Glam Slam | Larry Stylinson

Chapter One

Hi everyone! Thank you so much for reading my book Glam Slam! This is the first of many books that I plan to publish on here. I wanted to start off with a short story so you can get a taste of my writing. Enjoy!
—Christopher Tracy

"The new shipment just arrived, Louis! Can you go get it!" Liam yells from the stockroom.

"Yeah, I'll grab it Payno!" I yell back as I make my way towards the front of the store. Liam is my new boss and the owner of the hottest record shop in town called Glam Slam. I only started working here a couple of days ago, so I'm still trying to get the hang of things. My job is mainly working behind the counter at the cash register, but occasionally I have to restock albums and do inventory. I can't complain though. I love this job because I'm a music lover and a vinyl collector myself.

I have actually been coming to Glam Slam for years and have wanted to work here for a while. The old owner decided to retire recently, leaving the store to Liam, who was looking to hire someone to take over his old position. I, of course, applied for the job and since I already knew Liam from coming to the store over the years, he knew that I would be the perfect fit.

There is only one person in the store at the moment since we opened only a half-hour ago. Making my way back behind the counter, I set the heavy box of new records down with a thud. I use the keys in my back pocket to slice open the box. Taking them out one at a time, I enter each record into the computer system.

As I am working, I hear the door open with the ring of the bell atop. In walks the cutest boy I have ever seen. I try my best to contain the butterflies and greet him like any other customer, but I can't control the blush that coats my cheeks. I quickly turn back to my work before he catches me staring too long.

After I enter the last album, I look back at the cute boy who is now scanning through the classic rock albums. I have never seen him in here before. I can tell from here that he is taller than me. He has the most beautiful, emerald-green eyes, and don't even get me started on the long, brown curls that cascade past his shoulders. I am so encompassed by the mysterious boy that I don't even notice Liam now standing next to me.

"Can you put the new albums in the New Arrival section please?" Liam asks with a knowing look on his face. The blush from before creeps back up as I take the pile of records and leave with a simple nod. As I carry them to the front of the store, my shoulder lightly brushes against the taller boy's. I quietly apologize and try to hide my blush once again as I organize the new records.

Once they are all in place, I return to behind the counter as quickly as possible. Liam rings up the last customer, which now leaves only me, Liam, and the mystery boy in the store. I wish I knew his name so I didn't have to keep referring to him as mystery boy.

"I'm gonna grab a coffee from the bakery down the street. Do you want anything?" Liam offers.

"No thanks. I'm good," I reply. Liam grabs his phone and wallet and makes his way towards the door. Before exiting the store, he signals towards the boy with his eyes and gives a not so subtle thumbs up. Great, now it's just me and the boy with no name.

I scan the store and see that he has moved to the soul and RnB section. He must have great music taste, judging from the albums in his hands. George Michael. Elton John. Stevie Wonder. Prince. I am so adrift in my thoughts, that I don't even notice him standing awkwardly by the counter waiting for me to say something.

"Right. Sorry. Is that all for you today?" I say with a slight break at the end. Awesome, embarrass yourself even more, Louis.

"Yep, that's all," he says with a chuckle as he hands me the collection of music. Wow. His voice. His laugh. His smile. His dimples. I didn't think he could get any more attractive. I try to control my now jittery hands as I push in the prices for each album into the computer.

"Um, your total will be $88.75," I declare as I look up to see his lush, green eyes piercing into my ocean blue ones for the first time. They are even more beautiful up close. He is perfect. As he gives me the exact change, his hand grazes mine, sending shockwaves through my body. After putting the money into the register, I print his receipt and place it in the bag with his purchased records.

"Thanks," he says as he grabs the bag and turns to walk towards the front of the store.

"Come again," I say a bit too eagerly as he reaches the door. God, Louis. You just couldn't help yourself. You just killed any chance of him being interested, if there even was any to begin with.

"I will," he replies with a smile before exiting the store. And just like that, the store is empty, but my mind is filled with the image of the boy who I just met, but can't seem to get out of my head.