Episode 4: Grocery Store Disaster

Saturday morning arrived with something Olivia Hart loved more than almost anything.

A plan.

A simple plan.

Buy groceries.

Come home.

Prepare meals for the week.

Avoid unnecessary chaos.

Unfortunately...

Ethan Carter existed.

Olivia walked into the kitchen at exactly 9:00 AM.

Ethan was sitting at the counter eating cereal directly from the box.

Not from a bowl.

The box.

Olivia stared.

"Ethan."

"Morning."

"Why?"

He looked confused.

"Why what?"

"Why are you eating cereal like that?"

Ethan looked down.

"Oh."

A pause.

"I couldn't find a bowl."

Olivia pointed at the cabinet directly above his head.

"The bowls are right there."

Ethan looked up.

Another pause.

"Oh."

Olivia sighed.

Today was going to be a long day.

Very long.

"Get ready."

"For what?"

"We're grocery shopping."

Ethan immediately frowned.

"Can't you just order online?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because we're buying groceries like normal adults."

Ethan looked personally attacked.

Forty minutes later, they arrived at the supermarket.

The moment they entered, Olivia handed Ethan a shopping list.

"Stay focused."

Ethan glanced at the paper.

"Vegetables."

"Yes."

"Fruit."

"Yes."

"Chicken."

"Yes."

"Milk."

"Yes."

Ethan looked disappointed.

"Where are the snacks?"

"Not on the list."

"That's discrimination."

Olivia ignored him and pushed the cart forward.

For the next ten minutes, everything went surprisingly well.

Too well.

Which should have been Olivia's first warning.

When she turned around, Ethan was gone.

Completely gone.

She closed her eyes.

Count to five.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Still gone.

Of course.

After searching three different aisles, she finally found him.

Standing in front of a shelf.

Holding two bags of chips.

"What are you doing?"

Ethan looked serious.

Very serious.

"The future of our apartment depends on this decision."

Olivia stared.

"They're potato chips."

"Exactly."

"You've been standing here for ten minutes."

"This is important."

"No."

"It is."

"No."

"It really is."

Olivia grabbed both bags and dropped them into the cart.

"There."

Ethan blinked.

"You solved it."

"You're welcome."

As they continued shopping, Ethan secretly added snacks whenever Olivia wasn't looking.

Cookies.

Chocolate.

Ice cream.

Candy.

More cookies.

Olivia discovered his collection near the checkout section.

She stopped.

Slowly turned toward him.

"Ethan."

He smiled nervously.

"Yes?"

"What is this?"

"Food."

"This is junk food."

"Still food."

Olivia looked at the cart.

Then at Ethan.

Then back at the cart.

"Ethan, there are more cookies than vegetables."

"That's called balance."

Olivia nearly hit him with the shopping list.

At that exact moment, an elderly woman walked past them.

She looked at their cart.

Then at Olivia.

Then Ethan.

A smile appeared on her face.

"You two are adorable."

Both froze.

The woman continued smiling.

"You remind me of my husband and I when we were young."

Silence.

Olivia felt her face grow warm.

"We're not together."

The woman laughed.

"Of course, dear."

"We're roommates."

"That's how it starts."

"Ethan!"

"I'm not saying anything!"

The woman waved and continued walking away.

Leaving complete destruction behind her.

Neither Olivia nor Ethan spoke for almost a minute.

It was weird.

Unexpectedly weird.

And somehow...

Neither wanted to discuss it.

Eventually they reached the checkout counter.

Olivia began unloading groceries.

Ethan was unusually quiet.

Which was suspicious.

Very suspicious.

When Ethan was quiet, something bad usually happened.

Then suddenly—

A little girl standing nearby pointed directly at them.

"Mommy!"

The girl's voice echoed through the store.

Olivia immediately knew this wasn't going to end well.

The mother looked embarrassed.

"What is it, sweetheart?"

The little girl pointed again.

"Are they married?"

Everything stopped.

Even time itself seemed to pause.

Olivia nearly dropped a carton of milk.

Ethan looked like he had forgotten how breathing worked.

The mother quickly apologized.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry."

But the little girl wasn't finished.

"No, really!"

She smiled.

"They look cute together!"

Olivia wanted the floor to open and swallow her whole.

Immediately.

The mother dragged the child away before more damage could be done.

Unfortunately...

The damage had already been done.

A lot of damage.

The drive home was painfully awkward.

Neither spoke.

Not once.

Not about the old woman.

Not about the little girl.

Not about anything.

Until Ethan suddenly broke the silence.

"So..."

Olivia immediately pointed at him.

"No."

"What?"

"I know exactly what you're about to say."

"You do?"

"Yes."

"What was I going to say?"

Olivia opened her mouth.

Then stopped.

Because honestly...

She had no idea.

Ethan started laughing.

Olivia groaned.

"You're impossible."

"That's what makes me charming."

"No."

"Maybe a little."

"No."

"Definitely a little."

Despite herself...

Olivia smiled.

Just slightly.

Ethan noticed.

But said nothing.

When they finally arrived home, both carried groceries upstairs.

Halfway through unpacking, Ethan held up a box of cookies.

"Important question."

"What?"

"If there was a fire..."

"There isn't."

"But if there was."

"Ethan."

"Would you save me or the cookies?"

Olivia looked at him.

Completely serious.

"The cookies."

Ethan gasped dramatically.

"I knew it."

"You asked."

"You didn't even hesitate."

Olivia laughed.

Actually laughed.

And for a moment...

The apartment felt different.

Warmer.

Comfortable.

Like home.

Neither of them noticed it.

Or maybe they did.

Maybe they just weren't ready to admit it yet.

Because somewhere between grocery lists and shopping carts...

Something had started to change.

Something small.

Something dangerous.

And neither of them had any idea where it would lead.

To be continued...

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