic," I deadpan while pinching my nose. I mumble to myself for a moment then drop my hand. "Well, c'mon then. Let's get this over with so I can get away from you."

It turns out I was right about being the babysitter. After stopping by three or four booths, Hayden abruptly pulls me by my hand to a place with food.

"I'm thirsty," he complains in a whiny little voice.

"Then get a drink."

"But what should I get?" He folds his arms and looks over his options. "I could have plain ol' water, or soda, or a slushie, or even a milkshake. It's all so tempting."

"I don't care. Just pick something so we can go."

Hayden scratches his head of disheveled dirty blond hair and purses his lips. "Hmmm…"

Already loosing my patience, I jab a thumb over my shoulder to a table with some prospective buys. "Fine, since you can't make up your damn mind, I'll be over there doing something productive." Without letting him get a word in, I turn on my heel and march over to the table.

Finally, I've found a place with some decent parts. Everything's not too damaged or worn out, and there's even variety. The pest is taking so long I have enough time to debate the pros and cons of buying each bit. When I make a decision and plan to ask the booth owner for a price, he finally turns up.

"Took you long enough," I sigh tiredly.

"Well, first I decided against water. I wanted something with flavor, you know? So that left me with soda, slushies, and milkshakes. But then I thought maybe water would be the smart option, so I–"

Rolling my wrists, I tell him to cut to the end.

"I got two cookies and cream shakes."

I snort. "Two? You scared you might drop one with that hand of yours?"

Hayden steps in front of me, holding up a foam cup close enough that I can feel the chill of it on my skin. "One's for you, Rozie."

My eyes stare at the cup. Is he for real? This is such a Hayden move, so why didn't I see this coming? My focus moves to his eyes, which immediately light up with joy.

"I remember you saying cookies and cream was your favorite when you were a kid. And I figured you wouldn't want to share with me so I got one for you, too." He pushes it closer. "Take it."

I wasn't even talking to him when he heard that. I was talking to Chase and Skylar. Eavesdropper. "I'm not thirsty. Plus why would I want anything from you?"

"But, Rozie," he whines. "Milkshakes were the most expensive thing there and I bought two. And it's your favorite. Have it."

"I never told you to buy me anything."

"I couldn't not buy you something."

"Yes, you could."

"Just take it."

"No."

"You know you want to." He waggles his eyebrows. "I saw that look in your baby blues."

In defeat, and because I in fact really do want it, I wrench it out of his hand and intend on only having a sip. The moment that stuff hits my taste buds, the sip turns into a huge gulp. I quickly realize my mistake, but it's too late. Hayden saw the pleasure in my eyes and now his hazel eyes are even brighter than before.

"Told you so."

"Shut up, Plair. I don't want to hear it." I turn back to the table with the parts. "So how much do you want for this?" I ask the rotund man cleaning a gear behind the table.

"Step aside, babe," Hayden says coolly, pushing me out of the way. "I've got this."

I grid my teeth. "No, I've got this."

He point to himself. "I'm the man, though. I'll handle it." The nuisance winks at me. "Plus, I've got a plan."

I groan and pinch the ridge of my nose, knowing he won't stop talking until I cave, so I roll my eyes and gesture that he has the right away. "Fine. Have at it."

Hayden smiles victoriously. "Thanks, Rozie." He turns to the greasy man with the rag in hand. "Hello, my good sir."

I pinch my nose harder and shake my head slowly. You have got to be kidding me with this guy. Why did I have to get stuck with him?

"The price is fifty pieces," growls the man irritably.

"Ah, you know this isn't worth more than… ten pieces."

He stops cleaning the part and glares at the young ma beside me. "Only ten? No freakin' way. I'll give to you for… forty-five."

"Fifteen."

"Forty."

"Twenty."

"Thirty-five"

"Five pieces."

The man slams his part on the table. "Five pieces?! You dropped lower than what you began with!"

"That's my final offer and I'm sticking with it." Hayden folds his arms resolutely. "I can always go to another booth."

Suddenly the man reaches across the table, causing some parts to fall onto the ground and even pushing the table up some. He latches onto the collar of Hayden's shirt, yanks him forward and readies his clenched fist. "Don't mess with me, boy," he snarls. "I'm not in the mood to be jerked around."

"Hye, I'm only trying to get the price I deserve for this thing."

My hand drops from my face. It's like he doesn't notice the fist right in front of his face. Is he blind?!

"You'll get what you deserve alright," the man says as he rears back his elbow.

"Okay," I exhale. Was I holding my breath? I put one hand on the part I want to buy and the other on the fist. "I'm really sorry about this. I'm sure you'd just love to pulverize this annoying little man, but I can assure you that won't get rid of him." I glower. "Trust me. I've tried. On numerous occasions."

"Oh yeah, she's tried," interjects Hayden with a laugh.

"Shut up," I hiss.

"She still tries," he continues. "But I'm growing on her. My Rozie's coming around slowly, but surely. She loves me more and more each and every day."

For half a second I consider letting the big man punch the other man's lights out, but I know I'd never hear the end of it back home. Jayden would be barking at me for ages, not to mention Macy and Jake would twist this into some strange form of affection.

He's so freakin' lucky.

I sigh more heavily, trying to keep my cool. "Do you see what I mean? He doesn't go away." Hayden just flashes a smile. "Look, I'll take the part and him with me for… let's say twenty-five pieces."

The greasy man looks at me grimly then at Hayden then back at me. "Make it thirty pieces."

"Deal." I go into my pocket using my hand not holding back the fist and slap the coins on the table. I smile sweetly. "Nice doing business with you."

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbles before tugging on Hayden's shirt one more time. "You better hope I don't see you outside this place. Because next time your little girlfriend won't be able to stop me."

"Not his girlfriend." I spit.

"Ah, why not?" Hayden bleats.

The big man's fist presses against my palm more. "Okay! We're leaving!" I pull hard on the back of Hayden's collar, making him gag. I take pleasure in this for a moment. "C'mon, dumbass."

I pull him so we're at least twenty booths down before stopping and scowling at him. He just smiles sheepishly, like a kid who's been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. For that, I reach out and slap the back of his head.

"Ow, Rozie! What'd you do that for?"

"Because you're a complete and total ass! What on Mars was that?! You call that haggling?! You nearly got yourself killed!"

"But I didn't, did I?"

I swat a hand at him. "Because I saved your worthless behind!"

"Which I love you even more for." I sneer. "But it went just as planned."

An eyebrow quirks up. "That was your plan?"

"People will do a lot to get rid of troublesome people."

I snort. "What will it take for me to get rid of you?" I inquire bluntly.

"Oh, my little Rozie," he says affectionately. "You don't want to get rid of me. You'd miss me too damn much."

I force myself to laugh. "You tell yourself that."

Hayden casually tosses an arm over my shoulder. "You know you love me. I'm irresistible." And he plants a big, sloppy kiss on my cheek.

"Ew. Disgusting!" I shove his face away and wipe my cheek with my sleeve. "No. Never. Not going to happen." I turn on my heel to make a get away. "Go find Jayden and leave me alone!"

He grabs my wrist before I go far. Hayden snakes his arms around my waist, pulling me close. I shove away with the hand not holding my drink, but he holds me even tighter. Then unexpectedly his nose is brushing back and forth on my nose, fingers are running through my dark hair. "I just want to be around you."

"Alright! That's enough!" I stomp on his foot as hard as I can and stalk off grumbling and waving my hands. "Ugh! Moron! I'm going to kill him!"

"Love you too, Rozie!"
Veronica, are you posting something only days after posting another piece.

Why yes! Yes I am!

It's Rozalyn and Hayden again being well... Rozalyn and Hayden. These two are so much fun to write, despite the lack of ooey gooey fluff (which you guys know is my favorite thing to write). This is so not what I'm used to, but I love it! Esecially since a lot of the ideas I've gotten lately are based very loosely on real life stuff. Like this one, I came up with it while walking around an actual flea market.

It's not really obvious, but this is a sci-fi story and it takes place in the future. And I thought it'd be funny if people used computer jargon in daily life in the future. Like stuff you see on here and on Tumblr. Or at least Roz's friends do.

So her friends ship her and Hayden. They have headcanons of how they think Rozalyn will fall for him and why Hayden was in solitary. Is that lame?

Now go forth and comment and/or fave!

In case you haven't read the other pieces here they are:
1. Prison Break
2. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Roz, Plair, and any other people mentioned are all mine!
© 2012 - 2024 v-gal015
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GothKoala439's avatar
Because of your amazingness, you have been featured here!

(Haha, sorry for the generic message, I've just been copying and pasting XD)