Lacey:

“And his name isn’t really Charlie Lightning, you knew that right? He got it changed, like, legally and everything. Oh! And did I tell you that he drives a-”

“Harley?” Lacey said, leaning against the counter with a bored expression on her face. She was fed up with all this Charlie Lightning talk. Ever since she had seen him a few days ago, he was all Lacey’s best friend Frieda could talk about.

“Yeah, I told you already?” Frieda said with a giggle. “Sorry, I know I keep talking about him.”

“Tell me about it.” Lacey muttered. Either Frieda didn’t hear or didn’t care because she jumped head first into another monologue about Charlie the motorcycle rebel.

Lacey was so desperate for something to do that she organized the candy display for the eighth time that shift. Tuesday mornings were always slow and the only costumers the small theatre got were the occasional red hat society women coming in to watch the latest sappy romance.

“So what do you think?” Frieda asked, looking at Lacey expectantly.

Lacey stood from her squatting position and stretched her long legs. “What was that?” She asked, blinking rapidly still trying to wake up. Her twin brothers had kept her up until one that morning blabbering on about some video game. This morning she’d had to come in at nine because some employee had been pocketing some money and the manager had to have a talk with all the newbie’s. By the time the conversation was done it was already opening time and lucky her, she had first shift.

“I asked you if you thought I had a chance with Charlie.” Frieda said, raising her eyebrows at Lacey, clearly upset that Lacey wasn’t hanging on her every word.

“Freddy, I don’t know. I haven’t even seen the guy.” Lacey said, turning towards the tinkling of the bell on the tinted glass door. Two pre-teens came in and Lacey rolled her eyes. First dates were the worst customers because the girl was always insanely giggly and the boy tried to act all macho and it was all just too much to swallow.

Sure enough, the two kids caused more trouble than they were worth and Lacey had to bite her tongue to keep her temper down. “Excuse me but I asked for cotton candy.” The boy said, looking at Lacey like she was ten.

“Yeah?” Lacey prodded, throwing a pointed look at the bag of cotton candy he had in his hand.

“Pink cotton candy,” The boy said. Lacey mentally counted to ten as she ripped the plastic bag from his hands and got him a pink one. Like it really mattered, it all tasted the same.

She plastered on her stewardess smile and kindly handed him the new bag. “You know what, never mind, I’ll take the M&Ms.” He smiled cheekily up at Lacey and she returned it with a scowl.

“Ok sir, will that be all?” She asked, sliding the candy across the table.

“Actually, I changed my mind again. I’ll take the cotton candy, no M&Ms.”

Lacey threw up her hands and looked to Frieda for help. Unfortunately, she was just as occupied with Gus, their manager, who was giving her a stern talking to about her misuse of butter on the popcorn.

“We don’t have an infinite amount of butter Frieda…” He barked. Lacey cringed for her friend and turned back to the boy who was drumming his fingertips impatiently on the counter.

“Ok, so that’s two medium diet cokes, a medium popcorn, and a pink cotton candy?” Lacey said, fake smile and all.

“Yes, that will be all.” The boy said, sharing a laugh with the girl hanging on his arm. Lacey glowered but kept quiet, it wouldn’t do to blow up with her manager so close. Lacey handed them their order and watched with great satisfaction as they walked off to their movie. She was feeling rather proud about her self control until Gus rounded on her.

“We only have a limited amount of pink cotton candy Lacey, the blue is cheaper. Give them the blue for heaven’s sake! It’s not that hard!” His fat little body waddled off, probably to find someone else to chew out and Lacey bit down on her palm so she wouldn’t scream.

“I really hate that man.” Frieda murmured, running a hand through her frizzy red hair. “And I don’t hate just anyone.”

Lacey nodded in agreement to both statements. While she, herself, was quick to anger, Frieda was normally level headed and calm. They complemented each other well but Lacey couldn’t help but think she was the one who had all the shortcomings. In fact, the only thing she might surpass Frieda in was looks.

Frieda was raised in a family of restaurant owners and her body showed it. She was chubby and a little on the short side but that didn’t stop her from being more confident than anyone Lacey had ever met. It wasn’t superficial confidence either, like most people had, it was hard core loving every bit of who you are confidence. Lacey secretly envied her.

“Only fifteen minutes to go and then we’re free.” Lacey said, staring at the clock and willing it to move faster.

“What are you up to for the rest of the day?” Frieda asked, absently chipping off some pink nail polish.

“I was planning on climbing into bed and getting a few solid hours of sleep. The twins are at baseball camp all day and then they have a birthday party.” Relief swept through her. It wasn’t like she didn’t love her brothers they were just so high maintenance. It didn’t help that her parents absolutely adored their rowdy nature.

“Sounds good, I was planning on catching a movie.” Frieda said, twisting her finger around a strand of hair and tugging on it.

Lacey raised an eyebrow. “You’re staying here when you don’t have to? My god,” She pressed the back of her hand to Frieda’s forehead, “Freddy are you dying?”

Frieda smacked her hand away and blushed. “No, I just-well, Charlie has the next shift so I thought I’d-”

Lacey waved her hand. “Say no more, you’re staying to hit on the mysterious Striker.” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

“Striker?” Frieda asked, looking confused at the nickname.

“Well, Lightning- it reminds me of striking. So, I’m calling him Striker. Besides, now we can jabber on about him and no one will know who we’re talking about.” Lacey said, not caring that she was being juvenile. They hadn’t nicknamed a crush since seventh grade.

Frieda laughed. “Yea, ok, I’m staying for Striker.” She smiled evilly, “And since I’m your best friend, I’m going to save you from becoming a hermit who sleeps all the time and you’re staying with me. It’ll be fun, how long has it been since we’ve caught a movie together?”

“Um, we saw one yesterday.” Lacey said logically.

“Sneaking in during break doesn’t count. And, you said yourself you’ve never seen Charlie, so now would be the perfect time, yeah?”

Lacey shrugged. At any rate she could sleep during the movie. “Sure, but only because I love you.” She said, glancing at the clock. Three minutes and counting.

Charlie:

Motorcycles were the best way to get chicks. Charlie knew this, but that wasn’t the reason he’d bought one. He bought one because motorcycles looked good with someone in leather riding them and Charlie looked good in leather.

He roared up to the theatre ten minutes late for his shift and he sauntered into the building. The bell jingled when he opened it and he pulled off his jacket, revealing the dorky vest he’d been sentenced to wear for this summer job.

“Mr. Lightning, this is the third time you’ve been late. One more time and I’m going to have to-”

“Fire me?” Charlie finished, plopping down on the stool behind the cash register at the ticket booth. “Yea, I know.”

Gus looked floored for a moment before he scuttled off to scold someone else. Charlie rolled his eyes. The old man would never fire him, for one, Charlie’s dad pretty much owned the town. Plus, it didn’t hurt that Charlie caught the attention of tons of girls of all ages, which meant more ticket money, which meant happy Gus.

“Hey Charlie,” The other boy in the ticket box said.

“Hey Max, how’s it going?” Charlie asked, throwing a grin at two women outside the door who were considering seeing a film. Upon seeing Charlie, they hurried into the theatre. Mentally, Charlie rolled his eyes. He hated the obvious ones. Well, he hated most of them obvious or not. His gorgeous looks did not reflect a winning personality.

“Pretty good man, business has been slow today but other than that I can’t complain.” Max answered, “Plus, now that you’re here I don’t have to do anything. All the ladies come to you.”

Charlie smiled and chuckled. “Jealous?” He quirked an eyebrow at the blond boy next to him, who shrugged.

“A little, but hey, it’s all in a days work.” Max smiled good naturedly and Charlie nodded in agreement. Frankly, he’d rather be ugly than have attention from countless bimbos and whores.

“Hello ladies,” Charlie said with his charming smile as the two women approached the counter. “Can I help you?”

The taller one giggled and elbowed the other in the ribs. She stepped forward and tried to put on a sexy pout. She failed miserably and Charlie heard Max snicker beside him. “We’d like two tickets for the three o’clock please.” She said and Charlie printed up the tickets.

“That’ll be eleven dollars please.” She handed him the money, sure to brush her hand against his. “Have a good show.” He said brightly.

The woman paused and her friend nudged her. “Hey listen, I was just wondering if, um, you know, I mean- maybe I could give you my number?”

Charlie sighed inaudibly. No he didn’t want her number but he didn’t want to tell her that. Women tend to get catty when you reject them and he wasn’t in the mood for drama. He felt Max shift beside him and a hand on his. Charlie smiled wickedly as Max spoke.

“Sorry ladies, he’s taken.” Max said, turning his gay dialect up a few notches. Charlie smiled up at the girls who looked taken aback. He shrugged and intertwined his fingers with Max’s. The women’s eyes widened and they hurried off to the refreshment stand and Charlie and Max burst into laughter.

“Man, I knew having a gay friend would come in handy.” Charlie said after he’d calmed down. “Thanks man.”

Max shrugged. “You owe me, how many is that now?”

“Um…twelve?” Charlie asked, fighting an amused grin.

“Nah, it’s gotta be at least eighteen.” Max said, running a hand through his bleached hair. Charlie laughed.

“What can I say? I’m cursed?”

“That you are my friend. That you are.” Max said drumming the counter. “Aw man, I am not diggin’ these double shifts. Gus is a friggin’ Nazi; went on for hours this morning about the money thief. Everybody knows its Haven Masters but since he’s been working here for ages, Gus would never believe it.”

Charlie scowled. Haven Masters was the shittiest person alive in Charlie’s opinion. He walked around like he was the best thing ever to hit this town and he made sure everyone knew it. It didn’t help that Charlie’s last real girlfriend had broken up with him for Masters. Not that Charlie cared, it was her loss.

“More customers straight ahead Captain.” Max said, “Hey, I know them! Lacey, Frieda, hey!” He called, hopping over the counter.

Charlie grinned as Max enveloped the girls in a bear hug. They patted his back awkwardly and laughed. “Hey Max!” The chubby redhead said happily. The other just smiled.

“How have you been? We haven’t had the same shift since the beginning of the summer!” Max continued, guiding the girls to the ticket booth and hopping back over. “What are you seeing?”

“The three o’clock.” The slimmer one said. Charlie took in her appearance with indifference. She was plain, not ugly, but not outstanding by any means. Her brown hair fell straight to her shoulders and her eyes were just a shade darker than her hair, nothing special.

“Charlie,” Max said, printing out their tickets, “This is Lacey,” He said, nodding towards the brunette, “And this is the lovely Frieda!” He said, gesturing to the redhead. She blushed and reached her hand out to Charlie’s.

“Nice to meet you,” She said with a bright smile. Charlie smiled back with ease; at least this girl wasn’t fake like the others.

“Nice to meet you, too,” he said.

“Thanks Max, she gets lovely and I get squat.” Lacey said with a mock frown. Max laughed.

“My apologies, Charlie, this is the drop dead gorgeous Lacey.” He tried again and Charlie grinned.

“That’s better,” Lacey said, extending her hand. Charlie shook it and the girls waved goodbye and then headed to the snack stand.

“So that’s Striker?” He heard Lacey whisper to Frieda when they thought they were out of earshot.

“Yeah,” Frieda confirmed. “So what do you think?”

“Eh, he’s alright.” Lacey said. Charlie strained his ears to hear more but he couldn’t make out what the girls were saying.

He’s alright? He’d never heard that before. Interesting.