Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my OC
I really don't think that I'm a bad person. I would never maliciously hurt someone or go out of my way to take revenge so I wasn't particularly proud of how I was acting. It had been three weeks and Doctor Cullen had come into the store two more times, at least when I was on a shift. Both times, he had come in was on a Saturday when I was working a shift with Ben and I had immediately retreated into the back room. I wasn't proud of myself. Certainly, hiding in a small back room was never my proudest moment but I had done it. I had avoided Doctor Cullen's golden eyes for three weeks. Ben did not support me in my endeavors but he didn't stop me either. He'd just roll his eyes as he saw me slowly head for the back room and shake his head as I cautiously peeked out to check if the doctor was gone. I was almost relieved when the next Saturday, Doctor Cullen never showed. Then, the next week, again, he didn't show.
I sighed, tucking my pencil behind my ear as I scanned over the new arrival list, checking the accuracy of Ben's latest order. I put the paper down. Perhaps, I was wrong to keep dodging him. I was blowing everything way out of proportion anyway. It didn't matter, he probably didn't even notice. Well, he may have noticed the first or second time but I'm sure he had forgotten about it quite easily. I think it was time to just set aside my avoidance plan. Maybe I should just apologize or at least stop avoiding him.
Looking out the glass window, I saw a silver car pull up into the parking lot, parking quickly before a familiar man walked out. I wasn't prepared to see him so soon. Panicking, I ducked down behind the desk, hoping he didn't see me as I cornered myself further behind the register next to the bottom of my stool. I heard the entrance bell ring, signaling that he had entered the store and pulled my legs up under my chin. This was not good, not at all. I couldn't exactly just pop up now and act like crouching behind the counter was normal. Perhaps I could just act like I had dropped something but then I had already been down here for too long. I was stuck.
"Excuse me" He must be standing next to the register, although I was sure that he couldn't see me. He must just be asking for help. Ben walked out from the back room, his eyes going to Doctor Cullen before looking down towards the register, seeing me scrunched up in a ball under the counter. Ben's eyes widened and I gave him a small wave before putting a finger over my lips, telling him to keep quiet.
"How can I help you, sir?" Ben asked stiffly, stepping behind the counter. Well, now it was much too late for me to come out. Now it would just be weird. Not that it wasn't already weird with me hiding on the ground. I just had to sit here for a little while longer.
"I'm here to pick up an order, it's under Cullen" I could see Ben nodding, he was probably looking over the order list.
"Let me just check the back for the order" Ben gave me a look as he walked back into the back room. This would be fine. Ben would come back from the back with the book and then just ring Doctor Cullen up and then he would leave and I could come out. Ben just needed to come back with the book. I just needed to wait it out. A few minutes later, Ben came back out. "You know, I couldn't find it in the back, it must be under here somewhere" I could have just died right there.
Ben crouched down, "Hurry up" I whispered.
"Why are you even down here?"
"I panicked, can you just hurry and get the book?" He reached into the drawer, looking through the other orders before sighing.
"There's no book, I can't find it"
"What do you mean you can't find it" I whisper yelled at him. My god this was a real low point in my life. Ben stood up before I could say anything else. I just wanted this entire situation to be over.
"I'm sorry, Doctor Cullen, I can't find it, maybe the delivery got delayed, if you could check back a few days from now" offered Ben, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I will, thank you for your help" Finally, the doctor would leave. I heard him take a step towards the door before stopping. "I'll make sure to come on a different day next time, I wouldn't want Coraline to have to hide, again" I could practically feel my heart exploding from embarrassment as I put my face on my knees. I just wanted to curl up into a ball and become transparent.
Ben said nothing, and I heard the door close with the ring of the bell. I stood up and I could feel something lumpy as I stood. I was sitting on a book, Doctor Cullen's book at that. That's why Ben couldn't find it, I must have knocked it over in my rush to hide. I held it in my arms as I stood up, giving Ben a guilty look. He looked at me shaking his head, this is what he had been warning me about for the last month, that I couldn't avoid Doctor Cullen forever and that it would blow up in my face. I felt too guilty to even begin to hate Ben for being right. Why was I even avoiding Doctor Cullen in the first place, I was just trying to prevent something that hasn't even happened.
With a rush guilt, I gripped the book tightly, pushing past Ben and outside. The cold hit me immediately.
"Doctor Cullen" He was only just getting into his car. I saw him stop and look at me with something akin to surprise. I guess he hadn't expected me to come out from hiding. I made my way down the three steps, looking straight at him. I got an arm's length away before I stopped walking and held out the book. "It was under the counter"
"So, that's why you were crouched under the register" his golden eyes met mine and I felt relieved at the bit of amusement I detected in his tone.
"I'm really really sorry, I just…" I didn't know what my explanation was. "I just really…I just," I was scrambling for words. I took a breath, composing myself. "You're a very nice person and I was just being childish"
"I must admit that I was very confused at your sudden disappearances, I almost thought I had offended you in some way" he admitted.
I was quick to assure him that it wasn't something he did. "It wasn't you and I promise not to act so rudely in the future" His eyes felt like they were staring straight into my soul and I couldn't help but look at him nervously as I wrapped my arms around my body; it was freezing out here.
"No more hiding?" He asked, tilting his head ever so slightly, his golden eyes sparkling with amusement.
I nodded, smiling. "No more hiding" I agreed. We looked at each other for a moment before I broke eye contact, looking down at the ground. "I should let you get home, then" I said, my breath coming out visible in the cold air. I could practically feel my teeth chattering.
He seemed surprised, almost as if he had forgotten about the cold in the air. "Right, it was nice to see you, Coraline." I smiled, looking up at him.
"I'll see you around, Doctor Cullen" I said, looking at him for a moment longer before turning, walking back to the stairs. Before I went back in, I turned back, Doctor Cullen had only just opened his door. I gave him a small wave which he reciprocated before getting fully into his car and I slid back into the book store.
As I came back into the book store, I was shaking slightly from the cold outside. I hadn't fully realized how cold it had been outside.
"Is everything okay now?"
I nodded, making my way to the back to grab my coat. I felt better after talking to Doctor Cullen. Maybe avoiding him hadn't been the best plan in the world. Probably, not even in the top 10 best plans I've ever had. I feel like this was the start of something better. Something a little less weird.
I finished the fifth chapter! Also, I literally live on comments and feel more motivated when I get them so pleaseee let me know what you think
