Here we go again

Sam wakes from his slumber, stretches his back, and processes to head to his shift at Krepps Peak, the local gas station in town, owned by Pop-Pop, an entity that wanted to own a gas station. Sam to this day still doesn’t know why they would, but that is for Pop-Pop to know and him not to know.

Walking through the doors of the gas station, there was a figure trying to look like an old person, but came across as a more creepy tall person than a warm old person. “Why hello young Samus, the day was good and I surely hope the night brings the same tidings.” Samus put on the work uniform in the back, “Pop-Pop, the night is going to be the same as all the others.” Samus said, taking his place behind the cash registry. “Alright, here we go again.” Samus whispered to himself.

Samus processes to go about his shift. The first customer walks in, “Hellooo~” a blob of blue and green slime said, trying to sound like she was smiling. “Welcome again Vixie.” Vexie, the slime, turns a shade of light jade, while placing her items on the table. “I looove~ hearing yooou~ say my name.” Vixie giggled out. Samus scans her items, “Well you do come in during my first hour of work. I should learn your name by now, also it’s a nice name.” Vixie wiggles a bit, her shade of jade darkens, “Yooou~ flirt,” Vixie gives Samus the exact amount of change, “See yooou~ later.” Vixie leaves.

Samus processes with his work, and when it was time for the second customer, Samus had just got down refilling a row of shelves. This customer was very silent, going very quickly around the station. By the time they had placed their items down, Samus was already behind the counter. The customer made a putty face? Samus believes they were, they were always wearing a dark green robe and a shadow always covered their face. The customer pulls out a piece of paper that had fold marks on it. On the paper it asked, ‘How?’. Samus smiles, “A magician never tells his secrets.” Samus scanned all their items, “That’ll be $11.78.” The customer paid by card, and left Samus with a bow bye.

The third hour of the night shift came, and a group of friends came in. They grabbed snacks, drinks, and other random stuff that grabbed their eyes. Then after a couple of minutes, the group placed down all of their items. Then a hybrid girl from the group spoke up, “Heya! Is Zekky working today?” Then others in the group begin to ask the same thing and if Jules was hired here again and working. Samus calms them down, “No, Zekky is not working tonight. He transferred to the day shift. As for Jules, she is strictly locked out of getting hired here again, but can still be a customer.” the group grounded, and a hybrid boy spoke, “You always make it sound so formal it legit hurts.” The group then pays, taking their items and leaving, mocking Samus’s answer. Samus smiles, then processes to get ready to stock the shelves again.

Re-stocking took exactly two hours, just as Samus planned. Pop-Pop came out from the back, “Young Samus, it is time to eat.” Pop-Pop waves him over, with their whole arm to make his hand wave. “Alright, just got done shelving.” Samus walks towards the break room, where a tray of food was present, a plate of sandwiches. Samus picks up one and begins to eat, Pop-Pop takes a seat across from him. “Joke time: If cars were replaced by horses, what would replace gas stations?... Grass stations.” Pop-Pop smiles and tries to do jazz hands. Samus finishes his meal and smiles. “Nice one Pop-Pop, also the jazz hands are getting better.” Pop-Pop gives Samus a toothless smile and continues to tell a bit more jokes to Samus, until Samus finishes all the sandwiches. “Thank you for the meal, Pop-Pop.” Samus said, getting back to work.

It was now six hours into Samus’s shift. Samus was grabbing some items from the shelves and waited a bit before a child, around middle-school age, waltz in. “Good night to you, human Samus.” Samus already had the items in a bag and paid for, “You too, lil blood-sucker Mav.” Mav walks with a bounce in her step, clearly excited to talk to Samus. “Human Samus, I must tell you some exciting news!” She was now bouncing up and down in pure joy. Samus nods his head, as a way to tell her to continue. “Well, you know how I was talking to this count for a project of mine,” Mav took a deep breath and exclaimed, “He wants my research from my project!” Mav spun around the gas station, her puffy dress becoming even more puffier. “I am so happy right now!” Samus handed the bagged items to her, “Glad to hear that kiddo, now you should get going before it gets too late now. Also remember to get some sleep before the next night fall.” Samus gave Mav a gentle smile. “I will do my best to uphold my status as healthy. Thank you for the free loot, human Samus!” Mav leaves, waving good-bye with a smile on her face. As she left, Pop-Pop came out, “Oh was that Lady Mavis? What a shame I couldn’t say hello to her. I hope she will come back soon.” Pop-Pop said, sounding a bit down. “Don’t worry, Pop-Pop. She will be back tomorrow night, also she has great news to tell you when she does come back.” Samus said, lifting Pop-Pop’s feelings. Pop-Pop goes back into the backroom, leaving Samus to continue on with his shift.

As the second to last hour of Samus’s shift came, two very loud customers came in. one was an Ani-ma woman and a normal human male. Ani-ma’s are species of animal that has evolved to talk and walk like homosapiens but are not genetically linked to homosapiens in anyway, unlike hybrids which are a mix between a Ani-ma and a Human, a human and slime, a Ani-ma and a different species of Ani-ma, etc. Samus takes a deep breath, mentally prepping himself for the two loud customers. “What is up my dog? How's it been going, anything new?” the Hyena women said, planting herself on the counter as a free spot to sit. The male was looking around the gas station. “So the usual pump them you two?” Samus said, not answering her questions in the slightest. “Oh come on, the cold shoulder will thaw away one day.” Samus gave a little chuckle, “And what if this is me with my shoulder thawed?” Samus asked in return. The hyena woman takes a sucker that was on display on the counter, pointing it in Samus’s face, “Then it sucks boi. You need to change it up and live life. Be more loose and less…,” She motions the sucker around in circles, “ This.” the male human that had walked in with her placed down a very pink fruity drink. “Jules I know you mean well, but if it wasn’t for the fact that Sammie boy works here. You would have been banned for life, so let him do his routine. Also my cousin is saying your sister owes him 20 bucks.” Jules leaps off the counter to protest, “Well, your cousin shouldn’t have borrowed the money if he couldn’t pay it!” Jules and the male continue to go back and forth, but not in anger or resentment. It was a more playful argument, ones that couples had. Samus then asked, “New boyfriend?” Jules stops mid-sentence and jumps towards the counter, excitement in her eyes. “100%! After the worry-some nights of going back and forth to tell him or not. I finally mustered up the courage and asked him out!” Samus finished ringing them, “Nice, good for you. Now I don’t have to hear the same worries every night now.” Samus chuckles. Jules' tail wagged and grabbed her boyfriend's hand, “And he lets me p-” the boyfriend covered her mouth fast, “And that's our cue to leave, sorry man.” the boyfriend said, placing the money on the counter. Samus gives back the money. “It's alright, no worries. It's on the house tonight for you two.” Jules leaps over and gives Samus a big hug, “YOU ARE THE BEST!!” Samus gently pushed her over, “Only the items, not the gas.” Jules calmed down, repeating ‘okay, okay’ well paying for the gas. Jules leaves hand in hand with her boyfriend with a full smile on her face that could melt anything, that's what her boyfriend would think. Samus was just glad that Jules finally asked the boy out, now wondering what new problem she might have and would need an ear for.

The last hour of Samu’s shift rolled around, Samus was doing some last minute things around the station. Refilling shelves, mopping and sweeping the floors, and making sure that the inventory was up to date. Samus, after getting done with all of that, decided it was a good idea to recheck everything, from the shelves, to the floors, to the backroom where the inventory was. Samus, after doing all of that, looked up at the clock and it was only around 25 minutes into the last hour. Samus began to get a bit fidgety. There was one last customer to serve, a regular that came every night on the last hour of his shift, and now they were late. Samus had gone behind the registry to be ready for him. After another 5 minutes, Samus began to stare at the door. Another 5 goes by, Samus quickly goes in the back to check on Pop-Pop, then back to the registry. At the 40 minute mark, Samus began to feel a pinch of panic. During the last 10 minutes, Pop-Pop came out from the back to get ready for the day shift. When Pop-Pop got to the registry, Pop-Pop had noticed a rising panic in Samus. “Why the pool of panic? Did something happen when I was in the back?” Pop-Pop asked, growing concerned for Samus. Samus shakes his head, snapping him back to reality, “No, Pop-Pop, everything is fine, I think.” Samus said Pop-Pop tilted their head, “You think?” Samus leans on the counter, his hand holding his head. “Well, there is this one regular that usually comes in during my last hour, and it seems like he- THEY aren't coming tonight, I guess.” Pop-Pop took a little while to respond back, “It sounds like you care about him, Young Samus. How about you just call the Young Man?” Pop-Pop suggested. Samus sighed, “I would if he didn’t leave so quickly after I ring up his items.” “Then stall, Young Samus!” Pop-Pop said, leaning towards Samus. “Stall and chat with him. Make the bud of love in your heart blossom and bloom. Listen to the butterflies in your stomach and go get him, Young Samus!” Pop-Pop’s usual slow and soft tone was now just a bit faster and a bit more passionate. “Damn Pop-Pop, Zekky really needs to stop letting you watch all those romance shows.” Samus responded, “But thanks for the advice, though.” Pop-Pop nodded his head, then the sliding doors began to open.

A Hybrid Male walked in, he was a mix between a Hare Ani-ma and a human, though he looked more like the hare than human. “Sorry I’m late Sam, I just um,” The hybrid's face began to turn a shade of dark red under his mask and his ears flopped to his sides trying to look cute, “I hope you ain't mad at me.” Samus let out a breath of relief, “Just glad you are okay.” Samus said, turning to see that Pop-Pop had left with no sound. Leaving the two of them alone, for the next 5 minutes. The hybrid quickly got his items and went to the counter. Samus went a little slower than his usual speed, but the words in his mouth were stuck. Samus rings off the last item and gives the hybrid his stuff. “That will be-” “You went slower than before.” Samus looked up from the registry to find a pair of amber eyes looking directly at him. Samus swallowed what even amount of saliva was in his mouth and took a shaky breath, “Well I did have a question to ask you, but I forgot what it was.” Samus quickly looked away, a very faint blush appearing on his face. The hybrid's ears tilted a bit, “What was the question? If-If you can remember it.” Samus takes a deep breath, looking at the clock revealing he had one more minute left. “Can- may-” Samus let his head hit the counter and said outloud, “May number please?” Samus was now making tea kettle noises from the embarrassment of failing to speak to the handsome hybrid hare in front of him. Samus tilted his head up to see the hybrid missing, but saw a piece of paper with the money. It had the hybrid's name and number on it. Samus had screamed internally about his victory and was doing multiple back-flips in his head. Pop-Pop walked out from the back and gave Samus a look. Samus didn’t give Pop-Pop a reaction. Samus packs up his stuff and begins to head home, but not after sending a text to the hare hybrid.