Sing You Pretty Sounds

Chapter 4 - I'll Stay Awake

Josh PoV

Work had been pretty slow with only about 3 people coming in so far. I sat behind the counter looking down at my phone and checking my Twitter feed when I heard the door bell ring. I looked up and saw a tall, dark haired boy walk in to the store. He didn't seem to notice me, he just kind of stared around at the records. He was cute.

'Hi, can I help you?' I asked, sounding more vulnerable and nervous than I had planned. His head quickly turned to look at me, did I scare him? He stared at me for a few seconds, blinking every now and then as if he was confused.

'Um, no. Thanks.' I was kind of disappointed but at the same time I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable so I simply nodded and went back to my phone. I couldn't stop watching him though, there was something about him that fascinated me, maybe it's that he seemed so broken. I saw him pick up Blink 182 - Enema Of The State and I called out to him

'That's an amazing record you know?'

'Yeah, I already have it. Just looking'

'Cool.' I say trying not to sound too rejected. I decided to get up from behind the counter and make my way over to him.

'Do you have this one?' I ask quietly, picking up Take Off Your Pants and Jacket.

'Um, no. Should I?'

'Totally. It's probably my favourite Blink record'

'Sick' he said, inhaling sharply. He took the record off me and awkwardly stood shuffling his feet and looking down at the ground. He looked so cute.

'Josh' I blurted out before I even realised I was talking.

'What?' He asked, looking at me and raising an eyebrow in confusion

'Um my names Josh. Sorry'

'Why are you sorry?'

'I don't know'

'Oh'

'Do you have a name?' Wow Josh, smooth

'Tyler' he replied smiling slightly, he looked like he was holding back a giggle. So cute.

'Tyler' I repeated. I liked it. He looked like a Tyler

'Yeah...'

Then there was silence. It wasn't the uncomfortable type, but not quite comfortable either.

'Are you new here?' He asked me, taking me by surprise

'Uh, yeah kinda. I started last week'

'Cool, I thought you looked kind of unfamiliar'

'Are you a regular then?'

'Used to be'

'Oh'

He reached up to grab a No FX record from the top shelf and as he did so, the sleeve of his skeleton hoodie rose up slightly revealing red and black lines running all the way up his arm. My eyes widened a little and he seemed to notice.

'Crap' he whispered and he put down the record and ran out of the store

'Tyler!' I called but it was too late. He was gone.

I sighed and decided to go back to work but all I could think of was the brown eyed boy and how much I wanted him to come back.