𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫

[ 001 ] Ahoy There!

NATURALLY when Charles suggested it and because he's Charles, Will sort of gave in... so here they were, in the middle of Scoops Ahoy in their outfits and being shown how to work everything, making milkshakes, ice cream sundaes and everything else, they get to work alongsides an older teen from some D&D club their friends are in, Charles would've joined but he wasn't that into it like them.

The guy's name was Gareth Emerson and he had all these random bracelets on his wrist, his style weirdly reminds Charles of his old babysitter's boyfriend's style, which kind of checks out because this Gareth guy is also in a band with Eddie Munson. Charles feels left out everytime the dude and his best friend interact, making references to D&D or their campaigns. Charles use to sit by Will during their older games when they were younger but as of lately, he doesn't really tag along.

He's familiar with most information like the times Will would use him as a character, King Charleston, who Will's character, Will the Wise use to do favours for and whatnot. But he really does not understand any other words coming from the two D&D nerds.

But whatever, right? He's here to work. They scrub down tables, restock shelves of items in the back, restock cups and cones, whatever it was, they did whatever they could to help Gareth who usually mans the counter, literally all day while they do their chores.

"Charles, dude, can you take over? The annoying mall rat kids come in any time soon and I am so sick of them." Gareth asked when he's wiping down a table. "Yeah, sure." He says, taking out his earbuds completely and turning off his music. Today was a Slipknot kind of day, other days he listens to Taylor Swift or Harry Styles, sometimes even some rap artists but not a lot. He stands there at the counter as Gareth heads into the backroom.

Not long after, he hears the discussions of D&D beginning between Will and Gareth, making him annoyed almost instantly. Someone dinging the bell snaps him out of his daze, immediately looking at Erica Sinclair and her usual group of friends. "Ah, hi Erica." He sighs and Erica just grins widely. "That's not standard procedure of Scoops Ahoy." She says and he refrains from rolling his eyes.

"Ahoy there! Would you like to set sail on this ocean of flavour?" He said and she giggles. "Yes, I'd like a sample of the chocolate chip cookie ice cream. So would they." She gestures to her friends and Charles just stared blankly, slid to the side, opened up the ice cream and started scooping it onto the sample spoons. "Now we'd like to try the strawberry one." She pointed and Charles nods.

But instead he leans down, arms on top of the counter as he leans down to her height. "Erica?" He whispers and she raised a brow. "You are 12 years old." He says and she tilts her head up a bit. "What's it to you?" She asked and Charles just shrugs. "You have an allowance, right? Lucas had once since we were like 10." He says and she furrows her brows now in confusion. "I could give you a I'm-friends-with-your-brother discount." He smiles.

And somehow Erica walked away with like 6 cones of ice cream that she paid for with only 3 dollars. "I just started working here." He scoffs, shaking his head as he puts his hands over his face and Will pushes open the little windows. "Hey. How are you doing?" He smiles and Charles walks over, leaning against the counter. "Will... shoot me." He whispers and the older just giggled quietly at that.

"It's just the first day." Will says and Charles groans. "I know! It sucks." He says, lowering his voice at the second part due to Gareth sitting at the table just a few feet away from Will. "Well... at least Gareth's been working here like three summers in a row already." Will says as if Gareth was some dreamy guy with a small grin on his face and Charles looks directly at him. Sexuality has never been a discussion but he knows that Will is gay.