I saw my life in a stranger's face (LIBRE & ANGLAIS)

It had been five days since she came back to Bowen, and since she had no where to live yet she was living with her father. She was looking for something else because she felt like she was passed "living-under-her-parents-roof", it just felt like a step back while she was trying to constantly move foward. She did not want to be a burden for her dad so she was doing the best she can to help him around the house and now she was getting the groceries for the week. She still had her right arm in a sling because of the failed drug bust, but because she's really stubborn, she wanted to do everything herself. Getting everything in the grocery store was the easy part, getting all the bags to her car was the tricky one. Chuck knows she should've kept her trolley to make it to the car in only one trip, but instead she was carrying four heavy bags, tree in her left hand and she was struggling to hold the other one with her bad arm. She couldn't hold it any longer and the bag crashed on the ground and most of what was in it rolled out of the bag. « Shit. » She put down the bags to try to get back all her things before a car could roll on them.

While she was trying to get ahold of her groceries, she heard someone talk to her so she turned her head to see who it was. She didn't know him but she was really grateful that he was trying to help. « Well, let's just say that I've been better. » She couldn't help but smirk at that comment, he seemed to feel really bad but she didn't take it the wrong way at all. Together they were finally able to put everything back in the bag. « Thank you so much, I think I would still be chasing down my food right now if it wasn't for you. » She noticed right away the was he was looking at the chocolate bar in the bag, That is the look of someone who saw something they like. She smiled and hand it out to him. « You deserve something in exchange, take this. » Maybe it would make his day, it was probably the best way to repay him. « I'm Chuck, by the way. »

One of the things that passed through her mind while she was talking to him was wondering if he was living in Bowen while she was living here before, because she had no memory of his face and she was usually pretty good at recalling things and people's face. She bit her lips after what he said and looked around a bit dramatically. « Well... anyone else in this parking lot, apparently. » she was joking, mostly. Because a lot of people didn't even noticed what happened, so she couldn't blame them for not helping, but a few just looked at her and didn't even seem to care at all. It was kind of funny that they liked the same brand of chocolate, since it's been her favorite since it came out and her friends would always find her weird for liking them a lot. « Seriously, it's the least I can do to thank you. » The precious chocolate bar was already back in the bag, but she would wait to try to convince him again to take it. Her train of thoughts was distracted by the hand in front of her, she smiled when she saw he showed her the left one, she shook it. « Yeah, my car is all the way over there, I feel so dumb for parking my car so far. » She could have parked it way closer to go easy on herself, but old habits are hard to change, she's use to park it far so people who really needs a close spot could have one available. She saw the look on his face when she mentioned she drove to get here. « Don't worry, I drive an automatic, I'm not that reckless. » she glanced down at all the bags before looking back at him. « I could use your help to get these to my car, if you don't mind. » she didn't want to hold him off if he was in a hurry or something.

He seems like a really nice guy, not the kind of guy who just wanted to play the hero to have a date with her or something, the kind of guy who is just really glad to help someone in need of assistance. She smiles and tilt her head because of what he said. « That's kind of a nice way to think, the world needs more people like you, Jake. » She really meant it. Being a cop, she feels that way too. All she ever wanted to do was make a difference, help people, get the bad guys behind bars. He seemed to judge her a bit for her choice of parking space, she didn't really mind, it was her choice. « I have this habit of parking far away because I don't mind the walk, but I kind of forgot that I wasn't in condition to leave the good spots for people who needs it more. » she bit her lips, feeling a bit stupid. She waited for him while he was getting his things, she tucked her hair behind her ear, it was a bit windy. She nodded when he asked her if she was ready, he took two of her bags and she was so grateful he was there to help. She felt her heart as if it was in her throat after his last question. It was always so painful to truly think about it, most days she could go on as if she was completely fine, but she had to ignore it, ignore the fact that she lost the person she wanted to grow old with in this stupid mission. She had this sad look on her face but she still smiled a bit « It's kind of a work accident, I'm a cop. » she wanted to avoid the whole "my-fiance-died" thingy, since she completly loathed the look of pitty everyone was giving her when they knew. « And you? What do you do for a living? » She was legitimately curious to know, it wasn't just to change the subject.

He was right, she was entitled to take one of those good parking spots, but for her it was like admit she was weak. Really, take a closer parking place doesn't mean being weak at all, but she's stubborn and for her it was like losing a fight against herself. « Yeah... You're probably right. Next time I'll try to think about it and park closer. » Anyway, she would be allowed to remove her sling soon, so maybe it would be easier for her to use her arm. She smiles at his comment, silently thanking him for not asking too many questions. « No you are not the first, I'm 5 foot 4 and I apparently look too nice to be a cop.» At first when she became an agent she was annoyed with people telling her she was too small or too fragile to be one, but now she doesn't mind the comments. She likes her job and she likes to think that she's good at it, so the rest doesn't matter. She was pleasantly surprised to hear he was a baker. « Wow, and they say never to trust a skinny baker. » she was kidding obviously, it was her way to going back at him for when he said she didn,t look like a cop. She winked and laughed a bit. « Chocolate cake is definitely my favorite. » It was her favorite and now she was really craving one since he talked about food with such passion. She put down the bags next to the car while she was looking for her keys in her purse. She stopped looking when he asked her if she wanted to get coffee. « I'm not at all, this is a great idea! Do they serve coffee where you work? » Even if they would eat the chocolate bar, she needed cake. She resume her search and finally found the keys. She unlocked the door to put her bags on the back seat of the car.

She giggled at his joke even if it wasn't that funny. Just the fact that he was trying was enough to sincerely make her laugh. « Never heard of that saying? I don't even know where it comes from. » She really wondered for a second where it came from, probably that if a baker is too skinny he never tries what he makes, so it might not be so great. « At least you are definitely a funny baker. » The idea of getting cake was filling her with joy, it didn't take a lot to make her happy, even if it was only for a few hours. She moved her hair from her face again and turned around to face him again after putting the bags in her car. « Of course! No problem, there's plenty of space. » Her car was surprisingly neat for a girl, usually girl's cars are full of shoes and clothes, but hers wasn't. « Well I grew up here but I left a few years ago, must've opened while I was away. » Otherwise, she would definitely have heard of a place with pastries and milk-shakes. She closed the door after he put his bags in the car « So... is it near enough that we can walk to it? Or is it preferable to take the car? » She wouldn't mind a little walk, but she didn't want to force him if he didn't want to.