Solangelo One Shots

The Mall; Otherwise Known as a Breeding Ground for Love

Nico's POV

It's so dry sometimes, working at Newbury Comics, leaning against the counter as he watches teenage girls browse the records, flashing their Doc Martens and their cropped flower shirts just so everyone knows that they're the coolest. He blows out a sigh, drumming his fingers against the tile counter with the groove in the edge from where someone dropped their fake Goblet of Fire dragon's egg and it took a chip out of the whole thing. He glances out the door, watching the stream of people flowing past the door, laden down with shopping bags with aimless chatter between them. None of them eye the store so Nico turns to the counter, buffing out a smudge with his sleeve. 

"Hey, Leo," he calls, glancing around the display of cheesy coffee mugs to see Leo restocking the comic books, his hands moving at warp speed. "You need any help over there?" Leo barely glances over as he slips a handful of thin Spider-Man comics onto the shelves.

"Does it look like I need help?"

"I can get the ladder for you for when you need it."

"The ladder is five feet away."

"Still, maybe-"

"Nico, stay there," Leo says with a laugh. "Besides, I think they're going to need help soon." He nods at the two girls, flipping through the records, occasionally pulling one out and having lengthy discussions about the musicians, or the b-tracks, or the cover art. They very clearly have no concerns about time.

"Yeah, probably," Nico mutters, crossing his arms and leaning against the side of the counter, fiddling with the buttons on his lanyard. He scans the wall of Funko Pop figures that take up the entire back, the displays of band tees and the Harry Potter stand that's constantly on display. There's nothing for him to do but stand, play with the buttons, make a new song with the sound of his fingertips on the counter. At least his manager will be happy.

The two indie girls are buying two indie girl records when a familiar mop of blonde hair walks by, his lanyard swinging around his neck as he scrolls through his phone, his steps slow and leisurely. Immediately Nico's attention turns from stuffing cash into the register to watching him walk down the hallway of the mall until he can no longer see even a flash of that sunkissed hair. "Did we give you enough change?" Indie girl one asks as Nico fights to catch another glimpse of the boy, begging the universe for just a flash of his khakis, his white converse.

"Huh?"

"Change?" Indie girl two asks, glancing at her friend and fighting to hold back giggles.

"Oh. Yeah, sorry." He crams the change into the drawer, his fingers shaking as he crumples the ones as he hands them their change, their records in a bag. "Have a nice day."

"You, too," Indie girl one says, giggling at her friend as they walk out of the store. Nico rolls his eyes, crossing his arms as he watches them walk out of the doors, and the store is empty.

"So." Leo meanders up to the counter, propping up his elbows and flashing Nico a cheeky smile. "You're complaining about being bored for your entire shift and when you finally have something to do, you're distracted." Nico rolls his eyes, rubbing out a nonexistent smudge on the counter and turning away from Leo.

"Don't you have comic books to restock?"

"Finished that. Now the only thing to do is bug you. Was it American Eagle boy again?" Nico feels his face flush but he rolls his eyes again, ducking underneath the counter to pull out the cleaning spray and the rag.

"Shut up."

"I'm going to take that as a yes." His smile softens. "You should talk to him."

"I should not talk to him. I just think he's cute, anyway. I don't even know him."