Hers to Kill

Chapter 3- Stormy Night?

-Elora

After serving all my customers, I stood at the cash register, with one of the regulars, "I heard this winter is gonna be horrible girl," he rolls his eyes and look out through the window.

"They say that every year though, I'm just hoping I have something to do during this season, it's so depressing this time of year."

"I agree, I do hope you get that excitement Lord knows this town can be so boring, well I'll be off.. See you tomorrow?" He asks.

"Of course I'll be right where you left me," we shared a laugh before we said our goodbyes.

After our conversation I straightened up all the bills in the cash register, I reach over to grab the hand sanitizer without looking and knock the tip jar over. I close my eyes ready to hear the impact and nothing not even the jingle of the coins were heard.

"You are so clumsy" she was holding up the jar of coins.

"Where was that reflex in stats class when I needed them huh?"

I could tell by the look on her face she was embarrassed about our exchange, "listen its okay I'll forget about our first interaction it was the first day of school," she smirks.

"Besides who have first day of school on a Friday?" She asks, we both held gazes.

"I agree," I pull the debit machine out and place it on the counter, "how are we paying today?"

"Debit," she inserts her card, there was an awkward silence while we waited for the payment to go through. I was trying to look everywhere but her of course because of confidential reasons.

"My receipt?" She asks.

"Sorry," I rip the receipt, feeling embarrassed, "I um... still have your book in my car I could go get it if you'd like." I said pointing to the window to where my car parked.

"How about you hold onto it until our next class, Monday right?" I nod my head, "Then I'll see you on Monday."

I was busy searching her eyes, while she gently takes the receipt from me while grazing her thumb against mine. No more words were exchanged, I don't even believe that it was even necessary. I watch her walk back over to her table, she look up just to catch me looking at her.

'I know this was the part where I look away, and act all embarrassed but its weird I couldn't, all I bet you she thinks I'm weird now maybe she felt how sweaty and gross my hands are omg another thing to stress about.'

My name being called grabs my attention to the entrance, "Akira?" She launched herself over the cash register and pulled me into a strong embrace , "I thought you weren't back for a few more weeks."

"Wow here I thought you missed me," she pushes me back so she could look at me with her brows knitted together.

"Is that Akira I hear out there?" My dad poked his head out from the back of the kitchen.

"I thought you guys weren't suppose to be back till October?"

"I wanted to come back early since I want to make it back in time for the semester," she says looking between me and my parents.

"So since we're finally in university my cousins are having a get together, just a small gathering and I was hoping Elora would come over tomorrow."

I look down knowing tomorrow was the day I was dreading. "She has responsibilities, and she also have to close tonight and tomorrow night since your dad and I have plans," she looks at me to let me know she meant mission, "but she's also an adult and I have to trust her judgement," she pauses and gave me the look, one even dad feared.

When they went around the back she looks over at me, "I've missed you," ignore her and continue with my task at the till.

"Can we please at least talk about the way we left things off?" She whispers looking up at me.

It was strange because this was something I wanted for such a long time and now, I wasn't so sure, " we can talk at the party right now I just need to think," I ignore her gaze while feeling the gaze of another.

"Sure, but don't think too much you know how you get," I know I was an over-thinker, I over analyze everything.

"Bye," she says leaving me without waiting for a response.

*
I shouted my 'goodbyes' and thank my coworkers for their 'hard work'. I lock the door behind them locking myself up inside the restaurant to finish the closing process.

The thunder lit up the dark sky signalling it was going to rain. I swept up the last bit of crumbs on the floor, when I found a phone wedged between the wall and the foot of the table. I tap the screen to see that the battery was dead, I flip the phone over to see what kind of charger it uses, "who uses android anyways," I place it on the top of the stove and grab the garbage and head out the back door pass my car.

It was like the heavens were waiting for the perfect time when I decided to go outside when the rain starts to fall. I threw the garbage in the dumpster and run back in when a lightening bolt struck the pole hanging over the dumpster before I hit the ground someones arm reach out and stops my fall.

"Why must we always meet like this in the most awkward ways," I look up to see she was back.

"What are you doing here?!"

"I forgot something at your parents restaurant!"

I push myself off of her and ran inside from the rain with her behind me.

When we were back inside she locks the door behind us, "you are welcome."

"Thank you," I reply while I grab the roll of paper towel and roll some off when I turn around to see her standing topless in her sport bra.

"Um," the paper towel slipped out my hand and roll to her shoes, "sorry I um," I turn around quickly. 'Why am I always being in a situation where right now would be the great opportunity to just go for it but you know that little panic that sneaks up and bring you back to reality yes that's what happening right as we speak.'

She picks up the roll and walk over to me, "looking for something?"

"Um, thanks," I took it from her and place it on the counter.

The sky lit up again and the sound of thunder sent me jumping, she pulled me in without hesitation without a thought in the world and we just stared at each other, it was weird we were both in awe?

"I think it's safe to say we're stuck here until the rain holds up I guess?" Was this her way of saying we're stuck together until the storm holds up? Because the answer is..

"Um we have a lower level, you can stay in one of the rooms if you want?"

The silence was long, intense and my anxiety was at an all time high. It was like she was debating with herself, "what are we waiting for?"