#cga.start

“Wait, wait wait -- don’t move,” Harlow demands of the person in front of her as she catches a glimpse of the light. “The sunset looks incredible behind you, I’ll never forgive myself if I let such a view slip by me. Mind if I snap a quick picture?” the girl grinned while she reached into her bag to fish out her camera. The thought of the girl coming off too strong didn’t necessarily cross her mind, she was too focused on catching the perfect photo-op that she could sketch later.

After having been stuck bunking in a hotel for the past week, Patrick was relieved to get the keys to his new place. He had the few boxes that he’d traveled with placed strategically in the bed of his pickup truck and had spent his evening unloading and unpacking as he went. It had come down to the last box and as he pulled it from the truck, the bottom gave out and his belongings quickly littered his driveway. With a groan, the man dropped the now empty box on the ground and knelt to gather his things. “I knew this whole thing went a little too smoothly,” the man spoke aloud, mainly to himself to make light of the situation as he tossed a few articles of clothing back into the box quickly to get him closer to finishing the job.

“Until you’ve had a choir rehearsal with twelve - yeah, I said twelve - small kids who were dropped off by wine moms and have zero interest in singing church songs, you don’t know chaos. Turns out, one of the kids is a big Chance the Rapper fan. Yeah, I found that one out the hard way. He started singing one of his verses and I wasn’t paying attention. Besides, in my defense, I don’t even know that guy’s music but it’s the one that goes, ‘Okay, though. She beat her face out with that new Chanel. She like the price, she see the ice, it make her coochie melt. When I met her in the club, I asked her who she felt then she went and put that booty on that Gucci belt.’ That was my first dad moment where I had to stifle a laugh and act disappointed. As I Googled the song on my phone.”

It wasn’t everyday occurrence for anybody to find Alexa sliding into a seat that wasn’t hers to take. It wasn’t like her to barge into someone’s dinner unannounced, and she definitely didn’t take pride in it now. However, if she had to choose between dying of embarrassment or being stalked to death, she would choose the former. There wasn’t much of a choice there, really. Discomfort was written all over her face, but she had to do something. As soon as she’d taken a seat in front of a stranger in a strange diner, Alexa forced a smile. “Hey, uh”---she made sure she was quiet---”can you just pretend to smile for me? Like we’re old friends? This guy is following me around and giving me a weird eye, and I really would not like to die tonight. I mean, I’ve got a test tomorrow, so nothing before that.”

“I’m actually off duty for the next few weeks.” Aaron explained, pouring a drink. “Bit of a worker’s benefit thing, seeing as I’ve been flying non stop for the past few days.” He took grabbed another glass from the cabinet, thinking about where his manners had gone. “Would you like a one? Forgive my lack of manners.”