Author's Note: I'm glad people like it and there will be more chapters!

Chapter 2: Your Best Friends Can Be Jerks

10:23am: 2 hours and 37 minutes Before the Game:

There was a sign on the counter that said 'Please leave money on the counter, take change when applicable. Be honest!' Elliot and Olivia were sitting behind the counter out of sight; he was leaning on her shoulder fading in and out of sleep as she was filling out order forms. Someone who was buying a paper dropped 75 cents and walked out.

"Thank you." Elliot said dazed as he heard the change hit the counter.

"You really are tired." Olivia remarked.

They had been working for almost three and a half hours and all they did was take inventory, clean and help the few customers; it was always slow this early.

"This is why I never work Saturday mornings." He told her. "This is my only day to sleep in and unless your dad really needs me I'm not coming in before 12."

Olivia was Cragen's adopted daughter after her mother died when she was 8. She didn't know who her biological father was but Cragen cared for her as if she was his daughter and that's all that mattered.

"Sleep in?" Olivia questioned. "I thought you just watched Saturday morning cartoons in your underwear."

"Haha you're so funny." He noted dryly. "No, lately I've come to appreciate the value of sleep. I work all week and I have Sunday mass I need a break sometimes."

"And another thing," Elliot started. "You didn't tell me your dad had game tickets today."

"One of his friends had an extra ticket and gave it to him last night." She said. "I didn't think it was a big deal because Fin was supposed to be here not you."

He said nothing to this and went back to leaning on her shoulder. Another person came in a grabbed a paper; they put down a dollar and took a quarter for change.

"Thank you."

Olivia put down her clipboard and looked at Elliot. "How do you even know they'll take the right amount of change or pay at all?"

"I only left three bucks and like two dollars in change up there." He didn't open his eyes. "It's not a school day so there are only people coming in here for the paper or coffee. Plus if people see money unattended they assume someone is watching them anyway and won't steal it, honesty through paranoia."

"That sounds crazy."

"Munch taught me that."

"Why am I not surprised?"

"Who do you think put the 'If your are going to steal something let us know' sign?" he asked.

"Well all 3 of you are assholes who don't take your jobs seriously." She said.

He opened his eyes and sat up. "Take my job seriously? Liv we're all store clerks who deal with morons every day, our jobs aren't that hard."

"If you want to become a police officer you have to take everything seriously."

"Not this again!" he sighed.

"Yes this again El, you have to start take things seriously, even the small stuff." She told him. "You think the academy is going to accept you if you keep this up?"

Elliot got up he didn't want to have this conversation. He never liked getting into conflict with Olivia especially about joining the police academy.

"I got one more year to worry about it." He stood at the counter and didn't look at her. "I said I'd wait until after you got your associate degree before entering the police academy. We're going to get through it together."

"I know," she got up from the floor. "But in the meantime you could study more and be serious."

"I'm not asking my dad for help that's for sure." He stated firmly. He saw a customer walk through the aisles and went to see if they needed help.

"I'll study when I want to." He said offhandedly. He then walked up to the customer, a man wearing a t-shirt that said 'Marines' on it. "Hi sir, anything I can help you with?"

The guy looked at Elliot. "Not really, but I couldn't help but overhear that you want to join the police academy."

"Well yes, but that's far in the future." Elliot told the man.

"You look like you could use a little discipline in your life. How old are you?" the man asked.

"20 years old." Elliot hated talking to customers.

The man pulled out his wallet and handed Elliot his business card, his name was Sargent Nathan Page. "If you really want to get straighten out join the Marines, our nearest recruitment center is on Canal Street." He grabbed a gallon of milk and walked up to the counter.

Olivia rung up the milk. "That'll be $5.06"

Sgt. Page handed her the money and before leaving looked to Elliot. "Think about what I said kid."

Olivia looked at her friend. "What was that about?"

"Something stupid, it was nothing." He didn't want to tell her about the offer the man just gave him and make her worry more. But he wasn't really thinking about joining the Marines now, was he?

Olivia said nothing and they both got back to work.

11:33am: 1 hour and 27 minutes Before the Game:

It was almost noon and there were more people out and about on this beautiful Saturday. People with their kids, teenagers shopping, and just people hanging out. On the one way street that the Quick Stop was on a black Honda Civic pulled up in front of the store and two men stepped out of the car. A tall lanky man wearing shades, black jeans and a t-shirt that said 'Don't be stupid' came from the passenger's side and his friend an African American man wearing cargo shorts, a Mets jersey and cap came from the driver's side. They were John Munch and Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola respectively.

"Elliot is going to kill you." Munch said.

"Not before he kills you." Fin laughed. "And besides I think he'd appreciate the extra time with Olivia."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Munch shook his head.

They walked inside the convenience store and saw their friends at the counter.

"What's up Benson? Stabler?" Munch hollered.

"What the hell?!" Elliot looked annoyed. "I thought you were sick."

Fin smirked. "I was sick, I caught baseball fever."

"Asshole!" Elliot declared. "I worked all of yesterday just so I could stay home and…"

"And watch cartoons in your underwear?" Munch cut him off.

Olivia giggled.

"No!" Elliot was pissed. "Ugh, why are you two here?"

"Because Fin felt so bad that he made you come in today we thought we help out." Munch volunteered.

"And that's a bunch of bullshit!" Olivia stated. "John you never work on Saturdays, but you come here to dick around anyway."

"My cable's out." Fin said truthfully. "I need a place to watch the game."

"So why didn't you go to John's house?" Olivia asked.

"My TV broke a month ago." Munch said.

"Yeah and he's too cheap and lazy to get a new one." Fin sneered.

"So you boneheads came here to give me an ever hard time?" Elliot said.

"That and I wanted to see your face as the Mets destroy the Yankees today."

Elliot rolled his eyes. "Like I need more Mets fans screaming at me today."

"I presume you'll tell us later?" Munch asked Olivia.

Olivia nodded.

Fin went behind the counter and grabbed the remote for the TV, a 26 inch flat screen hanging on the wall that is normally used to watch the security feed. He turned on the power but when the TV came on it was just static.

"The security cameras are busted remember?" Elliot told him.

"I know that!" Fin retorted. "But I'm pretty sure I can change the input to basic and we can watch the game."

After a few minutes of flipping through the inputs they final got to basic cable.

"What channel is the game on?" Fin asked.

"5" Elliot told him.

Fin went to the channel and thankful the picture was clear. "Alright we got like an hour and fifteen before the game. We'll be back before the first pitch."

Fin came from behind the counter and he and Munch made their way to the door.

"Where you guys going?" Olivia asked.

"To smoke…" Fin didn't finish his sentence and they both walked out.

The duo went to the side of the building and Munch pulled out two cigarettes.

"No blunts today?" he asked Fin.

"Those are for after the game." Fin responded. He pulled out his lighter and lit up both their cigarettes.

They each took long drags before exhaling and leaned against the wall.

12:16pm: 44 minutes Before the Game:

Olivia was in the backroom cleaning up and Elliot was at the counter. A man brought a pack of cigarettes and then a lady came up with her items.

"Excuse me young man," it was an elderly woman with at least 10 cans of cat food in her hands. "Can you help me?"

Elliot put down his magazine. "Yes ma'am, I can ring those up for you."

"No, I want your opinion on these two brands." She held up a can of Iams and a can of Friskies.

"Sorry I don't have cats." He told her.

"You don't understand I want to know which brand taste better. I'm buying them for myself." This lady was dead serious.

"Ummm…what?" Elliot was confused. "Ma'am you do know this is cat food right?"

"Yes, but I read on the internet that cat food is healthy for you and cheaper than people food. I thought I'd give it a try." She said enthusiastically.

'Great, another whack job.' He thought. "I can't help you with that, just buy both?"

She thought about it for a while and Elliot rolled his eyes. 'Just buy the cat food and leave.'

"Alright," she finally said. "I'll buy both five cans of each."

As he rung up her purchases Olivia walked back to the counter. "That'll be $8.50."

She paid him and walked out.

Elliot looked at Olivia. "Just so you know that lady brought cat food."

She shrugged. "So?"

"For herself," he told her. "She's gonna eat that cat food and that shows you the kind of clientele we cater to."

"Give it a rest El." Sometimes she gets so sick of his complaining. "As my dad would say 'suck it up and do your job.'"

"Fine, I'll change the subject." He looked straight at her. "How come we've never go out on like dates?"

This was a sudden 180 in the conversation.

"What?" she questioned. "We go on dates all the time."

"No, I'm not talking about going to Coney Island with the guys. I'm talking about just you and me."

She didn't know what to say.

"I've known you for 3 years and your one of my best friends. I know everything about you Liv and you know everything about me."

"What will your dad say?" she couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Screw him," he said honestly. "That man wants me to marry a good catholic girl, have 5 kids and follow in his footsteps. What about what I want? I want to find the right person and that could start with you." He smiled at her.

"…I don't know what to say." Her heart was fluttering in her chest. Her best friend was asking her out on a date, it was completely out of left field but that was okay.

"You don't have to answer me now." Elliot knew he caught her off guard. "How about at the end of the day?"

"Sure." She smiled at him.

Author's Note: So they got the TV to work...let's see how long that last. Also the bit with the lady and the cat food is something that happened to me twice when I worked at Pathmark, some people are just weird. Also heard Derek Jeter is going to retire after this season, he was a good guy signed my bat after a game. Sad to see him go. Like always reviews are welcome.