Being Kevin Pt. 6

It’s a slow early Sunday at the grocery store and Kevin waited for a customer to pass by at his register. He looked over at the Courtesy Booth and saw Corey asking one of the attendants a question. Kevin is close enough to see the attendant hand him an application. Maybe he’s applying for a job in another department? Kevin thought.

Next Saturday, new cashiers and baggers began training day. Kevin noticed Corey training with another older bagger. He was a little shocked Corey would be working alongside him in the checkout.

A few weeks passed and Corey became a cashier. Kevin had been a bagger for a few years and was never asked to be a cashier. Not that he wanted to be a cashier, it’s just nice to be asked.

One Saturday, Kevin entered the store and got ready in the breakroom. He walked to the checkout. “Kevin, bag on twelve,” the female assistant manager said.

“Okay,” Kevin replied.

“Thank you. Now — -”

Kevin walked up to register twelve and looked at Corey until he reached the bag rack.

“Hey, Kevin.”

“Hey, Correy.”

Kevin looked up and saw Corey’s brown curly locks. He admired them until Corey looked at him and smiled. Kevin averted his gaze in embarrassment.

They continued to work together and even touched hands when they both reached for something to bag. It was awkward and Kevin quickly retracted his hand, letting Corey bag it.

“You know you don’t have to be awkward around me because we’re friends. We can still talk like friends,” Corey said.

The repetition of the word “friend” killed Kevin every time it came out of Corey’s mouth.

What is wrong with me? Do I have a crush on Corey? We’ve only known each other for a few months. Kevin quickly thought and sweat but remained focused on bagging.

Kevin thought of quitting, but he needed the money to help pay for college.

He even searched Corey’s full name online, but after a few minutes, he thought, What am I doing? I don’t have a crush on Corey. He was in a river of denial, he would stay there until he

accepted it.

Months past and he couldn’t get Corey off his mind. He decided to transfer to the Grocery Department to get away from him. He heard Corey was training to be an assistant manager.

They hadn’t hung out in a while and Corey slowly slipped out of Kevin’s mind.