this took a whole day I stayed up til 12am hope y'all enjoy ;) (SUPER FRIGGIN LONG)

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This job has me running ragid, it's super close to the holiday and I've been taking up shifts left and right lately to come up with money for gifts, now that my manager had an accident i was put in charge and I've always had someone to help me but now I'm on my own, it's been 3 days since I've been home (besides to shower..) I've worked around the clock, day and night doing work since my job doesn't close, we work 24 hours.. it sucks. And now I gotta deal with stupid teenagers trying to buy booze and lotto tickets because it's nearing the holiday. Yep, I work in a gas station.. it's taking it's toll on me.

I sat in the chair behind the counter as I was slowly dozing off before going out cold. It's been 80 hours since I got some quality sleep. I've managed to catch some 30 minute naps or my longest was an hour but that's it.. there's always someone coming in and getting something, mostly truck drivers since they work night and day too they'll either buy gas, get a snack or get some coffee. Either way I gotta serve them.

"Excuse me, miss."

I jerked awake and glanced at the clock, it read 1:21a.m. "hi, sir, how can I help you?" I said tiredly as I stood up and looked at the 2 men that stood in front of me, truck drivers. They came around very often

"Good morning, y/n." They said in unison

I tiredly smiled and looked at them both, Orion and Ron. "Good morning gentlemen.. early morning?"

"More like late. Looks like you've had a tough night." Ron said

"I haven't been home in 3 days.. it's been tough all around."

"3 days?" He frowned "why?"

"Gotta make that money. Christmas is right around the corner.. and I make some megabucks working before the holiday since no one else seems to want to.. and Becky had an accident, it was dark and she didn't see the car.. it's terrible."

"Is she alright?" Orion asked

"I mean, she's not dead or anything.." I sighed "a couple broken bones and bruises, she has me running this place by myself now that she's going to be gone for awhile. Whatcha boys got today?"

"Just some coffee." Orion said as he pulled out his wallet

"3.42 is your total." I said watching him flip through his wallet

"You don't seem too hot." Ron said

"You're such a charmer, Ron.." I rolled my eyes as I took a 5 from Orion

"No, I'm serious, you look really pale." He frowned

"Yeah well that's what staying up for days with only 30 minute naps does to you.." I said giving Orion change

He looked at his change but looked at me concerned "Would you like us to stay? we could keep any eye out for awhile.." Orion generously asked

"No,no,no.. it's ok, it'll be fine.."

"You just gave me a 10.." Orion said as he looked at the bill i gave him as i looked down and sighed

"I'm sorry.." I sighed and took it before giving him a dollar back "You guys probably got a lot better things to do than babysit me.."

"Not really. We just finished up our last delivery and were coming home, we were going to stop at a friend's house on the way." Ron said as he shrugged

"Don't say it unless you're serious.." I looked at them with a humorless chuckle

Ron leaned into the counter and looked at me with a serious expression "What kind of sick minded people offer to do such things but really wouldn't? We're serious."

"Nothing else to do?" I looked at them both

"Nothin.."

I looked at him wearily

"Come on, y/n. We'll stay with you the whole time and if someone comes in We'll handle it, you can sleep in the back for awhile just till you aren't looking so... sick." Ron said "You look like you could collapse at any moment.."

I looked at them before sighing "You guys.." I slightly smiled as I came from behind the counter "Are the best.." I wrapped my arms around them as Ron smirked

"Yeah, yeah.. just go before I drag you back there, you look awful."

I punched his arm but given how weak I was it was like getting batted by a kitten.

"Fine." I went to the back office and wrapped up in a spare blanket before collapsing in the comfy chair and I was in dead sleep for awhile. When I woke up the clock said 7 I felt a lot better than what I was earlier.. wait.. The guys! I got up and opened the door before looking out to see Ron and Orion. Orion sat where i was originally as he looked out the window before glancing at Ron who was scratching off a lotto ticket as he scratched vigorously "Damn!" He snarled as he slapped the ticket on the counter he perked when he seen me as I giggled "What are you doing..?"

"I'm losing money is what I'm doing.. I'm in the hole 30 bucks.. I won a few times but then I started losing." He huffed

I chuckled softly to see a 20 and 5 with smaller bills spread on the counter with ripped up lotto tickets in the trash

"How do you feel?" Orion asked

"A lot better.. You guys are the best."

"No problem." Ron shrugged

"It wouldn't seem wise to leave you, given Becky's accident, and you could have gotten severely injured had you fell asleep standing or trying to serve a customer.." Orion stated

"Well you're really sweet for thinking that way. You know, a lot of people think truck drivers are all hard and serious but you guys prove them wrong.. I'll pay off those tickets, Ron since you guys kept this place running. But the next 1 won't be free.."

He simply shrugged "fair enough."

Orion nodded "y/n, on a matter of the holidays, I wanted to personally invite you to a Christmas party, myself and Ron will be there with a couple of friends."

"Well thanks, Orion but I'm going to be flying out to visit my family for christmas."

He nodded in understanding and smiled "Then I wish you a merry Christmas."

"Thanks again for watching over for me while I caught some sleep."

"Not a problem, y/n." He said as he put on his coat and walked out with Ron

I spent the next 2 days there, working a whole 5 days before I was relieved to go home, and with my Christmas bonus and a whole day of sleep I ran out and started shopping and buying presents, and wrapped them before sending them out to my family that way they would already be there when I got there. I placed the last gift to be delivered at 7am the next day and started preparing for my travel as I packed my suitcase with clothes, deodorant and toothbrush&paste, all that stuff. By time I was done it was already noon so I set my alarm to wake me up by 6 to catch my flight at 8 and laid in bed watching Christmas movies until 11pm before passing out.

The next morning I rolled over in bed and glanced at my clock before blinking then my eyes widen. It was 7:10. I had 50 minutes to get ready and get to the airport which was half an hour drive. I got ready in a flash before running out the door with my suitcase and driving like a madman through the city. I got through security and ran through to see my flight doors closing "WAIT! PLEASE! STOP THE DOORS!!" I frantically called

The lady at the desk paused the doors and spoke into her radio as she looked at me "Flight ticket please."

I quickly searched my coat pockets but paused before opening my purse and rushing through it "no,no,no... please.." I searched in every pocket before I unzipped my suitcase and flipped it open "it's gotta be here!"

"Ma'am if you don't have your ticket I can't let you on."

I paused after sifting through everything in my suitcase as I sighed "i.. dont have it. I must of left it at home.."

"All clear." She said into her radio "I'm sorry, I would tell you we could transfer you onto the next flight but there isn't one, that was our last flight."

I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed before leaving the airport. Great.. well at least I got the presents to be sent out. Too bad I'll miss everything though.

I walked into my house and went to my bedroom and frowned at my dresser where the ticket laid as I unpacked my suitcase. I laid in bed watching another Christmas movie and wallowed in my sorrow for 2 hours. Everything was closed, people were celebrating Christmas with their families all except for one place i knew..

And it was then i found myself standing in front of my work as I walked in to see my coworker at the counter

"Y/n? You're not working Christmas.." she said as I ignored her and went to the back straight to the alcohol as I grabbed a 6 pack and set it on the counter in front of her.

"Y/n..." she gave me sympathetic eyes "You missed the flight..?"

"Just ring it up.. please." I said as I pulled out my wallet

She did as told and rang it up. This happened last year, so I got wasted and slept away Christmas trying to drown my sorrow and guilt that I didn't make it to my family.

The bell on top of the door jingled as I looked up to see Ron as he looked at me

"Y/n? I thought you were leaving to see your family."

"I was.." I said as I grabbed the case from the counter "I didn't make my flight."

"Whoa, whoa whoa, where you going with that?" He stopped me from leaving

"I'm going home, Ron. I'm gonna spend my Christmas just like I did last year, I'm gonna get so drunk until I dont feel a thing and have a killer headache the next morning." I frowned

"No you're not, look, come to the Christmas party, I'm gonna be there, so is Orion. I'm here to grab some things and then we can go. Ok?"

"Fine.." I looked at him as he hit my back and walked off down the isles until he had a couple bags of chips and pop. Then we got in my car and drove to the party since he walked.

"There it is. We're still setting up so it's just gonna be us for a while." He said as we walked into the nicely decorated house.

"Heyyy, who's this?" A man walked over as he smiled

"Jazz, this is y/n. Y/n, this is Jazz, this is his house."

"Hey, mi casa es su casa. Welcome to mi casa." He smiled as he grasped my hand in a firm shake

"Have I missed introduction already?" Another man said as he walked downstairs, he ran his fingers through his ruffled golden locks as a big smile crossed his face

"Oh, that's Brad.. we call him Bumblebee because he's got that buzz that we just can't get rid off, he'll follow you around and you're not quite sure what that noise is, it's Bumblebee.." he muttered

"Well guess what, this little Bumblebee can sting. Bzz!" He said poking him viciously as he frowned at him but looked at me and smiled again "Brad at your service." He said taking my hand and kissing the top softly as if being a gentleman.

I had to stiffle the chuckle I felt when Ron looked at me with a grunt as he hand came up and smacked Brad upside his head and frowned at him

Brad looked at him with tension as his pointer finger quickly slipped from his fist in a threatening manner "BZZ!" He said before walking off

"Don't do it.. I see you trying to not laugh.." Ron looked at me

"You have some.. colorful friends."

He rolled his eyes but muttered "And you've only met him.."

An hour rolled by when Orion and another man showed up, his name was Paul, they called him Prowl though because he was a police officer and he was a sneaky son of a gun, always on the prowl.

2 more hours went by and I had met Jack and Ben, the dynamic duo, Sunny and Sid the troublesome twins, then Randy and then Smokey... who honestly sounds like a name you would give your cat.. the twins, Brad and Smokey were pretty young guys, at least under 25, they were all college kids. Then Jazz, Ben, Jack, Ron and Orion ranged up to their 30's and Paul and Randy seemed like older gentlemen but not too old, not any older than 40, late 30's perhaps.

It made me wonder how they had such a wide variety of ages and occupations. Like Randy was a doctor and Jazz was an 'entertainer' what could they have in common? But everyone was getting along just fine, the twins and Brad and Smokey had a full out playful brawl on the floor as Randy snapped at the 4 for being so rough when Sid kicked over a night stand

"Sorry.." they all murmured to Jazz who was as cool as ice as he waved it away and set it back up. But then I realized something.

They were all dudes. Not a single girl was here besides me, not that I totally cared since I'm used to being around men given all the truckers that come by.. but it just hit me that I was the only female.

Randy sat down next to me as he watched the troublesome twins mess around, he looked at me "So y/n, what do you do for work?"

"Nothing as amazing as you, doctor.." I gently chuckled as he cocked his head "I uh, Im manager... at the gas station a couple blocks over."

He shrugged "work is work."

I nodded as I looked over at Orion and Paul who stood by, i caught Orion's gaze before he averted his eyes back to Paul.

Ron was talking up a storm with Brad.. not really.. more like Brad was babbling and Ron stood there staring into his cup contemplating on if he should strangle him or just ignore him

I softly scoffed and glanced at Randy who stared at the Christmas tree all lit up.

I looked over to see Jack and Ben making their way over

"Hey, Doc."

"Jack... I've told you many times to never call me that." Randy growled

I looked at him then at Ben who had his hand outstretched to me as I looked at his hand a moment before it struck me and I took it

"I don't believe we were introduced properly.. I'm Ben and this is Jack." He said firmly shaking my hand

"Hi Ben, hi Jack. I'm y/n.." I said

"Mind if I just call you Sunshine because you are hotter than a supernova." Jack said as he smirked but grunted as Ben's elbow was jammed into his gut

I slightly blushed as I didn't know how to respond "uh.."

"Forgive the moron, he can't control his flirting.." Randy snorted as he took a drink from his glass

"It cant hurt to try.. got a boyfriend?" Jack asked

"No...?"

"Sounded more like a question than an answer is it complicated, you're just talkin?"

"No, I mean.. no I'm not seeing or talking to anybody."

He cocked a brow "seriously?"

"Yeah.."

"Wow."

"What?" I frowned a little

"Nothing, it's just you're actually really cute."

"Thanks.." I said

"You're not crazy or anything..? Why aren't you taken?"

I chuckled a little "Nope, it's just I'm so consumed in work I don't really make time for stuff like dating."

"Or maybe you've been given small blessings in disguise.." Randy said as he sipped his drink

"What do you mean?" I looked at him

He glanced away "look, im just a medical professional, nothing like a love doctor but it seems like the only thing that flies out of Ron's mouth is you.. he'll find some way to work you into the conversation."

"Ron?" I frowned

"Well, he snoozed he loses, y/n, you and me sometime?" Jack said but grunted yet again at the elbow in his rib cage

I stood up "Maybe another time.." I said as I left the group, Jack plopped down in my original place as he slouched down as he looked up at Ben who laughed.

I walked into the kitchen as I grabbed a glass and poured some wine from the counter as I stared at the cup

"Think it'll drink itself?"

I jerked up as Jazz stared at me "Whoa, chill it's me.."

"Sorry, Jazz.."

"What's wrong?" He asked

"Its a nice get together.. it reminds me a lot of my family, I just wish I had made my flight is all.." I sighed

Jazz smiled as his hand clasped onto my shoulder "Well, we are a family in some manner of speaking. All of us are God's children. Would you be considering of us as family for this year, y/n?"

"Maybe not Jack... he's more of the flirty 3rd cousin." I awkwardly smiled

Jazz laughed as he patted my shoulder "It's still something." He said as he left the kitchen

I walked out and sipped my drink leaning into the kitchen door frame as I watched Sunny wrestle Sid down to the floor "I love you man, just let me love you!" He said attacking him in a hug

"SUNNY!" He snarled

"Don't make me kiss you!" Sunny barked

Sid growled but allowed the brotherly love to continue his way as Sunny grinned and hugged him like a plush bear.

I grinned at the 2 and silently pondered to myself what it would be like to have a twin.. those 2 seemed inseparable, so far I haven't seen 1 without the other.

Suddenly I felt lips on my cheek and looked over to see Smokey as he pecked my cheek before walking away like it was nothing.

I blinked but glanced around to see who saw or maybe why he did that but seen Ron walk in with his winter coat on as he took it off after walking through the back door from the kitchen. He must of been outside.

I stood there and looked at him as he hung up his coat and looked at me "Brad stop bugging you?"

He smirked as his finger came to his lips "shh.."

I blinked with somewhat horror to what he was referencing to but he just smirked and walked over "I snuck away, I don't know where he is, probably with the twins or Jazz.." he shrugged but glanced at the top of the door as his brows furrowed but then softened as he looked at me

I frowned at his expression change and looked up only to have sudden realization when I seen the mistletoe. "Of course..." I muttered

"I could just give you a cheek." He said

I looked back at him and my face lit up

His arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me closer as I held a yelp in my throat. His lips landed on my cheek as he looked at me with a smirk and scoff "it's not like i bite.." he said as he let me go and walked away

I shook my head vigorously as I walked into the kitchen. It felt so wrong yet so right. I mean he's a really sweet guy even when he is being a sarcastic douchebag.. but something about him made me feel warm.

I downed my wine and stared out the window to the backyard, it was starting to snow. Maybe I should leave..

I put my glass in the sink and started to leave when I was bombarded by 2 bodies and we fell. I fell back and they fell on me

"Y/n! Are you ok?!"

"Y/n??"

I groaned in pain as I looked up to see the twins as they towered over me with concerned faces

"Randy!" Sid got up and disappeared from my sight

I slowly started to sit up and slightly frowned at Sunny who stared at me

"We're so sorry!" He said

Sid came back with Randy as he looked at me "What happened?"

"Ask them I have no idea.." I sighed as I got up with sunny's help

"Are you alright? Getting hit by them both is like getting hit by a wrecking ball." Randy frowned

"I'm fine, I'm probably gonna go home anyway."

"You're leaving?? But the party has barely started!" Brad suddenly appeared behind Randy

I sighed but walked out and through the living room before walking out the front door.

I jumped in my car and started it up.

Except.. it didn't start. It sputtered. It wasn't starting as I looked out to see Ron running out and towards my car as he knocked on the window.

I got out and took my keys

"Y/N, you're leaving?"

"I planned to but my car won't start.." I said

He looked at me "come back inside, it's too cold to go anywhere. The fun hasn't even started yet."

I looked at him and sighed "I just feel misplaced here, I don't belong here with you and your 'family'."