Excuse me

Valerie’s POV

The dirty fluorescent lights above the store shimmied slightly as I was behind the counter, tidying the register. It was a quiet day so far, with only a few customers wandering in, most of them not uttering a word. I was thankful for the quiet. The store felt almost like a haven, though I couldn't say I enjoyed working here. But the old woman, sharp-tongued and judgy, always sat watching, never able to truly relax, but it was a lot better than nothing.

I was staring at the shelves ahead when the bell above the door rattled once more. My shift was far from over, and I turned back to see three rough-looking men strutting in, loud and jovial. They were dressed in leather jackets, and their faces were smeared with a layer of stubble and arrogance. One of them cast a look in my direction, it remained on me for an uncomfortable moment.

I stiffened as they approached the counter, trying to focus on the register. My instincts told me these were customers I would have preferred n