The next few weeks passed in a blurry mess of colors, shapes and sounds. Working at the shop felt more like a break from school than work, listening to the latest tunes as I ringed customers up (yes I finally learned the ways of the cash register). I found myself day-dreaming in school, anticipating the afternoon, which usually consisted of me, Drew, Isaac and a few other employees goofing around, Drew irritating me, me getting mad at him, him doing something sweet to make me forgive him, and my resolve crumbling like a week old cookie.
It’s kind of sad, how weak I am. But then again, maybe it’s just him. I found out some interesting things about him as well, when we were sane enough to actually hold a decent conversation. For instance, he was originally from England, hence the faint accent. He moved here when he was eleven, with his parents after his dad got a job here.
“Hey could you pass me the mailing order?” Drew called from the back room where we stored all the new arrivals.
“Okay, hold on while I take this call,” I yelled back, reaching for the phone that was ringing on the counter. While I was taking the call, I heard him asking for it again but I couldn’t answer him since I was still on the phone with the customer.
When I finally convinced Miss Escony that no, this was not an orthodontist, and no, we don’t sell dentures, I made my way towards the back with the mailing order in my hand. “Drew?”
He was standing knee deep in packing peanuts, his hair adorably disheveled and his glasses askew. But somehow he still managed to look gorgeous. Well, aside from the impatient expression on his face.
“Finally! There you are. What were you doing out there? Never mind, I don’t care. Jeez, take any longer why don’t you? Quick, gimme it,”
I reluctantly handed it to him, pouting childishly. What? He was rude to me; I think I have a right to be annoyed. He stood there, muttering to himself until I turned to go. His hand shot out to encircle my wrist.
“Hey, what’s wrong? It’s me, isn’t it?” The tenderness in his voice made me melt. I didn’t answer, and he was making it so hard to concentrate with his hand touching me.
“Come on, don’t blame me for it, blame the shipping company. They delivered nothing but packing peanuts!” He threw his hands in the air, sounding frustrated. I nearly giggled. No wonder there was so much around.
I turned towards him, keeping my face straight, stoically saying nothing. I held my hand out for the piece of paper. He sighed and gave it to me, placing it in my palm, but he didn’t let go.
“What? Let go,” I said, slightly irritated, tugging on the paper but he held firm. “Not until you forgive me,” His blue eyes twinkled. I couldn’t help but smile and roll my eyes at how cute he was being. Was he that desperate for my forgiveness? How interesting. A thrill shot through me at that fact, making me want to grin so hard my face broke in half.
“Fine,”
“Fine what?”
“I, Fae Colette Woods, completely and utterly forgive you, Drew Michael Brooks of everything concerning this matter,” I put a hand to my heart and smirked. “Happy? Want me to write a contract too?”
“Okay, okay, I get it. You forgive me,” He tried to roll his eyes but he was grinning. It was one of those moments when we just…clicked. Like everything was normal when I wasn’t rolling my eyes or sending amused glances, when he wasn’t pestering me, trying to get my attention. We smiled at each other, the tension from just now ebbing away.
“If you must know, I was talking to Miss Escony on the store phone. She wanted to buy dentures from us,” I said, shaking my head indignantly.
“Of course she did,” He laughed and slung an arm around my shoulders, his tall frame towering over my not so tall 5 foot 4 one. Why did he have to be so impossibly hard to resist? If he were some pimply, squeaky-voiced nerd with the personality of a rock I wouldn’t have caved that easily.
One thing about this job is that the working hours are entirely unpredictable. Sometimes we get off late, like after it gets dark, when all the scary creatures come out, and sometimes we get off early enough to grab a bite before dinner, like today.
Drew and I bid goodbye to the rest of the staff after we locked up the store and walked to the nearest McDonalds. I noticed the absence of his glasses on his face. Without them obstructing his face, I could see that he was really more attractive than I thought, and that’s saying a lot. Now I know why Angie wanted him.
“Hey, why aren’t you wearing your glasses? Can you see without them or something?”
“Yeah I can. I just wear them during working hours to impress the customers,” He smirked.
I looked at him. “And how will that impress the customers?”
“Well, for starters, I look like a nerd, and a nerd working in a music store? Tell me that’s not impressive,”
“That’s not impressive,” I repeated and he laughed.
“That’s not what I meant and you know it,”
I shrugged and gave a breathy laugh. “You just like wearing them because you look like a hot nerd,” My eyes widened. What did I just say? Shoot.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I looked over and he was peering at me thoughtfully, tapping his chin.
I laughed nervously and shoved his shoulder. “Shut up,”
I caught sight of the big neon M in the distance and ran towards it. Talk about being saved by the McDonalds. After we ordered out food and sat down, I got right down to business.
“Okay, so who’s the lucky girl?” I said with a hint of a smile.
“Hmm?” He asked while chewing on his Big Mac, looking amazingly edible. And I am not talking about the Big Mac. I opened my mouth, staring at him before I quickly recovered.
“The one you were so troubled about a few weeks ago? I saw you scowling at me for no reason,”
Something flashed across his face before he said, “Oh, that girl. Well, I don’t know,” I gave him a withering look. “I mean, it’s like I definitely like her, that I’m sure of, but I just have no idea if she likes me back,” He fixed me with an intense gaze.
I don’t know why I felt so disappointed. I expected him to deny it, to say it wasn’t true, there isn’t anyone. “Well, what do you do? How do you act around her?” I clarified.
“I just be myself, you know, even if I am a little irritating,”
I chuckled. “Got that right,” I cleared my throat and continued. “So I guess that’s good then. That’s good…” I trailed off, my stomach clenching. I turned my attention back to my coffee, cupping the cup with both hands, and waited for it to cool.
“What about you?” I heard him ask curiously. My head whipped back up.
“No, why?” I asked, concealing my eagerment.
“Nah, nothing,” He looked back down, but not before I saw a flicker of what was that? Relief? Nope, couldn’t be, I shouldn’t kid myself.
We finished up and parted ways. As I started walking in the general direction of my home, I heard him call my name.
“Hey, wait up!”
I turned around with m eyebrows raised. He jogged over to me and grabbed my hand. “Okay, but this is kind of sudden. I don’t know if…”
“Oh, just shut up,” He interrupted as he uncapped a Sharpie with his teeth. Why do people just happen to carry things like that in their back pocket anyway? Do they take one every time they leave the house? I was pulled from my thoughts when I felt myself being jerked by the shoulders.
“Fae! Anyone home? Well I guess I’ll be off then,” I blinked.
“Huh? Oh, bye Drew!” I waved after him. He waved back dismissively. When I raised my hand to wave I caught sight of the black digits on my forearm. I felt a rush of happiness. I have his number! I squealed out loud in the middle of the empty parking lot and headed home.
