Ignited • ON HOLD •

04 | Peppermint

IV: Peppermint

MATTHEW took one last puff of his cigarette before he grounded it out with the heel of his shoe. He took a glimpse around the store when he walked in.

   "She's not here?" he muttered under his breath.

After he made his way behind the counter, he started rummaging through the mini fridge.

   "What are you lo-" Don paused and looked amused when Matthew pulled out a bottle of alcohol.

As he took a gulp from the bottle, Matt noticed him looking from the corner of his eye.

   "What? Do you want one?"

   "No I was just wondering where you got that from. But I thought about it and I rather not know." Don said, still keeping his eyes on him.

   "Where's that girl?" Matthew asked casually, taking a seat on the couch where Don was sitting and carelessly swung his legs over Don's lap, almost toppling the side table.

Don furrowed his brows. "What girl?"

   "T-The blue one," he answered with his finger pointing to his head.

   "Sheena? She have classes," Don said, going back to his phone. "She won't be coming in today."

"Oh." Matthew replied a little too quickly and leaned against the armrest.

Don eyed at him suspiciously, "why ask?"

At that moment, Don had already placed his phone down, giving Matt his full attention. For Matthew James Lovell to be interested in someone's whereabouts is extremely rare. Furthermore, he has been dropping by way more than usual. Sometimes he would even come in just to nap on the couch unless the store is busy then he would nap in the back room.

   "What? Nothing. Do I need a reason?"

There was no way in hell he asked for no reason.

   "No. But for a womanizer like you, yes." Don's lips pressed into a thin line as he waits for his reply. "Sheena is a lovely girl. I'm not going to let you to make her into one of your flings, and-"

   "Psh her? C'mon on. No," he scoffed then took a sip from the bottle, sneaking a side-eye at Don, "I'm going to leave before you start nagging, old man."

Matthew headed straight to the door with his eyes still on Don. As he held the door opened, Matt gave him the finger with a smirk. But just as he were to leave the store, he ran into something small.

Sheena groaned and rubbed her nose, cussing under her breath.

"Watch! It...," Matt's voice softened after he realized who it was and also earning a death glare from her.

"You're so small, I couldn't hardly see you," he sniggered.

Sheena wanted to thank him when she sees him for that night. Guess not. She brushed past him and walked into the store, embracing every bit of warmth.

"Hi Don!" She smiled at him and gave him a little wave. He acknowledge her presence with a nod and proceeded to brew her her favorite cup of peppermint hot chocolate that requires little tiny chocolate bits drowning inside and topped with marshmallows.

"I thought you weren't coming in today?" Don asked without looking up at her.

"Haha thought I could get some studying done here instead," she replied. Hiding the fact that she was in fact here because they had cut off her electricity due to overdue bills. I really need to do something about it as soon as possible unless I wanna get kicked out again, she thought.