4:00 A.M.
"Well, shift's over for the two of you," Erin yawned, massaging her cheeks to keep herself awake. "I still have an hour left before the next clerk arrives."
She tapped her phone and peered through the screen. "Oh, and it's a Monday too. You normally take Mondays off, right Millie?"
"Yep!" Chamomile nodded. "As much as I really love working here, I do want to take some time off and do girl stuff."
"Girl stuff, huh? We really should set one afternoon to go out shopping for clothes together. You know your way around the stores and all that!"
"That sounds great! Oh, speaking of! I was looking at a certain trench coat, and I think it would fit you perfectly! Like, I can already picture you rocking the fit when you head out!
"Jeez, really? Promise me that you'll take me to see this trench coat!"
"I will, I will!"
While the two young ladies happily chatted away, Concord packed up his stuff and grabbed another can of Grape Soda before approaching the front desk.
"I'll be going now," Concord said with a nod before turning around towards the front door.
"Ah, hey! I'm coming with!" Chamomile called out, rushing to get her own handbag in her locker and her boots that'd been dried out.
"Oh right, you two have the same route home. That's good, considering that the streets are still dark. You both need someone to look out after."
"And there's a sale at the convenience store! I'm dragging him along with me!"
Concord stared at Millie. "What for?"
"Just come along, will you? Escort a beautiful lady with her errands!"
"Fine."
"Yahoo!"
She held his hand with a smile and led him out the doors. Erin saw the two leave together, holding hands together as Chamomile kept chattering away, not giving a care if Concord was actually listening or not.
"Really, now…" Erin sighed, taking a sip of freshly brewed coffee. "It's a miracle they haven't realized they like each other. Then again, with how stone-faced Concord is, it'd really be hard for Millie to know!"
She drowned her sentiments with coffee, limbering up to finish the last hour of her shift.
Meanwhile, Chamomile and Concord were walking side-by-side under the deep blue twilight. The only thing that lit up their path were the numerous street lamps with amber lights, illuminating the urban road ahead where little to no pedestrians take to the snowy streets late in the night (or early in the day, depending on one's perspective.)
"Hmm, hmm hmm!" Chamomile hummed, pitter-pattering in her steps as she observed her surroundings. "No matter how many times I pass by the road home, I always find it so beautiful!"
"What's there to find beautiful when it's the same scene all over again?" Concord replied. "Same lights, same sounds, same crowds that pass by each other."
"Ehhh? There's nothing like this back then from where I lived. It was always so quiet and dull because it's a gated community! All the people I see are the snobby butts that could barely be bothered to talk with!"
"Ah, right…"
Concord nearly forgot that Chamomile came from a rich family, where she lived in all those fancy gated neighborhoods reserved for the rich and privileged.
Now that it's been brought up, Concord was slightly curious at the fact that a young, possibly pampered lady like Chamomile, was working part-time in a job that required physical labor, and late night shifts.
Wait, didn't Millie deliberately sign up for the midnight shifts? His brows furrowed, thinking at how odd the situation is.
"Besides!" Chamomile continued to rant. "The more I see how people live their lives in different ways, the more it makes me feel excited, you know? There are different people passing by daily, and it's like I'm reading different storybooks and learning more from others on a daily rotation!"
"What a colorful way of seeing things." Concord nodded at her reasoning. He wishes he had the same amount of optimism and childlike wonder that Chamomile had.
He kept quiet, listening in to Chamomile droning over her latest interests, occasionally nodding to show that he was somewhat engaged to the conversation. He was spacing out every other minute, but the cheerful girl did not take notice that her yapping fell on a half-absent mind.
The one-sided conversation only ended upon reaching the convenience store that both Twilight Movers frequented, as it was the nearest to their apartments. It was situated in the corner of a barely populated residential block, but it was also near a high school, so the peak hours would be during school days and office hours.
In short, Chamomile and Concord had the convenience store all to themselves in the super-early morning.
Pin-poooon~!
The cheesy automated tune jingled upon entering the establishment. The clerk working behind the counter gave a courteous greeting before heading back to taking inventory for the cigarettes and miscellaneous merchandise meant for adults.
"Oooooh! My gut was right!" Chamomile giggled. "The three-day sale just started today, so we get first pick on select items for half the price!"
Concord blinked. He was surprised and impressed that Chamomile was also taking notes on when the convenience store held sales. He always had an impression that she would have no problem buying anything she wanted despite the slightly elevated prices due to her family's financial status, so he didn't take her for being a frugal girl.
"That's…" Concord opened his mouth to speak.
"Hmm? What is it, Concord?" Chamomile looked at her, tilting her head with a grin.
"...Good job."
Concord wanted to compliment Chamomile; even wanting to thank her for taking note that there was a sale today so he can save money by buying supplies for half the price, so he was wondering why in the ever living crap would he say 'good job' as a compliment!?
"Eh? Good job for…?" The young lady stared at him dumbfounded.
"Uh… Nothing."
Good job, Concord. You fumbled hard.
"Anyway! The reason why I wanted you to come along is this!"
Again, Chamomile took Concord's hand and dragged him like a child with a leashed puppy. "Ta-dah!"
"...!"
Concord's eyes widened. Apparently, the convenience store was running a sale for Grape Soda.
"I figured you'd want to buy some while they're half the price," Chamomile smiled. "So that's why I took you here!"
"Oh…" The young man nodded, slightly flustered that his preferences were remembered.
"But seriously, can you also try other drinks as well? You're missing out on a lot, you know!"
"Thanks, but I'll stick to my soda."
"Ehhh, whatever, you big weirdo."
After rummaging through the products for sale, they went to the counter and had their spoils bagged and tagged.
"Millie?" Concord spoke softly.
"Hm?" Chamomile tilted her head up.
"...Thank you, for thinking of taking me here just for… this."
He awkwardly patted the huge stacks of soda six-packs he purchased.
"It's nothing! That's what friends are for, right?"
"Friends…"
Concord sported a smile.
"I guess so."
"Right! And friends help each other a lot, sooooo…!"
Concord's smile turned into a quick grimace when he saw that Chamomile was waving at her bags.
She bought nearly thrice the amount of goods than Concord did. Sigh… She really still is filthy rich, after all.
"Can you help me carry all of this back to my place…?" Chamomile chuckled shamelessly.
"...Fine."
"Yaaaay! I owe you one!"
Carrying loads of bags in his arms, the two left the convenience store and walked back to their respective homes nearby.