Page 112 of Little Psycho

The cold air whips past us, invigorating and sharp, but I can't help but feel alive with anticipation.It’s not just about the gifts; it’s about letting her know she’s missed and needed, and so fucking wanted whether she feels like it or not.

As we approach Walmart, a wave of nostalgia washes over me.This place has seen countless memories—a mix of late-night runs, ridiculous purchases, getting high and fucking in the parking lot, and running into friends.I park my bike near the entrance and hop off, gesturing for Ash to follow.

"Come on, let's make this quick.We don’t want her thinking we’re soft or something," I joke.

Inside, the fluorescent lights buzz, illuminating the aisles filled with everything imaginable and the overflow of busy shoppers trying to prepare for the holidays.

My heart races as I navigate through sections of cheap trinkets and women's clothing, finally finding the undergarments.I grab a couple sets of lingerie in dark and Christmas colors, perfect for what I'm envisioning, and I can’t resist picking out a ridiculously oversized beanie—one with red flames and sugar skulls on it, and a fluffy black pompom on the top of it.Cali is a sucker for cute but dark things, and anything with skulls on it.

“What do you think?”I hold the beanie up for Ash’s approval, oblivious to some middle-aged woman glancing at me incredulously.

He snorts with laughter."That’s going to be a hard pass for me, but I can already picture her wearing it with that laugh of hers.Perfect!”

I hold up the sexy, revealing lingerie, amused by his sudden change of expression.His lips curl, his tongue darting out to lick the drool dripping off them.

"Now those are fucking perfect.Put them in the cart, too."He grabs a black pair of fishnet knee-high stockings with red bows at the top, winking."Throw these in too.I'm dying to see how fucking hot she's going to look wearing them."

“Good eye, Ash."I grin as I toss the beanie into the cart, along with the stockings and lingerie, ready to grab the main things I wanted to stop here for.

We cruise down the snack aisle next, and I grab several bags of her favorite popcorn—kettle corn, cheddar, and the sweet caramel kind that’s just terrible enough to be wonderful—along with a box of hot chocolate mix, mini candy canes, and a few of her other favorite things, keeping in mind not to go crazy since we're on our bikes, which have absolutely no storage.

Suddenly, a thought strikes me.“Shit, we should grab something else.How about a bottle?”

Ash nods, guiding the cart toward the opposite side of the store.The corner store has nothing on this massive Walmart selection.We make our way to the liquor section, where the shelves are packed with colorful labels and fancy bottles.I might not have the most refined taste, but I know Cali loves a good buzz.

“What are you thinking?Wine cooler?”Ash smirks, shaking his head as he picks up a flimsy bottle of some neon-colored concoction.“Honestly, how old are we?”

I snicker at his suggestion.“Nah, let’s get something she can mix.Whipped Vodka is her favorite, and it's smooth enough that it doesn't have to be mixed.Whatever it takes for her to loosen up and have a bit of fun.”

After some deliberation, I settle on a decent sized bottle of the Smirnoff Whipped vodka she loves, tossing it in the cart with.

"Done?"Ash asks, a little overwhelmed with the amount of people flooding the store.

"Almost.We have to hit the Christmas isles now.We need some decorations..."I wink, showing off a devious smirk, knowing exactly just what I'm going to get.

Once in the crowded isle, I find everything easily, and toss it all into the cart, just ready to go.

As we head toward the checkout, I can feel my adrenaline and excitement curdle into something deeper—nervousness.It’s been so damn long since we’ve all just been together.

“Dude, are you really ready for this?”Ash asks, glancing over at me, his expression shifting from playful to serious.

“I don’t know, man.I want to be.”My voice lowers.“What if she’s...changed since she's been gone?What if something happened and she shuts us out again?What if we're no longer enough?”

“Stop that shit.”Ash stops in front of me, squaring his shoulders.“Cali is our girl.If anything, she’s been waiting for us to show up and remind her of what she loves about life—about us.If you go in there with that doubt, you’re only going to trip yourself up.”

I nod, absorbing the words.The impulse to self-sabotage lurks in the shadows, wanting to drown my hope, but Ash is right.She has always seen something in us; it’s time I focused on that.

We check out, our arms full of supplies, feeling invigorated as we shove the strategically packed bags into our backpacks and hop back on our bikes.The cold air bites at our faces, but the warmth in my chest keeps the doubt at bay.

“Let’s go see our girl...our Little Psycho,” I shout to Ash, feeling the rush of adrenaline mix with anticipation as we speed off into the night, the city lights blurring as they flash by us—each one a reminder that we’re heading back—back to the warmth of friendship, misguided choices, and maybe even a little bit of love.

As we near Calista's place, I can hear my heart pounding, louder than the wind against my helmet, and I hope she’s ready for what's about to unfold.

* * *

Overwhelmed by anxiety,I quicken my pace down the motel corridor, the room number—69—etched firmly in my mind, impossible to forget.

As we arrive at her door, I notice the "Do Not Disturb" sign hanging on the handle but knock anyway, ignoring the warning.

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