Eat Fresh

$5 ft long love

Diego put on his mask and sat outside the Subway. The sign flickered on and off until eventually only the "Sub" part of Subway stayed illuminated. Diego was hungry, and even though he knew he could afford a $5 sandwich, initiation would only work if he got the sandwich himself. Inside the run-down Subway, he took into account everyone inside. Luckily there were only two customers, both looked to be an older couple and one rather handsome guy standing behind the counter he was cleaning. 

The man inside took his time cleaning the counters, wanting every spot to be shined. But mostly because he knew once he clocked out he'd have to go home and suffer through another discussion of why he needed to marry rich for the sake of the family's appearance. 

Diego took his time outside, was he really about to rob a Subway? Yes, yes he was. He pulled up the mask that had slipped off his nose a bit and walked in the double-glass doors. Instantly the smell of freshly baked bread hit Diego's nostrils. The worker behind the counter looked up and said, "sorry sir, we're just closing up." but Diego knew he was getting his sandwich tonight. Diego had to stall for a second, the worker was too close to the phone for his taste. 

"I apologize, I didn't realize the time," Diego said while moving closer to the register, which happened to have their hours above it. Luckily the worker moved with him. "-And when tomorrow will you open back up? I left my glasses in the car." 

"We open tomorrow at 12 pm. However, that's when rush hour is so I recommend coming around 1:30." The worker brushed his hands against his dark green apron and handed Diego a business card. 

"Thank you- what was your name?" Diego asked, the worker gestured to the little plastic nametag pinned to the strap of his apron.

"Elias." He said, and Diego nodded. 

"Thank you for that information, Elias, however, I hope you understand I am feeling rather hungry, right now," Diego said right before hopping over the counter, his tall body standing, a good foot taller, in front of Elias. "I hate the word robbery, but if that's what you would like to call this that, then go ahead," Diego told Elias before heading over to where they kept the bread and began his sandwich. Elias started sweating, his body froze in shock. What would he do? The man stood between him and the phone, and he could have a weapon for all Elias knew. 

"Sir, I understand you're hungry but I can't let you leave without paying," Elias spoke, voice shaking the slightest bit. Elias knew that if he let the man robbing the store go without paying, his father would be furious. Elias begged to be able to work at the store, and if he slipped up even the slightest bit he'd be out of a job. 

Diego kept working on the sandwich though, adding on lettuce, tomatoes, all sorts of sauces, and meats. He wouldn't pay for them, so he just kept piling on more and more. Elias watched not knowing what to do, he had no way to call for help, the older couple left the store minutes ago, and the man just kept making his sandwich. 

"Listen, sir, you can't rob the store. I will have you arrested if you continue." Elias tried to say bravely, but couldn't speak without sounding terrified. Diego looked over his shoulder and put down the piece of cheese he was holding. Slowly turning his body in accordance with his face, and started to glide towards Elias. Once Diego got close enough, he grabbed Elias by the straps of his apron and shoved him into the brick wall. 

"I don't think you're going to be having me arrested," Diego chuckled, "I'm going to grab my sandwich and leave. You aren't going to do a single thing." Diego spat at Elias, with an extra emphasis on "thing". Diego let go of Elias and glided back over to his almost finished sandwich. Whilst Elias rubbed his arms, he murmured,

"My parents are gonna kill me." Which snapped Diego's attention right back to him. 

"What do you mean they're gonna kill you? Are they hurting you? Are you ok? Do you need a place to go?" Diego began to rattle off a list of concerns. Elias, once again frozen, was bewildered by the man's sudden change in attitude. 

"It's a figure of speech, I'm just going to be in a lot of trouble. They own the store." Elias replied, shocked at how scared the man had gotten for him. He was the one putting him in the hot water in the first place. To which Diego nodded, and told Elias,

"Oh, I get it. I've never been good with figures of speech. If I could stop robbing you, I would believe me," and then went back to wrapping up his sandwich, and putting it into a bag. 

"What do you mean by that? Just don't do it? No one's making you rob me." Elias told Diego, running out of ideas to make him stop. 

"Actually someone is, to be initiated into the group, I had to steal a sandwich from here. Rather a weird initiation but I must do it nonetheless." Diego stood in front of Elias again, but instead of towering over Elias with a certain terror that can't be described, Diego stood like you would in front of a friend. "I will pay for the sandwich if it means you won't get into trouble with your folks. I didn't realize how much trouble you'd be in." Diego said while putting a $5 bill into Elias's hand, touching his hand. His sweaty, but friendly, hand. Elias looked back up at Diego just as the old man from earlier walked in the door. 

"I'm terribly sorry, we forgot to pay for our meal." The old man said while handing Elias a $20 bill. Elias took the money and brought up the old receipt, which was $10.75. He looked in the register hoping to buy a few extra minutes, but no matter how hard he tried to count he just couldn't figure out the change to give back. 

"You know what, just take this," Elias said while shoving $15 in the man's face. Diego walked over and grabbed the money from Elias's hands, looked at the receipt, and gave the man his $9.25 in change. 

"It's no issue, come again!" Diego smiled and started to walk away when Elias grabbed Diego's hand. 

"Do you know how much trouble I would be in if my parents found out I can't find change?" Elias asked Diego, his eyes begged Diego to listen. "I know this is crazy, but would you want to be hired? I can't do math but if I don't start giving people the right change, my dad will take the shop away from me." Elias, still holding Diego's hand, began explaining how his family was rich and gave him the shop because if Elias was going to work at a poor people's shop, he wasn't allowed to work with poor people. Diego turned so his whole body faced Elias, he had just moved to Stanlow and he wasn't really looking for a job. But Elias's hand held his, and Diego couldn't say no. 

"What exactly would I have to do?" Diego asked, dropping Elias's hand, and looking around the empty sandwich store. 

"Take people's orders and handle the money, I'll make the food if you could just handle the money," Elias said, his cheeks reddening a bit. Diego thought for a second, then replied.

"When do I start?" To which Elias replied,

"Tomorrow, come in a half-hour before 12 pm." Smiling, Elias waved goodbye to Diego and closed up the shop for the night.