Coming Back Home

Chapter 12: Shopping with Blurin

SHOPPING WITH BLURIN

The next weeks flew by easily. The trio were able to fall into a steady routine; Charlie would wake up early as usual, make breakfast, gardening, work, make lunch, work some more, dinner, then sleep. A cycle.

Blurin has been keeping himself busy with his laptop and countless of files that was shoved into that briefcase that Tristan had brought with him from Scotland. He hasn't even had the time to finish the series he began four days ago.

Tristan, on the other hand, has been making and receiving calls. He has taken some minor trips to the neighboring states to arrange some meetings with his company branches.

Charlie has found out, during one of their pop-up discussions, that Tristan's company has been notified of the little...hiccup and decided to station T ristan in one of their branches. He resumed work

Speaking of which, Tristan has been out since morning. His shifts end around 3-4pm and since it's inching to time, Charlie decides to commence their late lunch.

The ginger-head moves her laptop from her lap. Running a hand through her hair, Charlie stretches with a groan. She pulls off her reading glasses and sets it neatly on the center table.

"BLURIN!"

Silence.

Biting her lip, Charlie stifles a laugh.

"I'M ABOUT TO COOK!"

A loud thud before the sound of sock-covered feet descending the stairs. It isn't even up to twenty seconds before Blurin is standing in front of her with a huge smile.

The similarities in their reading genres and the most important factor; Food, has managed to bring Bulky and Charlie together.

Charlie no longer has a nudging feeling—whenever Blurin was near her—that Bulky would suddenly squeeze her throat like a hotdog or drive a fruit knife through her stomach with a sickening smile.

"Tristan will soon return. I can tell you're hungry, I'm about to start on lunch. Would you like to help?"

"Yes, Ly."

Oh, yes. The nickname. It has stuck like taffy. Blurin doesn't have to unconsciously sneak up on Charlie to request something. Her name on Blurin's soft tone tugs at her heartstrings. She has to fight the urge to awe everything he says it.

"Okay. Let's make...uh—" Charlie hums rhythmically as she opens the refrigerator.

"Oh. It's empty," Charlie frowns, "I'll go check the stockroom."

She runs to the stockroom and runs back out with a gasp, "It's also empty. Well, except for tissue paper! We can't eat tissue paper!"

Blurin watches with an amused smile as the ginger keeps rambling and waving her hands as she speaks quickly.

"We go buy some? Out?" Blurin quickly cuts her off. He fears that if she keeps talking, she might just hyperventilating. Hello panic attack!

Charlie sighs and massages her forehead, "Okay. We can do that. Would you...um... Come with me?"

Blurin chuckles softly before putting his hands in his pockets, "That why I say We."

"Oh," Charlie blushes before running up to her room to grab her purse and phone. She runs back downstairs.

"Okay, let me make a lis—"

The door opening cuts her off. An exhausted-looking Tristan struts in with a sigh and his working glasses on.

"Welcome back, Tris!" Charlie beams from her position beside the counter, a pen slanted on her fingers. Blurin nods in acknowledgement at Tristan before he folds his hand across his chest.

"How was work today?"

"Hectic, as usual. A patient kept complaining she sees a flaming monkey whenever she closes her window at night," Tristan groans and plops on the chair, "A therapist's work is so hard."

Charlie laughs and looks back at the already full sheet of paper.

"Uh," Tristan peeps into the kitchen, "Are you guys going somewhere? Blurin has this 'we're going out look'."

"Yes, we are. We've run out of groceries. We might be long so just whip yourself toast till we get back."

"Oh," Tristan sighs and loosens his tie, "I'll just take a shower. Thanks."

Charlie nods quickly before turning to Blurin who was staring at her intently, "Shall we?"

At his nod, Charlie jogs to the door to put on her head warmer, mittens and flats before waving at the droopy doctor then walking out.

"We're going to Shop till you Drop first then we might head to— Oh my God, it's freaking cold! Blurin, you should have worn your mittens! You look... Wow, you don't even look cold!" Charlie rambles till they reach the Supermarket.

The bell rings immediately they pull the door open. Cold air hits her cheeks and she pouts immediately. She rubs her mitten-covered fingers on her arm slowly.

"Okay, so this is how we're going to do this," Charlie pulls out the list from her side pocket and rips it horizontally, careful not to rip into her writings.

"You'll take this one," Charlie hands him one piece, "And I'll take this one. Try to buy everything on the list then we'll meet up at the cash register. Is that alright?"

Blurin nods slowly and takes the piece of paper from Charlie. He watches as she smiles brightly with red cheeks before grabbing a basket and walking to the other direction.

Forty minutes later, Charlie is approaching the register with a small sigh. There's no queue which Charlie is totally grateful for.

"Charlie?"

A loud voice makes her turn around. Charlie gasps loudly as a brunette bounds quickly to her and envelopes her in a tight hug that causes her to drop her full basket.

"Oh my God! Shaw!" Charlie squeals excitedly.

The woman, Shaw, pulls away and pinches Charlie's cheeks.

"Charlie, you shopping again? They didn't last this time," Shaw shakes her head as she ties a waist apron. She walks around the counter and seats on the stool.

"Yeah, I kinda have visitors so... Yeah." Charlie laughs calmly. She drops her basket on the counter and waits for Shaw to check it.

"Oh. Hey, I heard about your breakup with Mario, how are you holding up?"

Charlie sighs and rubs her arm, "I'm o— Wait, how'd you find out?"

"It's all in the news! The headline: A crazed fan threatens to end the Movie Star's marriage with his wife. That sick f**k!" Shaw mutters as she registers her goods in the machine.

"Yeah. Oh well..." Charlie shrugs.

She searches around for any sign of Blurin. Not seeing him, Charlie huffs calmly.

"Hey, that dude has been glancing at you for a while now," Shaw points behind Charlie and she follows the finger to a mop of black hair.

Blurin!

"That's no bother. I know him. He's one of the visitors staying at my apartment."

"Oh. I knew you'd always like those type of guys," Shaw smirks.

Charlie furrow her brows, "What type of guys?"

"Y'know, silent brooding bikers."

"He's not a biker, Shaw! He barely even owns a leather jacket!"

"So you know what he wears," Shaw whistles as she glances at Blurin, who is now full on staring at Charlie, "Graduation."

"Don't be silly, Shaw. I don't even like him," Charlie murmurs shyly.

"You're blushing. If it's not him, then it's someone else. Spill the beans, hon."

Charlie flutters her lashes, a thin film of red coating her already flush cheeks.

"Okay. There's someone else. He stays in my apartment too. I kinda like him and I think he likes me too."

Shaw pauses midway, her eyes glancing behind the ginger.

"Why don't you like Broody over there?" Shaw nods her head in the direction of Blurin.

Charlie scoffs with an uncomfortable look, "I can't like him! He... He's like my junior brother!"

"A tall, ripped junior brother you have," Shaw rolls her eyes before placing the last item in a bag.

One rack away, Blurin tightens his fingers around the basket handle.

His eyes dims a little.