Chapter sixty-seven
Matt
First stop:
The pet store.
I need to get some ants.
I pull up to PetSmart and park my car. I get out of my car and walk into the entrance of the store. I am walking towards the insect aisle when I feel something bumping against my leg. I look down and see a tiny golden retriever with its tongue hanging out. It barks at me. I bend down and pet it.
"Hi there," I say to the puppy. It gets up on its hind legs and starts licking my face. "Hi, there puppy,"
I stroke its head and it kisses me in return. Its tail is wagging like crazy.
"Come here sunny," I hear a female voice say.
I look up and see a girl in shorts and a low-cut red top. My guess is she's trying to compensate for something by showing off her tits for the world to see.
She has glasses and dark blonde hair pulled into a ponytail. The dog runs over to her and jumps into her arms.
She smiles at me. I half-smile back. I stand up and stand in front of her. She's half my size.
"Cute dog," I tell her.
She blushes. I've always been used to women acting like this in response to me. All.....nervous or something. I don't know why. I don't give a shit and my attitude reflects that. I'm rude as shit and yet women do whatever the hell I say. Women are strange. I start to turn but the girl says something.
"She seems to like you,"
I turn back around. "Yeah. Bitches love me," I joke. She giggles.
"You from around here?" she asks as if I want to make small talk in the pet store. Just let me get my fucking ants and go.
"Yep,"
I look behind her and see Jon approaching.
God-fucking-damn-it.
I definitely do not want to see this two-timer bitch ass.
I'm here cause of him.
"I got the food, Jenna," he starts to say then looks my way.
"Hey Matt," he says casually like we're on casual terms.
I don't say anything. I was thinking of playing with whoever this bitch is to make him mad but I remember that he has eyes for Novah so he probably wouldn't care.
Ehh....I'm gonna do it anyway.
"Hey....ummm Jenna. That dog is adorable. I'd love to see her again. Think I can....get your number, maybe?" I ask innocently.
Jon narrows his eyes at me.
I laugh in my mind.
That's what you get, bitch. And this isn't even the last of my revenge.
"Can you hold her for me?" she asks Jon. She hands Jon the small dog.
I take my phone out of my pocket and hand it to her.
Her small hands type quickly as Jon stares me down. I remain unfocused and uncaring.
She hands me back my phone and smiles politely.
"Jenna," she says and holds out her hand.
I take it, keeping my hand on hers, a beat longer to make her even more bewitched.
"Nice to meet you, Jenna," I say and flash a charming smile.
Her cheeks flush pink and she looks down at her feet. Just the reaction I'd intended....
"Alrighty. Bye. I'll text you," I say and turn around. I type 'Jenna' into my contacts and save it.
I slip my phone into my pocket and smile to myself.
I'm an asshole.
Jon speeds up next to me, the dog no longer in his arms.
"Seriously, Matt. You just had to do that? Why?"
I turn to look at him. "Cause I can," I say before walking off into the cat section, leaving him standing there. I grab a bag of cat litter.
I wait about thirty seconds.
I go farther into the section and look through a little slit. I see him at the cash register with Jenna. The cashier rings up the dog food. They grab it, Jenna picks up the puppy and they walk out of the store. I wait about a minute before walking out of the cat aisle and into the insect aisle.
As I stroll down the insect aisle I look to my left and right. There are tanks of crickets, roaches, maggots. The tanks are dimly lit and inside the tiny bugs are jumping or skittering in their tank.
The shelves lined with cans and other accessories are located underneath the tanks. I pick up a tin can that says 'mealworms' on it.
Fuck. I need ants.
I look around a bit more before searching for a store employee who can help me find the ants.
I end up spotting an average looking guy standing in front of the fish tank, pouring some fish food into the open top.
I walk up to the guy.
"Hey, I had a question?"
He turns, facing me. He's got glasses. I get a look at his name tag. Troy.
"Go right ahead," he says to me.
"Do you guys sell ants here?"
He crosses his arms and pushes his black glasses further up his nose with his finger.
"No, umm, unfortunately, we do not,"
"Aww man, I needed em' to feed my spiders. Those spiders have an appetite on em'," I know someone else that has an appetite.....
He laughs. "Yeah, spiders are my favorite pet. We don't sell ants here but I do own spiders, as a pet, and I could give you some If you'd like,"
I smile. "Aww thanks, man, You're a lifesaver,"
"Follow me," he says and walks straight ahead and takes a left into two industrial-looking double doors.
The room is pretty big. Holds a bunch of brown boxes of all sizes. Troy opens up a brown box that is sitting on the floor and takes out a small plastic container, handing it to me. I can see inside of it. There are hundreds of tiny brown ants bustling around inside of it.
"Here ya go. Just be careful. These bad boys can cause an infestation if not properly handled,"
I smile. "Just what I needed. How much?"
"Nah, don't worry about it. Ants are abundant,"
"No, for the trouble,"
I take out my wallet and hand him forty bucks. "You really are a lifesaver," I tell him.
"Nah, man. I'm good," he says and hands me back the money. "Okay, but if you need a favor, I'm here," I put the money back in my wallet.
"So do I just walk out with this?" I ask him.
"Yeah, it's not a store item so you should be good,"
"Alright, thanks bro," I dap him up.
"Have a good one," he says as I walk out of the room.
"Peace,"
I walk from the back of the store towards the front, keeping the container in my hand.
I walk out of the store with no problems.
I take my keys out of my pocket and unlock my car, getting in.
My phone buzzes in my pocket as I put the keys into the ignition.
I take it out and open my phone. A message pops up.
Hey. I see Alessia's name. I ignore the text, sliding my phone back into my pocket.
I look behind me, reversing out of the parking spot and then out of the plaza.
Time to do what I do best.
ns3.147.8.67da2
