I nod my head to the heavy metal music and finish ringing up a customer. I am the only one who is not pierced and tattooed here.
"Thanks, have a nice day!" I say.
She smiles and grabs her bag. I turn around and begin to organize the cashier.
Because of my friendship with the manger, Tori, she offered to make this my first part-time job. I am currently a student at Chicago High School, and would eventually like to go to the Chicago School of the Art Institute. So I needed to get a job.
And being sixteen, I'd gladly except any job. But working here at Hot Topic is kind of awesome, actually. I love the atmosphere. The dim lighting and loud music take me to another place. When I work here, clad in black from head to toe, I feel brave.
I feel like this job has revealed a side of me that I didn't even really know or understand. I always knew I had a fearless, some might call it reckless, side. This allows me to access it.
My father however, would greatly disapprove. He has always called people that have brightly colored hair, tattoos, or piercings, "Hellions". I call them Dauntless. And I am becoming one of them. I don't think I'll do any to strange, though.
"Hey," My coworker, Lynn says. Her bald head glows under the dim light. She shaved it to prove a point. The point being that she is just as tough as any guy, and gender doesn't matter. She doesn't want people to look down on her. I completely understand and agree, I just wouldn't shave my head to make that statement.
I look at her and raise my eyebrows as if to say, What?.
"I'm checking out. You're on your own until Uriah gets here."
I nod. She grabs her things and heads out the door.
It's been kind of slow today. I am the only one in the store now. That is, until a young man walks in. He wears a dark shirt and jeans. His hair is so dark it appears to be black, and it is buzzed short. His eyes are a dark color that I cannot discern, and his nose is hooked at the end. This combination would be strange on anyone else, but it fits him. And, makes him quite attractive. He strides in, his eyes focused on the merchandise. He must be looking for something specific.
"Can I help you?" I ask, stepping out from behind the counter.
He looks up, and his eyes find mine. They are dark blue.
"No, that's alright." He says, continuing to look at me.
"Alright. Let me know if you need any help."
He nods and walks towards the back of the store. I make an attempt to busy myself reorganizing merchandise, and shirts people were too lazy to fold. But something about him continues to hold my attention.
In a few moments, he walks back to the register. I notice a few seconds later and scurry behind the counter. "Sorry." I say.
"Don't apologize." He says, almost sternly. "You were busy."
The tension between us is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
He sets down his item on the counter. It is a pendant, with a black flame. It suits him. I grab it, and the plastic package makes a crinkly noise. I flip it over to search for the barcode, and upon finding it, scan it. His eyes are on me the entire time. I pretend to not notice or care, but I can feel heat rise on my cheeks. Thank goodness for the dim lighting. As I place his pendant in a bag, and a song by Fall Out Boy begins to play.
Some legends are told
Some turn to dust or to gold
His gaze shifts to my name tag.
"Tris," He says slowly.
But you will remember me
remember me for centuries
His deep blue eyes burn into my dull blue-gray ones.
"I'm Four." He says.
And just one mistake
is all it will take
I nod. "Nice to meet you."
We'll go down in history
"You too, Tris. See you around." He says, and I think I see the corner of his lips tug upward. My heart pounds in my chest. And with that, he walks away.
Remember me for centuries