Part Two

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?”

“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.”

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.