I walk up to the counter and hold out my hand.
"Steve, can I have your keys?"
He looks at me confused.
"Why?" he asks.
"So I can put my stuff in it."
He hesitates before he reaches into his pocket and drops his keys into my hand. Robin walks into the back quick before she comes walking over to me with a bag in her hand.
"Here's your uniform for tomorrow. Your name tag is in there along with your hat. I figured you'd want to drop it off at the car along with the rest of your stuff," she says smiling.
"Oh thanks."
I grab all of my other bags and make my way to the parking lot. I look up and see that it's night, as the stars are shiny and bright. I make my way to Steve's car when I see a boy sitting in a van, smoking something. I put my stuff in the car and shut the door. The sound of the door closing causes the boy to look up from the ground and at me. He smiles at me and brings the joint up to his mouth. I examine his outfit more closely and see that it's the boy from the music store.
"Hello, sweetheart," he says, blowing smoke out of his mouth.
"Eddie, right?" I ask.
He gets out of the van and stands.
"The one and only," he says smiling and bowing before me.
I giggle as he stands and takes another hit of his joint.
"Are you new in town?" he asks.
"What makes you think I'm new here?" I ask.
"I would've remembered seeing a pretty face like yours before," he says putting out his joint on his van.
I smile.
"I used to live here, so I'm technically not new," I say.
He nods, putting the joint behind his ear.
"You have a name?" he asks, putting his hands in his coat pockets.
"I do."
He walks up close to me so I can read his face better and smiles.
"Can I know it or am I gonna have to call you sweetheart?" he asks.
I smile and am about to answer him when I hear my name being called.
"Alex!"
I turn and see Steve running over to me and Eddie. He smiles and then looks at who I'm talking to.
"Is this guy bothering you?" he asks, glaring at Eddie.
"No, he's fine. I met him in one of the stores," I say.
Steve nods.
"Robin told me to come and get you. Our shift is done and she was wondering if you wanted to hang out with her and I," Steve says, closely watching Eddie.
"That sounds like fun," I say.
I turn to Eddie and smile at him.
"It was nice to see you again."
He smiles big, revealing his dimples.
"Yeah, you too sweetheart."
Steve grabs his keys from me as we walk back to the mall. We make our way to Scoops Ahoy to see Robin closing up the shop.
"Do you guys wanna get food? I'm starving," she asks.
As if on cue, my stomach starts to growl.
"You're probably hungry. You haven't eaten since you got off the plane," Steve points out.
"Let's go to the food court and just hang out here," Robin says.
Steve and I nod, making Robin smile. We walk to the food court and get our desired food and sit at an open table. We start to eat and I look at Steve, remembering he never answered my question.
"You never answered my question," I say, looking at him.
"Which was?" he asks, setting his pizza down.
"Why did Will go missing?" I ask.
Steve clears his throat.
"He got lost going home from Mike's house one night."
"I don't believe that," I say.
"Why not?" he asks, taking a bite of pizza.
"Will used to go to Mikes constantly with Dustin. He knows the route to his house. There's no way that's true."
Steve hesitates.
"I know there's a reason that you guys aren't telling me."
"It's not my place to say," Steve says, finishing his pizza.
"Actually, now I'm curious. Because we can both tell that you know," Robin says, jumping into the conversation.
I smile at her and then look back at Steve.
I knew I would love this girl.
Steve sits back in his chair.
"Listen, I love girls coming onto me and all, but not this way."
"You're avoiding it," I point out.
"No I'm not, I just told you."
"Steve that's a bunch of bullshit and you know it," Robin says.
"You guys wouldn't believe me, even if I told you," he says.
"So there's a reason?" I ask.
"Yes. But like I said, you wouldn't believe me."
"Try us," Robin says.
Steve sighs, grabbing a napkin and wiping his mouth before he throws it on his empty plate.
"Will he-"
"Steve! Can you take us home?" Dustin interrupts walking over to our table.
Steve smiles at Robin and I before standing.
"Absolutely! Your sister needs to rest before her shift tomorrow."
I glare at him as he picks up his empty plate. I turn and look at Robin as she mouths "tomorrow." I smile and nod.
"See you tomorrow at 9!" Robin says in a song-song voice.
I smile at her and follow Dustin and Steve back to his car. Dustin climbs in the back as I get in the passenger seat as Steve starts the car. The ride home is quiet, except for Dustin's snores in the back. I bounce my leg in anticipating to know what happened to Will 2 years ago. Dustin and Steve are definitely hiding something and I want to know what. Steve pulls up to our house and shuts the car off. He turns and hits Dustin awake.
"Hey!" Dustin says, surprised.
Steve smiles and points to the house. Dustin yawns and flicks him off as he gets out of the car. I turn and look at Steve who smiles at me.
"You're telling me everything tomorrow," I say sternly.
"On one condition," he says.
I raise my eyebrow at him, which makes his smile grow.
"Let me take you out on a date."
I giggle.
"I just met you. I barely know you," I say.
"Which is why I want to take you out. So, you can get to know me," he says.
"There's no other reason to you asking me out?" I ask.
He looks down for a second and looks back into my eyes. Like I already don't know the answer to that question.
"Let me take you out," he says again.
"Tell me everything tomorrow and I'll think about it," I say smiling at him.
"I can deal with that," he says getting out of the car.
I watch him walk in front of the car and to my side to open the door for me. I step out and look at him before I open the back door and grab all of my stuff. Steve closes the door for me and smiles.
"I'll be here tomorrow at 8:30 to pick you up for your shift tomorrow," he says.
"Do I have a choice?" I ask.
He smiles.
"No. See you tomorrow, Alex."
I roll my eyes as Steve makes his way back to the drivers side of the car and I watch as he drives away. I walk into the house to see Mom sitting in her chair with a cat on her lap watching tv.
"Hi sweetie. How was the mall?"
"Good. I got a job," I say closing the door and locking it.
"Oh that's wonderful! Where?"
"At Scoops Ahoy with Steve," I say.
"Steve's cute. You guys would be cute together," she says.
"Mom!" I say laughing.
"What I'm just saying. You're the new girl in town, everyone will want you."
I roll my eyes.
"And besides, Steve is a good guy so I know he would be a good boyfriend," she says smiling.
"Please tell me your not trying to set up my sister with my friend," Dustin says walking towards the kitchen to get a glass of water.
"Dusty don't worry about it," Mom says.
"Well he did ask me out in the car," I say, trying to hide my blush.
Mom smiles.
"That's exciting! Are you going to go?"
"I told him I'd think about. I haven't been home for 24 hours yet."
"Good. Make him work for it," she says.
Dustin pretends to gag as he walks into the living room. I smile and ruffle his hair.
"Okay, I'm gonna go to bed," I say, yawning.
"Okay sweetie. Sweet dreams."
I smile and walk to my room and set all my stuff down in the corner of my room. I sigh and grab my pjs quickly putting them on, eager to get to sleep. I throw my hair up in a messy bun before I crawl into my comfy bed and sigh of relief.
*****
I'm woken up to someone shaking me and I open my eyes to see Steve smiling at me.
"Good morning sleepyhead. It's 8:45."
"What!"
I quickly sit up and get out of bed. I grab the bag Robin gave me and I run to the bathroom, pushing Dustin out of the way.
"Alex!! What the f-"
"You can go pee outside!"
Dustin flicks me off as I shut the door. I quickly put on my uniform and pull my hair out of its messy bun. I rake my fingers through it before I grab my toothbrush to quickly brush my teeth. I grab my makeup bag to do it in the car before I open the door to see Steve holding my white Converse in his hands. I smile and grab them before I grab my bag off the counter and quickly run out the door.
"Bye Dusty!" I say.
I quickly get in as Steve climbs into the drivers side and starts the car. I put my shoes on and tie them before I pull the mirror down. Once I see my reflection, I groan.
"What's wrong?" Steve asks looking at me quickly before he looks at the road.
"I look like a zombie," I say, trying to rub off yesterdays makeup.
I grab my mascara and start to apply some as we come to a stop light. Steve looks at me and watches as I use my finger to lift my lashes. I turn to him.
"Do they look even?" I ask.
"I'm not the right person to-"
"Just tell me if they do or not."
He studies them for a second.
"Yeah, they look even to me," he says smiling.
I smile and turn back around to look in the mirror as the light turns green.
"You don't need to do that you know."
"Do what?" I ask, looking at him as I close my bag up and push the mirror back.
"Put that stuff on your face."
"Why?"
He looks at me.
"Cause you're already beautiful," he says.
I blush and look away from him. He smiles at me as we pull into the mall parking lot. I look at the time to see 8:57.
Technically not late.
"With three minutes to spare," Steve says getting out of the car.
I grab my purse and makeup bag and open my door as Steve reaches my side of the car.
"I was going to-"
"You don't have to be a gentleman all the time, you know," I say closing the door.
"But I need to impress you so I can take you out," he says as we walk into the mall.
"And I told you I would think about it when you tell me what happened to Will 2 years ago."
Steve's lips straighten.
"I was hoping you would've forgotten about that," he says as we walk into Scoops Ahoy.
"I don't forget anything, Harrington," I say smiling.