Disclaimer: Victorious and all its features are intellectual property of others. I own no part of it. What I have written and will write is all from my own creation.
A/N:After having become an avid fan of various writers and stories here on this awesome site, I have decided to try something of my own and only hope from here on that someone finds it remotely interesting. Whatever happens, happens. I will write so long as my mind permits me because if there is anything I actually know, it is that I sure as hell can't control it.
When I took this job I really thought I would be entertained. Working at a thrift shop should let you come across some odd characters shouldn't it? I couldn't care less anyway. The little money I got from this shit shack was enough to let me go out and be able to pay for whatever interesting thing I caught my eye on.
Summer break started last week and so far I've had an amazing time. This ready-to-fall-apart stool I was sitting on was showing me the best time of my life. Did the oh so popular "Thrifty Threads" really need four people on the clock in the middle of a Monday in July? I doubt that a mob of teenagers would walk to the center of the Hill Road Shopping Mall in 100 degree weather for a pair of used cow boy boots.
I let out a sigh as glance around the store. You walk in and the first person you see is Duke as security. Stan, the manager, only hired him to appease some complaining customers when two drunk guys walked in before closing time late last year and started knocking down clothes racks. Stan rather pay him to stand there instead of hang out at the store himself. He only ever comes in to post the schedule and collect punch-in cards.
I sit behind the counter at the far left side of the shop. Jenny spends her time in between aisles either folding or hanging whatever has come in this week. Rick helps her carry stuff around occasionally, sweeps when there is nothing else to do and tries to flirt with me or Jenny usually with no avail partly because we are both gay but mostly because he is 15 and has a nervous habit of sweating.
Jenny's dark brown hair bounced on her shoulders as she walked up to me. On her 5'6 frame were tight leather pants and a ripped up, old Iron Maiden shirt that had slits on the sides showering her sports bra.
"Hey sweet cheeks" she says as she leans on the glass in front of me.
"Hey" I sigh back.
"Why the long face Jade?"
"Oh don't I look like I'm having a grand old time Jen?" I ask sarcastically
"Come on Hun. I know this isn't exactly a rave but Aren't you at least glad to see me?" She says as she winks and pushes a strand of hair off of her shoulder.
I climb off of the stool and lean on the glass myself and then hold her chin as I say with a smirk
"You Jen? You are the light of my day.
The only thing that makes working at this place any worthwhile" I let go and lean back.
She throws her head back and laughs.
"Nice answer dude. Well, I'm taking lunch. Want any thing?
I hold up a cup of diced fruit and salad bowl from underneath the counter.
"Thanks but I'm covered"
"All right then. Hold it down here. Call me if by some odd reason you get swamped." She says.
I nod and she walks away.
Even though Jenny and I aren't interested in each other romantically, She is a really easy person to get along with and has been there for whatever minuscule, bullshit problem I have had.
I watch as the clock hands line up to five o'clock and I walk out the front door, done for the day. The cool part about this job is that I only live three blocks away. I exit the shopping mall, round the corner and wait for crosswalk light to turn green. I put in my earphones and listen to some music as I walk. I'm lucky that this intense heat doesn't even make me break a sweat. I'm about half way home and can't wait to get to my favorite cafe. Starbucks just doesn't do it for me but this place is perfect. They have the most decadent pastries and the richest coffees. I think the owner, Brian, is THE barista god and sprinkles crack on the coffee beans before he grinds them.
The little bell on top of the door chimes as I walk in and I walk right up to the counter. Mark, Brian's little brother, is around one year younger than me at 16 and operates the front often on his own because he is just that good.
"Jade, right on time, as always. Here you go" Mark greets me and hands me my usual.
"Thanks Mark" I say with a smile. I'm pretty sure coffee is the only thing that can make these lips form in such a way.
I pay and start to turn around while looking down and try to skip through songs on my iPod.
A soft burn that spreads on my chest, through my jacket and onto my skin makes me realize a just ran straight into a somebody.
"Oh SHIT" I exclaim as I verbalize my pain and pinch the now drenched clothe away from my chest. I look down and see a dark stain forming all down my front.
"Crap,Crap,Crap,Crap! I am so, so sorry! Oh No Not again! Argh!
I shake the hair that cascaded onto my face back and look up to find caramel brown eyes opened wide with pure panic. With a puzzled look I say,
"Is this a habit of yours or something?
Genius must be shocked that I haven't lashed out at her because she just stands there and stares at me. This mundane summer of mine must have me in a calmer mood because "school year" Jade is much more of a bitch. I send an amused grin her way to try and get a reaction from her.
"Oh, um, No ha ha. It's just that I'm new to town and haven't been in here enough times to get familiarized with the menu so I stare at it like an idiot while people in front of me order. I spaced out yesterday and the man standing behind be in line almost chopped my head off." She explains.
I motion to get out of the way of arriving customers and she helps me grab my iPod from he floor.
"You have no idea how sorry I am. Please let me get you another cup of coffee. I'll pay for your dry cleaning if that is what you need. Maybe I can replace your iPod if it broke from the fall..."
"Chill, Please... just... Chill all right?" I plead before she offers to sell her soul for forgiveness.
Her shoulders drop from relief and I chuckle. Wow. I look at her as she composes herself and Damn. Not bad at all. She stands at just below my eye level making her height about one inch shorter than mine at about 5'9. Her dark brown hair is styled in waves and she has the tiniest bit of make up on. Just enough to accentuate her features which are stunning by the way. Pouty lips, light colored eyes and cheek bones that are to dye for. I stare and don't shy away.
"Look just don't space out next time okay? and a replacement for this would suffice." I shake my empty cup to emphasize.
"How about I do you one better, take my number and let me know when I can get you lunch. Just say when and from where and I'll drop it of for you wherever you are."
The offer sounds enticing but she is a random girl at a coffee shop. How the hell do I know that she won't pop up somewhere and axe murder me even though her adorable face is not that of a criminal.
"Look, that is really not necessary..I don't even know your.." She extends her hand to me.
"I'm Tori Vega and judging by the name on your cup you're Jade, right? There. We know each other's names now. Come on I feel awful. Let me do this one thing and then I'll be out of your life forever."
I look at her and then glance at the street through the glass wall of the shop for a while. What the hell. Screw it. If anything does happen at least my summer would have some sort of amusement. I look back at her hold her gaze.
"Fine" I put my hand in hers. The contact sends a small chill up my arm. She has more of an effect on me than I originally though. We stand there and hold for far more than what is considered a normal handshake. I don't let go to see her reaction. Her cheeks start to grow a light shade of pink.
She loosens the grip.
"Okay then, uh, type in your number here" she says as she hands me her phone from out of her sweater pocket.
I do as told and then hand it back to her, intentionally brushing me fingers against hers. Making this girl blush is too easy. She keeps her eyes down and types a quick message.
She clears her throat and says,
"There. One free lunch anywhere you want. On me." She smiles.
My phone vibrates in my pants pocket and I take it out to see her name in a new message alert.
"Cool, I Should go.. and.. deal with this" I say as a look back down at myself and then back at her. She smiles and bites her lip. Sexy.
"Again, sorry." She repeats.
I run a hand threw my black hair and smile. Fuck. So there are two things that make me smile now. Coffee and the girl standing in front of me.
"Apologize again and I'll make you loose the number" I joke and she silently agrees. I gather my things. I can feel her eyes on me as a do so. I like it.
"So, see you around Jade?" she asks as a slowly walk past her towards the door. I turn and say,
"See ya,ummm" I go on as I have no clue what she mentioned her name was because I was to busy gawking.
"Tori, Tori Vega." She answers. I won't forget again.
"Right. So long" I say as I push to door out and start to walk without looking back.
I never am one to meet a girl that I didn't approach myself, and hope so much that a see her again. It's probably because Tori Vega made a unique impression on me. An Impression of a personality that I would gladly like to see more of.