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"Why do I have to open the store today? I just closed last night..." My boss had called me the previous night and asked me to open the store for him. I wasn't very happy about it, but I did need the extra money. "Working on my day off. Geeze." I looked up as I reached the store and stopped dead in my tracks.

There, lying on the ground with a jacket wrapped around his shivering body, was Egan. Acting quickly, I ran to his side and checked his pulse. It wasn't too weak, "Looks like you'll be alright..."

As gently as I could manage, I scooped the boy into my arms and carried him into the store. After making a few rearrangements in the break room, I had Egan resting soundly, wrapped up in a Snuggie with his head on a travel pillow. "It can't be helped, I suppose...this is only a Stop and Go...

I spent the morning preparing the shop and occasionally helping a few customers, checking in on Egan every ten minutes or so. He's been asleep the whole time...he must have been exhausted. Was he there the whole night...?

Grabbing a pair of oven mitts, I pulled out the breakfast food and switched it with the lunch menu. I took him home last night, but I don't remember him going inside... I closed my eyes at the memory of the previous night. I should have stayed until he was inside. My eyes turned to the left over breakfast food. Technically, it's supposed to be thrown out, but I'm sure it wouldn't matter if I gave it to Egan, instead.

After pouring up two cups of hot chocolate, I took the food back to Egan; thankfully, he was awake.

"Rye..."

Hearing him say my name instantly melted my heart. Geeze, I must really have it bad... I set the food and drinks down and crouched next to the makeshift bed that I had laid the boy in. "I'm glad you're up." I spoke softly, as I brushed my fingers across his forehead. "Looks like you haven't gotten a fever. You're lucky. How long were you out there?"

His big, round eyes surveyed my features slowly as he decided on how to answer me. "Since you left me last night..."

"WHAT?!" I couldn't believe it! This kid had slept in front of the store all night?! "You've got to be kidding me! Why did you do that? I walked you home! Why didn't you stay there?! What if I hadn't come this morning?! Someone else would have found you and it might have ended poorly! That was very dangerous! Don't you have any common se--"

My words were cut off abruptly as Egan's arms flung around my waist, his face pressing firmly against my ribcage. I was shocked into silence, my hands floating just above his personage, unsure of where to rest.

"I-I'm sorry..." My heart clenched from the tears evident in his voice. "I couldn't go back home...I just couldn't."

All of my energy suddenly drained, I lightly patted Egan's back. "I'm going to hand over the store keys to the next shift manager, then you and I are going to go for a walk. I want you to tell me everything, including why you don't wanna go home, and why you're suddenly so attached to me. In exchange, I'll get us some real food instead of this microwave crap. Deal?"

Without hesitation, he nodded, but didn't release me.

"Egan..." No response. "Egan...I can't move with you there."

Exasperated beyond comprehension, I dragged Egan out of the break room where the next shift manager was waiting.

"Erm..?" His eyes scanned my new human parasite.

"He's fitting me for some new pants." I tried brushing off the awkward situation with a joke. "Here are the keys. I'll catch ya later."

"Right..."

As much as I loathed dragging around a 17 year old boy, I had to admit that having him cling to me like that was one of the best feelings that I had ever experienced at that time. It really made me feel wanted. Still, I couldn't possibly fathom what Egan's life was like behind those eyes. The girls from the train had said that he was apathetic, but here he was, his arms glued to my waist and pain so clearly etched into his features. Was this the work of Fate? Was I meant to be Egan's passion as he seemed to be for me? Who knows? Only time would tell.

Description
"Why do I have to open the store today? I just closed last night..." My boss had called me the previous night and asked me to open the store for him. I wasn't very happy about it, but I did need the extra money. "Working on my day off. Geeze." I looked up as I reached the store and stopped dead in my tracks.

There, lying on the ground with a jacket wrapped around his shivering body, was Egan. Acting quickly, I ran to his side and checked his pulse. It wasn't too weak, "Looks like you'll be alright..."

As gently as I could manage, I scooped the boy into my arms and carried him into the store. After making a few rearrangements in the break room, I had Egan resting soundly, wrapped up in a Snuggie with his head on a travel pillow. "It can't be helped, I suppose...this is only a Stop and Go...

I spent the morning preparing the shop and occasionally helping a few customers, checking in on Egan every ten minutes or so. He's been asleep the whole time...he must have been exhausted. Was he there the whole night...?

Grabbing a pair of oven mitts, I pulled out the breakfast food and switched it with the lunch menu. I took him home last night, but I don't remember him going inside... I closed my eyes at the memory of the previous night. I should have stayed until he was inside. My eyes turned to the left over breakfast food. Technically, it's supposed to be thrown out, but I'm sure it wouldn't matter if I gave it to Egan, instead.

After pouring up two cups of hot chocolate, I took the food back to Egan; thankfully, he was awake.

"Rye..."

Hearing him say my name instantly melted my heart. Geeze, I must really have it bad... I set the food and drinks down and crouched next to the makeshift bed that I had laid the boy in. "I'm glad you're up." I spoke softly, as I brushed my fingers across his forehead. "Looks like you haven't gotten a fever. You're lucky. How long were you out there?"

His big, round eyes surveyed my features slowly as he decided on how to answer me. "Since you left me last night..."

"WHAT?!" I couldn't believe it! This kid had slept in front of the store all night?! "You've got to be kidding me! Why did you do that? I walked you home! Why didn't you stay there?! What if I hadn't come this morning?! Someone else would have found you and it might have ended poorly! That was very dangerous! Don't you have any common se--"

My words were cut off abruptly as Egan's arms flung around my waist, his face pressing firmly against my ribcage. I was shocked into silence, my hands floating just above his personage, unsure of where to rest.

"I-I'm sorry..." My heart clenched from the tears evident in his voice. "I couldn't go back home...I just couldn't."

All of my energy suddenly drained, I lightly patted Egan's back. "I'm going to hand over the store keys to the next shift manager, then you and I are going to go for a walk. I want you to tell me everything, including why you don't wanna go home, and why you're suddenly so attached to me. In exchange, I'll get us some real food instead of this microwave crap. Deal?"

Without hesitation, he nodded, but didn't release me.

"Egan..." No response. "Egan...I can't move with you there."

Exasperated beyond comprehension, I dragged Egan out of the break room where the next shift manager was waiting.

"Erm..?" His eyes scanned my new human parasite.

"He's fitting me for some new pants." I tried brushing off the awkward situation with a joke. "Here are the keys. I'll catch ya later."

"Right..."

As much as I loathed dragging around a 17 year old boy, I had to admit that having him cling to me like that was one of the best feelings that I had ever experienced at that time. It really made me feel wanted. Still, I couldn't possibly fathom what Egan's life was like behind those eyes. The girls from the train had said that he was apathetic, but here he was, his arms glued to my waist and pain so clearly etched into his features. Was this the work of Fate? Was I meant to be Egan's passion as he seemed to be for me? Who knows? Only time would tell.