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aprilclementine · 1 year

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just some thoughts that came to me at work :)

Steve and Robin had just been let go from Family Video, for apparently "spending more time watching movies, than doing their job". If they didn't want them watching movies, they shouldn't have put a display TV in the store. Now, the two were driving around downtown looking for any help wanted signs. "I don't get it, Robbie! I laid down all that Harrington charm, you'd think she would have hired us right on the spot!."

"Steve, if that was what you called 'charm', I'm starting to really understand why you can never land a second date." Robin snorted from the passenger seat. "That poor barista, probably threw out both of our applications, after that pick up line you used."

"It was a classic! You just don't-" "STOP!" Steve slammed on his breaks, causing the car behind them to speed around, flipping them both off. "Robin, you can't do-"

"I seen the big ol' help wanted sign, and didn't want us to miss out on this momentous opportunity." Robin shrugged, as Steve parked along the sidewalk.

Steve grumbled back a response under his breath, as they both exited the car, making their way towards the Record Shop. "Hey, lighten up! This job might be 'life changing'! What if we find the love of your life here!" Robin joked, as she jabbed at Steve's side.

"Robin, if we get hired here, and it leads to me finding the 'love of my life', I will give you my car." Steve added sarcastically, as he opened the door for Robin.

It has been two weeks, since they both got hired at the Record Shop. Max, Lucas, and Dustin have visited a couple times. Max was excited, because she presumed she would be able to use Steve's discount to get all the tapes she could imagine for her Walkman. Steve, and Robin both loved the place, the owners were a really cute old couple, Roy and Tammy, they got to play whatever they wanted over the store speakers while they worked, see all the new releases, wear their own clothes as a uniform. Steve and Robin had even come up with their own game behind the counter, where they would try and guess what a customer was going to buy, based on what they were wearing. They even had a little tally going on in the backroom. Robin was much better at Steve than this guessing game, leading by seven points.

Today, Robin asked Steve if he was fine running the shop on his own, she had plans to get coffee with this girl from the Bookstore across the street from the Record store. Her name was Nancy, and she had been in quite a few times since the two have gotten hired, constantly asking Robin her thoughts and opinions on certain tracks. Robin's been smitten ever since. Steve had agreed, wishing her luck, as he hung up the phone.

Steve got to work today, wearing his favorite yellow sweater, some light wash jeans, and his white chucks. It was a Thursday, inventory day, Steve had forgotten that was today, when he had so easily agreed to let Robin take the day off. Steve huffed, and cursed Robin in his head, as he brought yet another box up to the front counter. He sighed when he took a seat at the counter, as he laid his head down on the cool counter, enjoying a split second of bliss, before the door was practically kicked open, letting the bell that hung over the door ring louder than normal. Steve shot his head up, sitting up straighter, as the person walked in.

"Ohhhh Roooyyy, you know what today is! Metallica just dropped a new album, man!" The stranger called out as he walked directly towards the labeled section, not even glancing at the counter. "Also, whats with this pop garbage over the speakers, man!" Steve took this time to watch him, as he sifted through the various album covers, as his ring clad fingers pulled out an album to marvel at, before placing it back. He watched as the man, stuck his tongue out as he moved to the next row, and how he shook his long hair out of his face, and continued to search. Steve stared at the vest that covered his back, and the way his jeans clung to his legs, chain looped across the first two loops of his jeans, and the neatly folded black hankerchif sticking out of his back pocket.

Steve stood from the counter, running a hand through his hair, as he went to approach the stranger. The man hummed a tune softly under his breath, that Steve was unfamiliar with. Just as Steve was going to clear his throat to get his attention, the man let out an exasperated sigh, before yelling, "Roy! Did you fall in the back again?" The man quickly turned around, running right into Steve's chest.

They both let out gasps, the stranger from shock, and Steve from the blow. As the two regained balance, the man laughed. "Holy shit, man, say something next time!"

Steve, now even closer to the stranger, could not find any words. Too busy, scanning his features up close, getting lost in his pretty brown eyes. Steve shook himself out of his thoughts, before clearing his throat. "M'sorry, was trying to catch my breath again over at the counter when you walked in."

"Wow, didn't realize I had that kind of effect on strangers, let alone hot strangers. What's your name?" The man smiled slyly, as he looked up at Steve.

Steve felt the heat rush to his cheeks, trying to hide his reaction, as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Uh, Steve. Roy isn't in today, but it is inventory day, so any new releases, I'm in the middle of putting out right now." Steve turned away from the man's intense gaze, clearing his throat as he turned away, walking towards the counter again. "I'm sorry, normally they're out by now, 'cause I have my coworker to help, but they're gone today." Steve continued to explain, as the man followed him to the counter where the boxes were stacked.

"S'Fine. Need a hand?" The man asked, as Steve opened up one of the boxes.

"No, I couldn't ask you to do that, I'll just hurry up, try and get you your album sooner." Steve said quickly, as he went to lift another box onto the counter. The man reached out, and put his hand on Steve's shoulder, stopping his frantic movements. Steve felt his whole body heat up from the touch alone.

"As much as I'd love to see you all sweaty, theres no need to do all that. I seriously don't mind, I've helped Roy and Tams a couple times anyways." He explained, as he took the box from Steves hands. "The names Eddie, by the way."

"Eddie." Steve quietly repeated to himself, as he opend the other box that Eddie had moved on to the counter. "Sooo, do you come around here often?"

"Are you flirting with me, Stevie?" Eddie looked up from the box in front of him, giving Steve that same smile from before.

"No- I just- Well-" Steve tried to quickly get out, as Eddie let out a melodic laugh.

"I'm joking, you walked right into that one." Eddie shook his head, as he turned away from the counter with a stack of new albums ready to put them in their respective section. Steve was still a blushing mess, wondering how any person could have this effect on him.

He was taken out of his trance by Eddie calling for him from across the store. "Steve, is this fucking ABBA playing?" He questioned, as the opening note to "Dancing Queen" played through the store.

Steve nodded, as he moved closer to where Eddie stood, with another stack of albums in his hand. "Yeah, why?"

"S'Nothing, I just thought Roy let you guys play your own music, while you worked." Eddie continued, as he moved past Steve to grab some another stack.

Steve stood their confused, watching Eddies back as he walked to the counter. "He does?" Steve replied, confused as to what Eddie was getting at.

Eddie let out another laugh, as he walked back over to Steve. "You're funny, dude. Seriously, that's hilarious." Steve looked towards Eddie again, giving him a quizzical look.

"What did I say?" Steve asked.

Eddie stopped in his tracks, and looked up at Steve. "Wait, wait, wait. You're not kidding? You seriously play ABBA while you work? Holy shit, I think I need a minute." He placed down the stack of albums, on a nearby counter, before he literally doubled over in laughter. Steve huffed as he set down his albums as well, walking close to Eddie, with both hands on his hips.

"What's so funny about it?" Steve questioned as Eddie continued to laugh. Steve tried very hard to keep the bit going, as he listened to Eddie's infectious laugh.

Eddied sounded out of breath as he replied. "You just don't look the type, maybe some Bee Gees, Journey, I don't know, even Tears for Fears."

"Huh? What's so shocking about it? What's not to like?" Steve continued to question, as Eddie started laughing again. "Youuu can dance, youuu can jiiive." Steve began to sing along, making Eddie laugh even harder, swatting his hand at nothing in an attempt to get Steve to stop.

The two let out a long sigh as the song conlcuded, Eddie shaking his head as he looked over at Steve, who whistled along to the final notes. "I'm going to make it my personal mission to show you some real music, Steve."

Steve rolled his eyes at the remarks, as he walked back over to continue putting away his stack.

The two finished fairly quick, throwing playful banter at each other the whole time, and Eddie continued to judge every single choice Steve made for music. By the time they finished, it was just in time for Steve to close up shop. He sighed, as he moved from the back room to lock up the front door, and flip the sign from "Open" to "Closed". He turned back to face Eddie who had made himself comfortable, sitting at the stool behind the counter, examnining the wall of posters that Roy had Steve and Robin put up.

"Lemme pick the music now." Eddied requested, as he hopped off the stool, walking over to Steve. Steve smiled, shaking his head. "Sorry, store’s closed, sir. You'll have to get going."

Eddie groaned, throwing his head back. "Stevie! Please! I will fall over and d*e right on this store floor, if you don't let me choose one song to play for you." Steve tried to stifle his laugh, with the back of his sleeve, shaking his head. Eddie rolled his eyes, letting out a big sigh before throwing himself on the floor. Steve let out a gasp, crouching over Eddie

"Dude! I was joking!" Steve exclaimed, as his eyes scanned over Eddies face. Eddies face broke out in a wide grin, as he opened his eyes, bringing his hand up to pat Steves cheeks.

"I knew you'd come aorund, Big Boy." Eddie pushed himself back up, quickly moving over to the section labeled "Rock". Steve still recovering from the nickname, watched as Eddie picked up an album, from the "D" section. Eddie turned on his heel, running over to the stores record player, carefully placing the pin, over his desired area.

Steve listened as the opening notes played through the store. He watched as Eddies smile grew, as he began nodding along to the beat. He finally turned to help Steve up from the floor. "I Speed at Night by Dio." Eddie announced, as Steve listened carefully. "I figured I'd ease you into my kind of music, I think this one is pretty mellow, mainstream for this genre." Eddie continued.

Steve shoved Eddie playfully. "I don't listen to mainstream music." At this, Eddie laughed again. “Also, I would not consider this ‘mellow’.” As the song continued.

"Steve, every song you played made me think we were just listening to the Top 50 Hits radio station." Eddie replied.

"You suck." Steve sighed, as they let the song play out.

Two hours later, Steve and Eddie were sat across from each other at the counter, a box of take out placed between them, that Eddie had ran down the road to get, insisting he buy Steve dinner. The only light left on in the store, being the single lamp, that hung over the counter, illuminating the two boys' animated conversation.

The new Metallica album, Master of Puppets, played lowly in the background, as Eddie stood up and reenacted a portion of his story, Steve watching closely, as if Eddie held the Sun in his hands, while he continued to eat from their shared box.

The boys were interrupted as they heard the door rattle, and quiet voices, as the bell above the door rang out. Steve stood quickly, Eddie close by his side, Steve held his breath, anticipating the worst, until he heard it.

“Steve? Robin?” Steve recognized the voice that called out, as the shop owner, Roy. Steve finally let out the breath he was holding as Roy approached the counter. “Didn’t expect you to still be here.” Roy said softly, before looking up to see the two boys standing closely together. “Oh! I see you’ve met, Eddie.”

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