Disclaimer: I own Chrono, yes I do! I'm a liar, how 'bout you!

Author's Note: See chapter one or chapter seven.

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Ticks of the Clock

Cash or Check

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"What's with you?"

The violet haired boy sighed deeply at the question, flipping his long braid over his shoulder and leaning heavily against the sticky check table. "Just a bad day," he grumbled, dully watching the groceries go by on the conveyer belt. Broccoli for his mom, "Uncrustables" for his little sister Azmaria, Doritos for his dad. . . blegh. "And it's only gonna get worse."

"Why's that?" the cashier asked, scanning a box of Cocoa Puffs and blinking down at him with bright blue pools. "School wasn't that bad, was it?"

"Sure," he snorted, resting his chin in his hands and casting the girl an irritated glance. Her green plastic badge, upon which was carved the name Rosette, flashed dully in the grocery store's poor lighting. Behind him, three freshman cheerleaders gossiped while flipping through a glossy magazine and a strict looking woman in glasses waited impatiently for Rosette to finish with him. "If you think flunking two quizzes, being yelled at for being late, and getting stuck in the rain when your car broke down isn't 'that bad'."

Rosette flinched as she took a few coupons from his outstretched hand, noting the scratches beneath his black wristbands. He seemed to have been attacked by a dog, too. "All right, that does suck."

"I know," he sighed gloomily, raking his fingers through his wild bangs. "And now—after I finish running my mom's chores, that is—I gotta go work at that God awful restaurant for a double shift, while still trying to cram in my American history homework."

"What homework is that?" she inquired while typing in the coupon's codes, eyes on her register. "Maybe I can help you. I had that class last year."

"I gotta come up with some '20s slang," he grunted, rummaging through his baggy pant's back pocket for his wallet. "Something to do with 'getting to know the time'. And normally, I guess it would be fun, but I just don't have the time for it, what with that essay I've still got to write."

"Hmm. . .well, don't worry; I've got it covered!" the blonde sang, happily tapping the last button on her keyboard. Spinning to face him, she smiled widely. "Cash or check?"

The teen sighed, flipping open his leather billfold. So she knew, but wasn't going to tell him? Typical. "Cash, I guess," he mumbled, so preoccupied that he didn't notice Rosette's growing grin—until she had reached over the counter and grabbed him by his button down shirt's white lapels, that is. "Wha—!"

"Cash it is, then, Chrono," she giggled softly as their noses brushed, taking a moment to enjoy the expression of wide-eyed surprise on his face—

Before covering his mouth with her own, kissing him so deeply that he almost fell to his knees, blindly grasping the paper bag dispenser for support. And oh, he needed the support. . . In fact, by the time she'd pulled away, his knees had become a mush similar to the tapioca his mother insisted on feeding Azmaria.

Rosette, slowly licking her lips while pulling away, proudly displayed her trademark smirk. "There you go—your American history homework is done. Now, aren't you glad you have a girlfriend as smart as me?" Chuckling and grabbing his wallet from his stiff grasp (for he seemed to have frozen in shock; face glowing bright red), the girl helped herself to exact change before blowing Chrono a good bye smooch. "Have a better day, and call me later, all right? Perhaps—if you're good—I'll even give you a check. Mwahaha."

With a playful wink, she returned to work— apologizing casually to the woman behind him who was ranting about sinful teenage PDA. And, though he knew his mom was going to give him hell about the ice cream melting; and that Rosette was going to have her own "bitchfest" after getting off for the weekend; Chrono smiled.

He suddenly felt quite a bit better.

(Note: Credit to Lechan-sama, who first used the slang "cash or check" in her fic HIRD, which is how I learned it. For those of you who don't know, it means "kiss me now, or kiss me later." Fun, ne? XD Hope you enjoyed!)