Convenience Store Romance

Allison Edwards stood up at the cash register of the local gas station she worked at and rang out the person in her line.

“Is that all?” she asked and when they nodded, hit the finalize button and told them their total. “Thank you, have a nice day.” She said with a smile after counting their change back to them.

When they walked out, leaving the store empty for the moment, she walked to the back where her friend and co-worker Maggie was making pizza’s and leaned up against the counter with a sigh.

Maggie, a tall blonde who dressed up for work like she was going out, smirked at her after sliding the pizza in the oven. “You sound like a robot. ‘Thank you. Have a nice day.’” She mimicked and Allison cringed.

“It’s what we’re supposed to say.” Allison sighed, knowing exactly how she sounded. She hated saying it over and over again for 8 hours out of the day that she worked.

“Spice it up a bit, like me.” Maggie suggested with a wink.

Allison smirked. Maggie was known to flirt with any male customer that came in, old or young, and usually called them honey or cutie after every sentence.

“Are you going on break?” Allison asked as they walked to the coolers and both started stocking the milk order that came in that morning.

“In a few. Then you can go on yours.” Maggie said and then when the phone rang, left the coolers to go answer it.

Picking up more milk, Allison kept putting it away on the shelves. She’d worked at the local gas station for about a month now. Home from her second year in college, she had nothing better to do so she decided on getting a job. And working at the local gas station wasn’t exactly… thrilling. Nothing great ever happened unless you counted last week when an 8-year-old got dared to steal a candy bar, or how they lady 2 weeks ago bent over after dropping a straw and split her pants.

But other than that it was the same old thing. She came to work, she rang people out, she made pizza orders, stocked the coolers, mopped the floors and went home, only to come back the next day and repeat the same things 5 days out of the week.

No time for shopping, enjoying the summer at the beach and most definitely not spicing up her love life seeing as though the guys that came into the store during the day were usually minors or older guys getting off work.

Sighing, she stacked the last gallon of milk and walked out of the cooler. Yeah, the hot guys were all at the beach, where she should be. But she was here and every day questioned why she even had the irrational thought of getting the job in the first place. But her pride and determination, not to mention the nice little check at the end of the week, stopped her from quitting.

And then there was Maggie. They had known each other since they were kids and she rarely got to see her seeing as though they went to different colleges now so she figured that was a plus.

“Yes, Mr. James, I’ll put it through twice just for you.” She heard Maggie say into the phone and smirked. Mr. James was about 90 and ordered a pizza every day, which couldn’t have been good for his health. “Well, about 20 minutes then. I’ll see you then, honey.”

Maggie turned around and blushed a little when she saw Allison’s smirk and then glared playfully.

“What’s that look about?” Maggie asked as she started on Mr. James’s pizza and then passed it down to Allison to do the fixings.

“Just thinking about how my love life is lacking dearly and the chances of me meeting anyone while I’m wearing this visor and apron are slim to nothing.” Allison said, putting the pizza in the oven.

Maggie grinned and shrugged. “Hey, you never know what’s going to happen. And your chances are very good. You’re a babe, Allison, you’re just shy and don’t flaunt it.”

Allison rolled her eyes and walked up to the counter where a customer waited. At about 5’7’’, and even though she didn’t have a slim model figure, she was the average weight for her height. She wasn’t too bad physically, she would admit. She had light brown hair that fell just below her shoulders and light green eyes. When classifying her, you would say she was the ‘girl next door’ type with innocent features, which made her look a few years younger than her twenty years.

But wearing the dark blue visor with her hair in a bun, forest green uniform shirt and the dark blue apron and black Dickies… really didn’t flatter her at all.

“Pepsi guys here!” Maggie called from the back and Allison glanced up from ringing out a ladies purchase to see the large truck with the Pepsi sign on it pull into the parking lot.

“You want me to check him in?” Allison asked.

“Please.” Maggie called from the back where she was on the phone taking another order.

Allison turned back to the lady and counted back her money for her with a smile and said goodbye and turned to start stacking the cigarettes when the door opened again.

“Hey.” A deep voice greeted and she turned to find a pair of deep brown eyes staring right at her.

Immobile suddenly, she could do nothing but stare back at him. “I… hi.” She managed and the small smile that was on his face grew and his eyes held a bit of kind amusement.

“You’re not Gabe.” Maggie said, walking to the front of the store with a smirk on her face as she eyed up the guy. Gabe was their usual Pepsi guy. A tall dark man in his mid 40’s who even though was happily married, constantly and innocently flirted with every girl he came across and Maggie and him always put on a show.

“Yeah, we got our routes switched. I’m your new Pepsi guy.” He said, putting the clipboard he held under one arm as he reached hand out. “Ben.” He introduced with that silky deep voice.

Maggie’s smirked, her eyes dancing as she shook his hand. “I’m Maggie, and this is my friend Allison.”

He turned his eyes back to Allison who still stood immobile and held out a hand. She just blinked, staring at him, unable to look anywhere else until Maggie elbowed her. She jumped and then, realizing she was openly staring like a love struck pre teen, her face flushed and turned red as she crossed her arms and managed a small, embarrassed smile, ignoring his hand, and cringing inwardly.

“Hi.” She said, her voice quiet and humiliated.

He smiled though and didn’t send her any look to show that she was as pathetic as she felt although she knew he probably was thinking that.

“Hi.” He smiled. “I’m going start bringing the order in.” he told them before smiling once more and walking back out to his truck, propping the doors open on his way out so he could roll the order in.

“I said check him in, not check him out.” Maggie said with a grin and Allison made a whining noise and put her face in her hands.

“Oh my god. I’m such a loser.” She moaned and Maggie laughed. “What was that? Since when do I freeze out when a hot guy is around!” she said and then immediately froze when Maggie looked behind her and covered her mouth to muffle a laugh.

She turned her head slowly to see him wheeling in the first load of soda with a small smirk on his face, apparently trying to act as if he hadnt heard. But he had.

She didn’t move when he continued to the back of the store or when he came back out and lifted his head to catch her eyes briefly with a small grin before walking outside again.

She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. “I’ll be in the back if you need me. And please, if you love me at all, please don’t call me back out until he’s in the next town.” She said before quickly walking back to the back.

Maggie laughed and followed her. “Come on. It wasn’t that bad.” she said and at Allison’s look just muffled a laugh. “Okay, but I doubt he cares. Trust me, the guy knows he’s hot.”

Allison glared. “Not the point.” She gritted, crossing her arms stubbornly, her face still flaming.

“Look.” Maggie said and they turned to watch him through the windows as he walked up into the back of the truck on a small ramp and then carried crates of bottles of soda out one by one. “He is yummy. You had every reason to be tongue tied.”

And he was, Allison thought. He couldn’t have been much older than them, maybe 23, 24 at the oldest. He was tall she realized, maybe 6’1’’, 6’2’’ and built. Dark, pitch black hair that was long enough that a few stands stuck out underneath his hat and deep intense brown eyes. He wore the dark blue shirt that had the Pepsi logo on the front and a backwards Pepsi hat, of the same dark blue. A pair of nicely fit loose jeans and steel-toe work boots underneath.

“Check out those muscles.” Maggie said, her voice taking on the lusty tone as they watched him. The muscles flexing in his arms and shoulders as he lifted the heavy crates. “Imagine him without a shirt.”

“I am.” Allison said without thinking and they both laughed. “God, I was such an idiot.” She groaned and sat down in the computer chair that was in the back room.

Maggie smiled sympathetically but then smirked. “You were the one saying how no guys ever come in here and your love life is lacking… well, here’s your chance. I didn’t see any ring on his finger.” She clicked her tongue and grinned.

Allison narrowed her eyes. “You’re crazy. I already made a fool of myself, I’ll just stay in the back until he leaves and then ask for every Friday from now on, off.”

Maggie rolled her eyes. “This is exactly the reason,” she muttered and grabbed Allison’s arm through her protest. “You’re too shy. You just need to go for it. How could you have not seen the way he was smiling at you?”

Allison’s eyes widened in alarm and although it was immature, she grabbed hold of the doorframe so Maggie couldn’t pull her any further. “No!”

Maggie grinned as the phone rang, blessing her luck and winked. “I have to get that. And look…” she said, turning to aim her eyes at Ben who walked in with the last of the order. “You need to check him in.”

Before Allison could say anything else, Maggie winked one more time and picked up the phone, smiling more than she had all day and watching as Allison hesitantly walked towards the front of the store where Ben was waiting.

“You’re done?” she asked, hoping her voice wasn’t too squeaky since her mouth was completely dry and her nerves going crazy.

He smiled and handed her the clipboard he had and Allison looked it over, having done the check in for orders many times before. He squatted down to point as he called off everything he brought in and she checked it off on the list, only paying half attention, since she was mesmerized by his voice. It was deep and masculine but still held a sweet softness that made you just want to stop and listen.

“That’s it.” he said, standing back up and she had to angle her head slightly to meet his eyes.

“It’s all there.” She said, sounding like an idiot and cursing herself afterwards. God, now he probably thinks you thought he would jip you, she mentally scolded herself.

He just grinned and accepted the clipboard back as her face heated up.

“It was nice to meet you, Allison.” He said and she forced herself to meet his eyes again, trying not to feel the fluttering in her stomach, him saying her name had caused.

“Yeah, you too.” She surprised herself by making her voice a little higher than a whisper.

He just grinned, whether in amusement or kindness she didn’t know but either way she was happy he wasn’t outright laughing at her.

“I’ll see you next week then?” he asked, taking a step back towards the door and watching her with questioning eyes.

Startled, she looked up and just nodded.

His smile grew before he turned around and walked out. “Bye, Maggie.” He said as he passed her walking out the door and looked back at Allison one more time with a grin before walking out the door, climbing into his truck and pulling out of the parking lot.

It wasn’t until he was out of sight that Maggie strolled over with a knowing grin on her face.

“So… still asking for those Friday’s off?”

“Shut up.” Was Allison’s only weak response.

-

“You look like a girl about to be picked up for prom.” Maggie mused with a humored look the following Friday. “Or better yet, you look like a girl after prom… but we all know that’s already happened.” She laughed.

Allison grinned and hit her arm. “Not funny.”

“Well I hope it wasn’t funny. Doing the deed is a serious thing.” Maggie said in false shock and Allison laughed. “Good, you laughed.” she said relieved. All morning her friend stood, a bundle of anticipating nerves and kept glancing out the windows, 3 times she hadn’t even heard the phone ringing.

“I told myself I wasn’t going to act like an idiot, but watch… when he comes in I’m going to go into dork mode.” She said, praying that wasn’t going to happen.

Maggie smiled and handed her a pizza order. “Keep yourself busy and stop worrying about it.”

Nodding and sighing, Allison walked to the back to make the 3 pizzas that were ordered and when she got back to the front to help Maggie check people out, her nerves were back.

“He’s late, isn’t he? Aren’t they usually here by now?” she asked as she took a gallon of milk and scanned it without looking.

Maggie glanced at her from where she was at her own register with a smirk. “Gabe was late sometimes, too.”

Allison just nodded.

“Al, you never said ‘Have a nice day.’ To that lady.” Maggie said in surprise and amusement.

Allison watched as the lady walked out and then slumped against the counter. “God, what is wrong with me?”

“You’re smitten, honey.” Maggie said.

“Ah, who’s the lucky man?” the old guy Maggie was checking out asked.

“The Pepsi guy. He came in in his company shirt and backwards hat, his clipboard under his arm and Allison was lost.” Maggie said.

“Maggie!” Allison said as he face heated but the old guy just smiled.

“It was the same way for me and my Grace. First time I saw her, flushed cheeks and all, I knew she was the one. And we’ve had 64 good years together and still counting.” He said proudly and a look of pure love flashed through his eyes.

Both Maggie and Allison were touched and had small smiles on their faces when Ben walked in, neither having noticed him pull in.

“Sorry I’m late. I’m a bit behind schedule. Traffic Jam.” He said as he slid his first load of crates off his dolly and walked back out.

“That him?” the old man asked and Maggie nodded with a glance at Allison who was now watching Ben through the windows. “Well, good luck to you darlin’. Though you don’t need it if that boy’s got good eyes on him.” he winked and with a smile, walked out of the store.

Ben worked fast and was done in record time and before she knew it, she was checking him in and he was waving goodbye, in a rush out of the store, barely a hello and goodbye.

“Well…” Allison said, taking the mop Maggie gave her as they started mopping the floors.

“He was in a hurry.” Maggie said.

“No. I’m just living in a fantasy world. He barely noticed me.” she said. “This is what it’s come to, Mag, Fantasizing about the Pepsi guy who has already probably forgot my name.”

“You give up too fast.” Maggie said.

Allison just shrugged and continued sulking over her mop.

-

The following week they were so busy they had called in extra help. So, Maria, a 30 something mom who worked part time was in helping and by 1:30 Allison still hadn’t had her break so Maggie pushed a soda and a piece of pizza in her hands and told her to go sit down and eat, which she did with pleasure and just put her head back and closed her eyes.

Taking off her apron and visor, she pulled her hair down and started on her lunch. Glancing up she saw the Pepsi truck pull in and although she got that same fluttery feeling in her stomach, she didn’t expect anything or didn’t feel nervous to see him.

Continuing to eat her lunch she stilled, halfway screwing on the top of her soda, when someone slid into the booth across from her with a plate of pizza.

“Do you care if I join you? I figure I’d make up for rushing off so quick last week.” Ben smiled at her and she just shook her head and swallowed the soda that was still in her mouth.

“No. It’s fine.” She answered, inwardly congratulating herself on her voice sounding normal.

“So how are you, Allison?” he asked as he bit into his pizza, his eyes watching her, waiting and that small smile on his lips.

“I’m good.” She said, surprised he had remembered her name and she didn’t even have her nametag on. “You?”

“Hurt actually.” He said and she raised an eyebrow in concern. “You’re drinking coke.” He added and she smiled, laughing a bit and his grin broadened. “No, actually, I’m great.” He said and unscrewed the top of his water.

“New route’s better?” she asked, surprising herself at how easy conversation was going and how she didn’t clam up.

“I love it.” he said with his wide grin. “Have you worked here long?”

She shook her head. “About a month and a half now. Something to do since school out.”

He nodded. “Where do you go?”

“Ithaca State.”

He smiled. “Cool.” He finished off his pizza and tossed his plate in the garbage that was near the table and looked back at her, his eyes intense on her face and making her squirm.

“What?” she asked, folding her hands in her lap.

He shook his head, realizing he was staring and smiled shyly. “Just… your hair looks good down.” He said.

Now it was her turn to look embarrassed. She could feel the blush stinging her cheeks. “Thanks.”

“So what do you think of that life sized display of Michael Jackson I brought?” he asked, leaning forward with his elbows on the table and lowering his voice like they were talking about a super secret mission.

Allison smiled and glanced over at the Pepsi display with the real life-sized cardboard picture of Michael Jackson standing next to it since he was Pepsi’s new promo.

“Scary.” She said and Ben’s grin widened, making her smile more.

“I know.” He agreed. “I had about 10 in the back of my truck and I swear, everytime I walk up there, it still creeps me out.” He said chucking and Allison smiled.

“Al, pizza order.” Maria called and she reluctantly stood up and threw her plastic plate out.

Ben stood up also, meeting her eyes. “I’ll see you next week then?” he asked.

Allison smiled and nodded, her nerves fading to a slight buzz that went throughout her whole body.

“Yeah. Next week.” She said smiling and he grinned before leaving.

When his truck pulled out of the parking lot Allison walked to the back where Maggie was waiting with a small smile.

All she did was grin and start on the pizza order. Her grin not fading till long after she went home.

-

“So?” Maggie asked hurriedly and excitedly as Allison walked into work on Saturday of the following week.

“It’s a boy!” she smiled. “8 pounds, 16 ounces. He was a big one and I don’t think Clare is going to be having another one anytime soon.” She said, referring to her older sister who had spent 16 hours the day before, delivering her first child, while family and friends waited patiently in the waiting room.

“Oh. How sweet.” Maggie said grinning.

“He’s adorable. He has Eric’s big ears and Clare’s nose and… he’s so tiny.” Allison smiled, already head over heels for her nephew and loving being an aunt.

“You’re so lucky. Not only do you get precious little babies to spoil, you didn’t have to work yesterday when we suddenly got a mad rush.” Maggie told her as they both walked to the back to punch in and get their drawers ready to start work.

“Terry wasn’t too mad?” Allison asked cautiously, referring to their boss. She had to call in last minute the day before when he sister suddenly went into labor and their boss usually liked a 24-hour warning.

“She understood. It’s not like you could have predicted that was going to happen. Even though Clare has been walking around, looking to pop, for about 2 weeks now.” she added with a smirk.

Allison smiled, having enjoyed teasing her older sister who was always health conscience, about blowing up from being pregnant. And now she would smile sadistically everytime she ate ice cream or some other fattening food while her sister ate yogurt, already starting her ‘after baby weight loss plan’.

“And someone missed you yesterday.” Maggie said casually, hiding a small smirk that threatened as they walked to the front of the store.

“Who?” Allison asked, only half paying attention as she slid her drawer in and punched in her code.

“A certain tall, dark, and handsome soda-delivering hottie.”

Allison’s head shot up from where she was bending down to grab a new box of candy bars that needed to be set out on display. How could she have forgotten Friday was Ben’s day?

“What do you mean?” she asked curiously, her heart beating just a little faster and a little remorse at having missed the one day a week that she could see him.

And she didn’t no longer feel childish at having the 15 minutes of him eating his lunch with her the week before, having been the highlight of her week. She had unconsciously looked forward to that following Friday without knowing it and had unfortunately had to miss it by having to call in.

“Well…” Maggie drawled, enjoying seeing Allison’s eyes light up even though she tried to conceal her apparent excitement. “He came in and first thing he does is look towards the table, obviously to see if you were taking your break again in hopes that he could join…” she drawled.

Allison’s eyes narrowed. “Okay, Ms. Observant, get to the point.” She urged impatiently.

“Hey, it’s my story here. Live with it.” she said with a satisfied smirk. “So… he looked around for you, which I noticed because it was so apparent who he was looking for. Then… he came up and apparently in what he thought was a casual voice asked where you were…” she smiled. “But I could so tell by looking in his eyes that he really wanted to know and then those gorgeous brown eyes got all dark and sad when I told him your sister was popping out her egg finally. Of course in nicer terms.” She added as an afterthought.

Allison looked at the wall, imagining what Maggie told her with a giddy feeling inside of her.

“So… when I asked if he wanted something to eat again, he bought pizza… to go… and didn’t bother to sit down and eat like last week. So putting two and two together…” she said and then trailed off watching Allison closely.

“He asked about me.” was all Allison said in a somewhat dreamy voice, now sitting on the floor behind the registers with a small smile on her face, staring off into space.

“Oh yeah… your already gone.” Maggie said with a tug at her heart as she watched her best friend. “Well, I guess this week will be fun.”

Allison just made a small agreeing noise and the rest of the day Maggie watched her with amusement as she smiled the whole time and seemed to be somewhere else completely.

Cloud 9 was her guess.

-

Maggie smirked at the two guys who were all tan and baby oil, who had stopped on their way to the beach for gas and drinks.

“Oh, yeah. I would love to. I get off work at 6.” She told them and their smiles grew.

“What about your friend?” the taller one asked with a glance at Allison who was stocking shelves and he looked her over.

“That’s Allison.” She told them. “Hey, Al, come here!” she called and Allison looked over at her before setting the box she had down and walking up to the counter.

“This is Aaron and JR.” Maggie said, signaling to the two guys who were smiling at her.

“Hi.” Allison said with a half a smile and then sent a look towards Maggie.

“We’re going out with them later,” Maggie informed and Allison’s mouth dropped but before she could say anything they were interrupted.

“Hey.” Ben greeted and Allison instantly turned to him as he stood by the doors, his gaze slightly narrowed at the two guys before he looked over to her and she felt like she couldn’t breath, his eyes were so intense.

“Oh, hi, Ben.” Maggie greeted with a secret smile. “This is Aaron and JR.”

Ben nodded towards them briefly and then turned back to her and Allison. “We have that new order, I wanted to know where you wanted me to put it?” he asked.

“Oh.” Maggie said and then walked from behind the counter. “We’ll see you guys later then, okay?” she said to the two guys before they nodded and walked out. “It can go by the ice cream stands.” She told Ben, “Allison can show you… I have stuff to do…” she said before walking off.

Feeling uncomfortable and for some reason ‘in the wrong’, Allison smiled up at him. “Hey.” She greeted.

“Hi.” He said quickly before turning away and pointing across the store. “Right over there?” he asked and when she nodded he glanced back at her once before walking out and to his truck.

“Maggie, I am not going out with that guy tonight. I can't believe you did that! Ben saw and he probably thinks…” she ranted, trailing off worriedly as she walked up to Maggie who was in the back.

Maggie just shrugged and picked up the phone that was ringing. “I know you aren’t going out with him.” she said and Allison just stared at her confused but Maggie pointed towards the front of the store.

Shaking her head, Allison walked to the front where Ben was waiting and checked him in.

“That’s it.” she said, looking up at him to find his eyes already on her.

“Do you wanna go out sometime?” he suddenly asked and her mouth dropped but she quickly closed it and just stared at him, shocked.

“What?” she asked, not knowing if she heard him right.

“Do you wanna go out sometime?” he asked again. “I know you barely know me but I figure that’s how we can get to know each other. Other than seeing each other once a week.” He said, his hands in his pockets.

“I…” she said, not being able to find her voice. “You wanna… I... um…” she stammered and then blushed as she looked up into his eyes. “I… yeah.” She finally said, the last word coming out sounding like relief.

A small grin started on his face and grew as he rubbed a hand on the back of his neck. “Okay.” he said. “You wanna give me your number and we can set something up?” He asked, his smile growing.

“Oh. Yeah.” Allison said, jotting her number down on the clipboard in her hand hurriedly.

He took the clipboard and grinned and then she flushed at realizing she wrote it on the stock sheet but he didn’t seem to care.

“Okay. I’ll call you then.” Ben said, and then took a step back.

“Yeah.” Was the only word she could seem to say.

He waved once before walking out and climbing into his truck.

“I’m so good.” Maggie announced with a smile as she walked up to Allison, who was still standing in the same place, dumbfounded.

“I’m… he. Oh my god.” Allison said and then a smile slowly came to her face. “He just asked me out.” She said and then smiled more.

“Yup.” Maggie agreed.

“He asked me out.” Allison said again and Maggie rolled her eyes and laughed.

“Let’s get back to work.” Maggie said, pulling at her arm but Allison still smiled.

“Wait. Did you set up a date for tonight?” Allison suddenly stopped and asked and Maggie laughed.

“Wow. He wiped your memory clear. This ones a keeper.”

-

“Tell all and don’t leave anything out.” Maggie said Monday morning as Allison walked on with a huge smile, that seemed to be permanently there since Saturday night, on her face.

Allison sighed and leaned against the wall. “He’s great.”

“Yes, yes, yes. I know. Where did you go? What did you do? What did you do?” She repeated with suggestion but Allison just smiled more.

“We went out Saturday night and he wore this button up shirt and no hat, which by the way he has great hair, and these jeans and he looked so good.” She sighed. “And we went out to dinner, and a movie but I don’t remember which one.” She said and then laughed. “But then he drove me home, and walked me to my door and then…” she said and Maggie clasped her hands together in anticipation. “He kissed me so sweetly, god Mag, I’ve never been kissed like that. And he didn’t even push for more or anything.”

Maggie made an awwing noise as her heart soared for her best friend. “And…” she said, waving her hand to make Allison say more.

“And…” Allison said with a grin. “We went to the baseball game yesterday, and then we kinda…” she said, pausing for effect. “Kinda made out in his car like we were in high school.”

Maggie squealed and hugged her. “Oh my god!”

“I know!” Allison said. “I really like him.” she sighed, “And we’re going out again this weekend.”

“Congratulations.” Maggie said smiling as they walked to the front of the store. “But if you two start making out in the cooler on Fridays when he comes in… I’m not covering for you.” she warned and Allison laughed.

“Consider me warned.” She replied and they started their day.

Whoever said love happened in the strangest places definitely knew what they were talking about.

-

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Okay, this story was inspired by a girl I work with that likes the bread guy. Lol

Anyways, just a one shot I wanted to write. Hope it wasn’t too confusing, but every ‘break’ was a new week.

Just so you know… ‘checking someone in.’ is when you go over what you ordered and make sure they brought it all… a ‘dolly’ is like a little cart with wheels they use to bring their stuff in…

Anyways, what’d you think??

Please Review

Kellie