Spitting petals |Discontinued|

[Chapter Six]

we were all chatting and laughing together, Darryl and Zak were also a part of our circle now, they couldn't stop talking about how they wanted to be streamers one day, we just laughed it off even though we did plan on how we'll pull it off one day.

The clock struck 6 and the two stood up saying their goodbyes to my housemates "I'll see them off then I'll man the store!" Darryl replied "Alright! you can come back here after you finished cleaning since not many people come during these times of day,"

I nodded, I followed the two on their way out, "well Nick... just tell us anything if you need yeah?" Clay exclaimed "Alright I wi-" He hugged me out of the blue and I was genuinely shocked by this, I couldn't react and George was just smiling there like he knew this was coming.

I was stunned like I can't move at all and I don't want it to end, I hugged him back 

I let go of him and he did as well he gave me a bright smile as they waved at the end of the street, George pulled him away from his hoodie as he waved goodbye to me as well "that was strange...this feeling..."

I sighed and shook my head, the sun has already set an hour ago and the surroundings remind me of last night, I breathed in and out and cleared my mind as I wore my orange apron and began cleaning for a bit

after an hour I was sure I cleaned up everything in the store at the surface level at least, then I heard a pair of footsteps coming from the outside, he walked into the store and there I saw him.

I felt like there were butterflies in my stomach, I was sweating nervously for no good reason.

the boy had light brown hair and eyes as he's wearing a multi-colored sweater with a swirl on its chest area, he looked around with his big round eyes happily searching around the store

I felt like my heart is being squeezed out when he approached me "Uhh do you have those huge candy bars that went popular a few months back?" I nodded "yep of course how many would you like?" I said with a smile on my face.

He scratched the back of his head as he thought about it for a moment "one's probably enough?"

"Alright bet." I said before heading to the stock room, I brought him the candy bar that was almost as huge as my arm "yeah this is for a party but this place looks stocked I might come over sometimes, I'm Karl by the way!"

"I'm Nick! and that will be $50" He pulled 5 bills from his wallet and Headed out

"alright see yah!" He ran out of the store and headed in the direction he came from 

I sat at the cashier's chair feeling emotionally overwhelmed "His name's Karl?"

I thought to myself, I sold a few more candies before I closed up at around 10 PM

I walked up the stairs and smelled the fresh ingredients being cooked, I looked at the living room and it was empty, I made my way down to the kitchen.

I opened it and Darryl was still cooking at this late in the night "who are you cooking for?"

He looked at me with that warm smile on his face "I'm not technically cooking since this was leftovers, but yeah this is hot food for you! Just a simple way of saying thanks for manning the shop,"

He served me a bowl of fried rice with pork tonkatsu on it, as I looked at it I teared up "Thank you too Darryl" I grabbed the spoon tightly on my right hand I sobbed like a child "nobody's ever done something so thoughtful before..."

"It's fine Luk-" He paused and let out a dry cough "I'm gonna head back to my room, just wash the bowl if you're done, okay goodnight!" he said as he walked out of the kitchen.

I wiped my face with my shirt and ate the food quietly, It was good as always with what he said lingering on my mind "who was he referring to?"

I cleaned the bow with that thought in my head before I headed back into my room, I laid in my bed watching youtube before I sleep.

[3 days passed 4 days left till the competition]

I skipped school today since I need to practice for the competition, Clay and George said they'd come over after class.

I heard someone walk in, I looked up from my phone and saw the cute boy from the other day "H-hey!" I stuttered while greeting him, He waved at me with that bright smile of his painted over his face.

"Want another giant candy bar?" I said with a smirk on my face, He laughed "No but an energy drink and 5 'Regular' candy bars will do" he said while sideways looking at me 

I grabbed a monster from the fridge and placed it over the counter, He placed the candy bars beside the energy drink "that's gonna be... $4" He opened his wallet "here's your 4 dollars... and this too" he gave me an invite for the music competition this upcoming weekend, "oh you're gonna go there?"

I asked "well of course! I'll be an accompanist... but I don't have anybody to accompany so I guess I'll be randomly paired with somebody"

I subconsciously blurted out "Be mine then!!!" I said as I looked at him straight in the eye, I felt the heat in my face building up "I-I mean A-as uh" I looked down from embarrassment

He laughed, I felt even more embarrassed "you're really interesting you know that..." He remarked I can't even look up from embarrassment

"Alright! so you play the violin?" He asked, I looked up at him with my eyes sparkling. "Yes!"

"Can I hear?" he said as he looked at me with that gentle smile of his.

"Y-YES! just g-give me a moment I'll go get it!" I ran up the stairs and headed to my room,  "oh hey Nick what's the rush?" Darryl asked

"I saw someone who can be my accompanist for the competition!" I said with a big smile on my face 

"Competition? you never told us about a competition?" He asked with one eyebrow raised

"Well, I don't want to tell you since I wasn't sure whether I'll show up or not," I grabbed my Violin case and ran back down the stairs.

Darryl followed and leaned against the door frame "This is my first time I'll hear you play Nick..." He said with that smile on his face like he's looking at something he can be proud of with "I'll play the piece I'll play at the competition!"

Karl was leaning his back with his shoulder over the counter, he glanced at me with an obvious excitement on his eyes.

I tuned the violin for a moment and then I grabbed the bow, I placed the bow over the strings

the music flowed like a calm river that has been overflowed by a storm, I poured all of my emotions into this piece as I played continuously, continuously until my music touched the audience's hearts.

I stopped my piece midway since I don't wanna get too deep into it, I opened my eyes and looked at them, tears were flowing from their eyes.

"That was some good playing, dammit it's probably better than the national champion's playing, and I played for him once"

Darryl clapped as he gave me a look of approval "Well done! I will root for your success at the competition, What time will it start again?"

I smiled "around 12:00 PM," He nodded as he typed something on his phone.

"I'll be there!" he said as he walked out of the store, He waved us goodbye as he walked away "where's he going?" Karl asked 

"School" I replied "Hey wanna Uhm... exchange numbers and accounts on the messaging app?" 
he chuckled "don't mind if I do"

he said as we switched our phones to one another.

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[Post chapter note]

eyy two chaps in one day!!!

hope you enjoyed UwU