Prompts: Convenience Store
"You dropped us," Pidge's voice accused from the floor.
Lance set down the pile of boxes he was carrying on the counter and bent down to retrieve his phone where it had landed, face down.
"How dare you," Hunk accused as Lance checked for damage. The glass screen protecter had shattered in the lower right corner, but the phone itself looked to be unscathed. Best $12 he'd ever spent.
"Sorry," he apologized, setting his phone upright on the shelves. The screen split to show his two friends. Hunk was sitting on the floor in his childhood bedroom. He had flown out of state to visit his family over the weekend. He was surrounded by papers and thick intimidating textbooks that he kept referencing while clutching an energy drink. Lance had no idea where Pidge was, only the light of their laptop illuminating their face. He could vaguely see lines of code reflected in their glasses.
"Don't let it happen again," Hunk teased.
"Yeah, yeah," Lance unclipped his boxcutter from his belt and sliced the boxes open with a practiced hand. The big weekly order had come in late, landing on his solo shift at the little 24/7 convenience store. At least it gave him something to do. Most of his overnight shifts were spent studying or dozing, as he waited for the occasional customer. "What were you saying about spring break?"
"My family has this long tradition of a national park road trip. It's a time to connect with nature. Lots of hiking, overcrowded cheap motel rooms, and terrible fast food," Pidge recounted as they brought their hands about their head, stretching from side to side before resuming their hunched over position. "It's the highlight of my year, every year."
"Ooh! Sound fun!" Lance enthused as broke down the empty cardboard boxes and folded them under his arm. He brought his phone to eye-level as he made his way to the back room, where a mountain of boxes awaited him.
"Anyways, this year we both can take one friend. Matt's inviting his college buddy. You two can fight to the death and I'll invite the victor."
"How about Rock Paper Scissors?" Hunk suggested as Lance grabbed another stack of boxes, safely depositing his friends in his back pocket this time. He wasn't taking any more chances.
"What happened to the lights?" Pidge asked, their voice muffled.
"I believe we are experiencing the rare sight of the inside of Lance's right butt pocket," Hunk narrated, like he was a wildlife tour guide.
"Count yourselves blessed," Lance chuckled as he set down the boxes on the front counter.
"I thought Hunk pulled a fast one and got to you quicker than expected."
Lance pulled out his phone, leaning against the register. "I second that Rock Paper Scissors motion. Are you watching Pidge? Make sure Hunk doesn't cheat."
Hunk was mid-chug when his face twisted in confusion. "How do you cheat at Rock Paper Scissors?" he asked, choking on energy drink.
"Doesn't matter, are you ready?" Lance challenged, setting his right fist in his left palm for the camera.
Hunk mimicked his gesture, eyes squinting into murderous slits. "Ready!"
Pidge counted them in, "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot!"
But right as Hunk threw up his sign, the door alert went off.
"Hi! Welcome!"
Dark eyes flicked to him through darker bangs. He pulled his jacket close around himself before disappearing down one of the aisles.
