A Kairotic Moment

Prologue

Long auburn hair covers half of her petite rounded face as the six bags of corn chips are loaded into the plastic bag in front of her. The customer taps their foot impatiently at her pace

Do you seriously need that many bags of chips? She grumbles to herself as she continues to deliberately pack the remaining items slowly.

Her thoughts shift from how she would procrastinate the last hour of her shift to what she'd be cooking for dinner. She's hoping it's her mum's delicious homemade apple pie waiting on the kitchen table at home for her.

Home. It's a quiet life for her in this small town, this plain job paid just enough to see her get by. Yep, her life is the definition of boring. No dramas, no boyfriends or crazy exes. Just her, Lily with her sad excuse of a boss. Speak of the devil..

"Lily! when you've finished, lock up" he spits, tossing the rusted set of keys onto the countertop.

She can only huff in slight agitation, "K,"

I don't get paid enough for this..

Her gaze flickers back to bright screen of her phone. One hour, sixteen minutes and three seconds is her timer counts down. One hour, five minutes and fifty seconds until she can finally close up and get home. She can taste the freedom, it's the type of buzzing in the air when you sense the ringing of the school bells. Her stomach groans loudly, reminding her that her other sensors can almost taste her mum's apple pie.

This small convenient store is the only thing that held lively memories for Lily. In aisle three, her first offence of shoplifting took place. The only reason she shoplifted that day was because a boy had completely surprised her with her first kiss. Stunned, speechless and in a frenzy she made a run for it with a couple cans of tuna in her hand. Never did she bother to look back,still preferring not to speak a word to the boy at school even.

What's a girl to do? Of course she would react that way, she's never been kissed since then. It's been seven years since she's held a decent conversation with the opposite sex.

Her phone buzzes to remind her that she only has one hour, three minutes and a solid twenty four seconds left.

Sighing, she reaches over the counter and helps herself to a well deserved chocolate bar. She inhales at the rich aroma of the Cherry ripe in hand.

"A present to myself? I think i deserved it," she beams as she takes one big bite.

"Are you talking to yourself..?" an amused baritone voice emerges from aisle three.

The intrusion has her choking on the piece she's consumed, lodging itself halfway down her throat. She drops the bar and brings her hands to her chest, feeling the vibrations from her rapidly beating heart.

"Oh my God you scared me!"

"Don't worry. I won't tell your boss." the mystery man assures, finally revealing his face.

"Thank you, he was a-"

Cutting her off, the mysery man laughs before speaking, "I'm just gonna rob you instead."

"Wait what!" she gawks at him.

"You heard me, I didn't stutter." his deep voice teases her but his movements reveal the threat of a gun.

"Whoa man l-let's not do s-something st-" she stutters out, cautiously glancing down at the small hand gun pointed at her.

She hears his laughter, "Then be a good girl and put the money in the bag." he taunts, sliding a black duffle bag to her.

As she looks down into the empy bag she begins to reason with her conscious as to why she's defying him in the first place. She's under the threat of getting shot! That and she didn't even finish her chocolate bar yet. This job wasn't for her, especially when her boss was the biggest jackass,the kind you'd want to ahem- shit on.

Taking a deep breath she familiarizes his face. Sweet Mary, Joseph and the Disciples. Dark brown hair is tousled slightly, light stubble decorates his jaw instantly directing her eyes to his plump lips. She begrudgingly acknowledges that he has a God-like figure.

A reminder you're being held at gunpoint..

Oh right. releasing a small sigh she pinches the bridge of her nose, "Fine."

He makes sure to show that he's pleased with her answer "Thank you". Even criminals have manners.

The cash register opens with the press of a button, she slowly tips out the contents in the bag provided.

"Even the small cents?" she inquires.

He rolls his eyes, arrogantly responding "Even the small cents. They all matter, it's money."

She proceeds to move quicker, biting the inside of her cheek to stop hersel from cursing at him. The notes flutter into the bag as she observes him cautiously. He seems to sense her gaze and stared back at her, locking his eyes with her own. She couldn't breathe. Her curiosity is gnawing at her.

"Are you sure you're a robber?"

"Do you always talk this much?" he retorts, plopping the gun onto the counter.

She shrugs. "No,i mean if you're robbing a store, wouldn't you want to.. you know- cover your face?" It's the sensible way.

He doesn't seem to appreciate sassiness

"Well if you have a face like yours wouldn't you want to, you know.. not work in a store like this?" he shoots back.

A laugh escapes her, "What?" She finds it absurd, half of it from getting robbed and the other from his insult. or compliment?

"Enough. just fill up the bag!" She flinches slightly at his impatience. Rude.

It suddenly dawns on her that this dainty little store doesn't have any cameras hidden away in the nooks and crannies. No security, nothing that would protect her. As a result of nerves, she picks up her discarded half-eaten chocolate bar and places it on top of the money, receiving a funny look from the Godly figure.

"What? everyone should have some chocolate in their life." feeling the need to justify herself.

His gaze slowly drifts over her, "You're pretty cute."

As mystery man turns to leave the store, she looks down at the weapon he left on the counter. A frown forms on her face as she picks it up, she's puzzled at the lightness of the gun. Also the fact that it's leaking.

Realization dawns on her and she's starting to fume because of his little trick, "Hey!"

He's almost to the door before he turns and sends her a wink, leaving the store with the money. His amusement echoing through the empty store. "Too late now Cupcake."   

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