The guy I hate.
ThatShep Clark.
I had to endure four years of college with the man who unceremoniously ended things. He ruled the campus, and I could never truly escape him.
When he was drafted for the MLB, I was ecstatic. He was leaving, meaning I’dfinallybe able to put Shepard Clark behind me. Sure, I was a journalist in his alumni town and I’d probably have to run an article or two on him and his accomplishments, but I could deal with that.
To actually have toseehim, though?
I’ll takeNo Fucking Thank Youfor $200, Alex.
He may be a baseball legend to everyone else in this town, but I won’t be falling at his feet anytime soon.
Not again.
I angrily march myself down the aisle, pushing my cart much faster than I need to. I just want to get out of here before I run into Shep again. I don’t even pay attention to the chips I toss into the cart, something I’m certain I’ll regret later.
I don’t bother scoping out the ice cream selection for something new. I know I’ll inevitably choose my trusty mint chocolate chip—the green one, thank you—and cookies and cream in the end.
I bustle over to the feminine products and grab the biggest pack I can find before making my way to the front.
It would be my luck that they’ve closed self-checkout, there’s only one lane open, and the oldest lady on the entire planet is sliding groceries across the scanner in a painfully slow manner.
Eff you, universe.
I push my cart up behind the woman in front of me, who I’m fairly certain is the second oldest woman on Earth, then rest against the handle.
The cashier scans a box of cereal and I swear it takes a full thirty seconds to do so.
I’m going to die here.
My eyes drift toward the gossip magazines lining the shelves to my right. Normally, I ignore this trash, but I’m bored and since I’ll probably be here for another fifteen minutes, why the hell not.
I reach for one featuring my favorite Chris then something catches my eye.
Is that…
Holy crap, itis!
Can I not escape him?!
Shep’s mug shot is plastered across the front of the local newspaper—and my rival paper at that.
Local Star Arrested for Destruction of Propertythe headline reads.
Looks like King Shep went and did another dumbass thing—started a fight and racked up a pretty penny in damages to the inside of a fancy-schmancy club a few hours north of here.
He’s lucky he’s not being hit with assault charges too.
I sneer at the paper in front of me. The urge to rip every copy off the shelves just so I can burn them all is strong.
Shep doesn’t deserveanykind of attention. He’s a liar, the biggest asshole in the history of assholes.
I hate him with a fiery passion.
I scowl at the image of his face, resisting my desire to snatch and burn, and instead grab a candy bar sitting below the papers, open it, and shove at least half into my mouth.
“Wow, I’m impressed.”
