A/N 1: She was just another Plain Jane among a sea of them. In Santa Carla where everyone tried to stand out, those with the barest of differences are the most memorable. So a girl that's working behind a counter in yet another convenience store that looks like just another 'normie' was no one memorable. Dead end job for what seems like forever, no family so to speak of, and an ex who just can't fully let go; that was all just another boring day in a sea of eternal days to her. The most abnormal she'd ever seen up until a single fateful day was the cat that would somehow sneak into the store and just sit on the counter with her some nights. Until those boys came in like ghosts. She never knew how that triggered the events and she didn't care, all she cared about was the guy trying to rob her. Completely edited and beta'd as of 11-20-2022
A/N 2 : listing this as complete as I shall not be adding more to this fic here on FF . n The story is only going to be uploaded to AO3 under the same exact pen name and story title. I'm only posting here becuase it was brought to my attention taht some people only use this site. I'm not one that uses this site much anymore as AO3 (for me) is far easier to navigate and publish on along with not monitoring the M content. I've had reports and stories on here that are now lost forever because there were reports of M content (including a lost boys one about a broken leg of all things). So I'm posting just chapter one so that any fans who wish to read this can find it and can enjoy it.
Chapter One: bMeeting the Jane Doe/b
"Prude Prue~!" A deep masculine voice called out in a sing-song tone, which ended up being a ivery/i nice tenor. The girl who was being referred to in such an uncomely way just sighed heavily and rolled her eyes, before she looked behind her and over the counter separating her from the known Surf Nazi standing there. Her fake smile dropped instantly with the knowledge that this was no stranger to her and she didn't have to pretend for the sake of her job. Well, technically she should, but one of the perks of working overnight was being a little loose with the rules.
"Francine," she replied in a clipped tone. His friends laughed and shoved at his shoulders rambunctiously, he puckered his lips in a fake pout at the use of a very terrible nickname.
It was a surprise to many of the gang when he had asked for Prue to be off limits for them, but most went along with it. The two of them had an innocent history that started in kindergarten on the playground. There, she had 'ruled' with an 'iron fist' - or rather, she didn't take to any other children and when they were mean to her she dished it right back at them with no remorse. It was then that her teasing nickname had first been used, and she had been determined to make him loathe his own first name, since he had started the name calling. Instead she ended up numbing him to his embarrassing first name to the point that he would only roll his eyes and continue on.
From that moment on, 'Prude' Prudence and 'Francine' Francis would take things to extremes in competitions and both were determined to be the best in anything school-related. From spelling bees to science fairs to testing scores, they competed in it all and worked to outdo each other every chance they got. One might consider it unfortunate that Francis had dropped out of school in their senior year to join the Surf Nazis. After all, it removed Prue's primary challenge in her classes. She considered it to be more favorable to her own future, however. She knew that had he not dropped off the face of the earth for a good few months, she and him likely would have continued to banter and argue until old age where they were married with a dozen grandchildren running at their feet. So she was quite happy the one guy she had ever liked abandoned her, lest she end up in that kind of forever situation with him.
Okay so maybe she was a bit bitter over it, mostly because no one liked going to prom alone when they should have had a date.
She looked away from the boy she had known for nearly as long as she could remember and back to the cigarettes she was packing out. She double checked her drawer and closed it when she didn't see the ones she wanted. With a soft grunt at him, she walked off from behind the counter and away from the gang, heading into the back office.
Had this been any other store, any place not decreed off limits by Francis- the second in command after Greg- the group would have raided the stock of cigarettes and snacks, then booked it out of there before she ever came back out. Instead they gathered up things they actually planned to pay for. Other things they could easily steal from the other stores just down the ways. Francis just sat on the counter to wait and chatted with his own second, keeping one eye on the gang. Prudence practically slammed the three cartons of Lucky's onto the counter and her glare stayed in place. Francis gave her his most innocent look.
She was definitely still bitter over last year.
"You know, we could have ruled the gang." His voice was as smooth as silk, as if he was trying to lure her into joining, into following him even though he knew her well enough to know nothing he did would make her follow him as she once had. "There's still a place for a pretty face like yours~" He purred at her to hide that, at times, he really did wish that she would give in and join him, then he leaned back. She just sidestepped in hopes that he would fall, but he just laughed and sat back up, a sharp whistle leaving his lips easily.
Pretty face indeed. Prudence had a soft chin with sharp and high cheekbones which framed a small round nose with perky pink lips below it. Brown eyes with green flecks never stopped glaring at him and he knew that the hate would never fully leave her eyes. He had ruined their relationship for the most part months ago when he saved her from ending up like him. Standing her up at prom had been both his best and worst decision ever. Reaching out, he grabbed her hat off her head and let out a whoop as her dark brown hair nearly fell out of its haphazardly done ponytail.
She quickly pulled the tail tight again and he frowned at her. "New coloring?" Her hair was far lighter than he remembered, highlights streaking through it and yellow green for the underside. It was a stark contrast to her natural dark brown hair color. "The bangs are a nice addition, though." He watched her face, saw her grit her teeth, and knew somewhere at her hidden temple a vein would be popping right about now.
Instead of antagonizing the infuriated girl further, he tossed the visor back to her- which she pulled back on with a pout and a huff. "Pay for your shit and leave," she growled, which only caused him and his second to laugh. It was rare that she would ever be riled up enough to curse, especially at work. So his boys piled all of their food up and she rang everything up, announced the total, and everyone threw money onto the counter. Francis saw her lips thin into a suddenly pale line. He knew she hated it when the bills were crumpled and just tossed at her.
After a few moments of quickly flattening and counting all of the money- including almost ten dollars in loose change- she dismissed him and the gang began to wander out. He was the last one in the store so he grabbed her chin and made her look at him. He knew that beyond the anger her eyes held- beyond the searing loathing- there was a hurt that hadn't been healed and one that he couldn't help her with. Being the cause of it meant that if he fixed it she would just get hurt all over again. "Take care of yourself, 'kay? There are new faces around that aren't as kind as me and mine." It was the closest he would ever get to apologizing for shattering her heart and burning the pieces.
Prue scoffed and pulled away, refusing to look at him, and he got the hint. Sure, she got his message, but there was no way she would acknowledge him the way he wished she would. If only she knew he had broken his own heart, too. "I'm serious," he said softly. "Be careful, these new guys are nothing to mess around with." He patted her cheek and then rushed off to catch up with his boys. If he showed her too much attention- other than what might be expected of old acquaintances- they might get ideas that neither he nor her would like.
Hours after they left Prue was at the front doors of the convenience store, wiping the glass down. Right next to her was a broom and dust pan with a very clean-looking rug that had just been swept, and a bit further away was a mop and bucket, not yet used at the section she was currently working on. Her bored face shifted towards more of a scowl. Was this what her life had really turned into? Working all night at a convenience store at just above the minimum wage just to afford to survive?
Roars of motorbikes drew her attention away from her clean door causing her eyes to focus past the clear glass to four boys sitting on them laughing and pushing at each other. One was watching her through the doors and she turned away to scowl at the cleaning supplies that she would now need. Wringing out the mop, she huffed and tried to relax and calm herself again.
Just as the wet bottom touched the ground the door opened and pinged. The boys that had been on the bikes moved smoothly, as if they were floating on air. Looking up, she watched them and each and every one of them made brief eye contact with her. "Watch your step," she warned as she kept eye contact with the platinum blond. Before she could get more out one boy pushed another and he fell hard, busting his ass. This broke her and Platinum's concentration as they looked over. "Floor's wet." A thin finger pointed at a bright yellow sign that announced in English, and Spanish, 'Wet Floor'.
All the boys took it in stride and laughed at the wild-haired boy that was trying to get up without falling again. Curly nearly fell too with how hard he was laughing at the misfortune of his friend. Prue couldn't help the small smile that cleared away her scowl from before and instead rolled her eyes as she got back to work mopping the floor. As the boys wandered around, she knew one of them kept watching her. Their eyes never left her back as she continued to slowly mop. But from watching their reflections in the glass she knew when they were heading to the register.
Returning the mop to the now dirty water in the bucket, she made her way behind the counter to ring them up. "Pack of reds too." Platinum said and the other three laughed for seemingly no reason.
Looking the boy up and down, she let her eyes wander to them all. Platinum in all black- his trench coat, gloves, boots- everything. Then to the shirtless brunet who seemed to leak sexual attraction because of his 'exotic' ethnicity. He wasn't exotic at all compared to Curly whose brightly colored jacket was the only exotic thing here. That and wild boy's hair. Looking back at Platinum, she contemplated IDing them. It was legal to ID anyone that asked and she was so tempted to in the effort to learn their names, mostly his. Instead she turned around and grabbed a pack and added it to their purchase.
Crumpled bills were dropped on the counter for the second time this shift of hers and she barely managed to keep her false smile up. Taking the bills, she noticed how grimy and dirty some were and how fresh and clean others were. It was like they had taken some of the bill from the richest people that visited the boardwalk while also taking from the homeless too. Not that it was really any concern of hers. "Two dollars." She said simply and suddenly as the boys started to grab their things.
"What?" Wild hair looked at her with confusion in his blue eyes. He tilted his head just a bit and his smile had faltered before coming right back into place to try and look 'adorable'. It would have worked better had Curly done it and not him.
"You guys still owe two dollars." She expanded her words this time as she explained what she had meant and she could see the two blond boys- Curly and Wild- gawping at her as if they expected to be excused for not paying their total. Two dollars were held out to her and she looked at the platinum-haired one. "Thanks." This time as their eyes locked for just a moment her smile felt natural.
He just smirked and then looked her over hungrily before turning away and signaling to his boys that it was time to go with a jerk of his head. She watched as they left, all of them sauntering out of the door and to their bikes which roared to life quickly before taking off and leaving. With a small sigh she realized her heart was pounding. Something about those boys made her apprehensive, perhaps though it was only something about a certain one. The one that had drawn her attention like a moth to the flame and she was thankful she hadn't turned into a blushing, stammering, idiot in front of him.
Looking at the time, she heaved a different kind of sigh and grabbed a pair of gloves and cleaning supplies. It was time to clean the bathrooms and then just a few more hours until her relief from this place. It would be dawn that would be outside then, just waiting on the horizon, beckoning her, as she would finally be able to punch out and leave.