Working at the Snow Cone Shop (pt. 1)

Two Weeks Later…

I stared at the clock above my bed, willing time to slow. It didn't. I had fifteen minutes to get to work, but mom wasn't back yet. I had forgotten she had work today, and babysat my siblings for her, on the promise she'd be here on time. Now I was sure she'd be late. Unfortunately, that makes me late as well...

Damn it mom! Please get here!

It was ten till five when I heard her car pull up. Without ‘hello's’ or ‘goodbye's’, I grabbed my purse and keys as I sprinted for the door.

Pushing the speed limit as best as I could, I raced to get to work on time, but knowing I was going to be late.

Fifteen minutes later I pulled into the Snow Cone parking lot. I saw that Derek's car was already there.

Damnit!

At least the shop would already be open. I hurriedly locked my car and ran to the shop. As I entered, the smell of many flavors filled my nostrils. I loved the smell of this place.

"You're late" Derek noted in my direction.

"Thank you captain obvious." I made a mock bow and smirked at him. I checked the clock. I was five minutes late.

I'm never gonna hear the end of this one am I? Little prick...

"Well, don't just stand there. Get to work. I need the cups out and the strawberry and apple flavors need to be refilled."

I hadn't realized I had been standing there with a pout on my face just glaring at the back of his head. He snapped me out of my trance.

"Fine"

I squatted down and opened the cabinets, searching for all our different cup sizes, and placing them on the counter. As I was looking for the medium size, I felt eyes on me. I turned to see Derek staring at my backside, before he quickly turned away, not saying a word.

He was not just staring at my ass. The little... argg! No, no he wasn't... That's DEFFINATELY not like him... I don't like him, he doesn't like me. We keep our eyes to ourselves. I must've imagined it... yeah...

I shook my head at the thought and finished gathering the cups and refilling the strawberry and apple flavors, placing the bottles back in the fridge. I checked my watch. It had been forty-five minutes since we opened and nobody had come for a snow cone. Odd.

Oh well, less work for me.

I turned to see Derek looking out the window, where we would usually be having customers by now. I couldn't help but notice how slender, but strong, his arms looked, holding up his head from the boredom and the awkward silence that lay between us. I noticed how his black muscle shirt hugged his perfectly sculptured body; you could see the deep line between his strong shoulder blades and back muscles that lowered to his waistline. His jeans rested perfectly on his hips, slightly baggy and worn.

He does have a cute ass... Oh my lord! What the hell did I just say! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!

I mentally smacked myself in the forehead, trying to erase my previous thoughts. It was then that Derek seemed to notice I had been staring and glanced at me, I turned my head quickly, and went to the fridge, pretending to check the flavors or something. Derek went back to looking out the window, but before I could look anymore, a customer came to the window. It looked like a mother with her daughter.

"What would you like today ma'am?" I heard Derek ask.

"I'll have a medium strawberry snow cone, and a small lemonade snow cone, please"

"Coming right up"

Derek glanced at me, but I was already handing him the two-cup sizes, and heading to get the flavors out of the fridge.

"Thanks" he muttered, stopping me in my tracks.

For the whole two weeks I had been working here, he had never, EVER, said 'thank you' for anything. Ever. I shrugged it off and continued with what I was doing.

No. People don't change.

But I wasn't so sure. Maybe he could be civil when he wanted to. Yet, the last two weeks had been filled with arguing and awkward silences. He wouldn't just flip all of a sudden. What would possibly change his mind? No. Nothing would. My head began to hurt due to the confusion.

I have a job to do damnit! Quit acting stupid and do your job!

I finished flavoring the cones, handed them to the woman at the window, and collected the cash.

The rest of the day went slow, only a few customers here and there. Derek and I didn't talk, but 'please' and 'thanks' were definitely used more. I liked that. I also caught him staring at me at times, but nothing was ever said. Nor would it ever be.

The clock finally hit closing time, and Derek and I began to close up shop. Putting cups and ice away, cleaning the Snow Cone machine, wiping down the counters. Fifteen minutes later, after Daren and I believed the place to be acceptable, we grabbed our things and headed for the door. Daren beat me to it, but instead of walking right through, he stood there awkwardly holding the door open. I stared at him in disbelief.

"Well, are you gonna walk through it or not" He said in his smart-ass tone.

I nodded sheepishly and hurried myself through the door, which he held for me. I turned and watched as he locked the door.

"Good night" I muttered quickly, and hurried for my car. But, in the distance, I knew I heard him say 'Good night' to me too.