Julian ripped the top of the thick plastic encasing the pack of cola cans. He shuddered at how cold he'd gotten from being inside the fridge. He'd been in there for a good twenty minutes, replenishing the meager stock of drinks. It was nearing eight o'clock at night. Around this time, customers really only came into the convenience store for a quick smoke or beer run, allowing him the chance to help with restocking. Though it was the night shift's job, he'd find himself doing it every time his thoughts started going dark.
The convenience store clerk would spend his nights drinking and writing music. He lived in a run-down apartment, not unusual for this side of town. He was lonely to say the least. He'd given up on relationships, accepting that there was no one for him. The girls he dated or took home only thought he was wasting his life at a minimum wage job and putting more concentration in his art than moving up in a corporate-ridden world. The pain of loneliness was numbed by the alcohol, and the alcohol fueled his colorful thoughts which poured out to paper.
His attention was diverted when a beautiful girl walked in. He hadn't seen her before. The way her chestnut hair hung in loose waves past her shoulders, how her dark eyes contrasted with her pink, pouty lips — she almost glowed. She had to have just moved to this side of town. There was no way in hell she was from here.
Julian was stunned at the beauty, his breathing becoming rigid — not due to the temperature but the fact that she took his breath away. He silenced his awestruck breaths but couldn't calm down his racing heart as she walked right up to the section he was stocking. He blinked dumbly, unable to take his eyes off of her as she scanned the rows of drinks. The thought of her seeing his eyes gazing at her through the shelf crossed his mind, but he couldn't bring himself to look away from her.
She continued onto the next fridge door, and Julian subconsciously followed, stumbling a step over the boxes to keep up with her. This time, she swung open the fridge door, and Julian, slightly startled that she'd catch him this time, began making his way out of the fridge stockroom. He made his way up to the counter but found he couldn't help but watch the top of her head over the aisle. He froze when he noticed she was walking this way, and immediately spun around, finding himself pushing down the packs of cigarettes on the wall behind the register to distract himself.
"A pack of Marlboro Smooths," her voice spoke up from behind him.
He melted at her voice. It wasn't loud and raspy or had that nasal twang he was so used to hearing from the shady characters that stopped by. Hers was soothing. He looked over his shoulder, bracing himself for the moment their eyes met. He inwardly sighed in disappointment when she was looking down and reaching into her bag for her wallet, and he turned back around to fetch the smokes.
He scanned the pack and set it on the counter, and that's when their eyes finally met. She stood there, the flap of her bag open and wallet in hand. Julian could tell she had no idea how beautiful she was. He was hit with shame of his own appearance. He was sporting a flannel button-down with the sleeves ripped off and had thrown on a visor to keep his unwashed locks out of his face. He wished he'd fixed himself up better or that they could've encountered at any other place than his dead-end job. But, who was he kidding? He still would have looked just as disheveled.
She gave him a small smile as a friendly greeting, and, stunned that she smiled at him even though he looked his worst, his lips tugged at the corners.
"How's your night going?" she asked, making friendly conversation.
Julian immediately grew nervous as though he was put on the spot. Something about the way she looked in comparison to him made him assume she wouldn't have said a word to him; maybe mutter a 'thanks' on the way out at the most. He was immediately comforted by the fact that she showed the slightest bit of interest even though it was just a generic question.
