Car Share: Don't Mess With Me

Chapter 2

"Penny for your thoughts, Kayleigh?" Elsie detected something was amiss by how annoyed Kayleigh was now currently looking as she got changed into her Comic Relief T-shirt. She hoped Mr Redmond or as Kayleigh always preferred to call him 'John', hadn't gone and potentially blown their relationship because of that she-devil aptly named Rachel lurking around after him like a bad smell.

"Oh Elsie I wanted to enjoy myself today, you know with helping out John with raising as much money as possible for these Red Nose Day Selfies. I feel I can't think properly now, what with Rachel always watching what we do and her battering her eyelashes at John." Kayleigh has complete trust in John because she remembers him telling her in at least in three conversations, that he knows what kind of a maneater Rachel can be while she chases someone she's had her eye on and how she smartly puts on the performance of a lifetime as she's comforting the poor bloke after his relationship has turned sour.

"I think that hussy deserves to be taught a lesson she'll never forget. Leave it to me Kayleigh." Elsie is outraged by the cheek of Rachel, who seemed obsessed on chasing after Mr Redmond. She thinks Kayleigh might not be able to scare off Rachel for good.

"Elsie honestly I can handle her. Let's just say she won't know what hit her by the end of today." Kayleigh reassures Elsie she knows what she's doing. She isn't willing to slap Rachel back to Newcastle. According to John, slapping counted as a potential sackable offence according to the store's rules and regulations.

"Oh! I hope you give her scaring off good and proper." Elsie is already willing her on as if she's Kayleigh's No 1 cheerleader.

Meanwhile Rachel was making good on her word, upstairs in the head office department. Cath immediately saw right through her unconvincing attempt at lying when she asked to speak to John in private.

"I'm sorry he's not in his office at the moment, Rachel. What was it you wanted to talk to him about because I can always pass on your message for him, as soon as he gets back." Cath falsely pretends to jot down Rachel's short message "I feel I need someone to confide in. I know you're the person, I can count on for this."

After Rachel leaves, Cath gives a signal through the window of John's office for him to unlock his office door. "That woman is hell bent on having you to herself. I'd be careful if I was you. Make sure you're around people when she tries to get you alone especially starting from today of all days."

"Oh Cath I thought she would never leave. She was alright with me a few months ago. The two of us found we had a lot in common with each other but I've only ever really saw her as a friend to be honest. Now she's got it in her head, that we're meant to be together...talk about being a bunny boiler. Kayleigh was upset with her watching us when we got into work over an hour ago."

"I'd be too if it were me. Might I suggest something to you." Cath has a smart suggestion that she thinks might help John solve his Rachel problem.

"I'm all ears Cath." John had known Cath for 20+ years. Things had started off rather differently for the friends , who had enjoyed a month long fling over the Summer of 1996 before he eventually cooled things between them by that September. John did this because he feared back then he would be instantly sacked if he was caught snogging somebody who was responsible for keeping him in line than actually ripping his clothes off in a passionate frenzy. He and Cath both thought things would be better between them if they just stayed friends with each other rather than carrying on their relationship in secret. She had then eventually met her future husband Martin at a New Year's party the following year and the rest as they say was history.

"Well I was thinking that dunk tank might come in handy...for a wake up call..." Cath suggests Rachel should be the first person to try out the retro looking dunk tank located beneath the head office.

"Why have we even got one outside in the first place? The likes of them are more for funfairs in the park. Dave looks like he's flipped with the overspending on it." John reckons Dave's losing the plot rather than aiming to raise as much money as possible.

"He says it's more for the kids to dunk their parents in. Personally I'm not sure it's a very good idea." Cath is also doubting Dave's purpose of thinking behind this.

"Don't think they're gonna be happy going home drenched with their shopping. We'll be having complaints by the end of the day or tomorrow at the latest" John isn't looking forward to the possibility of being snowed under with the amount of complaints from customers.

"You see John this is why I think Rachel is actually the best person to try this out but she won't know she is until the last second." Cath shows she has a legendary bold as brass streak to her, particularly in the way she speaks. John can't help but still admire this cunning like side of hers. She is more upfront and always quick on the ball than him.

"You're a right clever bitch, you are." John turns his head away to laugh. He couldn't wait until he tells Kayleigh about Cath's brilliant recommendation. Kayleigh will be impressed herself as well.

"I certainly am." Cath smiles proudly.

xxx

By 11am, customers were queuing up in large queues to have a browse at what the Supermarket had to offer with the fundraising event.

"Hello stranger..." Kayleigh says upon sneaking up behind John. She's in a particular good mood after her chats with Elsie and Pamela Off Non Foods. Her two colleagues were in on Kayleigh's 'Make Rachel's Day an absolute nightmare' plan. She was completely unaware of the fact she and John had coincidentally come up with precisely the same plan as each other.

"Who are you calling stranger...Lady?!" John asks, cuddling her in his arms as he greets her. The smell of her perfume tickles his nostrils as he absorbs the comforting feel of her arms around him. Kayleigh wishes they could stay this way all day, holding one another and never letting go.

"I thought I would you help out with the selfies now. Seeing as Joyce is covering for me until after the lunchtime and the fact I want to make sure you're not being hassled by Rachel." Kayleigh double checks to see if her rival isn't nestled away in good observable spot. She sees that she's nowhere to be seen.

"She's not here. Haven't seen her around since we arrived at work this morning. Anyway forget about her and be happy about us getting to enjoy time together because I know this all I want to do right now" John tries to put her mind at ease. They had failed to pick up on the

"Oi lovebirds. You've got a queue of people waiting here. Leave your lovey dovey stuff until later." Alan Campbell rudely interrupted them. He wasn't best pleased to see his colleague not being properly on his game at all today. He didn't feel any dislike towards Kayleigh in fact he felt happy to see that she made John happy but as it was just before midday, Alan thought the couple ought to be getting into the fundraising spirit than snogging in front of the customers.

"Oh! What's rattled Alan's cage?" Kayleigh asks while she watches Alan at the next stall, he is currently stroking his jaw and quietly debating over which one of the football inspired Red Noses he should wear for the rest of the day.

"He probably thinks you're becoming a bad influence on me. I'll have a word with him later. Tell him not to think badly of you." John was at the pivotal stage in their relationship where he honestly didn't care what others might think of what him and Kayleigh got up to outside work. If they had a problem he knows he will defend her honour. He quickly leans in and kisses her left cheek as well as taking the opportunity to squeeze her shoulder.

"Well, shall we get started then?" Kayleigh asks, after she sees that the customers were registering extremely impatient looks on their faces. She loves seeing him look so upbeat despite the fact Rachel was still being an unwanted problem.

"I don't see why not?" John agrees the two of them were probably should a wriggle on with their Comic Relief selfies.

Kayleigh makes one of many peace sign hand gestures with the kids as she poses for selfies with them. She impresses John and Cath as she shows what an absolute natural she is with them. She's definitely having plenty of fun with this as she thoroughly got herself into the spirit of making people happy . A beaming John decided he would nickname her 'My Ginger Selfie Queen' as a 'Thank You' for helping him out that morning.

Everybody was enjoying themselves and soaking up the Spring sunshine as the morning went on. Unsurprisingly Dave Thompson hadn't shown his face. Presumably he was held up in his office with his feet up on his desk, toasting his success of coming up with this last-minute fundraiser for Comic Relief.

"You know, I never thought I would find myself having fun with this but I am...thanks to you Miss Kitson..." John is grinning from ear to ear as he praises her to the skies. He doesn't give a care in the world who happens to overhear them.

"Why how very lovely of you to compliment my participation Jonathan" Kayleigh blushes like she hadn't blushed before. John's words were enough to make her intimately swoon over him all over again, like the many times she had done in the first month of their relationship after he had dropped her off at Mandy's and would give her an unforgettable kiss she would cherish as soon as they had parted company for the evening. Kayleigh always gazed in awe at John's old fashioned gentleman manners and the manner in which he goes out his way for her.

The pair can't take their eyes off each other. Unbeknownst to them, a hugely jealous Rachel is watching the couple like a hawk. She is adamant she will ensnare John and see to it that nothing or nobody will stand in her way...not even Kayleigh Kitson.

"Three cheers for Mr Redmond and Kayleigh...Hip-hip-Hooray...Hip-Hip-Hooray...Hip-Hip-Hooray" Elsie who has her face painted like a Tiger, shouts as loud as she can at the top of her voice. Even Alan Campbell managed to hear the Irish busybody practically yelling throughout the car park. He shook his head.

"Alright Elsie keep your voice down. You don't want to go and awaken the Scottish dragon...sorry I mean Dave Thompson, you know... from his office." John and Kayleigh had impressively raised £150 over 90 minutes and well Elsie being Elsie thought to get word on the gossip of how much money the two had put in the pot so far. Her mood soon turns sour when she sees Rachel looking over their way.

"Sorry...oh by the way...you two lovebirds seem to have caught the attention of the Bitch from Newcastle over there." Elsie informs them and thinks they should keep a vigilant eye on her, make sure she doesn't pounce if John left alone at any particular time.

John turns and faces Elsie, who looks skeptical over what his motives were. He understands she's sticking in Kayleigh's corner but he feels his girlfriend and her colleague shouldn't alter their confidence in him based on his slow reaction to Rachel eyeing him up. "Elsie I've got this..."

"John. What are you trying to say?" Kayleigh asks, she misunderstood what he means by his comment. The panicky look on her face was slowly unsettling her.

John places his hand on Kayleigh's cheek and caresses it lovingly. He leaves her with words which he knows will restore her faith in him even more. "Look I'm not that type of man, who will give into temptation at the drop of a hat. By the end of the day I'll be sending Rachel packing...Just sit tight and trust me on this one, Kayleigh." John was fed up of being the object of Rachel's affection and so he decided he would take matters into his own hands, hopefully with a satisfying conclusion

xxx

Word got round that the supermarket's first day total stood at £770. It was such a massive turnaround and one everybody could be proud of. Kayleigh had gotten her lunch early and upon her return she was left fuming as saw Rachel was now making herself comfortable into her territory while she was chatting with John. Much to her relief, Kayleigh noted the prominent giveaway in John's body language which she was able to read as 'Just stay away from me Rachel'

"You should be the one getting praised for this week not Dave Thompson..." Rachel soon goes in for the kill and doesn't care who is watching...least of most Kayleigh. John was hers and she was desperate to get claws into him anyway she can.

Elsie, Joyce and Pamela individually stare over at the excruciating sight of Rachel looking very much like she was offering herself on a plate to Mr Redmond while Kayleigh looks ready to deck her when an opportunity presents itself. Joyce could hardly speak at all as her Red Nose was currently making her nose very sweaty. Elsie gave it a squeeze just for fun.

"For Christ's sake, don't break her nose Elsie!" Pamela wrestles Elsie's arm away before she tries to squeeze the Red Nose again. Joyce simply rolls her eyes and shrugs her shoulders while her two noisy colleagues were bickering.

"You really think I should? It's Dave's brainchild not mine." John was wise to her alluring tactics. This woman really had no shame whatsoever. He smiles when he remembers a saying Paul had mentioned to him once, 'Two's Company, Three's a Crowd' when jokingly comparing Cath Hilton as his brother's work missus while he was still courting Charlotte.

"No it's you who ought to be getting the thanks not him." Rachel mistakes John's smile for genuine interest in her. She's excited by this surprising development.

"That's very lovely of you to say... Oh Rachel there's something I'd like you to help with me. I thought you might be the best person to ask. So if you care to accompany me to the tent over there with the forms" John gestures for her to follow him. Kayleigh and everyone else apart from Rachel slowly cottons on to what John's grand masterplan is. John gives the 'all clear' thumbs up to Cath who then acts words with Kayleigh, Elsie and the rest of the staff and orders those whoever else was watching on with interest, to pretend they're far too busy with the 'Child/Adult Face-Painting', 'Win a Cuddly Toy' and 'Win Your Grocery Delivery Free for a year' which were still proving popular at three of the stalls now John and Kayleigh were taking a break from doing Selfies with the customers.

John hands Rachel a blindfold. She raises her eye at this. "John is this what you had in mind? I didn't think you would be keener than me." She takes the blindfold but she doesn't ask him what he wants her to do with it, so she assumes he wants her to place it over her eyes, which she does and stands where she is.

"You read my mind. Okay I just need you to take three or four steps up here." John had well and truly pulled the wool over Rachel's eyes as she followed John's advice.

"What's that noise?" Her footsteps were causing the steps leading up to the dunk tank machine to rattle. Seeing as she was yet to be put in the picture as to why John needed her help for. The only thing she is hoping is John staying closely behind her. What she didn't know was she being led to their comeuppance courtesy of a wet dunking in the dunk tank.

"Nothing to worry about. Just two more steps than you can relax..okay" John sighs. The sooner the better he got this over and done with. Rachel was non the wiser as to her day about to become one she will long to forget. She tries to kiss him because she still believed he was standing right next to her. He doesn't respond perhaps he's waiting until she takes the blindfold off.

"John, can I take the blindfold it's really itching me face." Having to listen to Rachel's accent irritated John.

Rachel was able to take a seat and relaxed well.

"Yeah sure " John encourages to. Rachel delightedly takes it off but soon found they weren't alone. Kayleigh and everybody else were observing spectators. Kayleigh goes over to John and has a warning she wants to issue her rival with.

"Get me down! Get me down! I'm afraid of heights." Rachel screamed in exasperation. She was making herself look pathetic the way she was shouting. Her true colors were finally being exposed for her colleagues to see.

"Really? I think you look like you belong up there Rachel" Kayleigh triumphantly responds.

"I'm going to tell Dave Thompson you're responsible for this Kayleigh and you'll see whose laughing! I get what I want and you'll get your P45." Rachel wasn't backing down from threatening to go straight to Dave Thompson as she knew the Scottish manager couldn't stand Kayleigh.

"She isn't responsible for this Rachel. It was my idea. I know you're only after me because you want to shag your way up the ladder of blokes in this store who are single and who aren't. Since me and Kayleigh started courting, we've been going from strength to strength and well you see me and her agree because of the fact that you keep bloody chasing me like a woman possessed, that you needed a small dose of reality. It's for your own good."

"Bastard! Bitch" Rachel screams back at John and Kayleigh.

"That's your first warning...keep going and you'll have your instant dismissal without statuary pay before long." John hated to do all this publicly but he feels she needs to be taught doing right from wrong when it comes to trying to get someone to cheat on their other half. She needs to learn love isn't about dropping your knickers at the sight of the first unavailable bloke you set your eyes on. The art of love was all about maintaining a special bond/connection with another person, who you find you have a lot in common with. Even if he had been single, he knows Rachel would still be way out of his league.

"What's bloody going on here?!" Speaking of the devil, Dave Thompson appears from the crowd of people, finally showing his face. He demands to know why nobody isn't minding their pop up stalls.

At that very moment as he appears, Elsie accidentally pulls the lever and Rachel drops into the meter deep water. She's gasping and splashing her hands around in the water. Her blonde hair is absolute mess.

"She's just called Mr Redmond a 'bastard' Dave." Elsie is more than happy to tell Dave what has been going on in his absence this morning and for the early part of that afternoon.

"Is this true Rachel?" Dave asks her.

"Well...aye...um...yes I did. Look you see, the only thing I wanted is to ask him out for drinks because me and him get on well with each other..." John mouthed 'Bollocks' under his breath. Who does she think she is trying to fool with this bullshit? "and he went and acted irrationally by trying to publicly shame me. I would like to make a handwritten complaint against him for mistreating me, if that's okay for me to do."

Dave starts to mull over both sides of this story. He stared intently between John, Kayleigh and a drenched Rachel. Regardless of him not sharing the same perspective with Kayleigh because he feels the Promotions Rep is still playing like a fucking fiddle, however he knows at that moment he is going to need to try and put his differences aside with her and agree with her Rachel is a problem that needs dealing with sooner than later.

"Rachel consider yourself on a final warning. Offensive language is unacceptable especially in front of customers and I will not stand for it." Dave was on top form as he reminded the Customer Service Assistant her behaviour was inappropriate and if she doesn't tone it down he will happily sack her on the spot.

Elsie gasps, she tries to clap her hands in applause but John silently shakes his head and gives her a brief look as if he's telling her 'I wouldn't, if I was you. Maybe after he leaves us all to our own devices'

Rachel sees an opening as soon as she climbs out of the dunk tank and does a runner because she doesn't fancy hanging around before Dave delivers another tirade in her direction.

"Well...would you look at that slapper go...I'm not surprised she's quaking in her boots and shitting herself like she's been forced to endure an audience with Stink Ray as further punishment. Wouldn't be me going after a friend's boyfriend...Nope not in a million years..." Elsie says looking profoundly surprised as she watches her colleague sprinting towards the staff entrance.

Elsie's comments earn her many bewildered looks from her fellow colleagues. There had been rumours before Mr Redmond and Kayleigh officially became an item, that Elsie also fancied her chances with making a play for Mr Redmond. The rumours were squashed, the morning after the night of the Staff Summer party, when she broke her 'I'm not a gossiper' rule by telling Pamela and Diane that he couldn't get out of her house quick enough after he had dropped her off at home. The three women agreed between themselves that Mr Redmond clearly only had eyes for Kayleigh.

"Do you think we should go after? See if she's okay." John wonders whether he went a step too far with taking action against Rachel.

"Pfft I wouldn't bother if I was you, John. She's just shown herself to be a slapper in front of all of 'll play on your guilt if she sees it on your face." Kayleigh thinks John should let the dust settle and focus back on raising their total to £1,000. Besides the two of them were working wonders as a team and John was beginning to acquire one or two cute habits from her while they had been posing for Selfies.

"I thought you and her were mates?" John asks. "It's no wonder I can't keep up with the drama happening in this place."

"What? me and her mates.? You must be out your mind to think so, Jonathan." Kayleigh says with an intentional smirk. She thinks he should have worked it all by now, that she has never considered Rachel as her mate even some more months before the blonde Geordie had become incredibly jealous of John and Kayleigh's blossoming relationship and had therefore made her intentions perfectly clear, John will be hers for keeps.

"Poor Rachel. Losing mates at the rate of a stand up show that's flopping with bad jokes being told, in front of an audience of 10 people" John laughs out loud as he lets him emotions get the better of him for the greater good. Well who can blame him? Kayleigh certainly wasn't blaming him, given how she was quite happily joining in with his moment of laughter.

Everybody else leaves them to it and returns back to their stalls. Elsie spies an opportunity to win over a few store customers and their children who were hanging around her merchandise stall.

"I'm proud of you, you know." An overjoyed Kayleigh throws her arms around him, so she could hug him and lavish him with constant praise and then round it up by rewarding him with a kiss, which she knows he deserves.

"Careful, we might gain ourselves an audience sequel before long." John tells her. He had a quick glance around, to check that the likes of Rick and the other 2 warehouse lads weren't giving him thumbs up along with 'get in there Mr Redmond' looks.

"Stuff them. We're entitled to have as much 'me and you time' as possible with each other." Kayleigh couldn't care less about what the warehouse lads thought. Seeing Rick being the leader of the pack didn't surprise her one little bit.

"Aye. You know this is what I bloody love about you Kayleigh Kitson. You're confident, you don't let anyone stand in your way and most importantly you being angry makes you look sexy as fuck to me." John opens up with such honesty that makes Kayleigh feel as though she's falling in love with him all over again.

"John!" Her cheeks flush pinkly as she takes his words on board. He certainly knows every trick in the book, wirh enough heartfelt words to leave her in awe. This wonderful man whose brain is like an encyclopedia and who also openly loves expressing his feelings for her with striking and intimate lyrics from songs which he knows will melt her heart.

"What! It's true. You practically kept drumming 'Listen to the Words' into my head, I thought I suppose better do as I'm told and now that I take the time to listen to the words all the time, it feels as if you've made me re-evaluate the meaning of songs more. I mean it's what you do when you're in love isn't it, pour your heart out to the person you love through song lyrics." John shows his romantic side as he reassures her she has no reason to feel embarrassed.

"You know as much as I'd love to snog you right now, I think we might probably scare those two kids who are watching us over there." Kayleigh gestures with a nod towards a young lad and girl who were pulling faces at her and John. Kayleigh pulls a rather risky and cheeky face back, perhaps one she shouldn't have as the two kids scarper as quickly as they could. The young girl was crying for her mother.

"Scare them? You've just managed to single-handedly do that yourself, You Face-Pulling Psycho." John said, delighting in teasing her. They soon head back to their stall.

xxx

It was at the end of the day and after a hugely successful day of fundraising and pats on the backs for those who had participated in the day's events. Rumours were spreading like wildfire that Rachel had handed her notice in to Cath Hilton. She couldn't work at the store anymore after the humiliation she had endured earlier in the day. As John and Kayleigh were heading out to the car park, Cath didn't hesitate when telling John and Kayleigh about what happened when Rachel marched into her office uninvited.

"Wait. She just walked in and said I've had enough?" John asks. He's heard it all now. Rachel Armstrong thinking she's owns the place when she's merely a shop worker.

"Precisely. Let me tell you, that woman has absolutely no manners whatsoever, by thinking she can just swan in and out of my office like she thinks she's one of the Royal family."

"Oh that's terrible Cath but at least this means she won't be working here at the store for much longer. Good riddance to her." Kayleigh said exuberantly, waving her hand about in the air as if she was considering doing a middle finger sign to Rachel.

"I knew you'd be happy to hear this Kayleigh. That's why I thought I would tell you both first, you know before word got round that Rachel's days are numbered in this place." Cath was also glad as well knowing now that normality will be restored among the staff once Rachel leaves.

"Cath, so do you reckon she'll work her two weeks notice?" John is curious to see whether Rachel will dare to show her face. He doubts she won't bother to show up for work for the rest of the week and won't do the same next week either.

"I doubt it. She looked hell-bent on leaving. I doubt anyone will try and talk her out of it, if they happen to have the misfortune of bumping into her outside work." Cath's hand begun rooting for her car keys in her handbag.

"I think she'll have alienated any friends she had, when she'll have told them she was going to get me to cheat on Kayleigh..." John was beginning to get a bit fed up of constantly talking about Rachel, so he changed the conversation. "Anyway me and Kayleigh best be off. I'll see you bright and early in the morning Mrs Hilton "

"Same to you too Mr Redmond." Cath laughs before she then goes and gives Kayleigh a quick hug. "Make sure this one here doesn't party too hard or go letting his hair down in the car over the news about Rachel." She mentions as she releases herself from their hug.

"Oh don't you worry Cath. I'll be ensuring John's on his outright best behaviour." Kayleigh confirms with a smile.

John mouths 'She's talking bollocks Cath' behind Kayleigh's back. Cath laughs at his typical cheekiness but she can't for long as her phone starts ringing in her left jacket pocket. She takes the call and gives the couple a wave as she heads towards her car.

"Right Little Miss Chatterbox let's get you home to your Mandy's before she thinks I'm trying to talk you into bringing another Subway takeaway again back to hers." As the two of them had stayed behind at work by an extra hour, John thought they should better get a wriggle on, as the rush hour traffic would no doubt be building up all the way up to Bury.

"Aww, can't we stop off and grab a Chicken Tikka Sub. Rather have their sandwiches than Our Mandy's." Kayleigh thought their sandwiches were well more tasty than the ones Mandy makes.

"Slagging off your own sister's sandwich making. You cheeky bitch." John couldn't believe what he was hearing. He and Kayleigh both got into their sides of the car. Soon the Red Fiat was driving out of the car park within a minute or two.

End of Chapter

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