Unforgettable

Part 4

Natalie

"Oooh, how do we feel about pot plants?"

"Lera, how would you keep a plant alive? You barely remember to shower and drink water half the time."

"Fuck off Mel, I do so remember. Anyway, these ones are fake, so I wouldn't have to do anything with them!"

I look over at Persephone, to see her laughing along with me at the children in aisle 6. The girls and I decided our dorm rooms were too boring, which is how we've ended up in target at 8:12pm on a Thursday night. Would recommend. 

"Hey Nat, do you like pot plants?" Lera yells from where she is standing, holding one plant in the palm of each of her hands.

"Yeah, we can be like those cool, hippy plant moms!" I yell back, pumping my fist in excitement. Lera lets out a cheer, placing around 10 of the small plants into her cart. Beside her, Melanie shakes her head, smacking her hand against her forehead mockingly. Lera pokes her tongue out at her, before pushing her cart into the next aisle. 

"Oh. My. God. I need this floor rug." Lera exclaims, pouncing on the light blue rug. A smiling penguin is incorporated into the design, and Lera hugs it close to her chest. Melanie rolls her eyes again, but also grabs one of the rugs. 

"Well, at least we can match then." She says, smacking the rug over Lera's head as she throws it into the cart. Poor Lera.

We continue to walk through the aisles, pausing every so often to throw in more stuff we probably don't need. We come to a stop as we reach an aisle full of summery décor. Lera reaches for a small box of seashells, turning it over in her hand as she observes it. Her face transforms into a soft smile, before she places the shells into the cart. 

"What's the story behind the seashells?" I ask her, after observing her emotional reaction.

"Oh, Christian and I got together when we were staying at the beach. I always loved the beach, but it just feels more special now." she replies, her eyes continuing to wander down the endless aisles. 

"Ugh, does everything have to be a fucking Disney movie with the two of you?" Melanie scoffs, placing small decorations into the cart as she speaks. 

"Jeez Mel, we need to find you a boyfriend before you get too bitter." Persephone says, smacking Melanie over the head. 

"No way, I don't need anyone. See, it's only when you're looking in from outside that you can actually see how nauseating the whole 'love' thing is. Seriously, I have to stifle a projectile vomit every time I'm around you and Christian, L."

Lera punches Melanie in the arm hard before pushes her cart away from her. 

"You're just jealous!" she yells from across the aisle, poking her tongue out at Melanie again before continuing her shopping. I hear Melanie mutter under her breathe frim beside me, which causes me to laugh again. 

In the short amount of time that I've known these girls, I already feel like I'm at home. Coming from Chicago, with broken friendships and family connections, I assumed I'd feel just as alone when I ended up here. But it's really been the opposite. I've made friends, people in my classes are generally nice, and it feels overwhelmingly normal here, a feeling I don't think I ever felt in Chicago. 

"Hey Nat, you brought your diffuser thing right?" Lera calls from an aisle away. I walk towards her quickly, to see small bottles of essential oils stacked high on a display cabinet. 

"Yes I did, but it could probably do with some new oils." I reply, my eyes scanning over every label.

Cinnamon, lavender, rose, cedarwood, orange, peppermint...