Dancing on My Own

Business as Usual

There was the soft patter of rain hitting the glass window of the store front. Alec smiled to himself finding that sound relaxing as he began to clean up shop for the evening. Business was slow because of the weather but Alec didn't mind it was almost soothing to have the store to himself even if just for a little while. He began pulling the leftover goods from their glass case carefully packaging them up to take them home when the soft chime of the bell at the front door rang out in the silent store. Alec popped his head around the corner smiling softly when he saw it was his sister and brother in law. "Izzy what are you doing here I thought you guys went out of town for the weekend?" He left his place from behind the counter pulling Izzy in for a hug nodding at Simon. Izzy chuckled softly "We couldn't leave without stopping in for a quick goodbye." She glanced around after pulling away shaking her head "you need to go home Alec its an hour past closing and you still have the store open." He laughed moving to pass Simon a box of today's cakes. "I will go home soon Iz I promise. You know how it goes. I work till those city lights come on and I don't stop a minute sooner." He winked at her knowing full well she would try to protest his statement and he walked towards the door opening it for them not caring he would get wet. "Go enjoy your trip don't worry about me" he leaned down and kissed her cheek gently as she sighed touching his arm "I always worry about you big brother." He smiled softly shaking his head "Well don't I do the same thing every night Iz this weekend won't be any different" He closed the door behind them watching as they walked away arms linked and he muttered to himself "this weekend is business as usual." He closed his eyes before rubbing the back of his neck as he headed to the back to finish clean up.

After scrubbing every pan he owns Alec stretched and shut off the back lights before going to check on the flavor schedule for the morning. He let out a soft yawn glancing at the time sighing when the clock read 10:00pm. He grabbed his phone from under the counter texting his mother quickly noticing the rain had only gotten heavier with each passing hour. "Locking up now. I'll be home shortly." He put his phone in the back pocket of his black jeans reaching for his forest green sweater that was draped messily over his stool. As he pulled it over his head the front door chimed and he muttered politely through the fabric "I am sorry but we are closed now." As he fixed his sweater he looked up and was met with a soaking wet man in what looked to be a very expensive suit. He had one thought as he watched the water drip from the man great now I have to stay and mop that up. The man cleared his throat as Alec watched the water drop to his clean floor "I am sorry but I saw the lights on and the door is open not locked. If you were closed then at least lock the door." He sighed as if frustrated and he shook his head "Any chance you have one more chocolate cake left?" Alec just stared at the man confused on why a man dressed as nice as he was would be out this late in the rain wearing that suit let alone on this side of town. "Well do you?" Alec shook his head slightly clearing his throat softly before nodding and heading to his boxes of left overs from today grabbing his only left over chocolate cake and he held it out to the soaking wet man "Uh here its uhm on the house." The man raised an eyebrow before nodding taking it gently their fingers brushing briefly "thank you." He turned and left the store without another word and Alec was left questioning what just happened. He also began to think about how much his son would throw a fit because he always saved a chocolate one for him each night. Why was tonight different? Who was that man and why did Alec change routine for him? Alec stared at the small pool of water before looking at his finger tips eye brows knitting together whispering to no one but himself "so much for business as usual."