#stephensanchezxy/n

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“Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” Stephen Sanchez Record Shop Co-worker AU Fluff!

I AM BACK. THE UNIVERSE THREW ME A CURVE BALL BUT I CAUGHT IT

also I think this is the best chapter I’ve written so far, please like, share and comment if you enjoyed this post!

enjoy :) _____________

Y/N started at the record shop six months ago today. Of course no one would remember not even her favorite owner Billy would remember. He didn't remember much these days, but this wouldn't even cross his mind.

Six months isn't a long time in the grand scheme of things, but to Y/N six months was more than just a measure of time. Six months meant everything. Because that's when she met, Stephen.

She gazed around the poster plastered walls, neon signs and pop-star cut outs scattered the space. It felt like home, despite the flicker of yellow-ish tube lights.

The melancholic sound of Carole King's song "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" played in the background, it felt like a memory both future and distant. It was a kind of song to dig up emotions that you couldn't quite understand yet. But no matter what, it still made her think of, him.

Y/N tapped her fingers along the  paint chipped countertop and found herself wandering through memories.

She just kinda tumbled onto the Jazz Table Record Shop one day, pulled in from perhaps boredom, but she stayed because of him. She wasn't familiar with old or cool music, she didn't have a artisy or snobby taste in music from vintage bands, she didn't know who Blondie or the Misfits were, she didn't know that Elvis Presley made more than one song, she didn't know that Phil Collin's was the drummer for Genesis, she didn't know that they both had amazing music.  But she learned all of this because of him.

He had drawn her in with those attentive and dreamy dark eyes. She hadn't seen eyes like those before. Whatever he talked about, she wanted to know about.

She pretended to keep up, that she knew all the references all the songs and musicians.

Maybe he decided to keep up the conversation because there was no one else in the slightly chilly shop, maybe he thought she was cute, maybe, maybe, maybe.

Still to this day she doesn't understand Stephen. But one day she'd like to.

"Hey, I think you should totally apply here, we are kinda under staffed at the moment and we could use some more people like you"  He seemed sincere when he passed a paper application across the countertop. 

Of course she filled it out and returned the next day. Only to be disappointed that Stephen wasn't there, but one of the owners named Billy, welcomed her and almost immediately hired her. The pay wasn't amazing, the hours were weird, but you got to get a killer discount and they treated everyone like family, and they believed in mental health days.

So six months ago today, she started a bit nervous, but a little excited when she saw that Stephen would be her trainer. She definitely didn't buy an Eagles shirt from Walmart as a conversation starter. 

Today Stephen started at 2pm, and it was currently 2:05pm. She focused on the vintage Tom & Jerry clock, hoping it was a bit off.  He usually wasn't late....

He's fine! Hahaaaaaaa stop it.

It was at 2:11pm the clatter of the front door bell sounded and Y/N quickly looked up from her phone.

Stephen rushed in iced coffee and tote bag in hand.

He looked out of breath as he doubled over, painting and slightly sweaty. He put a hand up "Sorry for being late! I lost track of time" he laughed.

Butterflies erupted in Y/N,  God that smile, that laugh.

"It's all good, nothing really happened you just missed one of Carole King's best songs" she smirked.

He rounded the counter and dumped his stuff on the wobbly stool. 

As he caught his breath he said  "'So Far Away'?"  Y/N laughed  "No?"

He made a quizzical face "What was that tone for?"

She rolled her eyes  "Tapestry by far is her best album but, 'So Far Away' isn't the best song on there, and it's definitely not her best song."

"Pssshhhh," he swatted the air and grabbed a stack of cds and started to sort them out.  "How is that not her best song? It's about nostalgia and loneliness, but there's also something comforting about it." 

Y/N joined him, she forgot she had to label all the cds that a metal head sold earlier, the guy was clearly going through it, she thought he was crazy for selling all these vintage metal albums for this cheep. 

He pulled a cd up to inspect it "Ooh, Screeching Weasel" "Said no one ever." She muttered. At that they both laughed.

"Okay so since you're the expert, what is Carole King's best song?"

Without a moment of hesitation she blurted  "'Will You Love Me Tomorrow?'".

They were in a suspended silence. Their faces mere in inches apart. She felt a blush creep up her face. Even though it was the title of the song, it felt more like a confession.

Stephen was the first to break the silence, "Well technically that song was for the Shirelles first. So why do you think it's her best song?"

Y/N cleared her throat, "Uhm- well Carole wrote it after she gave birth to her child and she was in a vulnerable position, wondering if the love she felt was genuine and reciprocated. I think it really highlights what young and uncertain love feels like."

At that he tilts his head as he continues to go through the stack of cds.

"But the Shirelles killed that performance, they deserved so much than what they got."

Y/N smiled but also deep down felt a little embarrassed, he wasn't continuing the conversation the way she was hoping he would. 

"Hey, I'm going to go reorganize the t-shirt rack." She quickly exited behind the counter and walked away. 

For the next agonizing 30 minutes, they worked in complete silence. She wished that a customer would walk in and break the tension, or that he would say anything. 

She just needed something, anything to happen.

It was humid and sticky inside the small shop, and her nervousness didn't help with her internal temperature. 

She decided to prop the door open with a brick.  It was a glorified brick really, Billy had painted a Hawaiian shirt on it and gave it googly eyes, his name was Rick the Brick. One time some lowlife stole Rick, and Billy called the cops, from that day on no one messed with Rick. He wasn't just a brick or a door prop, he was the epitome and the embodiment of the spirit of Jazz Table Records.

Finally thinking of an ice breaker she spoke "Do you think we should make a buddy for Ricky?"

Stephen looked up "Like a friend for him?" 

Y/N struggled and walked over to the counter. She leaned against it "It's proper time he isn't as lonely, I can't imagine being alone for 20 years. He needs a friend."  Stephen smiles a slow honey and molasses smile that sends a shiver through Y/N. 

"I couldn't imagine either"

They both laugh

"I still can't believe you've never dated anyone" Y/N laughs harder.

At that Stephen flushes,

"Well it's not like I couldn't get anyone, it's just I haven't ever wanted anyone" he shrugs it off. She stops laughing, she can tell that she took it a bit far. 

"That's not a bad thing. I understand what you mean"

He works on something on the work computer.

"Finding love these days isn't easy, no one is honest anymore, not with their partners, not with themselves. It's scary. You can never really find out anything about anyone. It's so strange."

Y/N watched him type and focus, the glow of the computer highlighting his handsome and dark features. 

" I get it, we live in a weird time honestly. I feel like people aren't authentic. We change ourselves so often, we don't even know who we are." She bites her cracked lips. 

"I can't stand when people change themselves to fit into a new mold so they will be liked by someone." His words cut through him. 

She never felt more exposed.  She changed parts of herself for him. She started dressing differently, listening to new music, ordering coffee with oat milk even though she didn't like the taste that much. She did a lot, just so they'd have things in common. She felt stupid now.

He couldn't have said it to slight her... right?

He couldn't have known that she changed so much about herself.

In a moment of courage she said "Sometimes we are desperate enough for the love of someone we adjust things about ourselves to fit their ideals. Sometimes we don't even realize it."

His eyes move to met hers.

She didn't have much to lose.

Actually that was a lie, she'd lose everything if she lost him.  But she was still ready to take a risk.

"I changed a lot about myself."

He watches as she fidgets

"I've changed a lot about myself to be loved by someone I've loved so deeply that I didn't care if I lost myself in the process because I knew I'd be a better person if they loved me." 

Her gaze flits up to his.

"And I truly hope that I'll never regret it because I am so in love with him, I'd risk it all."

He swallows slowly and looks down.

"Love is scary, if you're not careful it's a dangerous sea to drown in."

"I'd gladly drown if it meant I had a moment to be loved." She confessed.

"Are you saying what I think you are saying?" He asked in a hard to understand way.

"I'm saying that I love you Stephen." She blurted all at once. And after a moment of silence and tension she continued 

"I've loved you from the time I walked in here six months ago. I'm so privileged to have known and loved you for the for the time that I have."

"And if I lose you now because of this, I'm glad I was able to confess to you, it was all worth it. To spend a moment in your light."

Stephen was quiet. But he wasn’t silent. She watched him intensely. He rolled his linen button-up to his elbow, small tattoos revealed, she memorized all of them, so much to the point that when she was bored she'd trace them on scrap paper. 

She knew and loved so much about him. But she wanted more. Just knowing and loving from an unrequited distance wasn't enough. She wanted to be the first thing he woke up to, she wanted to be the one who'd steal his favorite clothes, the one he'd buy flowers for. She wanted it all. 

Was it all too much to ask for?

"Y/N" he said in almost a whisper.

He takes a second to breathe.

"I've loved you from the second you walked through those doors."

Adrenaline rushed through her veins and she felt euphoric.

"But I've never loved you more than I have in this moment."

He was sincere, she saw it in his dark eyes.  She saw it in every inch of body. 

She knew he was telling the truth.

"Y/N." He paused once more

"I've loved you for six months, I've loved you today, I will love you tomorrow and I will love you forever."

__________________ It's good to be back :)

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