*Luke's POV*

"Want to play some Super Smash Bros. Brawl?" Calum asked, but I didn't turn to him. My eyes were too concentrated on the clock, waiting for the time to reach ten forty-five, because fifteen minutes is how long it'll approximately take me and Calum to get to work.

It's only hit eight and I've got two hours and forty-five minutes to spare. I really need to do something to pass the time.

I felt something hit the side of my face and I saw that it was a rolled up sock. I finally glanced over at Calum who was still waiting for my answer and missing one sock, his eyes concentrated on me.

"Sure," I sighed, standing from where I was seated on his couch. Calum already had the game console set up and was sitting on the ground in front of the TV. I sat beside him as he handed me a Wii control.

"Ready for me to beat you?" Calum asked, his eyes showing determination. I laughed because he's getting serious over a game.

"Whatever," I laughed, rolling my eyes. I should at least enjoy playing this. You know what they say: time flies when you're having fun.

------

"Aye! I totally dodged that!" I yelled when my character, Pikachu, flew off the screen and my number of lives went down.

"Apparently not, since you died," Calum cackled, pressing the button to make his character, Ike, taunt.

"Okay, now you're dead." I used Pikachu to grab Ike and flip him backwards. While Ike was down Pikachu ran right at him and used thundershock, causing Ike to fly off the screen.

"Woah, what just happened?!" Calum asked as I laughed at his reaction.

"Revenge is sweet, isn't it?" I smirked and glanced at the clock and saw it was nine thirty. We've been playing this game for an hour and thirty minutes, but it felt like it was only ten minutes.

I sill had a lot of time before Calum and I would head out to work and when I'll meet Irvin again. For the past month that I've been working at 7-Eleven Irvin's the only customer that I wanted to be friends with. I mean, he's only been coming to the place for a week, but he's already got me wanting to be friends with him.

I want to learn more about him. I want to know everything about him.

Okay, I sound really desperate, but I only have Calum and Pamela. All my other friends from high school haven't talked to me since graduation. "Let's keep in touch," they said, and then they don't even make an effort to text or call.

"You're still waiting, huh?" I heard Calum ask. I glanced his way and he had his eyebrows raised at me. I cocked a brow.

"What do you mean?" I questioned, even though I knew what he meant.

"Dude, just have fun right now, okay? The more you look at the clock, the slower the time will seem."

I was about to say something before my phone began to ring. I fished it out of my pocket and answered without looking at who was calling.

"Hello?" I said into the phone.

"Hey, did you buy the Poptarts yet?" Oh, it's just Ben.

"Yeah, I got them. I'll bring them home after work, okay?"

"But you don't get back until three something in the morning. Could you please bring it now? Where are you, anyway?"

"At my friend's."

"When does work start?"

"Eleven."

"You've got plenty of time. Just bring them home and then you can go back to doing whatever Lukes do." I pulled my phone away from my ear and glanced over at Calum.

"Is it okay if we go by my place?" I asked, giving him a 'I'm sorry' look. Calum just shrugged.

"I don't mind," he answered. "We don't have to go to work until eleven, and it's only nine thirty."

I nodded at him before turning my attention back to Ben on the phone. "Yeah, I'll be over in a few."

"Okay," he said, "later." Then the line ended there. I pushed my phone into my pocket and stood up from where I was sitting. Calum shut off the Wii and the TV and stood up.

"Let's go to my place, I guess," I said. I picked up the bag that had the Poptarts in it and then the both of us left Calum's house and started for my place.

The walk from Calum's place to mine was going to take at least half an hour, so that means I'll be using up some time before I have to go to work.

------

Ben was lying on his bed, his phone in his hands, and was tapping away on it. I placed the Poptarts on his bed and began heading out of his room.

"Okay, we'll be going now," I announced.

"Wait," Ben spoke up. "I feel like there's something I should tell you," Ben spoke, putting his phone aside and furrowing his eyebrows, "but I can't remember what it was."

"If you can't remember, it's probably not important."

Ben thought for a moment, before shrugging. "You're probably right. If I remember, I'll call you."

"Okay, bye!" Then Calum and I stepped out of his room and began walking over to the front door.

"Your brothers are cool," Calum commented. "I wish my sister was as cool as your brothers."

"My brothers are lazy," I laughed. "My parents pay for their college while I have to pay for mine."

"That sucks."

"Not really. I like my job, so that's good."

Calum grinned. "Is it because of me or Irvin?"

I chuckled as I looked at him. "It's fun working at 7-Eleven. Now, let's hurry up and get to your place."

"Or," Calum stopped in his tracks, "we can stay here. I mean, you live closer to 7-Eleven, so it's probably better to stay here."

"Did you leave anything at home?"

"Not that I know of. Do I need anything?"

"Well, you need yourself, your phone, and maybe your wallet, just in case."

I watched as Calum patted his pockets and then gave me a thumbs up.

"So," he said, "what shall we do?"

------

For the past fifty minutes or something Calum and I were playing Egyptian Ratscrew, and when I realized that it was ten minutes until eleven I jumped onto my feet and practically rushed over to the door.

"Somebody's excited for work," Calum joked. "Dude, it's just Irvin, your customer. You need to chillax."

"I am chillaxed," I spoke rather quickly. I made sure I had my phone and wallet before I opened up the front door. "Come on or we'll be late!"

"We've got time, okay? It's not like the boss can fire us if we're a few minutes late. Besides, Larry can spare some extra time I'm sure."

I was being a bit annoyed when Calum was taking his sweet time, but he was doing it on purpose. I groaned and went behind him so I could push him out of my house and in the direction of 7-Eleven.

I don't understand, of all days, why I'm looking forward to work. I especially don't understand why my heart is racing so fast either.

Nervous? Excitement? All just because I'm looking forward to seeing Irvin?

Possibly.

------

By the time Calum and I arrived at work it was already six after eleven. Larry was idly leaning against the counter with an open magazine in his hands. He looked up at us and let out a sigh.

"Took you long enough," he said, walking past us. "I'm going home. Good luck."

"You're such a downer, Larry," Calum told him, smiling a bit. "You need to cheer up."

Larry just ignored him and walked out of the store. Other than me and Calum, the place was pretty much empty of anyone.

"Okay, I'll take the counter shift," I began, "and you can make sure that everything else in the store is in check."

"You just want to be the first to see Irvin." I stuck my tongue out at him and he did the same before walking over to a random aisle. I went behind the counter and leaned my elbows against it as I kept my eyes concentrated on the door, watching for customers.

Well, customers and Irvin.

"Hemmings?" I turned around and saw that my boss was coming out of the backroom. "Why are you here?"

"I'm working my shift," I told him, putting on a smile. "Did you forget?"

"But I called your home. Your brother didn't tell you? I've decided to give you the night off."

My smile fell. That's what Ben was supposed to tell me?

"What?"

"Your back's hurting, isn't it?" the boss asked, eyeing me. "Hood's been telling me how awful it was, and it had me debating whether or not to give you a break."

"I-It's healed! My back's okay now! I can work!" I protested. I can't go home now. I've been waiting for this time to come, and I didn't wait just to be sent home.

"Well, you should probably rest, anyway. I suggest you go home now. Don't show up until this time tomorrow."

"I'm fine now! Really!"

"This is an order, Hemmings. Don't test me. Now, I must return to the new recruit that I just hired a few hours ago. I was going to have you show him the ropes, but I suppose Hood will do it instead."

"But-"

"No."

"Can't I just-"

"No."

"Sir, if I may-"

"See you tomorrow, Hemmings." Then he disappeared into the backroom, and I got a short glimpse of the new employee. I didn't get a good look at him, so I couldn't say much about his appearance, but he did have brown hair.

"Hey, Luke, can you give me a hand?" I heard Calum say. I turned to look at him and saw he had a bunch of snacks in his arms. "People just don't know how to put things back."

"Sorry, I'm off the clock," I chuckled, shrugging at him. "I have to go home."

"What?" He had a surprised expression on his face. "I thought that the boss said you could work?"

"Did you not hear or see him earlier? He said I have to go home."

"He's here? Since when?"

I sighed, shaking my head, "Doesn't matter. There's a new guy. Deal with him. I'm going home."

"Do you want me to ask Irvin for his number when he comes in?" Calum asked.

"Nah, I kind of want to ask him myself. See you tomorrow, Cal."

"Okay, then. Bye." Then I stepped out of the store, stuffing my hands into my pockets and hanging my head as I kicked a small rock that was in the way.

I thought waiting for three hours was enough, but now I have to wait for a whole twenty-four?

Luck just isn't on my side right now, is it?