Everything written here is only lightly based on real life... you can't read too much into things...
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In her head she was going over the last few moments. He was cute,
that was a given, her smile seemed to charm him, but more importantly his eyes.
There was something in his eyes that made her feel different, after all the
eyes were the gateway to the soul in her opinion. Heading over to her station
she kept thinking about their meet cute, kind of perfect really, something out
of a movie. She tried very hard to press out the creases in her uniform as she
rushed to meet her manager. Sarah seemed abnormally pissed off at her, she was
normally a few minutes late due to school or her sisters driving her nuts so
why was Sarah so bent out of shape today?
“Riley seriously do you always have to be this late?” She asked.
“Sorry Sarah class ran late today I got here as quick as I could.
What’s so important about today anyway?”
“The new refit team is here and I have to take them on a tour of the
shop to see which department they want to start in first, and now you’ve made
me late.” She said exasperatedly rolling her eyes at Riley as she left.
“Sorry Sarah, send them my way if they are put out ill work my charm
with them I promise!” Riley smirked as she saw the faint hint of a smile in the
corner of her mouth.
“Oh you can bet I will, these guys apparently love a good party and
we have to be hospitable, you’re the first stop on this tour I’m giving ha ha.”
Riley sat back down in front of the phones and pulled out her
homework, tonight she had a lot of Philosophy and English Lit to get through
before class tomorrow and work would have to put up with her doing it while
answering the phones and handing out number tickets to customers trying on
clothing. Opening up a book on Plato she sunk into a world of ethics and
morality for the next few hours she was intent on being Plato’s bitch.
Apparently kismet had other plans. It only took ten minutes for Sean to come
and find her, leaning against the doorway he watched her reading, like she was
no longer a part of the world. He cleared his throat to get her attention.
“You know you’re actually supposed to do work when you’re at work
right?” he chuckled, all the while with a cheeky grin on his face. Riley looked
up from her book and smiled back at Sean.
“Well if they didn’t have me working everyday while I’m doing my
exams I wouldn’t have to study at work now would I?”
“So you work every day and you’re at school fulltime as well? That’s
an awful lot to take on, when do you possibly find the time to have a life?”
Riley looked Sean up and down, this was his was of determining if
she was involved with anyone, being the independent person she was, there was
no way she was going to hand over that information without torturing him a bit
first.
“My life is incredibly full, but a lot of it is social more than
anything else, why do you ask Sean?” He shifted his weight unevenly after she
asked, biting the corner of his mouth, she was making him uneasy with how
forward she was. That made her feel more comfortable, as bad as it was to say.
“Just wondering if you were always this
busy or if maybe you had enough time to come to a party we’re having tomorrow
night, it’s kind of a welcome to Bendigo party for us.”
“Who’s us?”
“Who’s us?”
“Me and Ben. Pretty much everyone from work is coming, so do you
think you’ll make it?” Riley eyed Sean playfully wondering how long she could
torture him for before it became fruitless.
“I might be able to make the time, maybe, if you’re lucky.”
“Good,” he replied, smile widening, “But that invite is only for
you, so please don’t bring anyone with you.” He turned and began to walk away
when Sarah stopped him.
“There you are Sean,” she exclaimed “I see you found the one girl in
this place who parties harder than all of us combined.” Sarah laughed and
smiled at Riley in the most knowing way possible.
“You’re just jealous because I drank you under the table at the
Christmas party last year.”
“That might be so but at least I didn’t end up dancing on top of the
tables and being escorted out by security with no shoes on.”
“Standard Saturday night for me really.”
“Standard Saturday night for me really.”
Ben and Sean laughed cautiously, not knowing if Sarah and Riley were
being serious. Riley was not one to ever be ashamed of her past, present or
future. She walked on the wild side every day simply because she never wanted
to live with regrets or wonder what if. Every day was an adventure to her,
stepping out of her comfort zone and taking life ‘by the balls’ as she would
say.
Sean and Ben were still looking at her in amusement. Finally Ben
spoke, “Sounds like tomorrow night might be one for the record books then.”
“That’s if I make an appearance Ben, still undecided on that front.”
Sean looked at her meaningfully hoping that a look could convey what he wanted
to say.
“Well we have some planning to do Riley so I’ll come by later and
check on things before close.” Sarah said walking away.
“No dramas, nice meeting you guys, see you soon.”
Just as she was about to head out the door an announcement came over
the entire shop, making her jump from shock. “Goodnight Riley, promise me
you’ll come tomorrow night.” It was Sean, trying to make some sort of grand
gesture by abducting the microphone in the fitting rooms. She rolled her eyes
at his craziness and went to walk out the back door. This time it was Sharon
who stopped her, “Made quite the impression on that one today didn’t you?” she
said with a smile across her face.
“I only spoke to the guy for like ten minutes it’s not my fault I’m
irresistible.” Riley responded all the while flipping her hair over her
shoulder like it happens everyday. She walked toward a waiting car and took off
into the night, wondering what tomorrow might bring her.
