~Warning: Dark Themes and Language (though it's not too bad, yet)
I DO NOT own anything other than my OC, thank you thank you ;)
~Please feel free to share/message me (in case of good spoilers) your FRESH ideas on what you think would be cool to throw in the story for some fun twists! Any and all reviews are certainly welcome as long as they are in understanding that this story is written for the thrill of "what-if's" and "I-wish's" out of the hum drum of everyday life. Enjoy!
Gath and Brooke's Kid's Retail: (Back Story)
It was another day of putting on her mask for customers she didn't know and didn't care to know. It was all part of the job: Fold the clothes, fix the displays, clean the floors, greet the customers, watch them tear apart that kid's shirt and sweatpants display from trying to find the right size at the bottom, which she just fixed as she checked out the line that seemed to materialize from the beside the girl's jacket rack –sigh. At least her coworkers were a little fun to joke around with when the pace slows to a few stragglers before closing.
After locking the doors she rolled up her sleeves and got to work with the remaining crew. They went to work those last few hours as they attempted to refold and put away as much of the mess as possible, only to be ready for opening again in.. She checked her watch.. 9 hours. Then the cycle goes on. Sell. Clean. Sleep. Repeat. Aannd eat somewhere in between she mentally added as her stomach loudly protested. Shit, did she eat today?
"I'm heading out!" Leah called towards the back room.
"Leaving already missy? Going to try for a mystery man, are we?" Ruby, her Manager, popped her head around the doorway giggling.
"Ruuuby! Where do you even get the energy?!"
"Who knows, Lay?" She said with an exaggerated 'shy' smile that then turned bewitching, "Maybe I can lend you all this 'feisty' and give you some edge, Chica!" Ruby laughed, as Leah rolled her eyes with a grin.
"I'm betting on the vodka drinks, you keep socially spamming me with. That might have something to do with your 'edge'" Leah tossed back.
"Haha. Fine, fine, you win! Just let me know how it goes." They waived bye as Leah went out the door with her hand knit woolen mittens, grey down coat with faux fir lining the hood, and pink floral quilted shoulder bag.
Ruby was slightly older than Leah and had a heart full of wisdom and a smile like the sun. They knew each other for the last four years and were the closest of friends these days. She didn't have many friends to begin with so Ruby was considered a saint in her book, not that what she did at times were always so 'saintly.' Ruby was already in a long term relationship before she hired Leah to be her Assistant Manager at Gath and Brooke's high end kid's retail. Disregarding her love status she still fit in a few extra dates on the side.. not with her boyfriend. She was the only person who knew how lost for love Leah was but what she didn't know was that it went further than that, in fact, much, much darker and deeper than anyone could guess..
What am I doing with my life? She wondered, shutting the glass door behind her with a click. Should I try for a boyfriend.. Again? That was a predetermined failure. Although she was a hidden beauty, she didn't care to flaunt it at work or even when out on the town. Maybe this one time she would give it a shot. It was already midnight and she preferred to be out earlier than that so she could get back home to her book in time before passing out in the covers. She knew it was lame, but Leah was not much of a social night owl regardless of her age. Her books were always much more exciting than what those 'meat factories' offered. Oh, what the heck, I could use a stiff drink and look around if it makes Ruby stop giggling about my love life any less. Then I can tell her how much 'fun' I had she thought to herself, stifling a chuckle.
Recollections of the past hazed over her memory as she reached the mall's exit and was greeted by the crisp air. It was a cloudless night, which she was grateful for. She hated the snow and now waited vehemently for the spring to melt what was left of it. Puffs of breath left her lips as she fumbled for her keys as she walked towards her beat up car. You would think an "Assistant Manager" could afford something a bit more reliable however this was not "fantasy land" and after rent, bills, food, and endeavored savings, she hadn't much left for a newer car so a beater it was!
She had just gotten to the door when her mittens caught one of the keys and slipped into some dirty slush. "Wonderful!" She muttered to herself.
Pulling her right mitten off in a huff she quickly bent down to poke through the mess but all too fast as a burning pain jolted down her back to the right of her spine. OUCH! That was sudden. Did I over-stretch or something? Slowly standing up she reached and pushed at her lower back to stretch the other way where she noticed a slight sharp ridge rippled through her thick coat. Wha..? Then the pain was gone as fast as it came. Strange.
She found the key, more cautiously this time, got in and shivered as the car hummed to life. Note to self: fix the heaters. It's too damn cold! Off she drove towards her flat.
So that was a little look into the character setup for Leah and Ruby! What did you think? More details will be revealed as we go, hurrah! Look out for the upcoming chapter(s), something happens to Leah that will suddenly change her life in amazing ways, ooohh XD