Three Worlds Collide

Chapter Seven

I greet Steve with a soft smile once I arrive to work, “Hey Y/n.”, he smiles brightly in response, seeing his smile at the end of the day makes my heart flutter, but I am also excited for this shift because Eddie is supposed to drop by as he said he would. I join Steve behind the counter once I have changed into my Scoops Ahoy uniform, “How’s school been going?”, Steve asks me, I shrug slightly, “It’s okay, getting used to a new school. I haven’t been a new kid in a while.”, I joke, explaining how I had to change schools a few times growing up. Steve and I chat until his little friend who I have come to know as Dustin comes in, the kid seems a little jumpy and quite a bit ecstatic to tell Steve something.

I am left behind the counter taking care of customers as Steve joins the kid in a booth to talk, “Ahoy, welcome to Scoops Ahoy.”, I say aloud when a new customer walks up to the counter as I am preoccupied at the moment. My heart leaps into my throat when I look up to see a beaming Eddie looking back at me, “Hey Eddie.”, I say a little too excitedly. Don’t sound too excited, I tell myself, chastising myself for sounding too excited to see my new friend. “Hey Y/n.”, he says back with a smile that seems to be about as big as mine. 

Since I don’t have any other customers at the moment, Eddie and I chat at the counter, “What’s your most popular flavor?”, he suddenly asks, his eyes scanning the variety of ice cream flavors we have available. “Rocky Road, but I like putting Mint Chocolate Chip with mine.”, it has become my favorite combination since I tried it a few weeks ago and it's the same combination I still get everyday I work. “Mmm, two of my favorite flavors. Are you sure we aren’t the same person Y/n?”, he teases with a grin. I laugh softly, “I’m sure, I mean I wish I had majestic hair like your’s.”, I joke.

“Cup or cone?”, I ask him, he taps the tip of his chin with his left forefinger, my eyes can’t help but stare at his ringed hand. I shake my head to reorient my thoughts and look away so as to not get caught, but it is too late because he smirks in my direction as he catches me. “Cone.”, he answers. “Munson.”, I hear a voice say beside me, I look to see Steve glaring at the metalhead across the counter from us, “Harrington.”, Eddie says back in a monotone voice. I raise a brow at the exchange, they just look at one another as I finish making Eddie’s cone.

“Hey Steve, is it okay if I go ahead and take my break?”, I ask him, he looks away from Eddie for a moment to smile towards me, “Yeah, go ahead.”, he tells me. “Thank you.”, I reply with a soft smile before joining Eddie on the other side of the counter. We take a seat at a table just outside the shop to talk, “I can’t believe I never thought to actually combine the two.”, Eddie voices as he licks his ice cream. I have to force myself to look away as he does this, the way his tongue slides across the cold treat makes my heart leap into my throat. I have barely known this young man for three days and he has somehow managed to already make me flustered.

“Me neither, I did it my very first time here and have loved it ever since.”, I tell him, we talk as he eats his ice cream. “I know you barely know me Y/n, but I want you to know that you can talk to me.”, he suddenly blurts out. I look away ashamed, “Thank you Eddie.”, I say in a small voice, “It’s just I have dealt with this stuff before and don’t need others handling my shit for me.”, I state. He tilts his head slightly, a slight look of confusion crosses his face, I let out a soft sigh, “Being bullied, I’m used to it. I got it back home and I wasn’t surprised when it started here.”, I explain.

Should I go ahead and tell him about my encounters with Laura, I ask myself, I know I should, but what will he think, my mental voice adds. I take a deep breath before looking back at him, the soft look in his chocolate brown eyes gives me pause for a moment, he cares, I tell myself. “Laura, she had been um….targeting me since my first day.”, I say, the soft look in his eyes hardens and I suddenly feel fear for some reason. I explain to him about the encounter I had with her today and he sighs softly, he pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration, “She is just jealous I wouldn’t give her the time of day, she is angry that she isn’t my type.”, he states.