Kaylee leaned against the wall behind the counter in the general store. It was another boring day of just standing around. As usual, there was nothing to do but stand. Hank had gone upstairs for lunch and asked for her to take over while he was gone. What he really meant was to notify him if any customers had arrived. She didn't understand why her mother wouldn't let her do anything in town besides help out at the town's store. She couldn't even go with the small group of men when they would go to give Nipton's town report to the Mojave Outpost. It wouldn't even be dangerous, with how often they travel down it, not to mention the patrols of the NCR. She growled angrily to herself.
The door to the shop sprung open as Jolene practically skipped in with a smile from cheek to cheek. "Oh my god Kaylee!" she screamed, rushing up to the counter. "You'll never believe what happened."
Kaylee moved to the counter, confused but becoming excited herself at her friend's mood. "What?"
"Come on you have to guess!"
"Um, you finally got that new dress you wanted?"
"I wish. It's better than that, though it be a lot better if I did have that dance."
"No way, did he really ask you?" Disbelief spread across Kaylee's face.
"Yes! Erik asked me to the town dance Saturday!" They both screeched and bounced up and down before hugging each other across the counter.
"Jolene, I'm so happy for you. What are you going to wear?"
"I was thinking that I was going to were my mom's old pink dress."
"You're going to look so beautiful in it."
"Not if I stand by you," her tone turned sour.
"Come on!" Kaylee protested, "Don't be like that."
"How can I not? Every guy looks like their lusting to be with you."
"Jolene, you're imagining things. Plus I don't even think I'm going." She was annoyed that she was bringing this up again, but hid it from her tone.
"You're not gonna go?" she questioned, curiosity replaced the jealousy.
"If my mom tries to make me go with Mr. Steyn's son I won't."
"Kaylee?" Hank questioned from the door way to the stairs.
"Yes?" she spoke kindly to the old man hoping she wasn't in trouble.
"Why don't you take the rest of the day off," he offered with a smile.
"Oh thank you Mr. Anderson!" she grabbed her bag and ran after Jolene who was holding the door for her. With a wave, "I'll see you tomorrow!"
It was another bright day out in the Mojave Desert. One of the gate guards noticed the two girls exit from the store and gave them a wave. Waving back, they continued down the street towards Jolene's house. Three kids about the age of ten were playing catch while two older boys watched over them.
"Hey there pretty girls," one called while the other whistled. "Why don't you two come over and give us a little kiss?"
"Just keep moving," Kaylee whispered. They were almost to her house and she didn't want to deal with these assholes.
"Grow up Bret!" Jolene yelled back, Kaylee let out a sigh. They both smirked to each other before running across the street. Jolene was about to open the door when Bret had almost slammed into the door to keep it closed.
"Aw, come on, don't be like that. We just want a smooch from both of you." Jolene attempted to open the door again, but Bret held it shut. The other boy snickered and began playing with Kaylee's blonde hair.
She smacked his hand away, "Get away from me you creep!"
"Just a little kiss Kaylee, always wanted one from you," the puckered his lips and made them smack to together.
"Why don't you just let us go inside and think about?" she spoke as calmly as she could, trying to not let her annoyance show. Why did Jolene have to do stuff like this? She was always trying to draw the unwanted attention of the idiot boys of the town. Glancing to her friend was shock that left her mouth hanging open. "Jolene!" she forced herself from screaming it out. Jolene jumped back from Bret who was licking his lips, trying to suppress a giggle. She avoided making eye contact with Kaylee as she stared her down.
"Come on Kaylee, your turn," he tried to speak charmingly. She grunted in disgust and shoved him backwards and quickly pulled the door open, dragging Jolene behind. She slammed the door shut and locked it. They could hear the two boys walking off laughing.
"What the fuck was that Jolene?"
"What? Don't you want a kiss from a pretty boy every now and then? Seeing how you've never kissed a boy before I thought you would take the offer up," she tried to smile innocently.
Kaylee's cheeks burned slightly, "That's not the point. I thought you were going to the dance with Erik? What will he think?"
"It's just a dance, Kaylee. He probably just asked me because he couldn't get anyone he was interested in to go with him. Besides, maybe the kiss will make him jealous. Do you think it will?"
She let out a long aggravated sigh, "I don't know." She didn't know what to think of her friend right now. She couldn't help but wonder how often this may have happened. She just wanted to change the conversation. "Go put on your dress, I want to see you."
Jolene's face brightened as she hurried off to change, leaving Kaylee alone to her thoughts as she plopped down onto the couch near the door. She couldn't help but think about the boys from before. Jolene was right; she had never kissed a boy. She wanted nothing more than to have her first kiss. She would fantasize about some handsome muscular man coming to save Nipton from raiders terrorizing the town. Then once saved, he would whisk her away with him. A man that is nothing like the asshole boys of the town. It came down to one thing though. She wanted to leave this town and explore.
"I'm coming Kaylee!" Jolene called out. She could hear the thumps on the floorboards. She rounded the corner and gave a spin.
"You look so adorable in pink!"
"You really think so?" she asked excitedly.
"Of course, all the boys will want to dance with you," Kaylee respond with a smile.
"You should try a dress on too," Jolene suggested with a sly smile.
"Do you even have one that will fit me?"
"Yeah, I got a few laid out on the bed. Just go change and I'll be waiting right here."
Kaylee walked from the room, unsure of what her friend was trying to do. She knew that she was more than likely not to attend the dance. She just figured that it was a way for Jolene to complain about how pretty she is. She kicked off her converse shoes while pulling off her white shirt, and then proceeded to tugged down her jeans. Choosing a dress at random she slipped it on and found it tight due to her breasts. A creak from the floor brought her attention to the doorway were Jolene was peeking around the corner.
"Are you done yet?"
"Just about," Kaylee responded as she sat on the bed and began pulling on the matching green heels to the dress.
"Good! Everyone will want to see."
"Everyone? Who else is here…." she trailed off. Of course she knew who else was here. While changing her friend must have gotten the two guys from outside to come over. "Jolene. Who else is out there," she kept her voice low, but the annoyance was clear.
Jolene bit her lip and tried to look all innocent, "Oh no one really, just Bret and…"
Kaylee stormed out of the room, seeking to just head home and be done with her friends shenanigans for today. Thankfully her house had a back door which she took to avoid the stares of horny twenty year olds. Her pace was fast as she went around a house or two and was walking down the road towards the town hall. Her house was on the right at the end of the street. Unfortunately her pace wasn't fast enough.
"Kaylee where you going?" she glanced to her side to Michael stepping out his door causing her to stop. The one man in the town she found herself attractive to. He wasn't wearing a shirt. "And what are you doing in that dress, the dance is Saturday."
"I um, well," she found herself tripping over her thoughts as she ogled him. "I mean, Jolene wanted me to see her in her dress and asked me to try one on… Well then she invited some boys over while I was changing and I…"
"Didn't want to deal with their unwanted attention?" he questioned raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah…" she almost mumbled out.
"Come on I'll walk you the rest of the way, I think I hear them coming."
They walked silently side by side while Kaylee's cheeks burned brightly. She bit her lip and turned her gaze down in attempt to hide her face from him. Her breasts were practically ready to burst out of the dress causing her to briskly walk ahead of Michael. They were close enough to her house already and she just wanted out of this embarrassing dress. She got to the door and swung it open.
"Wait!" she heard him call out.
Kaylee debated just slamming the door shut behind her so he couldn't see her any longer in this dress she about to pop out of. She bit her lip standing in the door way with her back to him. Maybe that's what he wanted, for her to pop out of the dress so he could see her. She turned slowly, but kept one hand on the door, ready to slam it shut.
"You're going to the dance right?" He was right about where she left him, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.
"I'm not…"she let out a sigh, "I'm don't know yet."
"Well, you should, it'll be fun. Even if your mom makes you go with Kyle." He turned and walked away at a slow pace, but his movements looked stiff.
Kaylee closed the door quietly. Did he just ask me to the dance? A smile spread from cheek to cheek. What was he going to wear? 'If I'm going to go it's going to be for him, so least I can do is match him.'
"God dam it! Did you really get another black jack?" Chet exclaimed. "God damn Parker, you luck out the ass."
"That or Trudy is stacking the cards against you."
"Hey now hun, don't you try to pin this on me. It's a slow night I needed something to do."
"Tell you what Chet, you keep the caps, but give me hundred 5.56mm rounds and enough food to make it to New Vegas."
Chet began rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "You're going to head north through Fiend territory?" Parker nodded in response. "I can do that. I'll have it ready in the morning."
"Can you get it ready now?" Parker casually asked before taking a sip of his whiskey.
"Uh yeah, sure. I'll go get it together now." Chet slid the caps into his hands and shoved them into his pocket before taking is leave.
"You planning on leaving in the night hun?" Trudy asked, gathering the cards together. Parker could tell she was worried.
"I am. I just want to get this delivery over with." He slid his hand into his pocket and felt for the platinum chip.
"You just be careful out there. It's dangerous at night."
"Not the first time I've made a delivery at night Trudy."
"Have you ever done it through fiend territory though?" concern was evident in her voice.
"Yes," he lied poorly.
Trudy made a tsking sound, "Now I ain't your mother so I ain't gonna try and stop you."
Parker downed the rest of his whiskey and dropped a few caps onto the counter, "I'll stop by and let you know I'm alright."
"Alright hun, be safe."
Parker waved goodbye and proceeded over to Goodsprings general store. Chet was just walking out with the supplies. Parker quickly packed it into his bag and waved goodbye. The night was cool and the moon was full. It was a beautiful night to spend outside, though a dangerous one to be trying to sneak through Fiend territory.
A lone securitron caught his eyes. Those bucket of bolts never left New Vegas. The machine was rolling down the street towards Primm. It must just be a defective bot. He kept a steady pace as he made his way towards the water tower. He thought he heard something moving. He spun around quickly but couldn't see anything in the moonlight. A sudden blow to the back of the head brought him to his knees. Before he knew it, he was blacked out.
He didn't know how long he was out. It was still dark out. The only sounds he could hear was the crackling of fire, talking, and what he assumed was metal to dirt. He sat himself up, ignoring the skull splitting pain in his head.
"You got what you were after, so pay up," a man with a hoarse voice spoke, clearly holding back anger.
"You're crying in the rain pally," replied a man with a suave voice.
"Look who's waking up over here." Parker glared at the three men with disdain. There were three men in total, on wearing a checkered suit and the other two in traditional Khan Outfits. The checkered suit man was clearly in charge. The man flicked his cigarette away and turned his gaze to Parkor.
"It's time to cash out," the man stepped forward.
"Just get it over with," one of the men impatiently asked.
The checkered suit man raised a hand to silence him, "Maybe Khans kill people without looking at them in the face, but I ain't a fink. Dig?" Parker tugged at his bindings apart as the man reached into his suit. This was it. Instead he pulled out the platinum chip. "Looks like you made your last delivery kid. Sorry you got twisted up in this scene." He reached behind himself and pulled out a 9mm, aiming it straight at Parker. "From where you're kneeling it must seem like an eighteen karat run of bad luck. Truth is, the game was rigged from the start." A second a later and the gun fired.
