Nightcall - Billie Eilish

3 -

Two days later, as the end of the day approached and the city lights began to shimmer through the windows, Dina was lost in her work behind the counter. Customers were scarce, and she savored this calm, perfect for her little routines: double-checking the vinyl organization, rearranging albums according to her current favorites, and adjusting the lights to create a cozy, end-of-day atmosphere.

A soft chime broke her out of her routine, and she looked up, curious. Her heart jumped a little at the familiar silhouette framed in the doorway. She straightened slightly, surprised and delighted by the unexpected visit.

"Well, back for round three already?" Dina joked, smiling as she tried to hide the spark of happiness this surprise brought her.

The stranger shook her head with an amused smile, clearly happy to be back in the warm ambiance of the shop and in Dina's presence.

"Not exactly. I've got a bit of an issue with the vinyl I bought, seems like there's a defect."

Dina frowned, instantly attentive and a bit annoyed.

"Ah, damn, that's not great. Let me see it. We'll listen to it and check it out right now."

She took the vinyl in her hands, briefly glancing at the cover before carefully placing it on the record player behind the counter. She lowered the arm gently, and the two young women focused in silence, ready to listen to the first song. As the first notes played, they realized something was off: the sound kept skipping, cutting nearly every lyric and creating unexpected pauses that made listening a chaotic experience.

An amused smile appeared on the stranger's face, and she exchanged a glance with Dina, who couldn't hold back a laugh.

"Well... either Tyler's officially lost it, or there's definitely a big problem," Dina joked, gently teasing the situation.

The stranger stifled a laugh. This unintended glitch had turned the song into a chopped-up, almost absurd version. Dina finally turned off the record player, still smiling.

"Hold on, I'll see if I have another in stock," she said, heading to the shop's small storage area.

The stranger nodded, amused.

"I'm not going anywhere, take your time."

Her eyes followed Dina as she disappeared behind the door. Left alone in the shop, she let her gaze wander, using the chance to look around with fresh interest. Every shelf, every rack seemed to tell a different story. The records were carefully organized, some even marked with handwritten notes by Dina herself to categorize them, showing once again her passion for music and deep knowledge of the artists.

Her eyes lingered on a navy blue album cover, slightly set back on a distant shelf. She smiled a little in recognition. It was her own album, the one she'd released a few weeks prior. Still, deep down, she wasn't really surprised to see it here; after all, her music had sold in quite a few places. But here, in this little shop filled with authenticity, her own album cover felt different. Almost like a secret revealed, a meeting of two worlds she hadn't expected to see together.

Dina returned from the storage room, a small, apologetic frown on her face, visibly disappointed.

"Bad news... I'm really sorry, but that was the last copy. No more in stock for now," she murmured, resting her hands on the counter with a genuinely regretful look.

The stranger shrugged with an understanding smile, a calm expression on her face.

"Damn, tough luck, but it's not a big deal, I'll try to find it somewhere else," she replied, her gentle tone immediately soothing Dina, who seemed genuinely sorry about the situation.

Dina straightened up, thoughtful, before adding, thinking aloud,

"Wait, before you go looking elsewhere, I should be able to order it for you. It might take a few days, but I'll let you know as soon as it arrives."

The stranger smiled at Dina's offer.

"You fucking know how to keep customers coming back, nice job."

Dina turned to the computer with a smile, diving into the database to place the order. In the comfortable silence that followed, the stranger cast one last glance at the cover of her album, still nestled among the other vinyls. She hesitated for a moment, as if searching for the right words, then finally spoke to Dina in a soft voice.

"Tell me... have you listened to that album?" she asked, discreetly pointing at the blue cover.

Dina looked up from the screen, catching a spark of curiosity in the stranger's gaze. She smiled, intrigued by the question and the particular attention the stranger seemed to be giving to this album. She shook her head with a little grin.

"Not yet, no. But I'm planning to give it a listen this week. Why do you ask?" she said, watching her with a look of genuine warmth.

The stranger shrugged, an enigmatic smile stretching across her lips, as if she wanted to keep a bit of mystery.

"Just curious, wanted to know if it's worth it," she said simply, as if the question held no deeper meaning.

Dina smiled again, touched by the stranger's almost childlike reaction.

"I'll let you know what I think when you come back," she said with a wink.

Dina returned to the screen to complete the order, letting a pleasant silence fill the air. She took the chance to savor this tranquil atmosphere and the stranger's calming presence.

Once the order was placed, Dina turned back to her, her professional, warm smile lighting up her face.

"All set! If you're good with it, I'll get your number so I can call you as soon as it's in. And sorry again about the first album... hope you won't leave a bad Google review."

"My review's already drafted but not published yet, figured I'd complain to you first, you just saved your store dude."

The stranger gave her number without hesitation, carefully writing down the digits in the notebook Dina handed her. When she looked up, she met Dina's gaze, a flash of understanding passing briefly between them. They shared a smile, as if this moment, simple as it was, held a special meaning.

Before walking away, the stranger cast one last look at Dina, a hint of something unexplored lingering in her eyes, like a thought suspended in the air. Finally, she turned and walked out gracefully, leaving behind a fleeting yet familiar sensation.