DNF Oneshots (Dreamnotfound)

The Store Guy (PT 4)

The Past

I've successfully completed an "All Nighter", as I watch the sun peak from my window in front of my monitors. I glare at it with my sluggish eyes. The skin on my arms tingle after resting on the desk for so many hours, typing away aimlessly. But finally, my hours upon hours of work pays off as I run through my coding, and it works without one single flaw. It's perfect. My mind eases and I stretch my arms into the air, up above my head. I feel the pops down my back and sigh in relief. I check my phone without much thought, only to see that it's currently seven o'clock in the morning and that I have no new notifications. I set my phone back down, this time face up, and look at my unorganized desktop. It started out with clean tabs and neatly opened profiles, now as it's all coming to an end, everything is scattered and an utter mess.

Carefully, I save the important and stressful assignment to my computer's files, ready to be imported to my work. Watching the little circle spin as it loads idly, makes my stomach grumble. The half-eaten sandwich no longer looks appealing as its all soggy and room temperature from sitting for hours. I take it in my hands and stand from my chair. My legs are all wobblily, but I am able to make my way down to the kitchen to throw away the gross sandwich and make a proper breakfast. I ignore the intolerable tugging at my eyelids and yawn continuously while making my scrambled eggs.

Suddenly, I hear the probably the worst sound that I could hear at this moment. I'm about to dump the messy scramble onto my plate which also has fruit on the side, just as my computer beeps. It's not the blue screen beep, but more like the beep to notify you of an alert. I groan angerly. "Why now?" I breath out after a moment of letting my mind wander to annoying conclusions. I scoop the eggs onto the plate, then turn away from my counters and walk towards my office. My cat meows quietly at my legs curious of my sudden change in mood. I ignore her and continue to walk, or stomp, my way through my halls.

I bite my tongue trying to hold in the sudden gasp that tries to escape my mouth. My screen glows white and there in black words it states, 'File not saved... Cannot import'. I want to cry. I want to hide away in my own stupidity. I swear to myself and let out furious groan, running a hand through my hair. "You've got to be fucking kidding me." I sit down in my comfy office chair and skim through the reasons of why it couldn't have saved. I can't find a single obstruction in the code, nor in my well memorized process of sending it into my work. So, I go to try again. Almost immediately, my screen returns to the same screen. My already sore eyes, sting and water, threatening to burst floods of tears down my face.

I don't have a single clue on what to do. This had never happened. I've followed my same process, as always, but just this one time it doesn't upload. I watch as a silent drop of salty water drips onto my note sheets. I quickly wipe my face and think of the next best thing I can do.

I grab at my phone and hastily click away at it, pushing buttons and finding what I need. Until finally, my phone buzzes and rings. It's, thankfully, answered after the third ring. Clay's voice fills my office and my ears, my body eases its way into relaxation. "Hey, what's up?" he says in his normally cheery voice that blossoms my chest in blooms.

"I... I need help." I ask hesitantly.

"With what?" I can almost picture Clay's eyes squint with concern. His voice is smooth and comforting. Just what I need, right now.

"My work project- what I have been working on for the last twenty-four hours- is due in literally," I check my phone, bringing it away from my face. I glance up in the corner of it and see the time, "less than five hours and I have no idea why it isn't sending to my work." I pause waiting for a hum to continue. It doesn't come, but I move on, "Can you possibly help me troubleshoot?" There're a few beats of quiet, then a response finally comes through.