Chapter 41:SPOTTED BY A FAN

"So, where are you taking me to?" Natasha asked once she got over the classical music taunt. I didn't bother responding to the question about who Hannah was and just stared ahead focusing on the road as she wants. I think it dawned on her that she hit a sore spot so the topic was changed.

"No idea," I said truthfully, letting out an exasperated sigh.

"Didn't you have this whole tour thingy planned out?" She questioned mockingly. I'm certain she knows it was simply an excuse gone wrong by now but was having so much fun pulling my legs anyway.

"Nope and you know it." Finally dropping the façade I felt slightly better, more relaxed.

"Dummy, next time come up with a believable excuse aye?"

"Whatever"

"But you should be able to come up with something on the Spot. Wasn't this where you lived before heading to college?"

"There's this ice cream mart I loved as a child. We should probably go there first." I guessed we have to wing it as it pops into my head then.

"How do you know it is still in business?"

"I drove past it yesterday when I went to fill up my car with gas." If I didn't fill up my car with gas yesterday, I would have used an empty tank as an excuse to get out of going on this tour journey.

"Hmm, you love ice cream don't you?" She smiled so fondly.

"Duh, isn't it obvious? I am equally as sweet." Plus it was company when I went through my heartbreak all alone.

"Sure, whatever rocks your boat."

"We're here" In one piece, I drove into the parking lot. It was fully packed but after driving in circles, I finally found a parking space.

"This isn't a mart, it's a land! One word: epic" My roommate stared out of the window in awe. I have to say, I was also impressed. This place was cool before but now it's EPIC just like Natasha said.

"So you are a fellow ice-cream lover."

"I love all things cute. Including ice cream, that's why I'm equally as sweet."

"Tsk Tsk, it's no longer dope if you just stole it from me less than five minutes ago."

"Whatever, let's go in c'mon." She unbuckled her seat belt and scurried out of the car before I got a chance to open it for her. How shall I display my chivalry now?

"Calm down."

"Ouuuuuuu"

"I should probably bring you here whenever I want to get in your good side. You are in love Natasha." I was forced to holding her wrists so she doesn't trail off. Anything can happen when a usually logical lady is lovesick.

"Was it this big even when you were little?"

"Nah, the second floor wasn't here yet," I remember coming here after school a lot of times. Sometimes to cool off and have fun. It's easy to get lost in here.

" It's beautiful."

"Bigger than some supermarkets."

"Almost as big as the agency."

"Damn"

"Let's explore?"

The building was a story tall. Indeed it was bigger than the agency in both height and width. Each flavor had its own stand. The splash of color created eye-catching aesthetics. Every flavor had a color, pink for strawberry, white for vanilla, brown for chocolate, green for mint, and various others . Walking inside, immediately the refreshing cold scent hits your face to calm your nerves. With bright posters on the wall and a mascot twirling directions while doing hand gestures. I can definitely get used to this place.

Neither of us moved from the spot as we had been struck down by Intense awesomeness. Simply indescribable.

"Jeremy? Jeremy Heath?" A voice snapped us into reality. Darn it! I was having fun fantasizing.

"In the flesh. Hi?..." I trailed off, confused.

"Looks like you have a fan." Natasha jabbed me by the side using her elbow.

"You don't remember me?"

"Ummm, no" Shaking my head, I raised an eyebrow for the lady to explain.

"Not even a clue?"

"Not one bit" This time I was getting cross. Surely I'm allowed to not have a retentive memory all the time.

"Here I was thinking I didn't age."

"I'm guessing we all do?"

"I wanted to be exceptional. Well, it's me Kassidy? From high school?"

"Oh my..."

"That is unbelievable?"

"I mean, you were a blonde who had blue eyes and weighed triple what you do now." How can I forget Kassidy? Not possible. She was a bit gothic then and a little bit creepy. Her definition of fun was startling people, lurking behind shadows in dark corners. It's pretty nice to see her with more color.

"Well, I dyed my hair because I got tired of the dumb blonde expressions. Blue eyes, contact lenses, and I was obese, I know."

"Anyway, it's a surprise to see you here. Wow, you didn't age one bit."

"You flatter me, Jeremy. Talk about age, that did good things to you. I see you on every magazine I pick up. Look at you being New York's favorite bachelor."

"You exaggerate." I knew I am pretty popular but not so exaggeratedly.

"One of your fans published a book on your behalf, didn't you see?"

"A book, no"

"It's titled ` How to keep up with the trendʼ: Just be like Jeremy Heath."

"No way!"

"Yes, way!"

"I didn't know that."

"Now you do. I didn't think you would ever come back."

"I came to spend the Easter holidays with my mum."

"Your girlfriend? I thought that would be Hannah." She gestured towards Natasha who still stood rooted to my side.

"We are no longer together." I corrected awkwardly, scratching the back of my neck. Now Natasha heard about Hannah again.

"Oh, and you both were voted as most likely to be soulmates back in high school."

"I guess life had its plan." Life's plan isn't always ours, pretty much messed up if you think about it.

" I believe so. Anyways, it was nice seeing you again, and she's pretty, you make a perfect match."

"Yeah..."

"I have to go now."

"Okay"

"Jeremy!"

A sting on my hand made me yelp in pain. I hadn't even realized I was deep in thought.

"Huh? Ouch, Why did you pinch me? "

"You didn't tell her we aren't a couple!" She whisper yelled on my face, throwing her hands around. I think the only reason I hadn't been properly yelled at was re in the public. And maybe because of ice cream.

"Oh, it skipped my mind."

"Are you kidding me?" Feebly punching my shoulder, her eyes narrowed at me. In all honesty, I wasn't paying much attention. I was only focusing on what she said about Hannah to allow her other words to sink in.

"Don't mind me, I forgot to take a picture with you. May I?" Kassidy popped up in front of our faces. Awkwardly looking back and forth between me and Natasha.

"Sure"

Not wanting to be in the picture, Natasha took the pictures while we tried some poses.

"My friends are going to freak out. They never believed me when I said we attended the same high school. I'll rub this in their faces."

"Must be nice." Gritting my teeth, I spoke slowly not knowing what else to say. I could tell Natasha wanted to let hell loose, just not yet. The realization bugged me.

"You bet! Bye once again."

"So what flavors do you want?" Shrugging, I asked carefully. She eyed me suspiciously but let it slide.

"Strawberry!"

"Okay then"

"What flavors?" The guy in charge of the strawberry stall asked. Wasn't it already obvious? That was the only flavor he was in charge of but I didn't want to dabble in to point out the obvious facts.

"Strawberry."

"For the both of you?"

"Yes"

"You know that you're in the biggest ice cream mart you can find anywhere at the moment right?"

"It is not just a mart sir, but an entire island filled with the goodness of ice cream." Natasha released a dreamy sigh and I laughed in tow.

"It's a good thing you understand. So tell me why you would come here and buy just one flavor? A very common one at that. Strawberry!" He spat out vehemently. Dude, shouldn't you be happy that you're making sales? It's pretty confusing.

"Because we both like it."She squared her shoulders, ready to defend us both.

"Well, you are both too plain."

"I think we are okay with being plain, right Jeremy?"

"I am anything but plain but I think you're right" Running my hand through my hair, I smugly replied.

"Okay then, your loss. What toppings would you like?

"Let's keep it simple with just sprinkles for me." Toppings are not what makes the ice cream good. It's perfectly fine on its own. Anything but sprinkles is good.

"Sprinkles only?" Natasha pondered.

"Is there a problem with that?"

"I think you're even plainer than I am."

"That's not true"

"It totally is!"

"Fine, go wild and pick my toppings for me." I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth. Why would I tell her to go wild over something as important as ice cream!

"My pleasure. How about caramel, cookie dough, and melted marshmallow?"

"I like how you think" The salesperson held up his hand for a high-five. Natasha clapped hers with him, way too happily.

"Trust me, me too."

"I don't think I'll like the stomachache that would attack me afterward" You can already hear the sound of my stomach grumbling.