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“I don't know, it's been almost 6 months and I still haven't met Holly," I complained to my best friend over the phone. The Cordless Phones have been the biggest thing since the cars that “drive themselves”. The subject of conversation was my boyfriend, Holland March. Whenever we went on dates all he talked about was his daughter, Holly, who I was dying to meet. Beyond that, Holland is an amazing boyfriend; always dressed up nice for our dates, brings flowers and holds off getting shitfaced whenever we are together.
“I still don't understand why you are dating a man 10 years your senior” his voice crackles out of the phone. “You are 24, you should be dating guys your age.”
“Okay, dad” I groan sarcastically.
The ring of the shop door bell reminded me what I was doing, grabbing snacks for the movie date with Holland tonight.
“Hey, I just walked into the store. I'll call you later, cool?” I spoke into the phone. “K bye, Jackson.”
I snap the phone shut as I peruse the shelves of popcorn, chips and candy, eventually planting myself in front of a variety of sour candies.
As I try to decide between a sour sucker or pucker powder, a blonde girl walks up next to me, checking the candy as well. I glance over her for a second, a subconscious habit. Her blonde hair was cut short, gently dusting her shoulders with a purple flower clip keeping it out of her face. She wore plain overalls over a purple striped sweater with a ladybug necklace topping it off. She was young, no older than 15, but had that spunk in her eyes I know too well from myself.
“I like your necklace,” I say, grabbing the pucker powder. “Ladybugs are my favorite animal”
She turns to face me, grinning. “Thanks! They are my favorite too.” her eyes gaze over me “I love your pants, the purple is pretty”
“Your one to talk, your purple hair clip is perfect against your hair”
“Really? I always get told orange would look better”
“No no, the purple is a good contrast. Purple and blues would amazing with your complexion”
With that, she started to blush and tuck hair behind her ear, suddenly bashful.
“Ohmygod Im so sorry I didn't mean to embarrass you” I rush to apologize.
“No, it's fine. I'm just not used to getting fashion advice”
“What kind of advice do you usually get?”
“My dads kind: idiotic.” she groans out, a smile still on her face.
I let out a laugh at the joke.
“Here” I toss the pucker powder in my hands off to her and grab another off the shelf. “Let me buy that for you”
She side eyes me for a moment before asking “why would you do that?”
I start heading towards the register. “Cause you remind me of my little sister”
“...your sister.”
“Yep. She's probably only a couple years older than you.”
“Huh. I don't have siblings so I don't know the feeling” she shrugs and follows.
Before I can reply, a man to our left calls out “Holly!”
We both look over to see Holland, his arms full of snacks and a cigarette pressed between his smiling lips. It takes him a moment to register that I was standing there with her. “Babe!”
He quickly scuttles over to us, dropping the snacks on the counter next to us and snaking his arm around my waist.
“I see you finally met Holly” he looks between us.
“no…? “ Then it hit me. “You’re Holly.”
“The one and only.” she puffs out her chest, a habit I know she picked up from her dad. I stick my hand out, offering a handshake.
”its lovely to finally meet you”
Holland spots the candy in our hands, grabbing mine and handing it to the clerk
“Add this to my order"
I whip my head around to look at his grinning face.
“No babe, I grabbed it, I should pay for it.” I insisted. “Plus I already offered to buy Holly's as well”
“Too late! I'm already reaching for my wallet” he teasingly challenged. I whipped out my wallet faster and slid my card out before he could even open his wallet.
“Too late! I've already got my card out” I proudly exclaimed, slamming my card down on the Tap-to-Pay. “I win”
I smiled like an idiot, proud of winning the race. Holland only shook his head, a goofy grin on his face too.
The sound of my card declining rang out through the store, drawing my attention back. Boisterous loud laughter erupted from Holly behind us.
“Im sorry- hahaha- oh my god- hahaha- its- ha! Just so ironic” she was doubling over herself, clutching her stomach.
“Give me a break. I'm broke” I did have to admit, it was ironic.
Without a second thought, Holland offered the cashier his card.
“Come on,” he offered his hand to me, pressing a fuzzy kiss to my cheek. “We have a movie to watch.”