Page 4 of Love at a 7-Eleven

"A moment?"

"No, I mean, we stopped for a moment. We talked. I was a gigantic doofus."

"What happened?"

"We were trying to get to the same fridge at the 7-Eleven. I didn't realize who it was at first because he had that face paint on in the show, but then it was obvious. He had the tattoos on his arm."

"What was that guy doing at a 7-Eleven?"

"I have no idea. It was random. I got too excited."

"Oh, no."

"It wasn't that bad. I told him my mom didn't allow me to drink energy drinks."

"You're kidding. Why would you say that?" She sounded so dumbfounded that I laughed. "Was he buying an energy drink?" she added.

"I think we both were. I don't know what he was there for, honestly. I think he said he was wasting time. It doesn't even matter. It was a silly conversation… but there was eye contact. He stared at me, and I stared back."

"I remember him from the show. I don't know his name. I'm driving right now, or I'd look him up."

"Caleb."

"Caleb is his real name?"

"Yes. I’m driving too, or I would search it. Can you believe I ran into him? What a trip."

"Did you mention knowing he was Kai?"

"Yes. We talked about it. I was a gushing fan who came up to him and said 'how could you kill your dad?' I may as well have asked him for his autograph. I wasn't cool at all. He thinks I'm the opposite of cool, probably."

"Aw, I hate that, because you're so cool," she said sweetly. "Are you still there? Why don't you go back in there—try to make a second first impression."

"Oh, my goodness, no. Just imagine. I was awkward enough as it was." I took a deep breath and stared at the road. "I wish I could do that all over again, though—start from the beginning."

"What was he wearing?"

"Jeans and a black shirt. Looking like a rockstar. He had hair gel, Blake. He was perfect.

"Short hair?"

"Yes. Not shaved or anything."

"Beard?"

"No. A little stubble."

"It's great that you met him, Lila! I'm sure you were fine. He was in a gas station, after all. I hate to say he won't even remember, but…"

"I don't know. He's just so… he just… his eyes… he stared right through me. I wasn't in love with him or anything, but I—" I stopped talking because Blake laughed. "What?" I said, like I was offended.

"Oh, my goodness, just go back in there if you were in love, Lila. You should have never driven off."

"I'm not going back. If anything, I'll look him up and try to message him. I don't know. I probably won't even do that. I don't know what I'll do. Probably nothing. It just stinks because I wish I would have acted differently."

"No, don't be hard on yourself. That's why it's a thing to make a bad first impression. It's normal. He's probably used to people being nervous around him—especially if he's intense-looking with the tattoos and everything. I didn't know they were real."

"I wouldn’t say he's intense looking. I mean, the way we were looking at each other was intense, but he's not intense looking."

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