GEMINI.
I don't know how I did it but I ran all the way to my workplace at the speed of light. I tried taking short breaths as I approached the counter, Mrs. Mosby's gaze pinned me down, her eyes narrowing with concern. Her brow furrowed, etching deep lines on her forehead, as she took in my disheveled appearance.
"Are you okay?" She asked me and raise a skeptic eyebrows when I nodded unable to use my words.
"Are you sure you don't want to take a minute to collect yourself before clocking in, kid?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine worry, each word measured and wrapped in motherly protective instinct.
I shook my head vigorously, trying to convey confidence I didn't quite feel.
"I'm alright, really. You should go," I urged, nodding toward the door, my expression eager and earnest.
Mrs. Mosby hesitated, uncertainty flickering in her eyes like a candle flame. Eventually, she sighed in defeat and stepped away from the cash register leaving me alone in the store as she walked towards the exit. She's going to pick up her kid from school, I shouldn't keep her here for my own selfish reasons.
The moment the exit door swung shut behind her, I let out a heavy sigh and slumped into the chair with a loud thud, grateful for the brief moment of solitude.
I couldn't blame Mrs. Mosby for her concern—after all, I had burst through the store's entrance only minutes earlier, lungs burning, breaths uneven and face flushed. Not exactly the most graceful way to start a shift.
Time flowed slowly as I restocked items on the shelves, half-listening to the faint hum of chatter from customers and the occasional beep of the register. My thoughts drifted back to that earlier, strange run-in at the library. I'm still struggling to wrap my head around that awkward and scary encounter.
How did i not notice someone else was in that section of the library earlier? (Sighs) I should really start paying more attention to my environment.
I reasid my head when the bell hanging in the store's door jingled indicating someone had just walked through the large doors or leaving, and I froze, my blood ran cold when I spotted him.
It was him, the scary handsome guy from the library!
There he stood, a figure that seemed to command attention effortlessly with his striking blonde hair that glimmered under the fluorescent lights like a halo of gold. An air of danger surrounded him, an obvious intensity that sent shivers down my spine like a cold winter breeze. Almost everyone in the store stool glances at him and some simply made way for him like they were afraid of him.
He scanned the store with the gaze of a predator before making his way towards the women's care section, a sense of foreboding washed over me like a dark wave.
Just who is he?
What was he doing here?
Did he follow me here? And most importantly, why would he go towards the women's care section if he was here for me?
My curiosity piqued, and something screamed inside of me to stay where I was but I couldn't stop my legs from moving as I approached him. As I got closer, I gingerly thought about how to start a conversation with him.
"Um, excuse me, sir!" I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
He didn't look that much older than me. I was freaking out inwardly when he turned to me with a glare that could melt ice but I acted normal.
"I could help you find some—uh—something more soothing if you like?" I offered, stumbling over my words as I saw him holding some smaller-sized tampons awkwardly.
There was a heavy pause as he looked at me; he turned towards the endless brands of tampons on the shelf again then back at me, his green eyes catching mine, he stared at me with confusion at first and then his eyes seemed to widen in recognition before he composed himself.
I think he knows I'm the one!
I felt my heart race like a wild animal, I was afraid of what might happen next, my pulse pounding in my ears. He'd recognized me, is he still upset about what happened in the library?
I braced myself for whatever he decides to do to me but he didn't move or say anything, he just looked into my eyes with an unreadable expression and I helplessly looked back at him unable to look away but admire how good looking he is.
He is absolutely handsome, a drop-dead Adonis with long, thick eyelashes and well-trimmed eyebrows. Something about him drew me in, like a moth to a flame.
To my surprise, he gestured to the shelf indicating I should assist him. I know it took a lot of difficulty for him to accept my offer from how uncomfortable he looks and I could see he was still grappling with his own thoughts as he stood beside me.
As I rummaged through the shelves, my mind racing with fear and caution, a strange mix of anxiety and intrigue pulsed through me. I still remembered how I had stumbled over my words at the library, my nerves getting the best of me as he towered over me with those piercing eyes.
I should probably offer a proper apology, I thought but before I could find the proper words he cut me off, his tone commanding yet surprisingly calm.
"Call me Percy." he said smoothly, an undertone of authority lacing his words.
He sounded so confident like the mention of his name was supposed to clear ally confusion. He's probably one of those stinky rich kids on campus, I better keep my distance.
"When does your shift end?" he suddenly asked, his eyes locking onto mine.
There's something about how he holds my gaze that makes me unable to look away and before I knew it, I found myself telling him what time my shift ends, and he nodded with a stiff smile.
"Great, I'll back around that time. Don't leave until you see me." he said, the sound of his voice making me gulp.
The casual yet strong manner in which he threw this command startled me. Just like that, he had shifted the dynamic entirely, as if we were both well-acquainted friends rather than two strangers who had just met.
I wanted to say something, just to help with the confusion swirling in my mind like a flowing river. Why would he want to come back here? Does he want payback for what happened in the library?
"Should I run?" I thought, but something tells me he wouldn't like it if I did that.
His words were playing in my head, my thoughts all jumbled up as he collected the packaged tampons, and I couldn't help but wonder who he'd gotten it for—was it for his girlfriend?
Why is someone as scary as him buying tampons for a girl?
Maybe he's not as bad as he looks.
The thoughts danced through my mind like a chorus of unanswered queries as I watched him walk away, leaving me frozen in place, utterly bewildered by what just happened.
This is the second time we've met today and both encounters feels completely bizarre.
The mystery of who this Percy guy really is remained even as he disappeared from sight, everything about him as thrilling as it was terrifying, and I found myself swallowed by uncertainty—both excited and apprehensive about what might happen when he comes back as I tried my best to focus on the people in the store.
I still had a shift to finish after all.