Chapter 1- The Regular
By seven o'clock, Bellwood was already quiet.
The sun had disappeared behind the mountains, leaving the sky a fading mixture of orange and purple. Most of the businesses along Main Street had closed for the evening, and the streets were nearly empty.
The gas station was still lit up.
Mia sat behind the register, tapping her pen against the counter while staring at the clock.
7:04 p.m.
"Three more hours," she muttered.
She glanced down at the textbook sitting beside the register.
She'd brought it with her, fully intending to get some homework done during her shift.
So far, she'd read exactly two pages.
Her phone buzzed.
Jenna: “How's work?”
Mia smiled.
Mia: “I'm being held hostage.”
A few seconds later:
Jenna: “By who?”
Mia: “The gas station.”
Jenna:“Tragic.”
Mia laughed quietly and put her phone away.
Working here wasn't exactly her dream job.
Then again, she wasn't sure what her dream job was yet.
She was twenty years old, taking classes at the community college and trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. For now, she just wanted some money in her pocket.
Money for gas.
Money for food.
Money to go out with her friends without having to ask her parents for it.
That was enough.
She looked through the windows at the empty parking lot.
Bellwood had never been a busy place.
Her family had moved here a few years ago from the little town up the mountain. It had gotten too expensive to stay there, and moving to the city had seemed like the only other option.
Bellwood had been the compromise.
It was bigger than their old town, but it still felt small.
Small enough that people recognized your last name.
Small enough that everyone knew which family lived in which house.
Small enough that sometimes it felt like nothing happened.
Mia actually liked it.
Most days.
The bell above the door chimed.
She looked up.
A man walked inside.
She'd seen him before.
Actually, she'd seen him a lot.
He came in several times a week, usually around the same time. Sometimes he bought coffee. Sometimes he grabbed something from the cooler. Sometimes he just came in, walked around for a minute, and left.
He always wore a police uniform.
Mia didn't know his name.
She'd never asked.
To her, he was just **the regular cop**.
"Evening," he said.
"Hi."
He walked toward the coffee station.
Mia went back to her textbook.
A few minutes later, he approached the register with a coffee and a bottle of water.
"That all?"
"Yep."
"Four seventy-five."
He handed her a ten-dollar bill.
She counted out his change and slid it across the counter.
"Have a good night."
"You too."
And that was it.
He left.
Mia barely looked up as the door closed behind him.
She picked up her pen again.
Five minutes later, the bell chimed.
She looked up.
It was him.
He'd forgotten something.
He walked straight toward the counter.
Mia waited.
He stopped in front of her.
"You wouldn't happen to have a phone charger back here, would you?"
She pointed toward the small shelf behind him.
"There's a display by the lottery tickets."
He turned around.
"Right."
He walked over and looked through the selection.
Mia went back to her homework.
A minute later, he returned with one.
"Got it."
"Good."
He smiled.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
He left again.
Mia watched the door close.
Then she looked at the clock.
7:26.
She picked up her pen.
She didn't know his name.
Didn't know how old he was.
Didn't know if he was married.
Didn't know if he had kids.
Didn't know where he lived.
She didn't know anything about him.
And honestly, she didn't care.
He was just another customer.
Just another regular.
At least, that's what he was for now.
