Archive of Our Own ^beta

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I know that I won’t like working here. The plastered smile on my face makes the trick though. I was taught super complicated rules about the dos and don’ts of working at Walmart. I already forgot half of it.

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So I’m gonna be the clerk most of the time. Jenna (manager) said I’d have to refill the stocks as soon as the products are out. It’s mostly repeating. Met Brad (coworker). He asks a lot of me and I never say no. “Jake, can you take my shifts from 5 to 7?” “Jake, a customer needs help, why aren’t you helping her ?”

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Today was weird. Three customers went to the register ; they had the usual, food and stuff, and then one of them dropped like our whole stock of lighters in front of me. He was deadly serious about buying all of them. Okay ? And they walked out, the lighter guy giving his plastic bag full of lighters to his trench-coat wearing buddy. I stared as they left, then rushed to refill the stock.

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I spent my morning in the freezer section, can’t feel my fingers. Pie was moved to the back of the store.

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Lighter guy came back with the trench-coat guy. I eavesdropped as they shopped. They were talking about "Sam" and "Rowena" and lighter guy called his pal "Cas".

That’s his name ?

When they came they had no lighters, but three big ass bags of salt, those that weight 20 pounds each. I resisted the urge of asking them what they were gonna do with all that salt.

Lighter guy had taken a pie, just like last week.

Am I creepy ? I’m not spying on them, I’m just curious. But that’s what a creep would say, isn’t it ?

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An old lady thought that scanning her food sent radiations that poisoned it. I tried explaining her but she couldn’t listen. She made me enter the 9 digits number of all her errands !

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I figured that at least one of the three guys comes here every Wednesday. Today it was only "Cas" but he was on the phone while he shopped. I know because I had to display the valentines products nearby. He was talking to "Dean", his friend or date friend, idk.

No funny buyings for this time. Kinda disappointed.

He picked a pie because Dean asked him to, so I assume Dean = lighter guy.

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I should probably write the date instead of the number of the day. If I fall back on that journal I won’t get when it was happening. But I’ll probably throw this away.

I mean,  “Journal of Jake Dawson during my time as a Walmart employee, 2018-?”  Future me won’t find that interesting, and he’ll be right.

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Taking Brad’s shifts from 5 to 7 makes me late for my night classes at college. I gotta talk to him about that.

Later - When I asked, he said I was the one that proposed to do it, that I shouldn’t have made promises if I wasn’t able to keep them, but that he would do the shifts. I felt bad and took my words back. I mean, I’m just a couple minutes late every time, it’s not a big deal.

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Dean, Cas and third wheel (from what I heard, he’s Dean’s brother, Sam) came back. This time again they took a lot of salt. I decided I don’t wanna know how they use it.

Surprise : Dean and Cas are NOT a thing ! After they payed, I tried to give them the scratch card game Walmart organize from February 1st to Valentine’s Day. Dean refused and I mildly insisted, I said there were lots of destinations to win for couples. He looked at Cas for half a second and turned back to me saying that they weren’t interested because none of them were in a relationship.

Excuse me dude, but from the way you look at him, there’s gotta be something going on between the two of you.

I watched them leave in a black car - seemed old but cool - and when I turned Jenna was standing in front of me, I was startled.

We’re out of salt until Friday thanks to them.

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I’m gonna make them get together. That’ll be a hobby. I mean, what else can I do to keep myself entertained?

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Clara from college recognized me at the store. Mildly embarrassed, but when I finished working, I went to Biggerson’s and she was the waitress, guess we’re even. Talked with her. She’s nice. She has a necklace with her name on it and it gave me an idea.

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I just realized that every time the guys payed, Dean always did it but he had three credit carts, each with a different name. (In none of them was he named Dean). Are those guys criminals ?

If they are, I’m not sure I wanna keep messing with them. If they aren’t, what could be the other reason for the fake cards ?

Ah, well, whatever. It’s none of my business.

Speaking of business, I haven’t phoned much Robin ever since she started her company in New York. I should do that when I have time, or else she’s gonna bother me when she’ll come back for Easter. Well, she’s gonna bother me anyway, that’s what older siblings do.

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They came.

I discreetly watched Dean and Cas as they shopped. I hoped one of them would eye the flower stand but they didn’t seem interested. Dean was choosing a pie when he saw the stand unit I had placed near, you know, the key ring things with your name on it. I was careful to put the C to D side in front. He looked for his name, found it, and then I couldn’t help but crossing my fingers. I spent my last night arguing with the supplier because I wanted all he had with a name that started with Cas. I won that argument.

Dean’s face lit up. He turned to his friend.

“Cas, come see this ! They have your name !”

Cas tilted his head, seeming confused (he often does). He walked to the unit, and took the one Dean held out to him.

All key rings were angel-shaped and with little stones that looked like  precious ones, but really its just glass.

“Dude, we have to buy you this ! You can use it for your pickup,” Dean said.

“Why do you want me to buy something with my name on it ? I can remember it,” Cas deadpanned.

Dean rolled his eyes but seemed amused rather than annoyed. He took another one from the unit.

“You know what ? Let’s say you have my name and I have yours. Sounds right to you ?”

Cas looked at Dean, then smiled.

“Fine to me,” he replied.

“Cool. Besides, it’s angel-shaped… it fits.”

What. The heck. I mean, he randomly says things like that but they’re not together  ?

I returned to the register same time as them. Sam was back with them, with salad and healthy stuff in his shopping basket. It was Brad’s shift at the cashier but I made sure to stay in the area. He scanned the articles and stopped when seeing the key ring. He held it out to me.

“Since when do we have that name ?” he asked.

It was written Castiel .

I shrugged. “We had a delivery this morning, I assume it’s a new product.”

He made a face but scanned the ring. The boys paid and left.

I know it’s not much but, hey, they bought each other key rings on Valentine’s Day. Cute, right ?

It’s my consolation for not having a date tonight. I mean, with the late classes I couldn’t have had one anyway, but the idea was attractive.

Note from me to me : stop whining, Jake ! No one dates a crybaby.

Later - OH MY GOD ! About 20 minutes after the guys left, Dean came back, alone, and he looked like he was doing something behind someone’s back. I saw him go straight for the flower stand but once there he just stopped. He didn’t seem to know what to buy.

I oh so casually walked to him and asked, “May I help you ?” in pure Walmart fashion. Slightly startled, he turned to me. He was embarrassed, I think, and shy. First time I ever saw him like that.

“Hi, umm… do you have an idea in how to say “I love you” or “I’m confessing to you” in flower language ?” he asked.

That’s the moment where I thank Robin for being a horticulturist.

“Umm, you can try red roses, it’s a classic and means “I love you”, so you’re good. Red tulips are also appropriate for a love declaration,” I explained.

“What do you recommend ?” he said.

“Well, since we sold all the roses, you should go for the tulips.”

And then we both realized there was only one left. I swore under my breath.

“There may be more left at the flower shop down the street…” I suggested.

“No, I’m already late. One will do. I mean, it’s romantic too, right ?” he said, smiling.

So I sold him one red tulip and watched him leave - again - while making a little victory dance.

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Dean was back sooner than expected. A quick errand, and he robbed the lighters stock again. As I scanned the batch, I couldn’t help but ask if it went well.

He looked confused for a second but remembered and shrugged.

“Actually, it didn’t happen at all. Something urgent came up, and I… I missed the occasion.”

“Oh.”

Dammit !

“It’s no big deal, I’ll find another time,” he smiled.

I acted like I wasn’t super disappointed.

“Ok. Remember to put the flower in a vase, it won’t like the lack of water for too long,” I said.

He smiled at me.

“Will do.”

And he left.

Then when I went to college, I was lectured by my professor. He said that if I kept coming late to the classes, I could be expelled. It’s an overreaction to me, I was late like 3 5 I don’t know times. Anyway, there’s that threat above my head. Maybe I should talk to Brad again. Or maybe I shouldn’t. He was clear about his thoughts on the subject.

I don’t wanna be expelled. I worked a lot to get into college, dad and papa did too. They put so much money on my scholar fees. Hell, even their savings weren’t enough, that’s why I have to work all day. This rhythm is starting to exhaust me, blessed be the upcoming vacation.

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My hand is still shaking. Papa and dad asked me if I was alright when I came back from work. I lied and didn’t tell them what happened.

It was 2:27pm, I think ? It’s not important. I was at the checkout, and there was no one in the store. No customers, Jenna and Brad left for a meeting. I was alone. Dean comes in, oh, hello, he goes directly to the pie section, okay. Then another person enters. She’s wearing a hat when it’s not sunny outside but I don’t ask any questions. She goes to the magazine corner and I mind my own business. I sort the money in the cashier. She walks back to me and I look up, but instead of groceries in her hands, there’s a gun.

For a second I’m so paralyzed with panic that I can’t hear what she’s saying. Then she points it to my forehead and I’m back in the moment, it’s a terrible moment.

“Put the money in the bag or I’ll shoot you !” she threatens me, throwing a plastic bag on the counter. My hands are shaking when I pick it up. I hear a noise and look up, Dean’s behind her.

I duck as he attacks her, behind the counter I can hear yelling and fighting noises but I’m way too scared to watch. Eventually, after a silence, Dean says to me, “You can come out now, kid.”

When I look, the girl is lying unconscious on the floor. She doesn’t look hurt. Dean has her gun in his hands.

“D’you mind if I take it ?” He asks me. I shake my head.

He unloads it, slides the bullet in his jean pocket and the gun under his shirt.

“Can you do me a favor? You erase the camera records of this moment and I make sure she never bothers you again,” he proposes.

I frown. “You’re not gonna…”

“Kill her ? No, who do you think I am ?”

“I don’t really know. Well, I’m gonna do the, the thing. The thing you said.”

My hands aren’t the only thing shaking.

“Okay,” he smiles.

“You know what ? Your purchases are on me,” I declare.

“As you wish. Bye,” he waved off, holding the girl in his arms and lying her on the backseat of his car.

Now that I’m writing this, I realize that maybe I shouldn’t’ve let him go with her, cause I don’t know what he was planning with her. But, strangely, I trust him. Both of us are safe thanks to him.

Shit, I could’ve died. I didn’t see my whole life in front of my eyes but still. I wondered what that would’ve looked like.

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Something weird happened today at the store. Not “huh, I found there the thing I left in a different place” weird, a whole new category of bizarre. Basically, I was closing the shop and all a sudden I got really cold. I thought it was because I was turning off the lights in the freezer section, but then I could see my own breath. It wasn’t natural, one moment all was perfectly fine and the other I was freezing on the spot ? I finished turning off the lights, got out of the store and locked it. In the parking lot, I saw something. It looked like a person but had appeared out of nowhere. The the silhouette looked at me, I think, and vanished.

Maybe I’m going crazy. Or I just need a break from work. I mean, if I start seeing ghosts in front of a supermarket…

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So I told the guys about what happened, it went like this :

Me: “I saw something super bizarre yesterday.”

Jenna: “What did you see ?”

Me: “There was a weird people-like silhouette in the parking lot.”

Brad: “Are you seeing ghosts now ? Crazy kid.”

Me: “No, but it was so strange, one moment I was fine and the other it was really cold, I…”

Brad: “I didn’t know you were turning delirious.”

And I was starting to seriously doubt about what I saw but then Sam, Dean and Cas walked in. This time they weren’t wearing their flannel-jeans outfits, they had suits and everything. Castiel was still in his trench-coat though.

Dean went to us and flashed a federal badge. “Hi I’m agent Urie, FBI, this is agent Ross and agent Stump, also FBI. We’d like to ask you a couple questions.”

Jenna immediately straightened up. “Of course ! On what topic ?”

“There’s been a murder yesterday in the building in front of here and we want to know if you’ve seen anything strange, say around 7 or 8PM,” Sam filled in.

“I’ve seen something strange,” I said, raising my hand a little. I knew Brad was rolling his eyes but I couldn’t care.

Castiel took me aside and I told him too. He seemed to think it was very normal, that I had seen a freaking ghost. I didn’t question it.

When he was done with the questions on the case, he looked over to Dean and told me, in a lower voice, “To a more personal purpose, can I ask you something ?”

I nodded.

“Can I access the registration book to see who bought one red tulip on last Wednesday?”

I frowned at first, surprised. Then it dawned upon me. The love was required, they were just idiots. He had seen Dean’s flower and thought someone had bought it to him.

I smiled.

“The only person who bought anything like that was Dean,” I said pointing at him as I spoke. “Maybe you should ask him.”

Cas seemed incredulous. “Are you sure?” he said.

“Completely. I think you two should talk,” I confirmed, gently pushing him towards Dean.

Then they left, and I stood there, very happy with myself.

Note to self: gotta train Stacy, the new girl in here. Will do tomorrow.

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Stacy and her friends will work in the store during vacation while I finally catch a break. I have one week without classes, and then the finals. Man, I hope I pass. It’s been hard to study lately, what with the job from 8 to 6 and the classes 7 to 9, I didn’t have much time for myself. But I managed not to drop out. With this language bachelor’s degree I will get my master’s and work in a company, maybe an international one. Learning Spanish, French, and Italian gives me a lot of opportunities. The downside is that if we finally make that trip to Europe that we always talk about, dad, papa, Robin, and I, it’ll be me who’ll have to translate all the time.

This would need a special diary. « The Dawsons in Europe »

While I’m thinking about that, I should stop counting the days I’ve been working. First of all, it’s getting complicated to keep count, second the date is more important. And this journal is not only about work anymore. Well, mostly, but I also write about, like, normal life. Even though my job is still normal life. I’m losing my point.

Dad and papa said they were gonna take Robin and us at the restaurant for Easter. They’re gonna shamelessly flirt with each other for an hour while we’ll be like “yes, those are our dads. They’re so in love it’s gross.”

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Dean came back today for the investigation. And also to buy candles. A romantic dinner in sight, Dean ?

Yeah, I’m getting way too familiar about this guy I don’t know that well.

Anyways, he said another murder had taken place in a shop of the neighborhood. Two things: we have a serial killer in Lebanon, Kansas aka Detroit in the Midwest; the newspapers said nothing about the two murders. I would know, I spent my morning stocking up the newspapers and magasines shelf.

I told Dean about those, he said that they had asked the police and the victims’ families not to tell anyone. Yet they go around saying people were killed and asking if we know stuff. I don’t get them.

It made me think of another crime, and I asked him if I should keep the secret about the robbery forever. Cause, I gotta be honest with myself, I do want to tell people. It was kinda traumatizing, the whole being held at gunpoint thing. If it were to be heard, less people would come to the store, sure, but we would also have better safety measures.

Dean replied it’s best that it never gets out. Again, he’s not taking in account how scared it made me, but I didn’t expect him to.

Once the serious talk was over, I went back to gossip, after all that’s what I do best. But he started it. “So what’re you up to kid?” he said.

“Not much. Trying to pass my classes. Still don’t have a datefriend.”

He frowned, so I explained: “Datefriend. Its a gender-neutral term, you know, instead of saying boyfriend, girlfriend, or non-binary friend, which is way too long.”

“Oh, ok.”

“I mean, I’m not gonna say partner, I’m not my dads.”

Dean smirked, “What’s wrong with partner?”

“It sounds cowboy-ish.”

“What’s wrong with cowboys?”

At this point I wasn’t sure if he was a fan of football or dedicated to 19th century history.

“And you? You finally gave your partner the rose you bought?”

“Well…”

“Come on, man, why do you keep stalling? On the worst case they say they’re not interested in you, what’s the big deal?”

“We’ve been friend for years and I don’t want to ruin that.”

“Just do it. You don’t have eternity, remember?”

I swear to whoever, if he hasn’t talked to Cas by the next time he comes here, I’ll download Grindr on his phone myself.

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Pretty uneventful week. I don’t know what to say but I like to write regularly. It’s currently 3pm and since there’s isn’t a lot of people, I’m writing this during my shift. The customers probably think I’m writing down the budget or something. It’s fun.

“Look at that young man, he’s responsible and works hard!” No, I’m criticizing your fashion choices. And I would draw you if I had any creative skills.

We’re gonna expand the bookshop side of the store soon, so we should receive books and stuff any day. Which means I technically should always be on the lookout for the delivery. Well, I’m eyeing the rear entrance every hour, so it’s enough effort.

Oh oh!

Later - Guess who it was. No, not papa buying the most random thing so he “can see me at work”. It was my little work in progress. But maybe it’s finished. They were holding hands!

It was so cute. They remind me of Stacy and Max. In a 40 year-old rugged dads way. So kinda like a younger version of my parents.

They bought salt and lighters. No comment. I asked how the investigation was going and they said they were close to the end. Don’t know what that means.

They left and I started drawing something, then I heard a gunshot. Which is concerning since 1. it’s a gunshot, 2. it’s not hunting season, 3. even if it was, there isn’t any forest around here.

I made sure I wasn’t leaving anyone alone in the store before going out to check it out. I saw Dean and Cas going out of the abandoned Applebee’s down the road. I swear they were holding smoking guns.

I discreetly walked back inside. There is something really weird about them, about the three of them, and I don’t want to find out.

Anyway, here’s a cat:

/\____/\

( o = o )

(           )

(______)_/

||        ||

He’s dancing.

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My classes yesterday made me realize what I want to do with my life. I’ll go to France and work in retail there. Catch me in a “Carrefour Market”, lol.

I’m joking, but why is it called that way though? Why mix English and French? The name means Crossroad market. What do you even buy at crossroads?

Anyway. Stacy and I are gonna tell Jenna about Brad’s attitude. She came to me this morning asking if he tried to walk over me too. I had to agree with her, and we decided to report him later this evening. I’m kinda nervous about this, it does feel like telling on him, but it’s true that he’s been a douche. TBI.

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Soooo... Apparently Brad was a douche to Jenna too, despite her multiple warnings, and she had been begging for a reason to sack him. But his contract ends today so she doesn’t have to fire him and he’s not getting any money. Noice.

Also, super super super cool! ROBIN IS HERE EARLY!!! She said she missed us and she left the flower shop to her colleague and girlfriend boyfriend Dave. I hope we’ll meet him soon. Robin’s gonna be in the guest room. I’m not letting her take her old room back, it’s mine now! Shouldn’t have left for New York.

Dad said we’re gonna celebrate, so he’s gonna make us some pizza tonight. Noice n2. I bet we’re gonna watch Ocean’s Eleven again. I must’ve watched it at least… eleven times?

Sam, Dean, and Cas came here today. From what they got I think they’re gonna have a family dinner too. Dean definitely makes up for 40% of our pie sales.

Funny moments happened when both Dean and Cas (separately) thanked me for making them act on their feelings for each other. Hey, I simply did what Sam couldn’t do (joking joking joking). All they needed was pep talks and a flower.

We got the books delivery this afternoon, it took hours to store everything. I saw we got some fantasy books, they’re called Supernatural I think. They look easy to read and I’m kinda bored, so I’m gonna read one of them and make a review.

Later

.

.

.

What the fuck.

The end