just a lil mini series about some frens (pt 3/5)
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“This is a strategic trip gang, we have a need for speed!” Cam says, “Ellington waits for no one.”
“Does he not?” I say, but Cam just shrugs.
Tyler laughs, “Did you just say ‘need for speed’?”
“Yeah, interesting choice,” Zuli adds.
“It didn't really work did it?” Cam cringes as we pepper them with nos.
“Well,” They say, defeated, “At least we agree on something”
“Doesn't matter,” Alma reminds us and we all turn to her. “Plan of action!”
“Cam—candy—”
“Evan—snacks—”
“Ty will do the gas, and Zuli on drinks.”
Cam frowns, “What about you?”
“Bathroom break, and then meet at the register.”
“What if the rest of us need a bathroom break too?” I ask.
“Do you? Anyone?”
None of us say anything.
“There you go.” Alma finishes.
“Wait,” I say, “What do we actually want? Like, snacks, but? what snacks?”
Zuli frowns “I don't know, chips? cheetos? What do you want?”
“Do cheetos count as chips?” Alma asks.
I shrug, “I think they're more like chip-adjacent.”
“The question is, would you be mad if you asked for chips and got Cheetos?” Cam says. “Or vice versa.”
“Is that really the question?” Zuli asks, but Alma gasps.
“That's exactly the question! If I wanted Cheetos and got chips, i'd be disappointed, but the other way around… I could live with that.”
I frown at Alma, “That's actually a really good point.”
Tyler sighs and mutters under his breath, “Glad we solved that one.”
“Hey grumpy!” Cam says bumping his shoulder, “You'll be glad when you ask for cheetos and get cheetos.”
“The point is,” I say “Do you actually want cheetos? Any of you?”
None of them say anything until Tyler sighs dramatically, “OKay, yes.”
Alma smiles,“So you wouldn't love it if we brought you chips, then, would you?”
Tyler scowls. “You guys are the worst.”
Cam leads Tyler to the gas station on the corner and we run through our list quick before he pulls up to a pump. Descending like a hurricane, Alma looks at us as we go through the door. “Don't spend all my money gang, okay?”
Zuli and Cam and I look at each other and smile.
“No wait,” Alma says, looking concerned now, “What does that look mean? If yall drain my college savings you'll have my mother to answer to.”
She looks at us each pointedly and dramatically pushes both doors open.
I move to the chips quickly and grab Tyler’s Cheetos then salt and vinegar for Zuli and Cam—(“Its like rubbing salt in a wound but in a good way.”)—then finally barbecue and a mini chex.
I'm surprised, it really didn't take as long as I thought, so i make my way to the front of the store and seconds later Cam comes to stand by my side, hands full of various candies.
Its not long before Alma and Zuli join us and when the cashier finally brings up the total Alma sighs dramatically but hands her card over, already resigned to the price.
“Need for speed, gang,” She says and Cam rolls their eyes as we grab our stuff and herd each other out the doors.
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