Open Eyes (Phan)

Eight

Phil

Today has been incredibly uneventful. Extremely uneventful.

After Dan left the conversation without warning last night, I've been in a noticeably worse mood. Talking to him had been amazing. I didn't think I'd be able to get him to talk that much in person, so chatting with him through text, I'd gotten to know him.

And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised by how much we had in common. We both liked the same music, and we both had an unhealthy addiction to anime. I learned that his favorite television show was Game of Thrones, no surprise there. And that he loved chocolate and cereal.

I had seriously enjoyed talking to him. And I thought he had, too.

So why had he left in such a hurry?

And why was I so affected by it?

I was broken out of my thoughts by a quiet jingle, signaling a costumer had just walked in. I plastered on a fake smile, which I rarely did, and asked if they needed anything. The dark haired man shook his head. He gave me a smile that looked just as fake as mine, then turned and disappeared behind a bookshelf.

This happened another three times over the course of two hours. I spent most of that time standing behind the front counter, playing with the tiny bookmark stand. This job was incredibly boring, but I couldn't really complain. I was getting paid fairly well for standing around and doing nothing.

But my small amounts of patience were rewarded with a break.

I got a ten minute break every two and a half hours.

I used my time to pull out my phone and text the person who I hadn't been able to get out of my head.

Phil: hey! are u busy?

I got a reply about forty seconds later.

Dan: no. why?

Phil: i was just wondering if u wanted to hang out?

I had to wait longer for a response this time. As if he was hesitating. Was he?

Dan: um sure. when?

Phil: how about in two hours? we could get coffee at the cafe next to the book store.

Dan: okay

Dan's replies seemed to be very blunt. I hoped everything was okay. But I couldn't help the smile that took over my lips. At least he hadn't said no. And now I was going to see the person who'd taken over my thoughts.

I went back to the front counter, still smiling widely.

Now all I had to do was get through the last two hours of my shift. Which was going to be harder than it sounded.

Those two hours could've been two days. There was no difference as far as I could tell. I spent about ninety eight percent of the time wondering why I was so excited to see someone I had just met. It made no sense to me.

I hoped we would have something to talk about, considering we had so much in common.

"Phil!"

A stern voice calling my name ripped me from my thoughts. I looked over. Chris, my boss, was standing by the door, one hand on the handle.

"Jesus Christ, Phil! Pay attention!" He scolded me, as if I was a five year old child.

"Sorry," I said sheepishly. Though I didn't mean it.

"Lock up when you leave," he told me. I nodded, but he had already turned his back and gone through the door.

I could tell he was in a bad mood. Normally I didn't mind having Chris as my boss. It was only when he was in a foul mood that I disliked him.