𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 | 𝐬.𝐡

049. Handsome, Charming, Dopey

AS THE THREE OF THEM LISTENED TO THE TAPE, Steve unenthusiastically took orders and slung ice cream.

Periodically Dustin would burst out of the breakroom, needing to do a lap to get out his frustration. He was not a big fan of how often Robin and Mavis distracted each other, often having to tell them to focus.

"You know what this reminds me of," Mavis said looking at Dustin before leaning back in her chair.

"What?" Dustin said looking at her with a familiar annoyance.

"Morse code, like earlier this year," she said smiling.

"Morse code?" Robin questioned. Knowing her questions would likely be left unanswered; this group was full of secrets and she was sure she was encroaching on a new one.

"How is this the same?" Dustin asked growing confused.

"I mean like, this guy, he's saying one thing. The week is long. But he has to mean something else. It's obviously code. I mean, why would they be on a channel so easy to discover and not talk in code," she said crossing her arms.

"It was only easy to discover because of the Cerebro," Dustin corrected.

"A device a random 14-year-old was able to make at a sleep away camp," Mavis added.

"I don't know," Dustin said, his mind falling into contemplation. She had a point.

"May!" Steve called from the front.

"I'll see what he wants," Mavis said before getting up and heading toward the door.

"And tell him we have our first sentence!" Robin called out to her.

Out the door, Mavis found herself upon a scene of horror. On one side of the counter lay an awkward Steve, his eyes on the boy across the counter, the camera guy. She remembered the conversation Steve and her had earlier that day about this guy liking her. Unsure of how to play this, she acted cool, hoping the guy would get the memo and her kindness would be enough to make this conversation go smooth.

She was never good at playing it cool.

"Oh, oh my god. Thank you! You're a lifesaver," she said to the guy as she made her way closer to the counter to stand beside Steve.

"Oh yeah no it's no issue. I was able to fix everything it should be as good as new," he said passing the camera to her.

She took it from him, "awesome. Seriously thank you so much, it's so busy here I probably wouldn't even have been able to make it back over there to pick it up today," she said as she looked down examining her camera. When she'd confirmed it's repair, a brisk smile grew on her face.

The boy's demeanor changed a bit, more nervous. He placed one hand on the counter, leaning on it.

Smooth.

"Hey, do you maybe wanna go out sometime? Back to the Future is playing and I heard the theater here is great," the camera repair boy said trying to sound smooth.

Steve's eyes widened at the request. His offhand comments earlier that day were said simply to ruffle Mavis's feathers. In no way did he believe he'd actually called it. He was right! However this victory was short lived; jealousy quickly creeped in after taking stock of the Camera Repair Guy's appearance: a little too un-ugly for his taste.

Mavis lifted her head up from her camera, her eyebrows raising too. She stammered over her words, "oh no thanks. I have a boyfriend anyways," she said tilting her head in Steve's direction. This had to be the worst possible thing that could've happened, and it did.