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Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Charlie flinched and forced down his increasing desire to slam his head against the scanner in front of him. One would think that after six months of being a grocery cashier, Charlie would have learned to tune out the sounds of barcodes being scanned but he swore he could hear it in his sleep. He let out an audible groan as he contemplated just walking out, throwing his name tag on the ground and sending the whole store a middle finger salute as he waltzed to freedom. They’d surely fire him if he pulled something like that and he needed the money. It was already frustrating enough that he ate toast for most of his meals, he didn’t need to be behind on rent as well.
Charlie heard a snort from behind him. He turned to look at Elle who was working the checkstand following him and sent her a forced smile.
“If I have to hear that beep one more time, I’m going to have to plead insanity in court when I’m inevitably charged with homicide,” Charlie gritted through his teeth, the fake grin plastered on his face. He thought there was an art to pretending to be chipper and accommodating all of the time and if that was the case, Charlie was a virtuoso.
“I think if someone asks me one more time if we have a product that we’ve literally never carried, I’ll be right there with you,” Elle replied. The pair shared a laugh. Charlie always found it comforting when the coworkers he actually liked were scheduled. It was like the universe was giving him something nice to hold onto amongst the endless monotony of his just-barely-above- minimum wage job.
“Charlie,” Elle said, motioning her head to somewhere behind him. He sucked in a breath. Who was coming to the grocery store at 9pm on a Tuesday night? Was the bag of crisps and three avocados really worth Charlie’s ever decreasing mental stability? He didn’t think so.
“Hi! How are you doing this evening? Did you find everything alright?” Charlie asked the older woman in front of him. It was a perfected ploy at this point. The perfect level of cheeriness and friendliness without showing too much interest. God forbid, Charlie got stuck with a customer that insisted on telling him their life story as he nervously watched the line at his checkstand fill up. He had made the mistake of indulging someone like that during his first week and he’d never make that mistake again.
“Fine. Yeah,” the woman muttered as she put her groceries on the belt. Charlie tried not to take her shortness too seriously. In all honesty, it was a bit of a blessing. Charlie didn’t want to chat any more than he wanted to listen to the beeps from the scanner. He hoped he could get out of this interaction scot free. Charlie was rarely so lucky.
“Why have the price of avocados gone up 3 pence?” the woman asked in a terse tone. Charlie groaned internally. We’re in the middle of a recession. The price on everything has gone up. Or maybe the avocado industry is just trying to spite you in particular, ma’am, he thought bitterly.
“I’m not certain, ma’am. A lot of our products’ prices have increased,” Charlie replied, as kindly as he could manage. He had the haunting feeling she was about to make a fuss over it.
“I was here yesterday and they were three pence less. This is ridiculous,” she snapped. Charlie tried not to wince. Great, so we’re doing this then.
“I apologize for that,” he replied evenly.
“Well fix it!” the woman snapped. Charlie gripped onto the checkstand tighter and reminded himself to take a few breaths.
“Unfortunately, I have no control over the prices, ma’am. If you’d like, I can put the avocados back if you don’t want to pay for them.”
The woman huffed angrily and muttered something about ‘deadbeat minimum wage workers’.
“No. I want them,” she replied. Charlie nodded and bagged the groceries. He was supposed to ask if she wanted to round up to donate to their charity of the month but he had a sneaking suspicion that she wasn’t the charitable type. He could vaguely see another customer in his line out of the corner of his eyes but he didn’t really take a second glance. He just wanted to get through this lady without crying or having change thrown at his head.
“Your total is 13.75 and I will get you that receipt,” Charlie said, feeling any ounce of cheeriness drain out of him. It was always difficult to muster up fake happiness when a customer was rude to him. He tried not to take it personally because logically he knew the people who yelled at essential workers were miserable gits with nothing better to do with their lives. But, in all honesty, that never stopped Charlie from feeling a bit down after a run in with a bad customer. There was one time he had a customer call him a slur after he told him that they were out of ice. Charming, obviously. It was a bad enough of an interaction that his manager, Tara, a girl close to his age and a lesbian, came over to tell the customer off. That had been a trying evening, for sure.
Charlie handed the woman her bag and her receipt. “Have a nice evening,” Charlie said, all fake smiles. The woman didn’t give him a second glance as she snatched the items from his hand. He took a deep breath, trying to just push that interaction out of his head before putting on a fake smile and turning to the next customer. Let’s just say the boy in front of him was a blessed sight. He was taller than Charlie and significantly more muscular. He was in a t-shirt that hugged his biceps and running shorts that showed off his thighs. His hair was a mix between auburn and blonde, the blonde popping out more in certain lights. He had kind brown eyes and freckles dotted across his face and neck and arms that made Charlie wonder just how much of his body was covered in freckles. He looked around Charlie’s age so roughly 19 or 20 which made the brunette’s heart swell with hope. Maybe the universe was apologizing for the last interaction by giving him something beautiful to look at.
“Hi,” Charlie said softly.
“Hi,” the boy replied.
Charlie snapped out of his daze. Right, he had a job to do that didn’t involve drooling over one of the customers.
“How are you doing this evening?” Charlie asked, his first genuine smile of the night appearing on his face as he started scanning groceries on the belt.
“I’m doing great. How are you? That woman seemed awfully miserable. I’m sorry about that,” the boy replied, sending Charlie a gentle look. It wasn’t pity. It was more empathetic than anything and gentle, so so gentle. Charlie had to actively force himself not to melt into a puddle on the floor.
He shrugged. “It’s alright,” he replied easily. “It’s not your fault plus that’s certainly not the worst interaction I’ve ever had.”
“Still,” the boy said. “It’s not fair to take it out on you.”
Charlie sent him a small smile.
When Charlie started working at the store, he made a little game out of trying to guess the type of person someone was based on their groceries. It was really just a way to entertain himself while he did the same thing over and over again for hours. The boy was buying Icy-Hot so likely an athletic, if his stature was anything to go by, a loaf of bread, a few apples and bubblegum ice cream? Seriously, bubblegum?
“Bubblegum ice cream?” Charlie asked through a giggle. “That has to be a crime.”
The boy looked caught off guard for a moment before laughing, a blush high on his cheeks. God he was even pretty when he blushed.
“I cannot believe you’re disrespecting bubblegum flavor in front of me,” the boy joked. “What flavor would you recommend instead?”
Charlie smiled as he bagged the groceries and totaled the price on the computer screen. “Chocolate Explosion. It’s their best flavor by far. Also your total is 17.84.”
The boy let out a chuckle and nodded as he put his card into the reader. “I’ll have to keep that in mind for next time then,” he replied, a glint in his eyes that Charlie couldn’t pinpoint.
“Here’s your receipt,” Charlie said after he took it off the machine. The boy grabbed it, their hands touching slightly as he did. Charlie tried not to notice the sparks as their fingers brushed against one another and his heart rate jumping.
“Thank you, Charlie,” the boy said softly, sending him a smile.
Charlie couldn’t help but to smile back. “Have a nice evening.”
“You too.”
Charlie watched the boy walk off before checking to make sure no one else was in his line. He turned around to look at Elle, who seemed to be watching the interaction unfold in front of her.
“If he comes in here again, I think I may melt into the floor,” Charlie breathed, causing Elle to laugh and shake her head.
“I’m surprised you didn’t fall over as soon as you looked at him. Even from back here I could see your swooning,” Elle teased. Charlie’s face suddenly felt very hot.
“Do we think he may be rolling with the LGBTs? My gaydar stopped working as soon as I saw him because I was too busy drooling” Charlie asked hopefully. Elle hummed, thinking.
“I don’t know. He looked pretty straight to me,” she replied with a shrug. Charlie groaned and stared up at the ceiling. God, he thought. If you’re listening, please let that boy like boys. Or even just me. That would be fine too.
Charlie didn’t see the hot (potentially straight) boy for a few days. He had honestly become resigned to the fact that he would likely never see him again. The universe was cruel to Charlie Spring. He thought he deserved something good in his life.
It was a Sunday night, meaning the store was practically dead. He was literally the only cashier working which made his night crawl, very slowly, by. His shift had been mainly uneventful except for the one interaction he had with a guy who tried to gaslight Charlie into thinking he only had 3 donuts when Charlie definitely counted five. The donuts were literally on sale for 50 pence a piece so he wasn’t certain why the guy was so hellbent on saving a pound. He almost charged the guy full price out of spite but he really didn’t want Tara to be on him for charging people incorrectly.
“You’re looking awfully lonely.”
Charlie’s eyes snapped to the voice. It was him. The boy from the other day. A smile spread across Charlie’s face.
“Bubblegum boy,” Charlie joked. The boy let out a laugh and shook his head.
“Is that what you’ve been calling me?” the boy teased. Charlie shrugged.
“You certainly made an impression with your ice cream tastes.”
Someone let out a snort. Charlie looked to see a girl with bubblegum boy that he hadn’t noticed before. He felt like he had been kicked in the chest. She was pretty, so pretty and likely bubblegum boy’s girlfriend.
“His ice cream preferences are a tragedy,” she said with a laugh. Charlie forced a smile and nodded.
“Imogen, I do wound you know?” the boy teased. The girl, Imogen, rolled her eyes.
The boy turned to Charlie as he started scanning their groceries. “My name is Nick, by the way. Despite my love for the ice cream, I think I would die of embarrassment if you kept calling me ‘bubblegum boy’,” he continued.
Charlie smiled brightly. “Well, Nick, I see you’ve changed your ways,” he replied, holding up the Chocolate Explosion ice cream.
Nick shrugged sheepishly and ran a hand through his hair. “I told you I’d take you up on it.”
Charlie let out a laugh as he totaled the order. “That you did. I’m glad you’ve finally seen the error of your ways,” he teased. He made eye contact with Imogen and sucked in a breath. He was blatantly flirting with her likely boyfriend in front of her. Charlie pulled back slightly.
“Here’s your receipt,” he said, handing Nick the piece of paper. Imogen elbowed Nick, causing him to hiss out a breath. She sent him a meaningful look that Charlie couldn’t quite read.
“Oh, um thank you,” Nick stuttered, taking the receipt. “Um, Charlie?”
Charlie nodded and sent him a smile. He watched as Nick blinked and ran a hand through his hair. “Never mind,” Nick breathed.
Charlie felt the familiar feeling of disappointment settle in his chest. He knew it was wishful thinking that Nick was interested in him, especially when Nick had someone like Imogen in his life. Charlie just couldn’t compare.
“Have a nice evening you two,” he said quietly, hoping his disappointment wasn’t written all over his face.
The pair thanked him and he watched as Imogen slapped Nick’s arm as they walked away and whispered something that Charlie couldn’t quite make out. He let out a sigh. Charlie idly cleaned the belt and his checkstand, waiting for another customer to show up. The store was empty which did not help the time go by quicker. Charlie was on his third count of the bills in the till when Imogen reappeared, dragging a very nervous looking Nick behind her.
“Hi,” Charlie greeted. “Um, was there something wrong with your order?”
Imogen shook her head. “No, no, that was perfectly fine. Nick, here, has something to ask you because if I have to listen to him complain for one more second, I’m going to kill him,” she said, shoving Nick forward a bit.
“Hi,” Nick breathed, a blush connecting the freckles across his cheeks.
“Hi,” Charlie replied with a small smile. “What’s up?”
Nick took a deep breath, turning to look at Imogen who sent him a pointed glare. The other boy’s eyes found Charlie’s again as he ran a hand through his hair.
“I’m sorry if this is incredibly presumptuous and I’d totally understand if you want to say no because I get that I’m sort of making a snap judgment and normally I’m not one for snap judgments but I just thought that maybe-”
“Nick, rambling,” Imogen chided softly. Charlie looked back and forth between the two, completely confused.
“Right, sorry,” Nick breathed. “Charlie, can I get your number? You’re really cute and I thought I’d shoot my shot but I get it if, like, you’re taken or you don’t like guys or-”
Charlie let out a laugh that made Nick pause and look at him. He looked a little worried.
“Oh my god,” Charlie said. “I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you. I just thought you two were together.”
Nick and Imogen looked at one another before bursting out into laughter like the idea of them being together was somehow hilarious.
“Me and Im? Oh god no. She’s got a partner already and I think we’re about four years past us potentially being together,” Nick said with a shrug, a playful smile on his face.
“Sorry. I suppose I just assumed. I wasn’t sure if you liked guys because no offense you kind of give off straight vibes,” Charlie said sheepishly.
Imogen let out a loud laugh, startling Charlie slightly as Nick huffed and rolled his eyes at her. “Nick Nelson being straight? Jesus you really cannot beat those straight allegations, can you Nicholas?” she teased, nudging him with her shoulder.
“Piss off,” Nick joked before turning to look at Charlie again. “Nope, definitely not straight. Bi, very very very bi.”
Charlie couldn’t help the grin. He was smiling so much that his cheeks hurt. “Well then Nick Nelson, you can definitely have my number.”
Nick’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really?”
Charlie hummed, feeling his face heat up a bit. He nodded and watched as Nick fumbled with his phone, handing it to Charlie so he could plug in his number.
Nick stared at his phone for a moment before sending Charlie a bright smile. “Cool. Um, I’ll text you and we can go out, maybe, like, on a date?” he asked, sounding unsure of himself.
Charlie nodded a few too many times. “I’d like that a lot.”
“Have a lovely night,” Charlie called after the last customer. He sucked in a breath and relaxed a bit. Only 15 more minutes left of his shift. He could do this. Only so much can happen in 15 minutes at 11:15pm on a Thursday night. Charlie cringed slightly. The last time he thought that he spent 30 minutes dealing with a customer who tried to leave the store with a cart full of groceries without paying. He almost just let the person go because the argument had gotten so tense. Tara had to come intervene and ring the person up which he had been thankful for. Like, he understood not having the money to pay for groceries, Charlie wasn’t shaming them for that because he had been there many times but if you’re going to try to steal, maybe don’t do it when the store is dead and one of the employees is actively watching the front doors.
Charlie was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of the belt bringing groceries down the checkstand. Bubblegum and Chocolate Explosion ice cream. He looked up, unable to hide the grin forming on his face.
“Bubblegum boy!”
Nick let out a laugh and rolled his eyes fondly. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”
Charlie hummed, pretending to think and shook his head. “Nope. You’ve made your bed, now you’ve got to lay in it,” he teased.
Nick let out an amused huff. “You know there’s plenty of other things you can call me,” he teased, eyes full of mirth.
“Oh? Like what?” Charlie asked, feigning confusion. A smirk appeared on Nick’s face, making him look impossibly smug and entirely too pretty for his own good.
“Oh, I don’t know, like, your boyfriend,” Nick replied with an easy shrug. Charlie felt a blush creep its way across his face. How did he get so goddamn lucky?
“Nah, I’d rather call you a pain in my ass,” Charlie teased as he bagged the ice cream. Nick let out a snort.
“Oi!” Nick warned but the smile on his face remained.
“You love me,” Charlie teased. Nick’s face went incredibly soft and fond like Charlie was a sight to behold.
“Yeah, I do,” Nick breathed out, a faint pink blush on his cheeks. Charlie beamed.
“Well, you’re in luck because I love you too despite your god awful ice cream choices. Your total is 10.55.”
Nick beamed, handing Charlie some cash before running around the checkstand. He looked around for a moment, checking to see if anyone was around before wrapping his arms around Charlie’s waist.
“Excuse me sir, this is highly inappropriate behavior for a customer,” Charlie teased, hoping he didn’t sound as breathless as he felt.
Nick hummed and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. “You’re just too pretty not to,” he replied softly. Nick pecked Charlie’s cheek one more time before stepping back. “I’ll see you in the car, love.”
“Don’t miss me too much,” Charlie said as Nick grabbed the ice cream and receipt and started walking away. He turned, throwing a teasing smile over his shoulder.
“With a boyfriend like you, how could I not miss you when you’re gone?” Nick replied, walking off like his words hadn’t just made Charlie melt on the spot.
So maybe his job sucked 99% of the time but it led him to Nick so Charlie hardly felt like complaining.