A/N: Hello everyone! Here is the last update for the weekend.

The picture above is Archie, Lenna's cousin and co-worker, who is portrayed by the lovely Taylor Kitsch. I love him as Gambit in Wolverine Origins and in Battleship.

Until next week's update! Enjoy and Happy reading! Have a lovely week!

____________

Before I headed home last night, Benji and I agreed on my working hours. He also agreed on having me take a few things in the store if I needed anything, since I was doing unpaid work. As expected, I argued with him. But from the firm look on the old man's face, he wouldn't take no for an answer. So last night, I was able to nab a free instant coffee, a bottle of milk, and a bag of chips. To reassure me, Benji said it would lighten his conscience making a stranger work for him.

When another day rolled in, I felt eager to be heading out doing something in my exile. No one would expect to see a multi-million dollar owner and CEO of a fastest growing business in the country working at a tiny convenience store on a small town in Montana. It made me comfortable about taking the job out of a whim.

On the drive to work without any breakfast on my stomach, I struggled on deciding to grab some bread at the bakeshop. Out of impulse, I parked the car by the glass door and entered the shop with confident strides.

She stood with her back facing me when I entered. Her brown hair tailed up in the small ponytail. After hearing the bell ring from the door, she turned around to greet me. Our eyes met briefly before someone entered the empty store from the direction of the back room.

"I think you should be complementing me on arriving early today." It was her co-worker, Archie; from what I remembered the last time I was here.

"Still not early enough, Archie," Lenna remarked before turning her attention back to me.

By the time they finished their short banter and the man turned back where he came, I was standing in front of the register ready to order. "Hi! Glad you came back. I thought we scared you away from this place. And sorry about last time with Gavin," she greeted, her tone light and familiar.

"It's nothing. And you didn't scare me away. I was testing out other shops in the place. And I forget I'd never got to taste any of the bread here. Though the breakfast meal at Carol's was much appetizing," I casually quipped.

"Ah, well, we try though," she dramatically sighed in defeat. "But you are right, I liked Carol's hush browns and chicken fritters. It's Gavin's favorite," she gushed with a smile.

"So how is the little guy?" I asked, smiling at the gleam in her eyes when mentioning her son.

"He's fine. Thank you for asking," she replied a bit stunned like she hadn't expected the question. And like a snap, her expression was gone. "Oh! I'm sorry for keeping you with idle talk. And thing particular you want to eat this morning?"

My lips twitched slightly at her question but otherwise didn't press on the thought. "Bread, since it's a bakeshop, and it would be easier to eat it on the go."

"Any particular kind you liked?"

"What's the shop's best seller?"

"We have bagels, baguettes, croissants, and the classic cornbread. But since it's a breakfast run, I would recommend a sandwich? We have ham and egg. You might like it," she suggested.

"Okay. I would take your word for it. And add two bagels and a cup of coffee, please."

"Got it." She nodded with a smile while punching my orders on the register between us.

As the total amount flashed on the register screen, I handed her a close amount. She then gave the change and asked for me to wait while she got my order. I settled down on the table near the register and sat down facing her. With patience, I watched her walked to and fro behind the counter.

"So how do you like the town? Have you been around the place?" she called out while picking two bagels on the glass counter display. She packed them in a brown paper bag.

"Ah... I haven't seen any of the sites yet. But I'm getting there," I replied evasively, looking away when I realized I was ogling.

"Where had you been around?" she inquired. From the tone of her voice, there was a hint of amusement.

I turned back in interest. "Does Carol's Diner, most of Central Avenue count?"

"No..." she trailed off with a laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. "Hadn't Luke told you any places you should visit?" She asked after her laughed softened into muffled chuckles. She turned back around and prepared my coffee.

"I think it's obvious that he hadn't since he left me here to fend for myself," I playfully said in disappointment.

"So he hasn't change about leaving people behind. Don't worry, you weren't the first person he left at any place," she pointed in understanding. The enthusiasm in her voice was gone.

"What had he done to you?"

She abruptly turned, her face blank for a second before giving an amused smile. "Maybe you should ask him. It's not my place to share one of his failed moments."

"Right. Sorry for prying," I shyly apologized.

"Don't worry. But as a hint, we were around our second or third grade in elementary. It was traumatized for a little girl who was just experiencing her first date," she stated with a laugh.

I snickered along. There was nothing forced in her laugh.  Her smile and carefree expression gave me a sense of normalcy from the life I'm used to face.

Once the coffee brew was finished, she excused herself and headed towards the back of the store to have my pre-made sandwich reheated. The store was eerie silence again without the sound of her voice. I drummed my fingernails on the wooden table while I waited. Within a minute, a voice surfaced from the direction where Lenna disappear. But it wasn't her who appeared.

"Hey. Lenna told me to tell you that it would take two minutes for the sandwich to finish," Archie called as he stopped by the glass counter display.

"Oh, okay. It's no problem. Thank you," I said with a brief wave of dismissal.

Archie regarded my replied for a second before nodding his head. He was about to turn on his heel when he looked back at me again.

"It's Kyle, right?" he called out.

"Yes."

"Luke's cousin?"

"That's me."

"I don't want to pry. Do you have a thing for my cousin?" He plainly asked.

"Who? What?" My voice sounded breathless and confused.

"Lenna?" He pointed directly, glancing briefly behind him.

"I'm sorry... I'm not sure what you are implying."

He stared at me like I'm acting stupid, which was partly true. But I wouldn't admit it to a stranger, especially him, what I wasn't sure myself.

"Right... Well, it was nice to meet you." He rolled his eyes and gave dismissive wave.

"Yeah. You too." I replied with uncertainty while watching him head towards the back of the store.

After two-minute passed, Lenna reappeared from the back with another brown paper bag in hand. She walked up towards the counter where she placed my to go bagels and coffee. On cue, I got up my seat and headed towards the register. As she turned around, I was already on the other side waiting for her.

"Oh! Sorry it took awhile..." she shyly placed my order on the marble countertop between us.

"It's okay. Thank you." I picked up the two bags in one hand and held the coffee on the other.

"I hope this didn't make you want to take another few days before you visit again, would it?" she asked with a grim smile.

I laughed at the look of guilt on her face. "Don't worry. It didn't..." I trailed off as my laughter subsides. "...Ah, you know, I'm currently helping out the old man at the convenience store across Carol's diner. If you have some free time after work, we could get something to eat there?" I vaguely suggested.

"Are you trying to ask me out, or something?" her voice was above a whisper. The blush on her face came back.

I arched my eyebrow in refined innocence. "I wasn't asking you for anything. I was merely suggesting if you were free. I would love to talk more how Luke was when he lived here." I replied with an innocent grin.

I watched her eyes glint in amusement. "Right, if that's how you call it. You and Luke are undoubtedly relatives. The way you asked a girl out are so smooth, I wouldn't even know. And if you didn't get it, I was being sarcastic," she snorted in disbelief.

I tried to hold back another smirk from her comment. But how she cheekily smiled, I knew I hadn't done a great job. With a slight nod, I excused myself and headed out of the bakeshop. Once I entered my truck, placing my meal and cup of coffee of the cup holder, I hastily checked my expression on the side mirror. The goofy smile on my face looked like I just miraculously won a lottery.

When I arrived at the convenience store, Benji was there starting up the register. I wasn't sure if the goofy grin was gone until he pointed it out.

"Something good happened today?" he asked rather than greeting me properly as he peering at me from the register.

"Nothing much. I got some bread for breakfast. Do you want anything? I think I've bought plenty for myself," I offered while walking towards him.

After placing the brown paper bag filled with the bread on the counter, I opened it and pulled out my sandwich meal. Benji kept quiet for a moment while he regarded the bag. He continued to be quiet until I took my first bite of the sandwich.

"I see. She charmed you, huh? I wouldn't be surprised," the old man remarked with a smug look before returning his gaze towards the register.

I coughed as I swallowed the sandwich on the wrong pipe. With my free hand, I picked up the coffee I placed beside the bag and cleared out my airways. Once I composed myself, I stared at Benji in confusion.

"What?" I finally asked.

"If you are done eating breakfast, here's an apron. I don't want your shirt getting dirt again. And also, I would need a hand in clearing out some stuff in aisle three. There would be new deliveries today." He instructed and placed a dark green apron on top of the counter.

I regarded his calm expression, trying to look like he hadn't said anything about Lenna. With a heavy sigh, I nodded and quickly ate my meal before getting the apron form him.

"Could I have some of this bagel?" he called out after I headed towards aisle three.

"Sure. Help yourself."

"Lenna sure is generous giving you the good batch," he observed softly, but since we were the only people in the store, it wasn't difficult to overhear what he said.

I decided to ignore the old man's remark, so I concentrated with the work in hand. Even with a store this small, having an old man and one handy man like me wasn't enough to get things done for the day. Benji was barking a few orders here and there, forgetting entirely I was doing everything for free - with incentive. Now my boredom had slowly dwindled from when I arrived in this town.

As the day gone by, I hadn't realized the sun was setting. I handled the register for a while since the store only had a few more minutes before it closed. Benji was confident no one would be entering the store. The door squeaked a bit when it opened, getting me out of my daze while I rested by the counter. I was about to greet the new and last customer of the day when I lost my balance on the high chair Benji placed behind the register. I jolted out of surprise and started a domino reaction with the chair. I was startled to see who it was.

With a loud bang, the chair skidded sideways while my behind contacted with the floor. I hissed out of pain and cringed at the bruise that would be visible in a few hours.

"Oh my god! Are you okay, Kyle?"

I watched as Lenna leaned across the counter and peered down at me. I held up a hand up, signaling her that I was okay. A disgruntled groan escaped in my mouth as I slowly stood up again.

"Hey..." I greeted breathlessly when I found the guts to look at her again.

She tired to suppress her amusement while looking worried. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to startle you like that..." she said again.

I let out a controlled breath before answering. "I'm fine. No worries. That was my fault I was balancing at the edge of my seat..." I trailed off shyly and turned around to put up the chair to its former position.

"So I see you weren't joking about working here," she pointed, her voice filling up the short awkward silence.

I snickered dryly while straightened out my appearance. "I volunteered after I helped out the old man, seeing as he didn't have help around here."

"That's kind of you," she stated with a smile before turning away from me. "Where is Benji?"

"Here is out back, so I'm taking care of the register for him." I replied and continued, "Anything I could help you with today?"

She looked back up at me again and waved her hand in dismissal. "No. I'll manage just fine, thank you," she said as she took a step back towards the aisle.

"I'm here if you need any help," I offered while I mindlessly watched her walked towards the aisle near the refrigerator.

I watched as she took a basket and opened one of the fridges where the milk cartons are stashed. My eyes continued to linger while I watched her tuck a lock of hair that fell out of place behind her eyes. But I snapped out of it when a door slammed in the direction of the back door. Startled, I glanced up in time Benji closed the door behind him. The old man assessed the store before his eyes trailed towards Lenna.

"Oh, Lenna! Getting your last minute grocery before heading home?" Benji asked as he continued walking towards her direction.

"Good evening, Mr. Goodwin. I'm just getting a few things..." she trailed off in reply as her eyes glanced up in my direction.

Embarrassed I was caught looking; I turned away and pretended to clean the counter top with a cloth I had stashed on my work apron. As I realized what I looked in front of her, I rolled a few profanities in my head at the stupidity of my appearance.

"How are you? And where is little Gavin?" I overheard the old man asked while I kept my eyes away from them.

"Gabe is looking out for him at Carol's Diner. We are about to eat diner," she replied, my earing perking up at the information.

"Oh good. Well, I think you should hurry up here and rejoin them," he pointed out as I heard footstep heading my way. "Kyle, son, how about heading out early? I'll check out Lenna while you clean up out back. Just leave the apron on the hook by the door."

I finally glanced up towards the two, who stood side by side in front of the counter. I nodded at Benji's instruction and walked out from behind the counter. Before heading towards the back of the store, I glanced at Lenna once, who was already observing me. She gave me a small smile as greeting, which I returned. With a nod, I retreated towards the back door office and returned the apron and a few of the store accessory that Benji handed to me.

After I was done, I decided to head out through the front to see if she was still there. Hearing my entrance, Benji turned around while he stood by the main door of the store, flipping the sign to 'close'.

"I think it would be lovely to eat out today, do you agree?" he asked vaguely, his small voice ringing in the silence store.

"Maybe," I replied as I stood behind him.

With a sigh, Benji stepped aside and opened the door for me. "My advise to you son, don't do it. But to me, she's worth it. She's a good person," he whispered before patting my arm.

Not sure what I heard, I looked at the old man retreated towards the counter and begun clearing up the register. Without looking up, he called, "Close the door when you get out."

I smiled at his subtleness and nodded my head once as goodbye. Per his instruction, I closed the door behind me before heading towards my truck parked on the third slot in front of the store's door.

Reaching the car, I hesitated while fishing out the keys. And then I looked up towards the diner across the street. Since Carol's diner had a clear window without an ounce of tint, it was easy to see the customer's eating inside. My eyes already know what to look for, and it wasn't difficult to spot her. She was seated at the booth where Luke and I once ate when I arrived in town. But as she had said, she wasn't alone.

My hand clinched at the keys I was holding. With heavy breath, I placed the keys back to my pocket and slowly jogged towards the diner across the street. From the feeling of eyes behind me, I knew the old man was looking. As I was walking towards the diner, I also knew there won't be turning back.