The girl with the faraway eyes

 So there were doppelgangers out there after all. Megan snubbed the tall giraffe-like guy right away. She turned and left the door open. She would not greet him.

Evidently, he did not remember what he'd said that time at Whole Food Grocers. He'd faked a British accent all right.

Liar came to her lips, but she did not speak. After all, he'd posed in one of her selfies in the fresh produce aisle. And he told her not to publish it on social media.

"Just our lil secret, OK?" Maybe he was drunk then. He hadn't smelled it, but he did now. 

No, she didn't even care to know his name. And all this time, she thought she'd met Harry Styles at Whole Foods on a winter day. She'd been so surprised and practically jumping for joy. Of course, she never told Caitlin about it because he said not too. And he said he was a vegetarian too.

"Liar," she said above a whisper. When she looked over her shoulder, it was obvious Caitlin would be sucked into someone's vortex, like a heat-seeking missile.

"What's wrong," Cori came to her defense and pulled Megan in as if they might be old friends. He introduced her to Melvin who brought pizza.

Of course, it was half cold. Megan couldn't help but snarl her nose a little. There wasn't even cheese, just pepperoni.

"My little man, lucked out," Melvin's smile could stretch a mile of confidence.  He shook Caitlin's hand and tried to shake Megan's hand but she wouldn't have it.

Cori hung on to her as if she might be his only hope to get through this visit.

"I have to go to bed," Megan announced. She pulled away from Cori but he took her hand as if he needed a lifesaver.  

He looked back at Melvin and held up a finger, he promised it would only take a minute as he headed toward Megan's room.

"Look, why did you even say he could come over?" Megan gave Cori the eye once they were in her room.

"Because..because Caitlin looked hungry," Cori shrugged.

"As if," she sighed, thankful to be out of Cori's clingy hand. She slung her hand free and crossed her arms. "Oh you know, what she's really hungry for."

Megan puffed a frown.

"What?" His puzzled look only amused Megan who couldn't help but laugh.

"You planned this, didn't you?"

"I did not. No. Never," he winced as if they might be having a couple's fight.

She chuckled with a sigh.

"Then he planned it," Megan asked Cori if he'd googled her and Caitlin. He said no. "Then this Melvin friend of yours must-have. Yeah, as soon as he saw Caitlin's picture. Must have been the one with her in the boy briefs." Megan rolled her eyes.

"No, maybe..maybe it's you." He looked at her blankly.

She put her hands on her back and sighed. "I met this so-called manager of yours once. He made me think he was Harry Styles." She got the evidence out from her phone. It took a few minutes, but there they were smiling with the peace sign as if he might be with a fangirl."

"He's a little crazy," Cori agreed, "But he cares, he does. I know you don't think he does. But..I..I.." He winced. "I guess we're in a bromance of some kind."

"Bromance?" Megan winced. "Are you serious?"

"It's nothing serious," He looked a little bug-eyed. "Not like..you know, he's not trying to get in my pants or anything. He just cares about me..an awful lot."

Cori didn't sound too proud of it as he pushed his shaggy locks out of his eyes. He then sat down on Megan's bed. She sat next to him as if she might trust him. She had too. He had to be at least eight or so years younger than her, but not that she would play the age card at the moment. She knew she could be his friend. She would listen.

"I'm pretty sure he likes girls," Cori nodded but then mentioned that Melvin wasn't serious about anyone.

"Just Caitlin's type," Megan said. Of course, she wanted pizza. "Go get me some, but take off the pepperoni and microwave it only a few seconds."