Chapter 4

My work shift seemed to drag on forever. The more I thought about the boys the slower time would move. They were captivating my every thought as I did my best to place the yogurt on the shelf in the right spot. My boss would be so mad at me tomorrow when he got to work and sees that everything was halfway finished.

My cell phone was sitting patiently in my pocket. Maybe I would text him before I finished my shift. I would quickly just send a message and then I would be able to focus. Knowing that he wouldn't answer for a few hours. I shook my head finally allowing my thoughts to take over as I rush towards the back room. A quick scan for any managers and before I knew it my phone was in my hand. My fingers hovering over the keys as I tried to come up with the perfect message to send.

I decided to just ask them what they were doing. Maybe they would be out having fun and I'd be able to hang out with them after work. I'd have two hours after work before I would need to get heading home. Placing my phone on the shelf in the back room. I figured leaving it there would be a better choice. There was no reason for me to keep it in my pocket. Every ghost vibration would have me running to the back room as quickly as possible to check and see if it was him. Only to have my hopes crushed by the fact that it wasn't.

After letting out a deep breath I walk back out onto the floor. The blinding lights hurting my eyes as I make my way back to the dreary cart filled with yogurt. At least it wasn't on sale this week. I slice open the next package, stacking the containers nicely as I check the date, before placing them on the shelf.

I hated doing this. This was the worst part of my job and the longer I stayed here the more ancy I became with trying to finish this section of the aisle. Eventually, the tedious task was completed. I felt relieved once I was pulling the cart back to the back room, my fingers trembling as I separated the cardboard from the plastic. I'd have to take it out later.

Even though my brain told me not to I checked my phone. My heart racing as I unlocked the screen in hopes that there would be a text message from him.

There was...

For the first time in months, he had actually responded fairly quickly. The more I think about it now, this was the first time he had ever responded this fast. He always made me wait, thinking he would come off desperate if he tried.

I felt the excitement erupt in my chest as I had to remind myself to breathe. I felt like a small child, excited for Christmas morning. I couldn't help but imagine all the amazing things we could laugh about tonight. That was if the text was as positive as I was hoping it was.

Nothing, are you working?

Yes, I am. But I'm off at 10 if you guys want to do something?

My fingers flew across my phone so quickly that I couldn't even tell if I was typing the right thing. It might have come out completely wrong but hopefully, he would understand. I placed my phone back on the rack before heading back into the cooler. I needed to grab the next load of things that I would take out onto the floor. The cold air washed over me and I realized I wasn't wearing anything that was somewhat cute.

Cursing myself for not bringing a change of clothes with me to work, I gathered the items quickly before heading back into the back room. With my cart loaded to the moon with orange juice and other items that needed to be placed on the shelf, I find myself searching for my phone once again.

There was no response.

I knew I shouldn't let it affect me. It wasn't that big of a deal. So what, I didn't have a text message from the guy that I was so excited to see tonight. Odds were I wasn't going to get to hang out with him tonight though.

We haven't talked much or hung out in a few months. Things were stagnant between us and the possibility of being able to get back to where we were before we drifted apart was not possible in a night. I carefully tried to figure out how to text him again without seeming annoying. After way too long of standing in one spot and thinking about a new message, I had to get back onto the floor. I turned to see another employee standing behind me a large smile on his face.

"What are you so happy about?" He questions walking towards me to get to the freezer next to the dairy cooler.

"What makes you say I am so happy about something?" I couldn't help but smile, trying my best to cover it as my fellow employee continues to examine my facial expressions.

"Because you don't normally smile randomly at your phone at work," He nudged me slightly laughing as he always did. He was one of the happiest people you would ever meet, always trying to be the most positive person in the entire world. He was a good friend to me, though he was almost ten years older than me.

"I just finally got a response back from that guy I go to school with," I knew he would understand who I was talking about. He was always around when I needed to vent at work. I felt like I could tell him anything and we shared secrets as much as we could in between filling shelves and running carts back and forth.

"That's good, you've been pretty bummed that you guys haven't talked for a while. Well are you guys going to hang out here soon or what?" I searched my phone once again, before turning my attention back to him.

"I"m not sure, I texted him when I first started filling the yogurt section, he answered back fairly quickly and when I sent him another message he decided to start playing hard to get again, so he hasn't answered yet," I could feel I was mumbling. My body growing tired and ready to head home. I was over this shift. But I would be able to head home very soon, as I only had a little over an hour left.

"Well, don't fret about it, maybe he is just a little busy right now and he is actually excited to see you tonight," As much as I was hoping what he was saying was true, I assumed it wasn't. There were too many things working against us.

So many memories we had made that were so easily discarded for the last few months. Things were busy at work, with the holidays coming and going. It was good to be around someone who was positive about the situation though. Helping me keep a good outlook on the possibility of him showing up after my shift. Maybe he would text me back.

The hour continued to go by, and every reason I could find to check my phone I would. Pulling the products forward on the shelf gave me way too much time to think about things. My brain was unraveling itself like a ribbon breaking free from its spool. Each piece that unrolled made it harder to put back together. Eventually, it was time though. I was able to leave, having my manager check me off felt like it took forever, but I was rushing towards the front as soon as he said I was free to go.

I knew I hadn't gotten a text but for some reason, I was convinced they would be outside. My heart was racing and I was almost at the door when my manager interjected. Calling me to the front desk for a quick moment. I rolled my eyes as I walked the last little ways to the desk. I needed to get out of here. I knew the boys wouldn't wait very long if they did end up showing up.

"Yeah, what do you need?" I question as I notice an older gentleman hanging around the service desk. I watch carefully as my manager explains to me that this man was looking for a few cubes of ice. It was a local tradition for people to purchase ice in cube form and take them up to a hill and sled down on the ice. I myself had never done it but it was growing colder outside making it that time of year.

"Before you clock out will you please go grab a few for him from the back room? I groaned hating my manager at that very moment. Mostly because I knew he had just watched my clock out. It was nearly impossible to miss from the service desk. I nodded my head before my feet pulled me as fast as they could to the freezer. I hated that the frozen clerk went home at eight. I missed having someone around to talk to while I was bored at work.

I rushed back to the counter cursing under my breath as I held three blocks of ice in my hands. My skin was freezing as I clung to them for dear life before flooring it up the aisle. I nearly ran into the older man in my frenzy to drop them on the table.

"See you tomorrow," I waived to the manager as I rushed out the door as quickly as I could before he could ask me to do something else.

The freedom felt so sweet as it kissed my skin. The chilly air wrapping around me likes a fresh blanket. I didn't always like this feeling, but it woke me up from the dreary daze work had placed upon me.

I listened to the silence of my footsteps echoing through the air as I tried my best to not get my hopes up. I searched for my car in the parking lot finding it easily as it was late at night. And parked next to it was someone I didn't expect to see.