Write In The Middle Of It

Kevin shook his head and chuckled when he hung up the phone. Not that he didn't care that Mekayla deleted her book, but that wasn't the bombshell he thought she was going to drop on him. To be honest, Kevin didn't know what Mekayla was going to say, but it sounded serious. Shit everything Mekayla had to say seemed serious, not to mention urgent. But one of the things Kevin loved about her was her intensity. She put passion into all that she did, from poetry, to pasta, to playing in the snow.

The night they met, Kevin was going to the corner store to pick up some milk for his late- night snack of milk and cookies. As he rounded the corner, he saw Mekayla dart outside of the store yelling into a cellular phone. As he walked by her what he remembered most was that her hair was eggplant in color, it matched her lipstick and that she smelled like Obsession. He couldn't hear her conversation, but whoever she was talking to was catchin it.

Kevin shook his head as he entered the store. He slipped his money through the slot in the Plexiglas window and asked the clerk for a quart of one percent milk. Anything other than one percent was just too thick for him. Upon leaving the store out of habit, he grabbed a pack of matches and put them in his hoodie pocket.

He them bumped into a still angry and pacing Mekayla.

"My bad, shorti." Kevin said as he tried to hold on to Mekayla's arm to try to keep her from falling. Mekayla didn't even stagger or look his way; she just kept walking and yelling, passing Kevin.

"Okay you know what really, fuck you." she screamed into the phone. Kevin attempted to pick up his pace but was blocked by Mekayla stopping dead in her tracks.

"Hello?" she said, "Hello!!!" she said again even louder and more annoyed.

"Ugh,” she said as she slammed her cell phone shut.

Kevin didn't move as she reached into her pocket and put a cigarette into her mouth. She tried several times to light it but failed, so she threw the lighter into the street. When she turned around she walked smack into Kevin's chest.

"Oh damn," she said looking up, "I'm sorry."

Kevin looked down and smiled at her. The top of her head didn't even reach his chin and that made him chuckle. "You aiight there?"

Mekayla's disposition didn't change,

"Nah, not really." She straightened the somewhat bent cigarette. “Do you have a light?"

Kevin reached into his hoodie and handed her a pack of matches. "Thank you." At that point she actually smiled at him, and he swore the streetlight got brighter.

"No problem.” he said and began to walk around her.

He would have stopped to talk to her but it was double-header Wednesday on TNT and he didn't want to miss the games. He was a few steps away from her when he heard the clicking of her boots behind him. Then he felt a tap on his lower back.

"Hey,” she said.

Kevin turned around and had to look down onto her now beaming smile.

Aw, she's got a pretty smile.

"Thank you" she said handing him back the pack of matches.

Kevin erupted in laughter, "Shorti, you coulda kept the matches."

Mekayla was laughing too, "I know but, um do you know the number to a good cab company?"

"Out here?" Kevin looked around, "At this time of night?"

Mekayla sighed and generally looked sad. While turning to walk away she touched his arm and said,

"Ok baby, thanks."

Kevin watched her walk off for a few steps, cursed under his breath and chastised himself in his own head.

Fuck the game, my team doesn't play until later anyway.

"Hold up shorti." Kevin called out after her.

And the rest they say was history.