scented candles ❁ a.i.

three

By the time the sun had settled on the horizon, hugs and even kissed were exchanged as everyone shuffled out the door. I sat inside the kitchen, helping Lisa out with cleaning the counters dusted with crumbs and spills. Commotion from the front room diminished as I let out a sigh, wiping up one last puddle of what I thought was water. I heard some steps into the kitchen but ignored, thinking it was probably Lisa coming in to talk.

I thought wrong, cause to my left I heard a little crash, well not really a crash, somewhat of a thump. A glass rolled side to side and water had escaped it. I heard a little mumbled 'oops' from behind as I turned around.

"Really?" I raised my eyebrows, whipping (lightly) Ashton with the damp towel I used to dry up the counters before.

"Hey, that's abuse, and I said sorry." He defended.

"Oops doesn't count as sorry." I tried not to laugh, trying to keep somewhat of a serious tone.

"Oh, oops."

"Get out before you make more of a mess." I finally let out a short laugh as I heard his footsteps walk away.

"Goodnight candle lover."

-❁-

The next day went normal, waking up for work and letting the morning drag on. It was a quarter after nine and I was out the door for my shift. I only worked part time at a little music shop downtown.

No one really knew about it, since everyone is buying their music off iTunes or on CD's instead of vinyls like the good days. I grew up to my parents flooding the house with Elvis to Bon Jovi, them having a music taste that stretched. Of course, I took their album collection after my mom passed away and my dad left at 14.

I have good independence from my dad leaving, so I've got along good with being alone, and enjoyed it.

Stepping up to the lone shop, I quickly slid into my seat at the register, seeing my co worker rush out the door at the sight of me. He had night shift. That must suck.

I smiled, pulling my little caramel candle towards me and pulling a lighter from my pocket. I clicked it a few times before dipping it into the jar the candle was in.

"Al, light that candle and I'll smash it." Jack shouted from the break room. "That stuff smells terrible." He added. I could hear him straighten his newspaper he reads everyday. I scoffed, putting the unlit candle down on the counter with a loud bang, letting him hear my annoyance.

I leaned back into my rolling chair, pushing back on the wheels and crossing my arms. Usually we always have slow days, but this, is a slow day. No one was walking the sidewalks like usual weekday rush, but instead, only a person or two passed every once and awhile.

"Al, if no one comes in the next twenty minutes, head home. Slow mornings mean slower days." I once again heard the rattle of his newspaper and sighed, studying the clock.

Twenty minutes. That's not too bad.

I tried to distract myself to make the time go faster. I took one last look at the clock and sighed. Four more minutes. I began packing up my things but let out a groan, hearing the high pitched ding of the front entrance.

"God damnit." I muttered, slapping my bag back down.

"Hello to you, too." The thick accent commented. Of course, it was this kid out of all people.

"Hello Ashton." I returned, not paying much attention, more blatantly annoyed by the fact he ruined my chances of going home.

"So did the presence of me make you that angry?" He chuckled tapping his fingers along the counter.

"How did you find out where I work." I ignored his cocky comment, still showing annoyance.

"Lisa."

"Did you seriously ask her where I work? Sounds kind of stalkerish, don't you think?" I scoffed, not in a terribly rude way, just enough to show my mood.

"She offered it. She said your job was boring, so I decided to make it, erm, less boring." He shrugged and took a seat on my counter. "So what do you even do around here?"

"Sell things."

"Like what?" He asked. I rolled my eyes.

"Music dipshit. We got some classic rock from the eighties in the back, you can find some more rock of the nineties closer to the front, and even some records from the early thousands." I explained, not missing a word.

"Sounds like you got a thing for this music."

"Yeah." I sighed.

"Say, why don't you got this candle lit?" He pulled the candle and gripped it, taking it to his nose and smelling it. He made a face and shrugged.

"Jack threatened to shatter it."

"And you didn't defend yourself?" Ashton questioned. I let out a huff of laughter.

"Ashton, it's a candle! I'm fine." I even grabbed the candle and slid it into my drawer.

"Okay, okay. Well when's your shift over?"

"Well, it was supposed to be over ten minutes ago, but you showed up." I mumbled.

"Oops."

-❁-

A/N sorry i take so long to update omg

so how do you like this chapter? ashton is such a little butt, i love him.

dedicated to hager <3

-kaitlyn :-)