>It was nearly nine o'clock and you had barely an hour left in your shift managing the gas station and convenience store.
>You looked out the side window to see a highly stylized van pull up to the gas pumps and three oddly dressed girls with dramatic hairstyles jump out.
>You watched what looked like an unpleasant spat between two of them as the third attended the pump. >Once they had filled their vehicle they proceeded to walk towards the store.
>The orange haired one in the leather lead the way with the other two in tow as they entered the front door.
>"Hurry up Sonata."
>The blue ponytailed girl in question waved off the one with twintails.
>"Chill out Aria. For realzies."
>She picked out a bag of taco flavored chips and placed it on the counter as the orange haired one stepped in front and arched her eyebrow.
>"How much?"
"Two dollars."
>She tilted her head back to their vehicle.
>"And the gas?"
"You girls heading to the music festival?"
>The orange haired one grinned and stepped closer.
>"We are."
>The purple haired girl frowned at you before speaking up.
>"What business is it of yours where we're going... bud?"
"Well, I didn't mean nothing by it. Just assumed from your clothing."
The giant poof narrowed her eyes at you.
>"You just assumed?"
"Just making conversation. If you don't want to accept that, I'm not sure what else I can do for you."
>An awkward pause.
"Will there be something else?"
>"I don't know. Will there?"
>You shuffled in place, not sure what had caused this hostility.
"Is something wrong?"
>"Nope!"
The blue one interjected with a smile as she opened her bag of chips.
>"With what?
"With anything."
>"Is that what you're asking us? If there's something wrong with anything?"
"Will there be anything else?"
>The purple grumpy one folded her arms and glowered at you
>"You already asked her that."
"Well, I need to see about closing now."
>The leather booted girl seemed dubious.
>"See about closing?"
"Yes, ma'am."
>"What time do you close?"
"Now. We close now."
>"Now is not a time. What time do you close?
"Generally around ten. At ten."
She looked up at the clock behind you on the wall and you followed her gaze.
>9:01
>She sighed.
>"You don't know what you're talking about, do you?"
"Miss?"
>"I said you don't know what you're talking about."
>"What time do you go to bed?"
"Excuse me?"
>"You're a bit deaf, aren't you? I said, what time do you go to bed?"
>"Oh. Pretty late."
She arched an eyebrow.
>"Maybe we could come back after hours."
Why would you be coming back? We'll be closed."
>The grumpy one beside her rolled her eyes.
>"Yeah, you said that."
"Well, I got to close now."
>The poofy one took over again.
>"You live nearby?"
"Uh, yeah."
>She nodded slightly while looking you up and down.
>"You worked here all your life?"
"Well, this is my grandfather's place, originally."
>She scoffed.
>"You inherited it?"
"My folks lived in Baltimare, for years. Grew up there. In Baltimare. We came out here about four years ago when he passed."
>The blue one gave a slight look of pity as she chewed.
>The other two didn't seem to notice.
>"You inherited it?"
>You grinned but the poofy young woman stayed focused like a laser.
"If that's the way you want to put it."
>"I don't have some way to put it. That's the way it is."
>"What's the most you ever won on a bit toss?"
>The blue one contunued devouring her snack while the purple chick appeared strangely amused.
>"Really Adagio? This guy?"
>You looked back at her.
"Ma'am?"
>"The most you ever won on a bit toss?"
"Oh, I don't know. I couldn't say."
>She flicked the coin up into the air before catching it and placing it down on the counter."
>"Call it."
"Call it?"
>"Yes."
"For what?"
>"Just call it."
"Well, we need to know what we're calling it for here."
>She sighed.
>"You need to call it. I can't call it for you. Or it wouldn't be fair."
"I didn't net anything."
>She stared at you dead center with a slight frown.
>"Yes, you did. You've been betting your whole life. You just didn't know it. You know what date is on this bit?"
"No?"
>"1983. It's been traveling 37 years to get here. And now it's here. And it's either heads or tails. You have to say. Call it."
"Well, look, I need to know what I stand to win."
>She smiled slyly.
>"Everything."
>The other two shared a knowing look.
"How's that?"
>She licked her lips.
"You stand to win everything. Call it."
>All right. Tails, then.
>She lifted her manicured hand off the counter slowly to reveal your fate.
>Tails it was.
>"Well done."
She picked it up and placed it into your palm.
>You went to shove it into your back pocket before she slammed her fist on the counter causing you to slightly jump.
>"Do not put it in your pocket!"
"Ma'am?"
>"Don't put it in your pocket. It's your lucky bit."
"Where do you want me to put it?"
>"Anywhere not in your pocket. Or it'll get mixed in with the others and become just a coin."
>She stepped back with a satisfied look on the face before turning around and motioning for the others to follow.
>They started heading out the door when the one called Sonata looked back and winked.
>"Which it is."
>You watched them get in their van and drive off in stunned silence before you realized something.
>Shit.
>They hadn't paid.