"We were just kids in love."
Nicole is an outgoing senior in high school, hoping to make this year her best yet. She is the new girl in town and is looking forward to new friends and experiences. All seems to be going smoothly until meeting Tessa.
I...
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As much as we try, Nicole and I can't get enough time together this summer. Before we know it, the summer will end, and we'll head off to college. Neither of us is looking forward to being apart, but we're bound and determined to make time for each other on the weekends.
Dad had to leave the store early for a dinner meeting with a new vendor looking to add their products to our inventory. He left me to close the store.
Finally, the last of the customers exit the store. I let the check-out girl, Emily, go before locking up.
My phone rings as I approach the door. Pulling it out of my pocket, I see a picture of Nicole and me on the screen, causing my lips to turn into a smile.
"Hello, Babe. What's up?"
"Hi, William. Sorry to bother you at work, but I was wondering when you're picking me up for our picnic at the lake tomorrow?"
I think for a moment before responding, "Does 11:30 work for you?"
"That's perfect. Do you have a preference on which suit I should wear?" She asks innocently, but I know there's nothing innocent about her question. She knows which suit I prefer.
"My favorite one, of course. The pink with purple polka dots bikini, but you already knew that."
She giggles. "I'm only making sure it remains your number one choice."
I hear the door open behind me. Shit, I haven't locked the door yet, and now more customers have arrived.
I expel an irritated sigh. "I've got to go, Babe, and tell these customers who came in that the store is closed. I'll call you after I finish closing up. Love you, bye."
"Love you, too. Bye."
I hang up and turn toward the door to find two masked men entering the store. The short, stocky one was aiming a gun at me. I instinctively put up my hands.
The taller, skinny guy spoke first. "We don't want to hurt you, boy; just hand over the cash."
Shorty waves the gun toward the registers, indicating for me to move there. I slowly walk over to register one and punch in my code to open the drawer. My hands are shaking so badly that I'm struggling to get a hold of the cash.
Skinny shoves me. " We don't have all day, you bumbling idiot. Get out of the way."
He grabs a grocery bag and starts stuffing the money into it while Shorty looks for possible witnesses.
Once Skinny has emptied the cash register, he grabs me by the collar and drags me to the second register.
"Open it," he demands.
I punch in my code, and he pushes me aside once again.
My mind is reeling, looking for a way out of this situation. I glance around, trying to find something to bash this asshole's head in.
