Childish At Heart

Hope you like different, 'cause that's exactly what this story is!

Chapter One: Late night treats and men that give me the creeps

I sped to the all night Wal-Mart with one thought on my mind: ice cream, chocolate ice cream.

Another date gone wrong; another night gone to waste. I don’t try to scare guys off; it just comes naturally, which isn’t exactly a good thing. Especially when you’re twenty-three and  your parents won’t shut up about you getting married and when you’re lonely.

But of course I would never admit to anyone that I, Annabelle Lucy Hastings, am lonely.

I pulled my old clunker car into the only available parking space and ran into Wal-Mart, I was desperate for a chocolate fix.

Chocolate was first on my list but when I got to the candy isle, there were two very creepy looking men there. I began searching for my favorite chocolate, only to realize that they were all out of Reese’ Big Cups.

I was mad, this store is huge and they ran out of Reese’ Big Cups?!

I got a sick feeling and looked to my left only to see the two creepy looking men staring at me with eerie, lustful gazes. They looked me up and down and smiled.

“Hey, cutie,” One creepy guy said and winked and the other air-kissed me.

My eyes widened and my face twisted in disgust, “In your dreams creeper!”

I stormed away. Stupid men. I hate men. Hate, hate, hate. Except for my daddy of course, who will always be my favorite man alive. What can I say? I’m a daddy’s girl.

I got to the ice cream freezer, spotted the last carton of chocolate ice cream, opened the freezer door and was reaching for it when a hand reached in and took it before I could.

I gasped and spun around to see a guy grinning at me. Now, I might have started flirting with him (he’s adorably cute!) if it weren’t for the fact that he had just stolen my chocolate ice cream!

I narrowed my eyes at Cute Guy and said, “Excuse me, but that’s my ice cream and I would sincerely appreciate it if you would kindly hand it back.” I said through gritted teeth and put my hands on my hips. My mother had warned me about my anger issues, so I tried to stay calm.

His grin widened, if that were possible, and he shook his head. “No, I think I’ll keep it.”

“But you stole it from me!” My voice rose. The heck with staying calm, he stole my ice cream!

This guy did not know what he had gotten himself into. He would not escape my furry.

“No I didn’t. You hadn’t even touched it yet.” He stepped closer too.

“No, but I claimed it, so it’s mine,” I tried to grab it from him but he was too quick.

He moved it above his head and out of my grasp. I tried jumping for it but it was no use, he was a giant. Darn my shortness!

“Ok buster, you don’t know who you’re dealing with. You give me that ice cream, or I’ll-I’ll…”

He smirked. “You’ll what?”

“Kill myself.” I said quickly. Of course I really wouldn’t, but if this guy had a heart, he’d give me my ice cream. He really didn’t look like the type to let someone commit suicide. He looked like someone who would try to stop it. 

I was right. That wiped the smirk right off his face. “Wow there’s no reason to go to such extremes. It’s just ice cream.” Now he looked worried.

Good, I thought.

Wow, wow, wow. Wait. Wow. Tell me he didn’t just say that. Just ice cream!

I shook my head. “No, it’s not just ice cream. It’s chocolate ice cream so it will never be just ice cream.” I said defensively.

The smirk returned to his face and he leaned against the freezer door. “You have a slight addiction to chocolate I assume.”

“I’d die for chocolate.”

He grinned, amused. “So you said.”

I sighed. “Look I’ve had a really bad day and I need that ice cream to make it better.” I said kindly. “So can you please give it to me?!” I said the last sentence with more force. Why couldn’t he just give up his little game?

He smiled. “Ok on one condition.”

“What?”

“You have to give me your phone number.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why would you want my phone number?” is this guy for real? He steals my ice cream then asks for my number? Honestly. The jerk.

“I thought maybe we could go out sometime,” he smiled. “I find you interesting.”

Hmm… I could always change my number. Of course, then my family would ask why I changed my number. I could always lie and tell them I had a stalker. Which was partially true, I mean, Cute Guy here was acting pretty stalker-ish if you ask me.

I nodded. “Ok fine.”

He handed me his phone and waited. When I finished, I handed it back to him and he gave me my ice cream.

I hugged it to my chest. Finally.

Cute Guy again gave me one of his killer smiles. “So you’re name’s Annabelle? That’s unusual.

How did he—oh, he must have looked at his contacts list—a list I was now on.

I narrowed my eyes and shifted the ice cream in my arms. “What’s unusual about it? It’s a fine name.” I said firmly with just a hint of defensiveness.

He smirked, “A little defensive about your name?”

“No!” I said defensively.

He continued smirking, “So defensive.”

Darn it! I sounded defensive because I was trying not to sound defensive.

“So what’s your last name?” He asked out of the blue.

“Weasley” I lied. I’m a Harry Potter Fan, it’s all I could come up with at the moment.

His eye brows rose. “Really? Then why is your name Annabelle Hastings in my phone?”

I mentally kicked myself. My mother was right, I shouldn’t lie, it gets me into trouble. That ‘honesty is the best policy’ thing must be true.

I bit down on my lip, “Well…you see…sometimes I…forget…my last name, so I…make one up?” It came out a question, but was meant to be a statement.

This time Cute Guy only raised one eye brow, which I thought was truly amazing considering I couldn’t do it.

“Really?” was all he said.

“Uh…yeah,” I said slowly.

He studied me for a minute. I’m not sure what was going on in his head but I didn’t like the look on his face.

“Are you lying?” He asked.

“What?! No! W-why would I be lying? I-I-I just…told a little fiblet.” I finished lamely.

The smile returned to his face, “You tell ‘fiblets’ often?”

I folded my arms and pointed my nose sky-ward. “I’m not going to answer that on account I don’t even know you.”

He laughed. It was the first time I’d heard him laugh the whole five minutes we’d been talking.

His laugh is cute, I thought.

I slapped my head. Did I just think that?

“Do you slap your head often too?”

I decided to be honest this time, “Yes, but only when completely necessary.”

He laughed again and a tiny smile appeared on my lips.

“So you know my name but I don’t know yours.” I said lamely.

“Riley.” He said, “Riley…Potter.” He grinned.

I frowned. He was mocking me. He only used a Harry Potter character name because I did.

I was suddenly annoyed. “Good one. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have I Love Lucy the Complete Series waiting for me at home to devour. So I bid you, good night.”

I turned and started walking away. I don’t know why I was so annoyed with him, he just knows where all of my buttons are, and he pushes them—hard.

“Lions.”

I stopped and turned to look at him, “What?”

“Riley Lions,” he said seriously.

I nodded. “Bye, Lions.” I said sarcastically.

“I’ll call you, Hastings” he winked. “Enjoy your ice cream.”

Stupid Cute Guy copied me by calling me by my last name just as I’d done to him.

“Yeah,” I said.

“But I probably won’t answer,” I added, just quiet enough so that he couldn’t hear.

I stared until he was gone wondering what had just happened.

Shaking my head I hurried to grab a few more—ok a lot more of my favorite goodies, paid, and made me way to my car.