Run from your problems, but you cannot run from yourself.

It was grocery day-again. Lily-Pearl was at a friends house and my mom was working. The Saturday afternoon was perfect to waste time at the store and buy a few items as well. It was the middle of March and not a speck of snow was on the ground. There would probably be more snow at one point or another, but today was not the day!

With my cell phone tucked safely away in my pocket, I grabbed the keys to the car. I was proud to say I passed my driver's test with flying colors, and now I could drive the car without an adult in it, but I still couldn't drive other passengers. On the way out I snatched my wallet and climbed into the driver's seat. With a yell to mom that I was going out.

Ten minutes later, I parked the car in a spot close to the store's gaping open doors. Traffic was light today and I passed through every light. I stepped out, locking the silver car and walking in. People pushed past me as I attempted to snatch a basket to start my shopping trip. When I finally managed to grasp the basket's handles, I pulled it free and started on my list.

Four yogurt cups, two bags of flour, a pack of strawberries, and a bag of brown sugar later, I had acquired all the necessities in the busy isles and found myself in solitude near the back of the store. I was in the drink isle, just standing by the Monsters.

Memories of Austin, Alan, and I's midnight escapades swam back to me in the stark reality. I reached out for the can fondly.

No, I had to save that for the next midnight meeting.

With a sigh, I turned straight into a man with his own basket. Startled with a small jolt, I stared nervously at the floor, muttering an apology for running into him.

"Don't worry about it, pretty girl." The familiar voice laughed with enthusiasm. I looked up to a familiar face. The gelled up brown hair stood up and out against his light blue eyes. I smiled at the familiar tattoos that ringed around his neck.

"Hey, didn't I see you in the airport a couple of months ago?" I smiled in remembrance. I had literally run into him back then as well. He laughed a genuine chuckle at the memories.

"You ran into me then as well." He turned his glance to the energy drinks.

"Oh yeah, sorry about that." I mumbled. He patted my shoulder affectionately.

"So, what kind of energy drinks do you do? They're kind of like drugs, aren't they? So addicting." He rambled about the choices. I smiled and thought back fondly to the bad crash after the entire OM&M band ran through the isles, cheering me on as I downed each drink and finished in record time.

"Oh, energy drinks don't always agree with me." I admitted. He gave me a wry look.

"So you get sick?" He asked. I shook my head and stared at the logo.

"Um, not exactly. I crash pretty quickly after downing one of those, and it's a bad crash." I explained after pointing to the green Monster. His muscled arms leaned over and snatched one from the shelves. His sleeve slipped down slightly, revealing familiar writing in tattoo form.

"Hey, you like Of Mice and Men as well?" I asked joyfully. After putting the can into his own basket, he rolled up the rest of his sleeve to show me. I read the lyrics. No way! They were some of my favorites!

"Yeah! Aren't they such a great band? I can really connect to the lyrics. What's your favorite song?" He asked me curiously. I gushed. Sure, I'd met the band, no, I had Austin Carlile and Austin Ashby stay at my house for A WEEK and they visited so often, but it was always fun meeting a fellow fan.

"Oh I love the song Second and Sebring, but The Depths is great as well. I love their entire Restoring Force album, to be honest." I told him. He grinned from ear to ear.

"No way! I love those songs as well!" He exclaimed. A few people threw us odd looks, but they were just background to our conversation. We moved through the store, talking about our favorite bands, and if we'd been to Warped Tour or not.

"Did you get to meet the band?" He asked me curiously. I thought for a moment before answering.

"Yes, and they were really cool to talk to." I eventually said. After a little while, we moved to the check out and scanned our items through. We met at the opposite side and talked all the way to the door where a blustery wind brushed through the open doors.

"Okay, you have to give me your number so we can keep talking." The guy gushed. I opened up my phone and entered a new contact before blushing a little at my forgetfulness.

"I'm sorry, I never got to ask your name. Mine's Raelyn. You can call me Rae for short though." I caught myself babbling on and stopped. I told him my number and started to type in his. He stopped for a moment as I asked his name.

"My name is Ryker." he finally told me. I smiled. Ryker was a unique name. I admired it for a moment before saving his name into my phone.

"Well, it was good to meet you, Ryker." I shook his hand and we departed. When I got back to my car, I couldn't help but feel a little excited at the grocery store occurance.

Notes

Oooohhhhh so we finally get a little glimpse at "Ryker" (Aka Stryke) :D
I wonder what Austin's doing right now....
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