Fools Rush In

Chapter 1

Author's Note:

This story I've had completed for about a year. I will be adding the chapters when I can but please bear with me as I do most of my updating from my phone.

And any and all lyrics are credited to their original owners. I don't own them nor do I claim to own them. They are strictly used for the purpose of the story.
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The truck stop was empty, aside from me and my co-worker,CeCe. She was cleaning the showers while I was sweeping the floor out in the lobby, watching for customers. It was a typical night. We worked the midnight shift, 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. Around 2 in the morning it was usually pretty quiet. It was a dead end job, but I needed money.
The bell above the door jingled, and I looked up. It was one of our regular fuel drivers, Matt. Their main office was located in our building. He was older than me by about 10 years or so. But he was cute, besides nothing a little flirting and harmless hooking up was hurting anyone.
"What's up cutie?" Matt said, as he strolled in.
"Same shit, different night," I replied, setting my broom aside and heading behind the counter.
"What about you? How was the open road?"
"Had to take a load to Johnstown, Altoona, and Monroeville.
"Ouch," I replied. "But you seem to have made good time."
He nodded, and leaned closer over the counter.
"Where's Ceec?" he said, just above a whisper.
"Showers," I answered, narrowing my eyes. "Why?"
"I was hoping she could watch the counter and we could slip away for a minute?"
"A minute?" I laughed. "Why Matty as I recall, you last longer than a minute."
He smirked.
"I can't tonight. George is on the warpath. Raincheck?"
George was our night security guard and he was a stickler for the rules. And indiscretions between employees and customers were very much against the rules.
He pouted, "I suppose, sweets."
He placed his thumb under my chin, and traced my lips for a second with his forefinger. I felt my cheeks burn red.
"Cameras," I reminded him, as I shook my head away.
"Oh yeah," he said, and stood back up right. "So got my receipt?"
"Yep, right here."
I handed him the copy for him to sign, and his copy.
"You sure are pretty when you blush," he said, as he signed his copy.
I knew my whole face was crimson at that point, but he just smiled.
"I gotta run my paperwork up to the office," he said, holding up his clipboard. "I'll be back then we'll chat more."
"Sounds like a plan," I winked at him and watched him as he headed down the hall.
"He does have a nice ass girl," I heard CeCe say from behind me.
"Mmhmm," I responded, turning to face her.
"So why'd you turn him down?" she asked, curiously. "You know George isn't here tonight?"
I shrugged, "Just not in the mood, I guess. Matty's fun and all, but I don't know. Don't you ever want for something more than just hooking up?"
"Girl," she said, waving her hand at me. "Don't even get me started."
I laughed, and ran my hand through my hair.
"Ugh," I said. "I swear the air in this place is killing my hair! It's so flat and dull."
"Looks pretty good to me," I heard a voice say. I turned and found myself staring into the most soulful brown eyes I had ever seen.
"Um, thanks," I said, after a minute. "Can I help you?"
"Yeah," he said, smiling, and motioned to the van parked outside at one of the pumps. "We're just fueling up and I need a pack of smokes."
I nodded, but didn't move. I was mesmerized. He was very attractive with medium length reddish brown hair, that fell into his eyes; and a gorgeous smile. But something about his eyes kept me frozen in place. I could tell there was so much behind those eyes, and without even knowing his name, I wanted to know everything that was behind them.
"Here ya go," CeCe said, throwing a pack of cigarettes on the counter in front of me, causing me to snap out of my trance.
"Thanks, Ceec," I said, laughing nervously. I could feel my face turning red. I looked down and rang him up.
"So what's your name?" he asked, leaning on the counter, after I handed him his receipt.
"Gemma ," I replied, trying not to get lost in his eyes again.
"I'm Drake," he said, and took my hand in his and shook it. "It's nice to meet you, Gemma ."
I smiled, "You too."
I felt my face flush red again.
"So where you headed?" CeCe asked, saving me again.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" I thought.
"We just did a show in Pittsburgh," he answered. "We're heading to Cleveland next."
"Oh you're in a band?" I asked, curiously.
"Something like that," he replied, with a smile.
"He's probably just a roady," CeCe laughed.
"Maybe," he answered, smirking.
"Doesn't matter," I said, softly. "It's cool either way. Being out on the road, different city every night. Seeing different people. Sure beats this shit hole, don't ya think Ceec?"
"That's true, girl," she replied with a sigh.
"The restaurant still open?" A guy at the door asked.
"Yeah," I answered.
"Awesome," he said. "Drake, vans fueled up, let's get some grub."
"I'll be down in a minute," he answered, and turned back to me. "So why don't you hit the road and explore the great unknown if you think it sounds so exciting?"
"And who would ring up all the fuel sales of the people who actually get to travel?" I said, sarcastically.
"I'm sure they could find someone," he replied.
"Probably," I said. "But ya need money to travel and my rents already late and my electric is 3 months behind. I'm trying to find a second job as it is."
He frowned, "I am sorry to hear that, but ya never know things could start looking up."
He smiled and winked at me, then headed down to the restaurant.
"Why did I just tell him all that?" I whined to CeCe when he was out of earshot.
She shrugged, "I wouldn't worry about it. Not like you'll ever see him again anyways."
"That's true," I sighed, sadly. I knew she was right, but there was something about him that made me want to see him every day.
I saw Matty coming back down the hall and shook the thoughts out of my head.
"What's the ruckus in the restaurant?" He asked when he reached the fuel desk.
"What ruckus?" I asked, trying to peer down the hall.
"Group of people just burst into song," he laughed.
"Some band or something," CeCe answered.
"Ahh," he said. "Shoulda guessed."
"So still a rain check?" he asked, turning to me.
"Yeah, sorry babe," I said, shaking my head.
"I'm holdin ya to that," he said, and winked.
I smiled and soon he was gone.
"I'm gonna go smoke," I said.
"Take your time," she said. "Not like anything's going on here."
I chuckled and headed outside. I sat down on the bench out front, and lit a cigarette. It was the end of October so it was a little cool outside. I was wishing I had grabbed my sweatshirt.
"You look cold," I heard a voice say. I looked up and saw Drake standing there.
"A little," I said. He took off his jacket and put it around my shoulders.
I smiled, "Thanks, but you didn't have to do that."
"I wanted to," he said, and sat down next to me. He lit a cigarette and we sat there for a few minutes in silence.
"You're far too cute to be working in a dump like this," he finally said.
I laughed, "You exaggerate. And I told you I need the money."
He nudged my arm, "I'm not exaggerating. You are."
"Well, um thanks," I said, blushing, and took another hit off my cigarette. "So you just a roadie or you in a band?"
"I'm a singer," he said. "And I have a band."
"That is so cool," I said. "Anything I might know?"
"Possibly," he said.
"Like?"
"Well I never thought it would be so simple, but I found a way, I found a way-ay," he started singing.
"And I always thought that it'd be too crazy, but I found a way, I found a way-ay," I sang back.
"Shut up," I said, laughing. "You're that Drake? As in Drake Parker?"
"Drake Bell, actually," he said, laughing.
"My sister used to watch that show all the time," I said. "She'd probably die if she knew I was sitting here with you right now."
"You've got a great voice," he said. "Again, why are you working in this dump?"
"Nah," I said, shaking my head. "I suck."
He scoffed, "You're kidding right?"
I shook my head.
"You should come with us," he blurted.
"What?" I asked, surprised.
"To Cleveland," he said. "You could sing with me."
"I just met you," I said, laughing nervously.
"But you know who I am," he said.
"But you don't know me," I laughed, and flicked my cigarette in the parking lot. I stood up and handed him his jacket.
"But I'd like to get to know you," he said, taking my hand. " Come on. It'd get you out of this dump. You'd get to travel -"
"To Cleveland?" I scoffed. "No thanks."
"To more than just that," he said, standing. "We do Chicago after Cleveland, and we've got a bunch of shows between there and California. You could do a song with me every night and we could try and get you in a studio when we get to California."
"Are you serious?" I said, in disbelief. Things like this didn't happen to me.
"Dead serious," he said, looking me in the eye.
I stared into those brown eyes that made me feel weak in the knees and made my stomach do flip flops.
"Could I seriously do this?" I thought. "Singing every night? Travelling? California? A studio?"
I shook the thoughts out of my head.
"No," I said. "I can't. This is crazy."
"It is," he said. "And maybe we'll both regret it tomorrow. But at least come to Cleveland with us and try it."
"I don't know," I said, exasperated. "What about my job?"
"I'll make sure you don't lose your job if it doesn't work out," he said. "Or I'll make sure you get a better one."
"I - I," i stammered. "I don't know what to say."
"At least say you'll think about it," he said. "We'll be here for a little longer. Trust me those guys can eat."
I laughed, "Okay. I'll think about it."
"Great," he said, and kissed my cheek. "I'll come back down when we're ready to go and see what your answer is."
And with that he vanished back into the truck stop.
I stood there, in shock, holding my cheek where he kissed me.