Moving Forward

-Fifteen-

Evelyn POV

A part of me wants to take a picture so I can show Sarah where her new infatuation has been so she would try to be at that same place, the same time the next day so she could 'accidentally' bump into him again, which would lead her to be all happy and giddy. The other part of me says that's illegal, a bit more than creepy, and I certainly wouldn't want to have some person just looked at me to be taking pictures of me.

Also, my phone is in the break room, so that was already out.

As per training, I let him run around the store for a while, to see what he wants. After a minute or two without him picking anything up, I am supposed to go up and asks if he needs anything and if he says no, he's either a liar or a stealer. Which, shame on him for stealing at a local business and not a large corporation.

Okay, benefit of the doubt, if he says no, he may also have trouble speaking with others or asking for help. Also, it hasn't even been a full minute yet.

As I pretend to stock shelves, I see he's browsing the ready-made-meal sections. You don't really go to a store like this type of store to get ready-made-meals for breakfast unless you live close by. But this place is far from the little cafe he works at and most people get jobs or at least try to get jobs, close to their homes.

So he's either stop by here to get a quick, early lunch, or a large, and quick snack.

Benefit of the doubt, though, he's a customer and I shouldn't be analyzing him with some Criminal Minds stuff.

Okay, a minute is up.

I walk up briskly behind him as the shop's jazz music stops for a long pause.

"Hi, do you need anything?" Like magic, the jazz music suddenly starts up again. I should ask about what other selections of music they have.

"Oh hello, um..." I see him do a quick double-take after turning around to see me. "Hey, I think I've seen you somewhere."

I'm not one to beat around the bush when it comes to interacting with Sarah's crushes. Okay, it feels weird when I think of him like that. Sarah's friend.

"Oh yeah!" I pretend to be surprised. "My friend Sarah Jane Fonda and I were at the cafe you were working at last night."

He giggles a bit.

"Ah yes, my fellow three named friend!"

"As a friend of that friend, I believe I should introduce myself." I extend out my hand with a smile. "Hello, I am Evelyn."

"Evelyn...? That's it?"

"Evelyn.... Lastname, if you want." He takes my hand and shakes it firmly. Not a bad grip, not too strong either. Good enough for someone to pull away if they want to.

"Hi, Evelyn Lastname, I'm Jerry John Quinn." I let go of his hand before I speak again.

"Well, now that we are acquainted, Jerry John Quinn, how may I help you?"

He suddenly looks surprised, as if remembering what he was looking for. "Oh, I was looking to see what I can get here for a quick lunch. I forgot to bring some from home, but it's a bit of a long drive and I am in a moderate level of hurry."

Haha, knew it.

"Oh, for sure!" I really don't like my retail voice. So high pitched. I'm sure Mister three names heard the difference by how he suddenly winced at the change in energy. I give him a moderate concerned face before silently nodding behind me to where the manager/daughter was. Surely, someone of a similar job will understand the annoying sounding energy and voice.

Luckily he nods back in acknowledgment.

"Of course there are several ready meals here, if you want something warm, but we also have some protein bars over here, don't ask why, " I whisper the last phrase quickly, "if you want something more healthy."

"Oh! I-I think I underSTAND now, THANK You, HELPFUL EMPLOYEE." Why is he shouting? We both go behind a shelf, away from the eyes of the cashier.

"Was that good?"

"Not really, " I say bluntly. "A child could have done made a better performance than whatever that was."

"Sorry, " he says apologetically. "I figured it would be best to highlight you helping me so that way you can be promoted. Or get a raise or something like that."

I chuckle a bit at the thought. "Jerry John Quinn, that only works in bad teen movies and if the person pretending is actually good in acting. Besides, I appreciate the help, but I don't need an actor to help improve my pay. Do I make myself clear?"

He seems embarrassed enough, I'll stop. For Sarah's sake; he might be scared off.

He puts his hand in a half-hearted salute. "Yes, ma'am."

"Now, I'll be going to the register now. Also, she doesn't like macadamia cookies that much; she prefers those holiday sugar cookies."

I turn to go back and I swear I heard him mumble, "I figured; you were the one that ate most of them anyway."

There wasn't any sass to the statement, more like an observation. He seems nice enough. I wouldn't mind him being part of our two people group as much now. Maybe he and Sarah would also be good together.

My stomach feels as if it was stabbed with multiple knives as I thought that and I felt my mouth twitch into a frown. I have to get myself together, this is ridiculous.