Earlier…
Colin walked down the boardwalk as Shara held his hand nice and tight.
“Where are we going next?” The tanned beauty asked, “Caricatures? The sea glass shack? Maybe that henna lady we saw a few minutes ago?”
“Actually, I was feeling hungry.” Colin said.
“Really?” Shara asked.
“We’ve been here a couple hours, aren’t you hungry?” Colin asked.
“Well yeah, but-“ Shara started.
“I know a place, lemme grab us a table.” Colin said as he went went across the boardwalk and walked through some beads.
“Always has to follow his stomach…” Shara sighed.
Then she spotted a tiny little wooden stand selling oysters.
Shara started thinking ‘Always wanted to try oysters… Colin probably won’t mind if I grab a couple….’
She smirked to herself and ordered a big platter of the slimy shellfish.
She picked up a shell and sucked down the snotty clump of meat.
“That’s… pretty good actually.” Shara said, dousing another in hot sauce before slurping it down, “Now we’re talking!”
She was down to the last four oysters when a man pinned a sign to the stand’s window.
The shell dropped out of her hand as her heart filled with dread.
It was a Health Inspection Rating…
A big.
Bold.
Red.
F.
Shara’s stomach violently gurgled as the weight of her decision sunk in with nothing but a simple
“Uh oh……”
************************************************
“And that’s when we followed her here.” Alya said as Shara wretched and heaved amongst a cacophony of sloshing from the stall.
“Holy shit, is she okay?!” Wendy asked as a loud splatting filled the air.
“Which end are we talking here?” Sam asked.
“Both!!!!” Shara yelled between the hurling and splattering.
“I called the hospital, they’re on their way.” Alya said as a pair of medics pulled up in an ambulance.
The purple haired girl was handed a bucket as she blew chunks all over herself.
“Shara, which place did Colin say he was going?” Sam asked.
“He di- he did- he-“Shara gagged as she barfed again.
“I’ll just text him.” Wendy said.
***********************************************
Colin wistfully sighed as he got the text telling him about the oyster incident.
Now he was sitting here with a spring roll platter in the shape of a heart… by himself.
“I don’t get it…” Colin said as he shoved a spring roll in his face, “Everything was going so well, why didn’t she come with me?”
“Got ghosted, huh?” A voice said as someone sat across from Colin.
“Not exactly…” Colin sighed.
“Hey relax, man, it happens all the time.” They said, “What’s your name anyway?”
“Colin.” He introduced himself as he looked up.
He found himself sitting across from a guy in a big baggy sweatshirt with short scruffy black hair.
“Name’s Ash.” He smiled. “You gonna eat all of those?”
Colin and Ash sat there scarfing down spring rolls as they started to realize they had a lot in common. They owned the same consoles, liked the same games, and even used the same mouthwash.
“Dude, we should hang out some time!” Ash smiled.
“Well, I’m not doing anything tomorrow… wanna come to my place watch Valley of the Shadows 2 with me?” Colin asked.
“Yeah man, sounds good.” Ash smiled.
************************************************
“Wait a minute… Valley of the Shadows 2 came to streaming and you didn’t tell me?!” Lucy asked.
“Lucy, it’s more like… YOU MET SOME RANDOM GUY AND JUST INVITED HIM OVER?!” Sam asked.
“Relax, everyone’s gonna be busy tomorrow, he’s not even gonna see any of you.” Colin smiled. “Trust me, it’s gonna be fine.”
“Alright, if you say so…” Sam sighed.
************************************************
The popcorn was popping, the Pepsi was on ice, and Valley of the Shadows 2 was PURCHASED!
“This is gonna be good…” Colin smiled as he heard a knock.
“Hey man, come on in, you’re just in time for… the… show…” Colin said as he realized something.