𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 (𝘣.𝘣)

Sincere

I re organized my storage console in my car for the third time. I was terrified to go into work today. Dad was here so I was hoping I could stop by, say hi to him and get back to the front with our newbie, Ella.

Ella was a sophomore in highschool. She thought I was a junior and asked if I went to Brooks Creeks high.

She thinks I'm lying when I tell her I graduated from college.

"Okay Coles. You're a big girl. Just go in, say hi to Dad, and avoid Bucky." I said to myself in the mirror. I can do this.

I drag myself out of the car, ready to face the fear and guilt head on. I walk into the garage and Bucky is talking to my father. Great.

"Hi dad." I say quickly before heading to the door.

"We'll come here pumpkin! I wanna hear about this new roommate of yours." He says, pulling me into a hug. And then looked down.

"Roommate is fine dad. I gotta get to the counter." I say trying to rush back to the front.

He sighs. "Why don't you invite him over to dinner tonight? I'm sure Bucky or Natalia won't mind."

"No." I say quickly. "He works night shift so."

My dad does his silent "huh" before accepting the conditions. "Well, we can all go out to lunch one day. I'll talk to the boys and your Mother bout that."

"Great dad, I got to go." I insist, baking a beeline to the door. "Love ya, see you!" I chirp as the door shuts between the shop and garage.

"Hey Ella." I say, Setting my bag down at the main counter.

Her blonde hair swooped out of the way to reveal long, natural lashes. Her father was black but she was one of the rare babies to only have her mothers light skin tone. But she has her fathers lashes and big brown doe eyes. Full lips like her father but everything else is all her mom, Shelly. She was my Phycology teacher in highschool.

Although Austen is a big city, there's a bunch of small towns scattered within in. East side tends to have the more clustered groups. Sam used to call us the cooler version Stars Hallow from Gilmore Girls.

Buts lest be real. Stars Hollow is way cooler the Mac Acres.

The chime to the shop door snaps me back to life.

"Good morning Miss. Franks! Here to pick up your husbands bike?" I ask, Ella keeps folding clothes.

"I am! They told me to come up here and grab my free souvenir!"

I roll my eyes before getting my "I'm sorry I work with a bunch of 13 year old boys who like to make me ruin a poor ladies heart."

"I'm sorry Mrs. Franks. We don't provide free merchandise. You do in fact have a 25% discount on any sweatshirt or crewneck."

"Awe man. That's alright, I'll grab one next time. See you Collette!" She says, I give her a smile before stomping into the garage.

"Ven Dobson!" I yell. I knew it was him because it's always him that sends pranks my way.

He turns with his brown eyes and looks at me with one of those trickster grins. "How hurt did she look this time?"

"Heartbroken." I mock before heading to Dad's station. "Hey Dad."

"Hey Cole, how's the front?"

"Boring, slow, hungry."

He stops fixing the gears before turning toward me. "The gift shop is hungry?"

"No, Ella and I are."

He nods his head as James slides out from under another bike, I try not to look. "Oh Buck, you're heading to pick lunch up for us, right? Why not take Coley with you?"

Right before I open my mouth to decline, Bucky opens his to accept. "Okay, Mr. Rogers." I look to him confused. He has hurt all over his face. "I'll be in the car, Coles." And he was off.

I role my eyes before wallowing back to the front. Ella texts me her lunch order that's found at the one place we get lunch. PennStation.

I head to the car with guilt and fear before opening the passenger door.

And as he took of, we were silent. But it was
an uncomfortable silence. Right until we
pull into the parking lot and get into the building.

We wait in line and I break the silence. "I'm
sorry, Bucky." I'm not sure why I waited until we were in a building. But I did.

"It's fine."

"No." I say, looking to my feet. "It wasn't. I was a jerk. I just..." God I hate exposing myself to him. "I needed him. He was the only one that was trustworthy on Craigslist and I needed help paying money for rent." I say pitifully. Not that I'm looking for any, it just sounds sad a depressing. Like a little kid with a spare change jar on the streets of downtown.

"It's fine, Coles." He repeats, moving up in line.

"Do you forgive me?" I ask. I don't know why I need his forgiveness but I do.

He looks down to me and I look up to him. Not at all in the way they do in movies, but in the way where he wanted to make sure I was sincere. And I wanted to make sure he knew I was sincere.

"Yes Coles. You're forgiven. Now order your damn food."