The Power of Persuasion

Rachel pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store and began looking for a spot. It was always busy around this time of day, but she only seemed able to shop around this time. She actually tried her best to avoid grocery shopping, but she was tired of looking at the lone box of Teddy Grahams in her cabinet. She drove around looking for an open space for a few minutes until she finally spotted one. She did a mental victory dance before slowly pulling into the spot.

She rolled up her windows, turned off the car, and unbuckled her seatbelt. After checking her hair in the mirror, Rachel grabbed her purse from the passenger seat and made her way out of the vehicle. She made sure to press the lock button twice before walking away.

"Hey!"

Rachel walked towards the store and placed her keys carefully in her purse.

"Hey, bitch!"

Rachel looked around as she continued walking towards the store. Whomever this woman was yelling at must have really upset her.

"You hear me bitch! You took my spot!"

Curiosity finally took over and Rachel turned around to see the angry woman looking directly at her. She looked around to be sure that she was the one the woman was talking to.

"Me?" Rachel asked pointing at herself.

"Yeah, you." The woman made her way over to Rachel and stood much closer than Rachel found comfortable.

"That was my spot, you cut me off." The woman fumed.

"I….I didn't see….no one was there." Rachel stumbled over her words.

"Well, I was there. I was circling back around and when I got back, you were in my spot!"

"So, you weren't there." Rachel said standing up straight and speaking bravely to the angry woman.

"I was coming right back. It was my spot and you need to move your fucking car!"

"I didn't cut you off, if you weren't there." Rachel began to feel a warm tingling sensation on her skin. It was midsummer time and she was already hot but this tingle was different. Her head began pounding and she reached up to rest her sweaty palm on her forehead.

"I will fucking…." The woman looked Rachel in the eye and her own eyes began to lose focus.

"How about you just get back into your car and find another spot." Rachel said staring up at the woman. She watched confused at the woman's strange expression.

"Ok."

Rachel watched as the woman walked away and got back into her car.

Wow, that went much better than I thought. I saw myself leaving her with a broken nose.

With a new pep in her step, Rachel turned to head into the store. When she turned around, she came face to face with a tall smiling blonde girl.

"Hi." The blonde greeted cheerfully.

"Hello…" Rachel greeted back awkwardly. She pressed her purse close to her side. She looked over the girls shoulder to see a car sitting behind her. In the drivers' seat sat a less happy looking blonde girl. She quickly turned her attention back to the girl in front of her. "Please don't tell me I took your spot too?"

"No, we were just leaving until I felt what you did. We came to meet you."

"What?" Rachel was confused and her head was still pounding. The bubbly girl reached up to touch Rachel's head but Rachel jerked back out of her reach.

"I can make it stop." She reached again and Rachel moved once more. "If you don't let me help you, it will get much worse. If this is the first time you've ever used your power, then I know it will get SO much worse." She reached once more and Rachel finally removed her own hand and allowed the girl to touch her forehead. As soon as her hand made contact with Rachel skin, she felt a cooling sensation rush through her entire body. She felt a rush of calm come over her and her headache fade away. The girl slowly pulled her hand away and smiled at Rachel.

"What was that?" Rachel asked amazed.

"You should come with us." The girl said happily and reached for Rachel's hand and began pulling her along.

"What? No. I don't even know you." Rachel said pulling away. The girl turned around and continued to smile at Rachel.

"Oh yeah, sorry, I'm Brittany." She opened the backseat door and gestured for Rachel to get in. "You should really come with us."

"No." Rachel said and she turned to head back to her car. I hate going to the grocery store.

Get in the car.

Rachel turned around, walked towards the strangers' car, and got into the backseat. She sat down and buckled her seat belt.

What the hell?

The girls pulled out of the parking lot and Rachel watched as she drove away from her car. She turned back around to look at the back of the girls' heads in front of her. She began to open her mouth to say something…

Shut up

Rachel shut her mouth and sat quietly and confused in the backseat of the strangers' car.