Chapter Text
Today was the day.
The day that she finally got her first job in a long time.
All of this had been in light of some recent changes made back at her place of residence, namely involving a former roommate and now a good friend who was now moving out to be with their new boyfriend. Lucy was happy for them, especially in light of the news that their roommate had been dealing with a bit of a stalker issue. A stalker whom had proven to be a bit too desperate when it came to her former roommate, even going as far as attempting to murder their closest friend.
That friend of theirs was still in the hospital but had made an agreement to allow her to move in with them as now that she was on her own, rent wasn’t exactly going to pay itself. However there had been a caveat for this arrangement that would require her to make some lifestyle changes to some of her more… “Recreational activities”… as her new roommate really didn’t want the place to smell like pot or get in trouble with local law enforcement.
Mostly in part due to some issues with a former dormmate who got kicked out of the college that eventually lead to them moving out of the dorms altogether. At least she could go to some of her other places and do those elsewhere.
On the upside, they were pretty chill and didn’t mind if she brought a “friend” over just as long as they kept the noise down and that anything relating to the act stayed in her own room.
Yet of all of those, the most important change that she would need to make would be finding herself a source of stable, and legal, income. Her new roommate wasn’t going to be as lax on her about paying her side of the rent as they had helped to cover for her half on some of the occasions in the past.
The search didn’t take long with her being hired on the spot post-interview with the next day being when she officially began her job.
And that lead to now as she stood behind the counter wearing a purple gas station attendant uniform with “Lulu” plastered on her right, ringing up customers.
Lucy would be working the nightshift tonight as the person who was supposed come in ended up calling in sick. Not the most ideal start on her first day but it was manageable.
Not a lot of people were out tonight save for some travelers and misc individuals: A group road tripping from G1 to G4, a security guard for Krueger Corp about to start his shift here to get his usual cup of joe, two guys who kept talking: “Antonio” was a name that kept coming up a lot, and some shifty looking guy that reeked of motor oil and appeared to have a prosthetic eye beneath a lock of hair that merely looked at her funny as he left with his purchases.
There had also been a man who tried to short change her that Lulu was quick to catch onto and promptly kick him out of the store as the last customer sped off on his motorbike, not before chucking a can of oil at the jackass who just tried to rip her off.
”Serves you right.” Lucy smirked as she watched the man run off out of shame before making her way back inside to grab some cleaning supplies to clean up a spill that the traveling group had made at the soda fountain. After that as there didn’t look to be any more people for a while, she was going to slip into the break room and make her a nice pot of tea.
A few more hours passed and soon the end of her shift was here.
The clock inside read midnight as she locked the glass doors as a sigh escaped her mouth. The first day hadn’t been half bad, a bit slow but Lucy had enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. She knew that this mood wouldn’t last forever with her eventual first rowdy customer, but she could work with this.
Now all she had left to do was walk home which wasn’t far. Nothing that she could manage on her own.
Lucy was just about to make it off when a car suddenly pulled into the parking lot.
At first, she thought it might have been some late night traveler stopping to pump gas or use the restroom which she would need to inform them that the place was now closed. Yet before she could tap on the vehicle’s window, the driver rolled down the window to reveal none other than Don.
The middle aged man up wore his usual scowl as he looked towards his tenant.
”Don? What are you doing out this late?”
”Came to find you actually. Isn’t it a little late for somebody like you to be out and about espically on this side of town. After what happened with the other two, I’m not going to take any more chances for now. So I came to pick you up.” His tone was gruff as he unlocked the door.
Lucy knew she could handle herself in the night. Having connections to people in certain places had its advantage for that reason but she couldn’t pass on Don’s kindness. For as grouchy as he could be, his heart was in the right place when need be.
”Thanks Don. I appreciate it.” Lucy said with a smile as she got in. The man simply grunted as he started up the engine and took off.
The two sat for several minutes in silence before Don broke the silence.
”So you’re working as a gas station attendant… I got word that you found yourself a job but I wasn’t expecting it to be so soon.” The middle aged man said as he eyed the woman next to him.
”I started my first shift today actually. It was gonna be a surprise until I was done with my shift. But since you’re here, Surprise!” Lucy beamed as Don snorted quietly. “So how did you find out where I was working.”
”Lee called me about it actually. Told me you called them that you were starting today and they asked me to come pick you up once your shift ended.”
Well that was sweet of them.
”So how are they doing?”
”Still in the hospital unfortunately. Nothing serious but the doctor made a call that morning that they were going to hold them for one more night just to be safe. Better to be safe than sorry after what they had been through.”
Lucy frowned as she remembered that night. While she had been out that night to a party with some of her friends, she had returned not long following the aftermath. All the lights and sirens made the place look like there was a raid going on. Not to mention her worry when she found Don standing outside, waiting on her and the panic she felt when he had mentioned that there had been an attempted murder and that her roommate had been kidnapped.
Don hadn’t let her leave his sight that night, having her stay in his apartment until news broke that morning much to both of their relief that you had been found.
The good thing was that at least that psychopath who had done this was now gone. Even if she didn’t get the chance to help kick that creep’s ass or have her jailbird buddies get a chance to make his life a living hell.
”So anything else happen while I was out?”
“Well… Your old roommate and… that Krueger guy… came by earlier to finish gathering the rest of her stuff. She asked how you were doing so I told them. I was also told to tell you congratulations for finding you a job from them.” Don grumbled the part about Albert as well as something he said after.
Lucy knew very well that Don still didn’t trust Albert. He had every right to as the young CEO did give them both some weird vibes but he did seem to be quite genuine with his feelings towards her old roommate and they felt the same which she could respect.
And maybe she was a bit jealous deep down that her roommate managed to score herself the big fish in the sea, she didn’t let that bother her being the carefree woman that she was. Love was love as long as it’s in good faith after all.
Eventually Don’s car pulled into the familiar sight that was the apartment building they all called home.
“Well we’re back.” Don huffed as he turned off the car. The signal for her to get out.
Lucy followed the man in as he held the door before coming at a stop at his own place. Just before he could unlock the door and go in, he felt a hand on his arm.
”Thank you, Dadd- I mean Don… For the ride back. You didn’t need to but thank you for it anyways.” The middle aged man looked over at the woman as he stood there with a half-open door as she stumbled over her words.
Silence followed before one of those rare smiles crossed the Landlord’s face.
”Don’t mention it. I’m just looking out for you as your Landlord as I’d hate to see something bad happen to you as well. Have a good night, Lulu. And don’t be afraid to ask if you need something.”
”Good Night, Mr. Williams.” Lucy returned the smile as the man shut his door and locked it before she ascended the staircase to her now empty apartment. Her own belongings just like her former roommate’s also sat in boxes, ready for their migration to the room across the hall as she made her way into her bedroom and flopped onto the mattress.
These past weeks had been hard for pretty much everyone here, but at least both she and everyone else had something good to look forward to down the road.