Memory

Chapter Twelve- Dimitri

As I ride home from a long day at school, I realize that I am low on my main source of stamina.

Junk food.

What? I don’t care if it’s not healthy. At least it keeps me awake, and no, I will not try coffee.

Making a deep left turn, I pull into the parking lot of Kmart. I park my motorcycle by those poles for bikes to be chained to it, and I hold my helmet close to my side.

I hear the ding-dong sound as I enter the large store; the only sound other that the pushing of carts and the sound of the cashiers. But I slip into my acting mode easily and keep my head down with my shoulders hunched. Moving my eyes upward, I look around for the food aisle. Once I find it, I scurry over there so no one will be in my way.

The quick I’m out of here, the better I feel.

I reach the refrigerated section, and I quickly pull out some frozen yogurt, ice-cream, and two boxes of Celeste pizza. Some of the ‘zombie’ people saunters past me with a dull look in their eyes. Sometimes I shiver as they pass me, not bothering to look directly at their faces, as if they’ll pass their sickness to me.

I make my way towards the cashiers, picking up a few bags of chips on my way there. Once I am there, a few people waiting for their turn flinch as I come up behind them.

Mentally, I roll my eyes. They couldn’t be more scared of me than that.

I turn around, and I examine the glass box full of display jewelry. I slowly walk to it, and look through the glass. It’s weird how the top is entirely open.

But then again, violence and crime is not expected in this society.

I look to the left, and I see a beautiful pendant hanging from a stand by its silver chain. Gently, I take it in my hands and examine it closely.

It is a beautiful necklace, I must say. Its facets are smooth; the rich, radiant blue hue shining in the light. The silver chain is so thin that it is almost transparent and the crystal is as long as the first two segments of my pointer finger. A white diamond is embedded into each long facet of it, glinting with the light overhead.

It can be a perfect gift for Trystan.

I walk back to the purchase line, and put my stuff on the conveyer belt. The cashier checks the items, then taps a few buttons on her screen.

“Y-your total is $14.56, s-sir,” the female cashier says, lowering her head slightly in the same manner that Lena had did when she was still Treated.

I turn to her and nod, then I hold up the necklace to her. “How much is it?”

She blinks at the charm in my fingers, then she says, “You c-can have it, sir. N-no one was buying it, anyways.” She offers a timid smile as well.

I lift a brow, then shrug. “Fine, thanks.” I take out my credit card from my pocket and slide it on the keypad. The transaction completes in seconds and the lady bags my items. She then reaches for the necklace to put it in one of the bags.

I shake my head kindly, as to not upset her. “Can I have a box instead?”

She nods and reaches underneath the counter. Pulling out a soft gray ring box, she opens it. I place the charm in the box gently. She then closes the box and places it in my outstretched hand.

Taking my bagged groceries and stuffing the box into the pocket opposite the one with the ring, I nod thanks to the cashier, then walk out, careful not to go too fast.

I open my bookbag and put the groceries in it. Closing it, I put on my helmet that I had hooked on my arm earlier. I start the engine, and revved the handle bars. Soon I am speeding off, making it home with no trouble and no soft voice to listen to.