Hard work pays off (Vance x OC)

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"You got change for a five?". A voice interrupted her train of thought. She blinked drowsily.

"Oh yeah here," she dug in the register for quarters. She handed them to the scrawny kid who rushed to the further side of the shop. Towards the back of the grab n' go, there was a pin ball machine. Where the kids who weren't trying to steal something gathered.

That day it was missing it's most dedicated customer, Vance Hopper, who usually spent his Saturdays, and almost every day that she worked, glued to it hadn't shown up. Maeve rolled up her long sleeves revealing the fresh tattoos on her arms. She had never really talked to him but everyone knew him. If he wasn't beating the hell out of someone, he was beating his high score on that pinball machine.

Ding

As if on cue, the door opened. Curly blonde hair, white tee, denim vest and cash in his hand. He walked to the cooler pulled out ginger ale, slid the bill over to Maeve.

"Gonna beat your score today?" She said as she took out his change. He cleared his throat. A moment of hesitation followed seemed like he hadn't expected to be spoken to as much as spit at. His eyes hit the counter top.

"Nah not today, have to give these dumb asses a chance,". Maeve put the coins in his hand watched him leave. Well leave is a stretch, he went and sat on the curb of the parking lot.

Kids filtered in from the end of the school day bought snacks, magazines. Finney and Gwen Shaw came in to buy their dads six pack. "Tell Marcus he needs to come over soon!" He said as he walked out the door. Vance was still sat on the curb, Ginger ale long finished, head leaned back to soak in the sun. She couldn't help but stare at him, he was fine.

His serenity was broken when two boys stood over him. She couldn't really hear what they were saying but most of it was yelling. Fists started flying. Vance kicked the brunette in the knee sending him down. He jumped on the other kid sitting over his chest, punching him in the face. When the brunette kid wrapped his arms around Vance, he didn't see the elbow coming till it hit him in the nose.

Maeve growled. She threw the door open. She shoved the boys away from each other. Each one panted.

"All right, that's enough boys!".

"What do you think your doing, sweetheart?" He mimicked her Texan accent. Vance stepped forward but she kept a hand on his stomach, keeping him back.

"That means you too!" She hissed. Maeve snapped her head back to the brunette. "Darling, you have five seconds to get off my curb,".

"Or what?" The other one mused.

"Well it's down to two options," she sighed, "I call the cops, and your parents,". Their smug smiles sent a white hot jolt through her body. "Or I beat your asses and let you crawl home,". Their faces dropped. They turned around murmuring about "that stupid, redneck bitch".

She sighed holding a hand to her head as they disappeared. Just now did she realise she still had her hand on his stomach. She whipped around to him, his lip was split, and she could see his knuckles were bleeding.

"Wait here,". He grunted.

Maeve ushered the rest of the kids out of the shop, let them pay for their stuff. Vance walked in and leaned against the counter. He watched as she scrawled out a note "back in five" and stuck in the door.

"What is your plan here?" He chuckled. Maeve glared at him.

"Sit up on the counter,".

"Yes ma'am," he hopped up on the counter, feet dangling off the floor. Maeve ducked into the back room and grabbed the first aid kit. As she came out Vance protested that he didn't need her help.

"What did you think I was gonna do?". Vance cocked his head to the side, a smirk spreading across his face. "You know what don't answer that,". With disinfectant and cloth in tow she held out her soft hand.

"If you don't mind,". He reluctantly plopped his large hand on into hers. She gently wiped away blood. He hissed when the cloth first touched his hand, hand clenched tight around hers.

"Sorry, I'll be quick,". He said nothing but kept his hand around hers until she put the band aid over the scrapes. She did the other hand and he ran his fingers over the band aids. Vance sat there quiet for a while.

"I think you can get the lip yourself, unless you'd like me to put on the antiseptic?". Maeve turned to the popsicle freezer and pulled one out.
He was tucking the tube back into the bag.

"Here,". Vance tilted his head at her. "To reduce the swelling, then your free to leave,". He hopped off the counter, but stopped short of the door.

"Thanks man, I'll keep an eye out for those guys, can't have them around here,". Something sour passed over his face.

And then he was gone.

***

Six o'clock creeped up on her. She swept the floor, clocked out and turned off the lights. Outside the sun was setting. The streetlights on. Her house was couple blocks away. She used to ride her bike, but eventually she got too tall for it and god knows they couldn't afford another one. She passed it on to the little ones to grow into.

Heavy footsteps followed behind her.

Fuck, not ideal.

She could see her street sign. Too far away. She turned around fists clenched. It was the brunette boy from before. His pinched face and sweat soaked hair stuck to his forehead.

great fucking timing...

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972 words :)