Author's note: Hi there! If you are reading this now then thanks for all the support in reading my story! ~ I have high hopes for this story, I really do, haha. Anyway, really, thanks for giving this story a chance - no pun intended! As for the title of this story 'Give me a Chance', there is totally a pun intended! Have you figured it out yet?
Chapter 2
I could sense light streaming through my window so I climbed out of bed. I didn't have to look at the time to know that it was about seven o'clock. After grabbing my things for a shower, my alarm clock sounded to signal that it was, indeed, seven o'clock. Today was my grocery day and I was meeting with a client beforehand. Stephanie wanted me to buy some pre-made dessert for her dinner-date with Todd. Apparently he was an amazing cook and had offered to make her dinner.
After finishing with my client, my phone started ringing.
"Hello, Iris Hammenbolt speaking."
"Iris! Have you done the groceries yet? Are you in the shops? Where are you?"
"Stephanie," I greeted. "To answer your questions: No, I haven't done the groceries yet, I'm on my way there. Dessert for you, I remember. Is there something else you want?"
"Oh good," she exhaled. "Can you get me some chocolate eclaires?"
"Any particular brand?"
"Ah, just whatever's there. The priciest kind, 'cause, I don't want to be, you know, too cheap. This is Todd after all," she giggled.
"Sure," I rolled my eyes. "I'll see what I can do. Anything else?"
"Nope. Thank you!"
"You're welcome."
I got into my car and drove to my usual supermarket. Driving the usual route through the parking lot, I indicated to turn into a space when suddenly, a car coming from the opposite side beat me into the spot. I was left to stare stunned then pissed at seeing the parking spot I had already indicated to park in suddenly taken. How rude! Finding another spot a couple of spaces down instead, I got out of my car and glared at the driver coming out of their car - the one who'd so rudely stolen my car park. From this angle, I could only see the back of him. He was relatively tall and broad-shouldered with golden-brown hair. I frowned, sensing something chillingly familiar about the way he carried himself. And then he turned. My jaw dropped. No way. No damn impossible way was I this unlucky to be bumping into this man again so soon!
Oh no, oh no! Before I could turn and make haste to escape, his eyes had fallen on me. His eyes visibly lit up when he'd spotted me, like a lightbulb had been lit in his head or something.
"Iris Hammenbolt?" Chance called, too loud for my liking.
I cringed. Could I still pretend I hadn't seen or heard him?...
"Hey! Is that you?"
Definitely moving away now. My legs moved faster as his voice grew louder, signalling he was catching up to me. Suddenly there was a forceful yank on my arm, thrusting me backwards and a loud beeping car horn as a car whizzed past me. I froze, my heart having jumped to my throat.
"Woa, careful! You nearly got hit by a car! Are you in a rush or something?"
"Ah, yeah, sorry," I said, my voice coming out puffed and breathy from the shock I'd just received.
"Are you ok?"
I nodded and looked down at my arm that he still held. Funnily, he didn't release my arm straight away like the normal person would have done - though what I knew of normal was probably not a fair comparison. I looked back up at him again, a frown on my face.
"Are you sure? You're frowning."
"I'm fine." Subtly, I pulled back my arm and he seemed to get the hint, finally letting go of me.
"Really," he replied skeptically.
I grimaced. What was his problem? Was he not ok with me being fine? That's what people wanted to hear when they asked, right? That you're fine, that everything's fine. Like there's not a problem in the world, never mind the truth.
"So, you doing your groceries?"
I nodded.
"Should we… head over then? Unless… you're feeling woozy or something and need me to carry you," he chuckled.
I looked up at him weirdly.
"I'm kidding, you know that right?" his eyes twinkled with humour. "Unless… you really need me to carry you."
I scowled and began to walk away from him. Because, really, being in his presence was almost tiring. I couldn't deal with it at this moment. Chance followed closely behind me, like a shadow to my body – most annoying. I didn't need another shadow to my real one.
"It's a small world bumping into you here," he said conversationally as we approached the supermarket. Didn't he get that I just didn't want to converse with him? "So, are you going to come with us to the lake house?"
"I have yet to give Mrs. Hines an answer."
"So does that mean you haven't decided yet?"
"Look, I don't know, ok?" I whirled on him. The moment I did, I almost regretted it. He didn't deserve that kind of attitude, no matter how annoying he'd been. But the smile on his face told me he wasn't deterred.
"Well, I think you should come along. You'll have fun you know, and my mom would love it."
"Right. Well unfortunately that doesn't change my answer."
"So, what will it take to change it then?"
I frowned at him.
"What will it take for you to come along?"
"I – that's not really any of your business."
"So, what, I can't try and persuade you to come along?"
What it felt like he was doing was a little more than persuading. It was almost like he was probing – into my personal life, interrogating me. And I didn't like it one bit.
"Seriously, you'll have fun coming along-"
"Mr. Hines, in case it hasn't occurred, to you, I'm going to the lake house for work-"
"Oh, so you're going to the lakehouse now?" he asked, a twinkle in his eyes.
"I never said-"
"But you just said 'I'm going to the lake house for work'."
I gaped at him. I couldn't believe the man! I didn't even know how to deal with him because, honestly, I'd never met anyone as infuriating as him!
"That's perfect, I can call up Mom and tell her you're coming, she'll be ecstatic!"
"Mr. Hines, what I meant to say was that if I were going, I would be going for work – note the conditional tense."
"Ah, but you can't go back on your word now," he cajoled.
"Mr. Hines, you are being very difficult. And I don't think I can deal with that right now, I'm sorry, but I'm going to leave."
He chuckled and called, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be a pain," while catching up to me.
Bit late for that.
"It's just, every time I see you, I feel this odd sense of familiarity, like I should know you or something –" his voice faltered as he registered the expression on my face. "Ok, now I've creeped you out," he laughed. "Way to go, Chance."
What a peculiar man.
"Well, let's just pretend I never said that, shall we? I'll see you around?"
I didn't respond.
"But just for the record, I still think you should come along with us to the lake house," he grinned.
I shook my head, amazed. How could such a person exist? One minute, he was all serious then he told me he was joking, then he was apologetic and back to being an ass again. I didn't get him. Not knowing what else to do, I headed off for my groceries.
I knew all the aisles off by heart and exactly which ones I needed to go to, in which order and which ones to skip altogether. Going down the second aisle, I caught sight of Chance there and considered turning round and coming back later. Then I asked myself why I should have to compromise my routine for him and decided against it.
"We meet again," he laughed.
Drat. I'd been hoping he wouldn't notice me, at least. No such chance - Pun unintended.
We saw each other again another three times before I was rounding the corner towards the last aisle for the last of my items. Out of nowhere, I felt a crash as someone collided against me. Knocked back by the force, I hit the shelf of chocolate blocks and heard sounds of crashing.
"Sorry!" I apologized, looking at the blocks of chocolate that had tumbled down around me, then up to the person I'd collided with.
Chance Hines, again?!
There was a chuckling sound and I realised I'd accidentally voiced my thoughts. This had to be some sort of joke.
"Why are you laughing?" I hissed, because I could feel stares all around us and his loud chuckling really wasn't helping. The fact that I'd continually bumped into him, not three, not four, but five times, in the supermarket alone was also starting to get on my nerves. Things like that didn't just happen! "This isn't funny anymore. Are you following me?"
His eyes turned wide, "Following you? Me? Why would I do that?"
I scowled and bent down to pick up the chocolate bars. Thankfully he didn't have to be asked before he was bending down and helping me. Because it probably would have spiked my frustration further.
"Don't you think it's even a little funny?" he smiled.
I scowled, "What?"
He laughed, "Come on, how many times have we bumped into each other today? This supermarket's pretty big, even."
"Too many times, if you have to ask."456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1CN8vrDyJ
"You know, every time we've met seems to be by some sort of accidental chance - excuse the pun, it's almost like fate's at play or something."
Then God forbid, please excuse me from this cruel joke that fate plays against me.
"What do you say to having coffee with me sometime?"
Wait, what? How did we get from our current situation to - coffee in the future?
"I'm busy," I quickly replied out of practised habit from whenever Stephanie would ask me to go out with her.
He laughed again, "Seriously, we haven't even set up a date or time yet!"
I scowled again. He said it like it was going to happen, like it had been decided already.
"Do you not like me that much?"
Pretty much.
"Weeell, you know, after our first meeting, it could be said that you owe me a coffee."
"What?" I exclaimed incredulously, finally looking up from the chocolate to him. After all, who liked owing people things? He had the biggest smile on his face. And I just wanted to wipe it off.
"You remember, when we first met, we bumped into each other, hence my spilt coffee."
"I remember very well, Mr. Hines," I grated through clenched teeth. Me? Owing him coffee? That was the most ridiculous thing I'd heard in - well, ever. Because not only had he later been apologetic about said accident (after much inconsequential chatter), he hadn't even bothered to mention his sorry cup of a coffee at the time. To bring it up now? It was just - unethical!
"Chance."
"Sorry?"
"Chance, call me Chance."
"I think I prefer Mr. Hines."
"A little formal, don't you think?"
"Well, Mr. Hines, we did only meet a few days ago."
"So give me the chance to get to know you better. Have coffee with me?"
"Quite frankly, I don't believe I owe you anything, Mr. Hines. Fine, your coffee was ruined and so was my top. So an eye for an eye. I believe we're even."
"Iris, do you really think I care about the coffee?"
I drew back at his casual use of my name. It sounded way too intimate for my liking.
"Don't you? You brought it up."
He shook his head, "I was just kidding about owing me coffee."
I frowned, now confused. Did he joke about everything? I didn't understand him! So I stood up and began putting back all the chocolate blocks I'd picked up. He did the same.
"You need to learn to lighten up a little, are you always so serious?"
I froze, sucking in a deep breath. Did he just – oh yeah, he did. How dare he tell me to lighten up – acting as if he knew me after a mere three encounters? How dare he tell me what to do?
"Excuse me?" I seethed, all humour gone from me.
The iciness of my voice didn't seem to affect him as he continued casually piling the blocks of chocolate back on the shelf. It pissed me off even more.
"I'm just sayin-"
"Sorry if I don't appear to be humouring you as much as you'd like," I seethed. "Maybe you should be more careful about who you choose to associate with. Quite clearly, coffee with me is not a good idea."
Stacking the last of the chocolate blocks in my hand, I then walked off, too angry to even deal with Chance Hines anymore.
There was a chuckling sound behind me. Chuckling! Surely he wouldn't be so rude – I turned to face him. He had a smile on his face! The nerve of him! Was he not the least bit remorseful about his arrogance?
"I'm sorry – I'm not laughing at your anger, ok, maybe I am, but you're kind of cute when you're angry, I couldn't help it."
Cute…. Cute! How dare he call me cute of all words?! I scowled deeply.
"Are you done yet?"
"Hm?"
"Quite frankly, I've had enough. If you're done making your jokes and laughing at my expense, I'd rather like to get going."
"Iris-"
Ignoring his persistent calls, I walked straight to checkout to pay for my items. I didn't look back as I exited the super market and piled the groceries into my car.
"Iris."
Now this had to be a joke – the sound of his voice calling to me, mere moments after I'd just escaped it. Seriously, was it impossible to get some peace while doing my groceries? I'd had enough! Absolutely enough! From the moment I'd driven into the parking lot and had my spot stolen by him, he'd consistently pestered me to the point of driving me insane.
"You're mad at me."
Way to go, Sherlock. Great deduction skills.
"Don't be so mad, I was just trying to be friendly."
Friendly? Friendly! I nearly scoffed, only I was intent on piling my groceries in the car to make a quick getaway.
"I get it, you don't want to have coffee with me, that's fine. We could always do tea, right?" he laughed.
Unbelievable. Having finished putting all my groceries into the car, I slammed the boot shut and turned to face him.
"Goodbye Mr. Hines."
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