"Looking forward to the Christmas party tonight?" Sasha leaned over our office space divider with a sandwich half stuffed in her mouth.
I sighed without taking my eyes off of the flow chart on my screen "Does it look like I am?"
She took a bite and chewed "I dunno, Ymir" She shrugged "I can never tell whether you're being extra sarcastic or just your usual unhappy self"
I turned to her, ready to give one of my signature replies when eyes grew wide with realisation "What if being sarcastic IS your regular self!" She laughed. Now who was being sarcastic?
I rolled my eyes before abandoning a witty remark and tossing a pen at her. She ducked and laughed "Aw, c'mon, don't be like that" She leaned over once more "I hear that new supervisor's had a big hand in the party this year"
I turned back to my computer "It's just going to be the same shit all over again. Shitty music, shitty decorations, Reiner getting drunk off the piss he calls a drink and trying to bring home anyone who's willing… who was it last year… Bert?... Eren and Mikasa canoodling in a corner, pretending that they're not a couple so Mr. Smith doesn't fire them, Armin trying to make sure no one gets too wasted before he heads home early to Annie, Jean being a pussy wishing his boyfriend, Marco, was home from over-seas, you and Connie tip-toeing around the fact that you both want to be in each other's pants"-
"SHHHHH!" She waved her hands frantically
-"And then me, just sitting there, wishing for hell to swallow me up"
"Aw, c'mon" She left her own office space and came into mine. She threw an arm around my shoulder, almost catching me in a headlock "I hear there's gunna be an actual band this year and one glass of top-of-the-line champagne for everyone! For free!"
"Shoudn't you two be working?" A voice came from behind. We froze.
"Is that"-
"The new supervisor? Yup" Sasha gulped.
She let go of me quickly and we both turned to face our supervisor.
Our supervisor was a woman by the name of Historia Reiss. Short, blond and well capable of being in authority. God damn she was hot.
Sasha laughed nervously "Um, I was just help"-
"No. I don't want to hear lies, Braus. I could hear you two going on about the Christmas party from across the room"
"Oh" Sasha's face fell
"Listen, you two are two of our more productive workers. Sasha, you can hunt out a good deal with suppliers. Ymir, you're on time and usually, you keep your head down. Just don't let me catch you again, I won't be so easy on you next time" there was a pause "I know Christmas is a happy time and all but c'mon guys, we've still got a job to do, okay?"
What if I don't want you to go easy on me hehehe I'll be a job you can do hehe wait, what… STOP THINKING YMIR, STOP… I bet she's into some real kinky- NO STOP! SHE'S YOUR SUPER! she's super hot- STOP IT! THIS IS SEXUAL HARRASSMENT OR SOMETHING!? she could sexually harass me all she wants. WHAT WHY? STOP PLEASE YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING STOP.
"Yes ma'am" Sasha saluted
"I'm excited about the Christmas party too" she smiled softly "Been a while since I've had a good time"
"I'd show you a good time" I mumbled under my breath
"Hmm?" She looked at me
Shit, did I say that out loud? Oh shit
I scratched the back of my head nervously "Um... haha, yeah, been a while since I had a good time too, ha"
She looked at me for a moment or two before turning her attention back to Sasha "Alright, Sasha, think you could have those files on my desk by five today?"
"Um, yeah, sure" She nodded
"Get them done earlier and you can go home and get ready for tonight" The short blonde smiled and Sasha got back to work
"Ymir?" her smile dropped and she tilted her head in confusion
"Hmm?" I didn't realise it but I was staring at her
"You okay?"
I shook my head "Yeah, yeah fine, just... looking forward to tonight" I lied.
"Good" she smiled again "I'll see you there" she turned and began to walk away.
Sasha slouched with a relieved sigh "Phew! That was close"
My eyes followed the blonde as she made her way back to her own office. I hate to see you leave, but I love to watch you walk away
"Ymir? Ymiiiiiiir" Sasha waved her hand in front of my face and I came out of my trance. "You always do that when she's around" she mumbled
"Do what?" I asked
"You stare at her like she's a piece of meat and you're a hungry wolf"
I frowned "I do not!"
"It seems fairly obvious, but, I got to ask, do you like her?" I swear I saw Sasha's eyes spark with the mischief if a twelve year old.
Quick, Ymir, say no! Just stone face it! Go, Poker face!
"What? Wh- pff-pffft! I do not! Pfft, she's our supervisor! No ew pffft!" Nailed it
Sasha rolled her eyes "Whatever" before sitting back down at her own desk.
I took a deep breath and turned back to my computer.
"Ymir and the super sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i"-
"Shut up, Sasha!"
She laughed "You liiiiiiiiike her"
"Shut up or I'll make you shut up!"
She let out her last laugh and became quiet for a few minutes "So you coming to the party tonight?"
"…. Yes" I growled. She took a breath; I interrupted "Not another word, Braus"
That evening I finished up work at 4:30. The party wasn't until 8pm. I headed home to my far less than clean apartment, made some dinner (by dinner I mean microwave noodles and the last few slices of bacon I had left), before heading into my bedroom and franticly searching for a shirt to wear for tonight.
I wanted to look my best tonight, I wasn't exactly sure why. I guess Miss Reiss had something to do with it, but as far as I knew she wasn't interested in me. Hell, I wasn't even sure if she was interested in women. I was sure she was interested in big strong guys who could carry her around and bench 120 or something, not women who have the same body type as Slenderman. I was sure in her eyes I was just another worker; nothing less, nothing more.
Eventually I found a shirt. I sniffed it. Dear God, it was far from clean. I threw it into the washing machine along with a bucket full of detergent before getting into the shower myself. I stood under the flow of water thinking to myself;
Do I really want to go to this party? Everyone will be there. All my co-workers who I try avoid in the real world. Do I plan on drinking much tonight? Historia's never seen me drunk… none of them have. Jesus Christ what have I gotten myself in for?
I shampooed and conditioned my hair before scrubbing the rest of me clean. I stepped out and wrapped a towel around myself. I switched off the washing machine and threw the shirt into the dryer before drying myself. Typical mundane tasks.
I put on a pair of jeans and a simple bra before I began to pace back and forth through my bedroom. I was still asking myself the same questions.
Should I go? What if I don't get along with them? What if this just makes work awkward? What will I do if I do something I regret? What if I embarrass myself? Is this a good idea?
I wasn't usually this indecisive, hell, I never gave anything even close to this much thought before; I much preferred to act on impulse. I heard the tumble dryer beep to indicate that my shirt was dry.
I put on the shirt straight out of the dryer. It was warm and damn did it smell good; the last girl I went out with used to complain about the smell of my clothes and bought me a shit load of fancy detergent. She might have been crazy in the head but she was even crazier in the bed and I did not complain… until she poured hot wax over my nipples… that wasn't pleasant…
Anyway, I put on the shirt and examined myself in front of the mirror. Yup, I looked good. Reeeaaaaalll good. I smirked at my reflection and popped my collar like the douchebag I am.
"Oh, hey Historia Yeah, I was in the neighbourhood so, I decided to check up on this party. You want a drink?... Oh, Miss Reiss, good to see you... Okay, Historia… You thirsty?"
It was like I was fucking thirteen years old again; practicing flirting in front of the mirror. What the fuck was I getting myself in for?
"Heeeyyyy. Historia. You look like no one has bought you a drink yet, please, let me do the honours"
I sighed and checked my watch. 7:15pm. Decision time. It was now or never. Was I going to this party or not. I looked at myself in the mirror "Go. I should go. Fuck it. What's the worst that could happen?" I grabbed my coat, my wallet and keys as I made my way out the door before I had a chance to change my mind.
I sat into my car and took a deep breath, doubtful thoughts beginning to creep into my mind. "Nope. I'm going" I said to myself one last time and turned the keys in the ignition. Before I knew it I was on the road and not looking back.
I remember pulling up to the pub where the Christmas Party was held every year, Wall Maria's Pub. I parked the car and took another deep breath before opening the door and stepping out into the cold evening. I opened the door of the pub where I was met by an archway of balloons. The band was setting up in a corner.
Am I early? I thought before looking at my watch. 7:43pm. act cool, Ymir, you can do this.
I threw my coat around a chair at the bar and sat at it. This little old bald man with a moustache and a bowtie came over to me.
"Ymir, long time no see" He smiled.
"Hey" I half smiled in return "Didn't think you'd still be working here. I heard you hit retirement age around the same time Washington crossed the Delaware"
"Ha. Ha" he smiled "the usual?"
"Not right now, thanks. You know if I'm the first one here?"
"Nah" He replied "There's this cute little blonde around here somewhere. She set up most of this"
The door opened and in flooded a few of my co-workers; Connie, Sasha, Reiner and Armin. Carpool I thought to myself.
"Ymir!" Sasha saw me and was more than surprised.
"Hey" I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly
"I honestly didn't expect you to turn up tonight" she lowered her head as she got over to me "Is a certain someone to do with your appearance?" She cocked an eyebrow "Huh?"
"I swear to whatever god there is, shut your face Braus" I raised my fist
She laughed "I knew it!"
"Shut it or"-
"Hey you two" We heard a voice next to us at the bar. It was her. Historia. Dressed in a little black dress and I couldn't help but think it would look amazing on my bedroom floor.
"Hey!" Sasha smiled.
"H-hey" I lowered my fist
"Whaddya think?" she smiled and gestured to the band and decorations.
"Pretty good" Sasha smiled in return.
"Amazing!" I blabbed. So much for acting cool
"Thanks" She smiled at us both.
I needed a drink already.
"Sasha! Ymir!" Connie called from the table that he claimed.
"You comin'?" Sasha asked me.
"In a minute"
"Okay" and she left.
Historia was still standing next to me as the barman returned.
"A double whiskey… And whatever this lady wants" I gestured towards Historia.
"Oh, thank you, you don't have to"-
"I want to, you've put plenty of work into this the least anyone can do is buy you a drink" I tried to smile genuinely but damn it was hard to do.
"Thank you" She smiled and I swear she blushed before looking back at the barman "Vodka and cola"
He nodded and set about making the drinks.
"Seriously, thank you, Ymir. I can't remember the last time someone bought me a drink no strings attached"
Damn. Wait, why am I a little hurt? Did I seriously think anything would happen between us? Shit! I did! Fuck me! Fucking a co-worker is a breach of contract, there's no way she'd risk her nice supervisor job for a shitface like me, fuck!
"No problem" I replied.
The drinks were put down in front of us and I handed him whatever cash was in my pocket. She took a sip before looking at her watch "Damn! It's just gone eight o'clock" She looked around. Everyone else seemed to have arrived "I better go tell the band to start up" She took her drink and made her way over to the band in the corner.
And just like that, I regretted even coming here tonight.