"Ugh...jeez I really need to change that dumb alarm, Its the worst ever." I woke up to the sound of a rooster crowing on my phone which proved to be both traumatizing and effective every time. While rubbing the muck out of my eyes I briefly wondered why short naps always seem to produce the worst morning breath. I decided to take a shower to help wake myself up for this allnighter shift. After a short and tepid water shower, I got dressed in my work uniform and proceeded to pack my backpack with the things I would need for school the next day along with a change of clothes, simple skinny jeans and fitted black t-shirt. I decided at that moment that I would make my school day as simple and unassuming as possible so I would be able to get through the day and come home right after too sleep the rest of the day away.
By the time I had everything put away and shut down to leave my home, just before grabbing my coat I poured out fresh water and kibble in the bowls for my tabby cat Buyo and the put my jacket on and headed out.
"Shoot I'm gonna miss the bus" I realized glancing down at my phone to check the time. So I hustled down the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator and rushed out the front of the building. By the time I made it to the sidewalk I looked down both sides of the road before making a mad dash across the street, and it was a good thing too because as soon as I got the the bus stop about 2 mins ahead I could hear the bus making its was towards me at the stop behind me. Once I got on and settled in my seat I popped in my head phones and listened to a random playlist on my music player. The bus ride was only about 7 mins but at this time of night i was not willing to walk through the neighbourhood. I hit the signal for my stop across the street from Walgreens and thanked the bus driver as I got off at the front. I made way in and said hi to Eri the other girl on shift tonight who was standing idly by her register.
"Hey, how's it going?" I ask.
"Not bad, boring as hell. Are you sure your gonna be able to make it today, you don't do night shift right?" she replied.
"Ya don't remind me, but I'm doing the favour for Sango. Gotta help where I can ya know."
She rolled her eyes and kissed her teeth before replying, " Ya right! You an angel for doing this, don't you still have school."
"Ya. Anyway I gotta go clock in, see ya in a bit" that girl was a drama starter, nice to know nothing has changed since I seen her last. I know exactly where that conversation was headed she just wanted me to say something negative about Sango, so she could just turn around and repeat it back to her. No thanks. Hence why I only have a very limited number of people I can call friends. After clocking in and putting my backpack in my cubby i straighten my ponytail and refreshed by lip gloss, then checked my pockets to make sure my gum was available for when I needed it.
I headed back out and got down to business logging in to my cashier station and counting my till. It was then the night manager Rin made an appearance.
Hey girl! long time no see, wow how are you? I could see the sincerity in her face and expressions.
"I'm good. Just keeping busy with school and stuff you know how it is. Your looking great by the way." I really took her in and realized that she looked different yet the same somehow. Rin is actually the one who pushed the original manager Kaede and owner Jin to hire me. I walked in about a year and a half ago, with my resume on hand and asked the person at the customer service desk to speak with the manager about possible employment. Well that person was Rin and she immediately started asking me questions, like when could I start, what experience I had and if I could get a reference. I was surprised to say the least but answered all her questions. By the end of our conversations she said told me not to worry and leave everything with her. Next thing I know 2 days later I'm getting a call to come in for an interview and a week after that I had the job. Of course I asked Rin about it, she simply told me that my energy spoke to her and knew I would be a good fit. So getting Kaede and Jin to go ahead was really just a formality for her. At that time she was just the shift leader, within the last 6 months she was promoted to night manager and I think everyone in there was genuinely happy for her since she was such a nice girl. She was 22, and taking college courses part time to be a daycare teacher. I would trust my kids with her. When I do rarely go out its always with her and Sango and some pretty much ram don whim. We don't talk as much as we probably should since we are friends, but really that's my doing, and need to self exclude myself from getting too wrapped up in close relationships. I think she understand that now though and doesn't take it personally. It really is me and not her.
"Aww thanks hun. I cant believe you noticed. I lost 15 lbs I started working out about 3 months ago and it really stuck with me. Plus the guy I'm dating is a total gym rat and he gets so horny when we work out together. Makes for great sexy time after" she winked and laughed and I joined in.
"Girl your crazy, but you look great. But honestly i never would have thought you needed to loose anything. Gosh maybe i could stand to loose a few pounds?"
"hahah, no trust me you look fine if i had your legs i would have been a high class escort by now! Its just fun really, working out just fits my personality and adds to my boundless energy."
We laughed and had idle chit chat for a couple minutes after that. That is until both of us noticed Eri, huffing and puffing to get some attention. So Rin browsed the aisles, which had about maybe 10 people scattered out all still shopping, then she came back and announced to Eri and I that she would be in the office doing paper work and to page her for anything.
Time moved pretty slowly, by 12:45 I felt almost delirious and was mentally stressing about how I was going to get through the night. By 1:15 after walking to aisles to return items left behind at the cash, I was in the middle of wiping down all the conveyer belts when Eri announced she would take her break, since she started an hour before me.
"Okay cool. enjoy." I put away the rag and spray and did I quick walk up and down the store there was one night stocker on the floor but other than that empty and no customers. I decided to make a quick run for the staff bathroom. I was so fast, I really was because I know the front end is not suppose to be unattended at any point. But like I said I thought I was being fast. Well apparently I wasn't. As soon as I opened the bathroom door I heard the loud bass of music.
" What the heck?" I mumbled to myself. As I rounded the corner I saw 2 men standing a my station where my light was on indicating my cashing till was open.
"HELLO" one of the guys yelled.
"Sorry I'm coming" I replied and one of the guys turned around and saw me. He was shorter of the two. slight stocky in build but probably at least 5'10'' he had dark hair and deep violet brown eyes. He grinned as I came closer to the two.
"Sorry about that, let me get those for you" I mumbled as I quickly rushed to open and log into my station without making eye contact and my head pretty much bowed down.
But I wouldn't be able to ignore the two in front of me any longer. The other man spoke up.
"How are your hands?" he asked.
WHAT, mystery guy from this afternoon! "huh" that was my genius reply. Clearly this guy intimidates my so much I can even formulate words.
"Your HANDS" he said louder this time, with his friend laughing in the background.
In an attempt to redeem myself I try to play it cool. I look up to watch him directly in the eyes and notice that he looks pretty young, probably just a couple years older than me. " Oh ya that was you earlier. umm i'll live, thanks" I continue to take him in seeing that he wearing a black vest with fitted khaki cargo pants and all the tattoos on his defined arms on display. His hair is slightly unkempt but still in a low ponytail. And what do you know there's a blunt tucked in by his ear.
"Whats your name girl?" by this point I've cashed his stuff which is red bull, whiskey, Gatorade, condoms and baby wipes by now. humph, okay….
I point to my name tag as a reply, hoping to throw him off even though he is incredibly sexy. But I can also tell he is the bad kind of sexy, the trouble kind of sexy that I really don't need. Showing him my name tag was the wrong move apparently because next thing I know guy is leaning over right in front of me and takes the corner of my name tag to read it out loud. "Ka-go-me. Kagome, pretty name for a pretty girl" he straights back up and locks eyes with me.
I purse my lips together to show him I mean business and ask,"Did you want to pay cash or credit?"
"How come I've never seen you at night before" he asks completely ignoring my question.
I play ball and answer him. " This is just a shift trade. One time thing. cash or credit"
"Wheres Sango" the other guys asks which both throws me off and surprises me.
"She the one I traded with"
"Oh okay tell her I said what up"
"umm okay"
"Don't you want to know my name?" mystery guys asks, I look up to see him licking his lips and smirking at me.
Okay now I'm getting annoyed, he's clearly trying to get a rise out of me for some reason. So again I play along, stare him in the eyes and reply. "ya sure"
" Okay cool, but its really hard to say so let me write it out for you. That way you wont mess it up." he pulled out I'm not even joking a handful of cash from his back pocket…..I only saw $100 bills and handed me the money.
"Here you go" as I got his change he was hunched over writing on a piece of paper. When he finished he folded it up and reached over totally invading my personal space and put the paper in the front pocket of my shirt, just under my name tag and at the same time came close to my ear and whispered " it's IN-U-YASHA, don't forget that baby and use that little piece of paper I gave you wisely, don't make me have to come looking for you."
He took the change out of my hand and grabbed his bag. Both he and the other guy walked out of the store headed to their car which was still bumping music so loud it could be heard inside. I heard his friend ask if he was just messing with that dime, but didn't catch anymore as they walked out.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.I yanked my phone out and started to text Sango.
K: you could have warned me that gang bangers like to grocery shop at night!
S: oh ya. was it tall ponytail guy and shorter, small ponytail guy? they are regulars on my night shift. they come in after their runs I'm assuming and usually have their ho's with em too. the short one is always hitting on me. ;)
K: ya thanks again for the head up…. that was weird
S: what happened?
K: nothing just threw me off a bit. no worries see you soon :)
S: ok if you say so 3
i pulled out the paper from my pocket and hesitantly opened it.
Inuyasha. 555-234-5678
im fixin to know you, call me soon Kagome
blink. blink.
A/N: Sorry for the mess that is my first chapter. If anyone checked out my profile you'll see this is my first fic, i've been reading fan fiction for years but have never posted- so i was/am still trying to figure out how to get things uploaded correctly ( i use a mac and i find that didn't help the situation either. sigh.) I don't know what the heck i did but I'm working on getting that fixed asap.
Forgive grammar and spelling mistakes I'm trying here people
oh and a correction from the first chapter Kags in actually a Junior in high school
thanks A LOT to the peeps who were willing to review that first mess of a chapter! lol much appreciated
please review