The Easy Way Out [Book 1]

Chapter 6 - Weird Lunch

***Monday
***Bea's POV

It was a "No School Hair, Don't Care" kind of day, even though I still had to work later that evening. I got dressed and walked downstairs to get some breakfast.

I poured myself a bowl of cereal and grabbed a granola bar for later then went back up to my room.

I caught up on all my homework and did more research for the Speech project, with a lunch break in between.

Looking up at my clock, I had an hour to get ready for work, so I changed into my uniform.

I loved working at O'Riley's Supermarket. I met people who didn't know about my less-than-popular status at school.

All they cared about was that I got them through the line in a timely manner and didn't double-ring up an item.***

I had twenty minutes until my shift ended when I looked up to greet my next customer.

"Good evening, how ar-" my words caught in my throat.

"Oh, um. Hey, Bea," Harry leaned towards the candy shelf, "I um, I didn't, I didn't know you worked here."

Thanks for putting whatever that was on the candy shelf where it doesn't belong, guy. Ugh, I swear.

"Yeah," I nodded, ringing up his first item. "But only Monday through Wednesday after school."

I tried not to stare as I rang up his items. But I couldn't help but notice how awful he looked. Not only were the bags under his eyes heavy, the whites of his eyes were strained with red lines. He looked extremely tired.

I just couldn't hold back anymore.

"Are you okay, Harry? You don't look so good."

"Yeah," he nodded, waving me off, "I'm just not feeling well."

"I'm sorry. Hey, you should drink orange juice. I do when I'm sick, but I like to warm it a little on the stove." I rang up the total, "that will be sixteen ninety-seven."

"Um, okay," he swiped his card, giving me a funny look. "Thanks. I may not try the heating it up part, but I'll drink some OJ."

"Hope you feel better soon, Harry," I smiled, handing him his purchases and receipt

"Thanks," he nodded, taking in a deep breath. "See you at school, Bea."

I greeted my next customer and had to call over my supervisor to assist with an in-store credit card problem.

Logan fixed the problem.

I handed my customer her receipt as she left.

"Thanks for helping me, Logan."

"No problem, Bea. It's ten 'till but you can go home now if you want."

I internally celebrated and flipped the switch off my register light. I signed off and walked around to tidy my workstation to gather all the second-thought items my customers put back.

I noticed the item that Harry put back.

Ribbed?

I walked over to separate the items in their bins and clocked out, more than ready to go home.***

***Next Day
***Bea's POV

I walked into English not expecting to see Harry. Just as we passed up our homework, Harry walked in.