《BurgerPunk: Pizza Time》13. Snacks at the Gas Station
Advertisement
There he stood. In the middle of the gas station. Staring off into what he would consider nothing in particular, thinking about nothing in particular. He was standing next to the small section with the overpriced bottles of engine oil and small scented trees. The black ones were his favorite. He found the jokes online about their freshness funny and so he bought one one day. Eventually his ironic thought turned into an ironic act that turned into a sincere act that turned into a sincere thought. Now he actually enjoyed the little black tree smell. He thought it legitimately smelled fresh. He grabbed a pack of them and continued to stare off into the distance.
An elderly lady was near the front cash register slowly playing scratch offs with a dime in one hand and a jug of whole milk in the other. A twenty something was near the drink fridge comparing the ingredients of two diet energy drinks. The cashier was watching soccer on his phone. He still couldn’t remember why he was there.
He had already filled up the tank of his 2005 Ford Focus. He paid for it with a debit card at the pump. He couldn’t remember why he was there. He walked over to the snack isle. He enjoyed the Italian snack mixes with the rye chips. He grabbed the smallest bag he could find and made sure it wasn’t the mustard flavor. He had once bought a family size bag at the grocery store without checking the label, only to find out when he got home that it was an unsurmountable quantity of mustard flavored snack mix.
He grabbed one of the little duo packs of the cakes that looked like a zebra. He didn’t particularly enjoy the flavor of them, but there was a nostalgia to them. When he bites into the plastic icing it’s as if he’s five years old again, playing in the front yard with his dog and his pop, drinking soda that would eventually cause cavities and eating little zebra-colored cakes while running away from the lawn sprinkler. He liked the fact that a gas station could give him the closest thing to comfort he’s experienced in nearly two decades.
Advertisement
He still couldn’t remember why he was there. He had cigarettes. There was coffee in the car. At this point he was just browsing the wares for some semblance of fun. He imagined the fit dude-bro looking at energy drinks was an engineering student. Maybe a chemistry major. Dietary science? It would be the only reason that would explain why he wasn’t just getting shitty black coffee. If he were that guy, he would get shitty black coffee. But if that guy were him, he would already have shitty black coffee in the car, waiting for him. Slowly cooling down to the point that you can taste the bitter, long lasting notes of disappointment that fuels reality slowly setting back in after a bite of nostalgia cakes that look like zebras.
The lights above him were starting to be uncomfortable. His rate of blinking began to increase as he held more and more small snack foods trying to remember why he was there. He began his walk to the counter to check out.
“Howdy, bud.” He said to the clerk watching soccer, standing a good two feet above him from where the counter was positioned. The clerk looked through the shatter proof plexiglass.
“Good afternoon, sir,” the clerk said without making eye contact, “did you find everything alright?”
“I can’t seem to remember what I needed from inside the store, but other than that, I’m fine.”
“Very good, sir.”
The little bag with a smiley face on it and a ‘Thank you’ and ‘Have a nice day’ wasn’t particularly endearing, but he like the fact that they were at least trying in that false senserity of a corporate marketing team kind of way. It gave him a sense of normalcy. He swiped his debit card at the little machine and hit some buttons so that his fake money could go through some fake wire to a fake spreadsheet to a fake bank to pay for fake interest on fake loans to fake investors.
Advertisement
As he walked out the door he noticed a sign on the window pane that said ‘Bathroom for customers only’ and that’s when he remembered why he went into the store.
Advertisement
Divinity Skill
Erin is summoned from earth by the goddess Almera to save her world from a terrible famine. What should have been a peaceful slice of life farming story takes a turn when other heroes summoned from earth begin to show up; proclaiming that he is a demon lord, and needs to be slain. Can he save this world while fending off the agents of other gods determined to see him dead? Note: The patreon will fluctuate somewhat, but will always be at least a few chapters ahead of royalroad, so if you like what you've read so far, kicking me a couple bucks is always appreciated :)
8 193Lorian Ellins [Dropped]
Lorian found himself in the medieval European style world, thinking he went back in time. However, upon inquiring, he realized history, customs and as such were different. This was a whole new world he knew nothing about. A place where powerful were respected and feared, a place where monsters and different races existed. After a lucky encounter, Lorian manages to secure a job, home and survival. However, the world is large and ready to be explored. Lorian won't be lost in mediocrity. This is his destiny. Nonetheless, everyone starts at a low point in life. Fast growth and OPness seemed impossible even with the help of the system. , Life is neither a game nor a bunch of numbers. It's far more complex and unpredictable. We don't know where we stand in the future, or is there even future prepared for us? I always thought that overused motto in wuxia novels, '' I want to control my destiny '' was cliche and we had less control over our lives as they are dictated by many other factors. This world taught me otherwise, thus this place shall be my new beginning. '' PS: The cover is not mine. It was randomly found on the internet. The cover was edited by Nefarious. https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/20337/the-pale-orphan - Link to his fiction
8 146Horizon Dawn
A story of an Order of Justice and Hope in the world where strength rules all. In the world where gods have maturities of kindergarten. Where nations rule by political backstabbing and power supremacy. In a multiverse where power is the symbol of fear. In that world, the Queen of Good played her reverse card. That day marks the resurrection of an old fashion ideal. It is the gathering of naive fools who believe the Right makes Might. But these, like many fools before them, will change the world. "Only the weak succumb to brutality." Superman, Kingdom Come
8 161Oh, I'm A God?
Just out of sight from our own, is a fantasy world where gods rule kingdoms and monsters lay outside its walls. Somehow, our normally shut-in protagonist Bell has been transported to this dangerous world, and with that the gift of energy of the archon god of space. Now Bell must learn to use his newfound power to try to make friends, defeat enemies, and navigate this corrupt world from destruction. Authors Note - This story uses a unique writing style called "Stream of consciousness" You get to read the inside of the protagonist's head and truly experience the world as he does.
8 156Worlds Adrift
An infinite void with the pieces of dead worlds littered in every direction. That is what the Rift is. Kain will become another traveler in this void, looking for his way back home. Along the way, however, he will find plenty of stories to tell. Arc 1: The Dragonoid Tower- Finding himself in a strange void with a hazy blue sky and floating islands abound, Kain will make new discoveries, new insights, and a new ally. Arc 2: Soul City- After a life or death battle with a ravenous beast, Kain and his ally will find himself in the ruins of an unfamiliar city with a familiar name. Picking through the remains and fighting against the denizens of the ruin, they will discover new secrets of Ether, the energy that floods the void they live in. Arc 3: People of Power- Barely escaping with their lives, the extradimensionals will find themselves stranded in an unfamilar world and an unfamilar city. Through sheer luck, they will learn about this new world and discover what it truly means to be an extradimensional. While they do so, powers both hidden and seen will move, driving the city closer and closer to the brink of anarchy. (This is my first time publishing a web novel, so please enjoy the learning process and point out any shortcomings. Thanks!) (A helpful commentor mentioned that there is a game with the same name and concept as this novel. I did not know that such a game existed when I wrote this story and I apologize to anyone confused)
8 121Missing You (Jalex)
Alex had had enough of all the Jalex stuff. That phase of his life was over, seeing that they broke up 5 years ago, but Jack still wasn't over him. When Alex proposes to Lisa, it breaks Jack in two. He's pushed into depression, but he keeps happy for the fans. But when Alex finally confronts Jack, and Jack spills it all, will Alex's feelings for Jack return?
8 136