𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 :: 𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯

Thirteen.

NOVEMBER 2, 1966

THAT WEDNESDAY FELICITY WAS BUSY WITH THE FEW CUSTOMERS IN FRONT OF HER, it was just mothers with their children who were picked up from school not too long ago. In the mother's hands were academic books for those who needed more practice while the little ones held comics that were waiting to be bought.

A brunette came up to the counter with her son who wore khakis and a blue plaid button up. He looked seven but his face made him look like a real life Grumpy from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The mother of the boy dropped the books on the counter— crossword puzzles.

The mother was not so kind herself, no wonder where the son got it from.

"Will that be all?" Felicity looked at the woman while putting in the price of the book.

"Yup, hurry this up, I gotta get home to make dinner." She demanded but her tone sounded anxious.

"Momma, you said we would go to the ice cream shop after." The boy whined.

"Your father's going to be home in an hour and he wouldn't be happy if he saw no dinner on the table. We'll just go another day." The mother promised.

Felicity sees the boy kick the ground, she knew it wasn't the first time his mother promised him something like that.

"It'll be $2.91 please." She calculated.

While the mother dug through her purse, Felicity reached under the counter where Dean kept his candies in. She pulled out a lollipop for the boy whose face lit up when he saw the sweet on a stick.

"Oh no, I don't got enough for that." The mother quickly denied the treat.

"It's totally fine miss, it's for free." Felicity told her before handing the lollipop to the boy.

"Thank you." She smiled. "Carter, thank the girl please."

Carter took the lollipop out from his mouth, "Thank you."

"Carter, you weren't supposed to eat that now." She scolded him, putting $3 on the counter and went over to her son to take the candy out. "I'll keep this wrapped up for you later."

The woman takes the book back with a thankful smile to Felicity before walking out with her son who was in a better mood.

Felicity sits down on a nearby stool when she found the bookstore empty. The record player she had on would make it seem like the song was going too fast but she was so bored out of her mind that time skipped.

She began dozing off in her stool, slumped against the large shelves behind her.

A voice echoed in her ears when she felt her eyes reopen— Dean and Aubrey were hovered over her. When her vision became more clearer, she could see that Aubrey was worried to the point where had her hands all over her face.

"Felicity, can you hear us?" Dean called.

She sat up in confusion, not having any clue what was happening and what did happen.

"Honey, you passed out for god knows how long." Aubrey explained for her. "Do you have a source of ride, I don't think it'd be a good idea for you to drive yourself home."

"Oh my goodness." Felicity gasped. "I fell asleep, oh god I'm so stupid."

Dean chuckled and shook his head, "Been there, done that, sweetheart."

"Plenty of times." Aubrey added.

"And did Aubrey think you passed out?" Felicity asked.

"The first time, then she started hitting me with newspapers whenever she caught me." He exposed.

Aubrey placed a hand on her shoulder, "However, I would never hit you with anything."

"Um... hello? Your husband happens to be right here?!" Dean dramatically reminded her.

Felicity and Aubrey both laughed at Dean who didn't mean what he said, he just wanted to make sure Felicity could still smile.

- -

Dusk hits and Felicity was able to go home. Dean and Aubrey made her leave so that they could close the store for her, Felicity did not want to know what they were going to do in there alone.

She gets into her truck that had trouble starting, she begged against the wheel that it was going to start up. It eventually did but drove slower than usual. Felicity did not have the money to fix the whole set, and she had no idea what was wrong with the vehicle.

Felicity drives up to the DX that was still opened but it was only Sodapop working in there. The car stops right in the front where he notices her come out in a swift move.

"Felicity, what's going on?" Sodapop questioned while coming out of the DX.

"I was trying to start up my car and it wouldn't turn on, then it did but now it's all slow so I came by to see if you could help me." Felicity explained.

Sodapop walks over to the front of the truck, "Pop your hood up."

Felicity goes to the driver seat, pushing the button that cracked open the hood for Sodapop. Smoke blows at him which causes Sodapop to cough and wave away the smoke.

"Jumpstarting your battery will do the trick but Steve locked the garage on me, I'm gonna have to work on this tomorrow." Sodapop said.

"Oh god no, I have to get home, Soda. I need this car fixed." Felicity pleaded.

"I might have jump starters but not any other car battery, I'm sorry." Sodapop sighed in disappointment.

"Great, now I'll just add another reason for my dad to start drinking again." Felicity complained while sitting on the curb.

Sodapop joined her, "Darry's on the way to pick me up, I know he'll let you borrow his truck to jumpstart yours."

"Do you think so?" She asked for assurance.

"Definitely, he'll be here in about five minutes."

"Oh thank you, Soda. Remind me in the future that I owe you." She told him.

He put his arm around her shoulder, using his hand to pat it.

"You don't owe me anything, Felicity."

𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆