Tuesday September 21st, 2010. Late Night:
Gas Station
Randy stood just outside the front doors again, looking off across the street. There was a hotel that immediately felt way more appealing than that of the back alley. It was a Holiday Inn, which stood 20 stories high. Every floor had a balcony and the windows were covered with thick blue drapes. Randy sometimes got lost in thought when he looked at other places, even though he really didn't care about them. The buildings of the city seemed to draw him in no matter what.
He heard one of the front doors open up, indicating Kolleen was behind him and felt her hot breath on the back of his arm. "What's up?" She walked over to his left side, and grabbed his arm. Blood rushed through him like electricity at her very touch. "You have to come back inside. Your work isn't out here," she replied playfully. "What time is it Kol?" She checked her phone, "It's only nine fifteen, why?" He just stared up at the sky and groaned, knowing that night would drag on and on forever. "Come on, we have plenty of things we can do. There doesn't seem to be much people coming at the moment, so we could talk if you wanted."
"Right, I like that idea!" She tugged on his arm, until he followed her back through the door. When they were inside, her hands started to slide down until only her right was in his left. Her fingers clasped around his, seconds later she squeezed his own lightly. The temperature in that room felt like it shot up thirty degrees. Kolleen knew what she was doing to her coworker, and couldn't stop the grin forming on her face. Randy had to loosen his collar a bit then closed his fingers around hers in return. Her palm was so warm; it was tiny but still felt strong. They walked between the first and second aisle, over to the restaurant tables where she sat down. Randy sat on the opposite side, feeling as if they would get in trouble.
"Don't worry, we can use this time as our first break. I feel like tonight's gonna be a slow night anyways. We have ten minutes, so let's get talking shall we?" Randy gulped and nodded. "What would you like to talk about first?" She asked him. For a little while he was speechless. Her grip tightened a bit, getting his attention. She was so amazing to him. Her eyes seemed a lot bluer tonight and they, for some reason, appeared to be much bigger than normal. Her face was slightly sweaty; this was due to the higher temperature in the store. "Come on Randy, there's plenty to talk about. What about how we met? Why did you take so long to introduce yourself?"
He saw all the sincerity in her eyes and felt a bit more on edge. After a few more silent moments, the words finally formed in his head. He looked directly at her and spoke as un-shakily as possible, failing on epic proportions as his head and eyes immediately began twitching. "Are you okay?" she asked him. "Yeah, I'm fine, just a bit nervous." She slid her fingers up and down his arm. "You don't have to be." Randy took a deep breath and calmed his nerves a bit. "I-I was very nervous in high school. I c-c-could not t-talk normally t-to you." Kolleen hushed him, placing a finger to his lips.
"You're starting to talk like that again. You always develop a stutter when you get nervous." He coughed, shaking his head a bit more. When he got the courage, he looked back into her eyes. "Just stay calm, and talk as coherently as possible." "Coherent? That's quite a big word." he smirked at her. She giggled this time. "Your laugh is so contagious Kol. I can't get over how giddy it makes me feel when you laugh." At these words, his cheeks burned red hot, making him turn away. At first she was speechless; she quickly got her bearings back seconds later. "I make you feel, giddy?" The playful edge to her voice made him even more nervous.
He nodded, still looking at the floor. "I just never got the courage to go up and talk to you. Not when you were so popular. What, with being as athletic as you are, playing soccer, softball, volleyball, basketball and being like, the smartest girl in our grade. You were so high up on the popularity charts that I couldn't even look at you without feeling the way that I did." Kolleen didn't know what to say to him. He didn't know, but her heart was beating fast at that moment. She hid it however and asked another question. "We've only known each other for a few months, since we started working here. I feel as if I've known you my entire life, and I mean that. Why on earth did it take you so long to tell me this?"
"Look at me, please!" She grabbed the side of his chin and turned his face back towards her. Those bright eyes continued to pour into his soul. He tried not to cry, feeling his own burning as he fought the tears back. Her eyes started to glisten as well, tears forming on the bottom of them as she watched him grow more and more distraught. Randy cleared his throat again and went on. "I-I had a crush on you ever since you joined the high school. I remember specifically the first time I met you and that was in the seventh or eighth grade. I remember saying, damn, when I walked by you, out of a classroom." "I remember that too and I smiled back." "Yes, that you did. I couldn't unlock my gaze that was set upon you since that day. What I like the most is that you're very down to earth, and I've come to realize that we have a lot in common, Kol."
"Yes, we do! The only main difference is we're working here for two totally different reasons. You want to wrestle and I want to become something else," she said. "What's that?" There was a slight pause, until she spoke. "I want to become a personal trainer as well as a nutritionist so I can help train athletes. My family is big in wrestling as well, maybe not as big as the Rodriguez's but we're pretty high up there. I've never had the body to be a performer myself, but I do have the brains to help them. That's why I wanted to ask you something." Randy felt her hand running up and down his arm again, sending goose bumps through his skin. "What is that?"
She grabbed his chin again, had he known what followed this small gesture, Randy would've prepared himself a bit more. Her lips met his ear as she whispered softly; it made his brain buzz almost instantly. "I wanted to know if you'd let me be your manager. The one who helps you stay fit. I won't be your trainer, because I know you already have one, but I'll be there for you all the way and I know you'll be there for me. What do you say?" Randy was about to answer her when the door opened again. He gazed over, noticing a tall woman with pure blonde hair. Kolleen tightened her grip on his hand at the sight of the customer.
"Who is she?" he asked. "It's my mom. God, this is so embarrassing." She whispered back. "Hello? Can I get some service over here?" "Damn, we got to tend to her…" "What?!" "She's a customer." He said, laughing at her shocked expression. He stood up and straightened his shirt, helping Kolleen out of her seat. Once they were both up, they were greeted with the brightest smile the woman could muster, giving them the courage to move forward. As they walked towards her, Kolleen slipped her hand into his, squeezing it lightly to show she was nervous. A smile was on his face as he squeezed it back, telling her that he was there for her, every step of the way.
"Hello Mrs. Sparks! How are you on this evening?" Randy asked, allowing Kolleen to slip behind the counter. Her mom did not notice that they were holding hands, which she thanked god for. She hated when her mom would walk in on her when she was either working or talking to her friends. It was finally the opportune time to get Randy one on one, then her mom waltzed in. Although, she figured, it could have been anybody that entered; it was just more annoying that it was her mom. Mrs. Sparks resembled Kolleen to a T, except she had thinner cheeks.
The woman was wearing a nurse's gown and cap, and her hair was tied in the back. "I'm just here to get gas and a drink real quick. My shift at the hospital starts in about thirty minutes and I still have to take the freeway to get there on time. If you don't mind, I'd like to get my drink and then get the gas. Please, do it as quickly as possible, if you can manage that." These words stung Randy a bit and somehow it felt like a derogatory slam towards him and his family. The entire Rodriguez family was full of wrestlers and everyone knows the injuries one can obtain during high tense fights. A lot of them had to deal with brain injuries. Mrs. Sparks saw him in deep thought and remembered the words she mentioned.
She grabbed his shoulders, catching him off guard, before he locked eyes with her. Kolleen was watching the entire thing in absolute silence. She didn't want to be pulled into the confrontation, especially not with the boy she had a crush on. "Young man, I did not mean any type of insult towards you or your family. The Rodriguez and Sparks families have been friends for generations and I'm not going to ruin that now. You're a good boy and I know Kolleen's a good girl. I was just very irritated that I overslept my alarm and work's starting soon." Randy felt his heart lighten a bit and nodded at her. "Kolleen? Can you please turn on pump number three?" "Can do!"
"I've been to this gas station multiple times, mostly to make a profit in it. I know not too many people seem to come around here much, at least not now. I'm just doing my part in helping you two make your pay. Ah, here we are!" She saw the tea bottles way off in the back and rushed there. Randy walked over to the counter again, letting his crush talk into his ear. "You can answer me later when we get a chance to speak again. My mom loves tea by the way; she's always drinking the stuff. She says it's very good for your health, although I don't like it that much, it's too bitter."
He sneaked a quick kiss onto her cheek; it burned bright pink moments later. "W-...W-..." She couldn't even speak as her hand rubbed the spot his lips touched. Her mother sprinted to the front of the room, with bottle in hand. "Give it here mom; I got to ring it up." Mrs. Sparks laughed a bit from this randomness. "Here you are!" "That'll be three dollars and nine cents." Her mom paid the amount and was out the door. "Have a good night at work Mom!" "You too honey! And the same goes for you Mr. Rodriguez." She waved the two off and hurried to her car. "Wait, how is she going to pay for the gas?" Randy inquired.
"My mom's very rich, just like your family is. She's got a butt load of credit cards. Normally she just uses that… Yup! Her number just came through the computer." Sure enough, they were being typed onto the screen, along with the name: Lorie Sparks. "I've never really liked that name. Although it is my mother's so I guess there is a sentimental value to it. Randy was listening but had been lost while watching this blonde beauty talk. She would wave her hands around sometimes, speaking with them and would smile every now and then. After a short while, he figured it was time to clean the tables so he found some alcohol and paper towels and then he was off.
What wasn't seen by him, from the girl he so crushed over, was her slowly rubbing her cheek. The most giddiest giggle stopped just inside her mouth, which she passed off as a cough. But what Kolleen didn't get a chance to notice was the strut Randy gave behind the last aisle as he wiped the shelves all smug like.