cleaning up after the last guests, putting mugs and porcelain plates on top of a tray, wiping off crumbs and fingerprints with a citrus-smelling detergent, the store was five minutes to closing. the daily part-timer was in the back room, taking care of putting the dishes in the dishwasher, which was about the most when it came to after-hour business that the owner could trust them with. if something was still messy or out of place when they arrived the next morning, it just wouldn’t feel like a good day. coming to a nice-smelling, shiny, spacey premise at four in the morning meant the day was full of new possibilities. it was even quoted on the wall by the baking station.
they were just cleaning up the counter and had their apron pulled over their head, prepared to take off te last piece of professionalism and just relax, when the little bell above the door rang. almond eyes quickly shot over, seeing a possible costumer, and then went straight for the clock on the other wall. three minutes until closing. no, they hadn’t turned over the closed sign. there was still time for the day’s last buy. the apron was put back in it’s place, hanging loosely around the redhead’s shoulders. their hand that was holding the cloth leaned on the counter, and they quickly dressed in a sweet, welcoming smile. eyelashes, stunning and fake, fluttered up to look at the late-timer, and steff could swear their heart stopped for a second. “ ah... welcome~ “ they chimed, smile growing bigger and wryer, a tiny fang-like tooth showing through the right side of their mouth. the boy just had one of those faces, like there was a small speck of magic about them, a magnetic field that pulled every heart closer. short, blond and sweet-looking. steff felt like a giant in comparison. glossed lips curled inwards, as if for a moment the systematic, methodical shop-owner had actually forgotten what they usually tell costumers as they enter through the door. the bell had turned into angels’ humming. what was someone like him doing here, alone? buying something sweet for a girlfriend? most definitely. “ can i... help you with anything? “
@strongweilled, jason .
