Disclaimer: All you recognize belongs to JE I've just tweaked it for my enjoyment!
AN: Hey guys, things might get a little more spread out here, trying to find a new place! I'll update when I can! Thanks guys!
Hitched to Stitch
Chapter 10
Acceptance and Apartments
I was going apartment shopping.
I sat with my back against the headboard with a water bottle and a granola bar on the nightstand. I had done all the math with my newly acquired salary and was now searching for apartments in the area. Rangeman sat on Haywood, my parents house on Roosevelt in the Chambersburg section of Trenton, I wanted to stay away from my parents but close to Rangeman. I found 4 apartments I really liked and noted the contact names and numbers for them all.
With that part of my night done I finished off the granola bar and my water bottle before tossing them in the trash and turning off all the lights. I crawled between the covers, which was more of a pour after all the physical testing I had done today. I tossed briefly before finding a comfortable spot, I was almost asleep when there was a horrendous knocking on my door. I jerked out of bed and ran to the door. throwing it open I saw Lester, Bobby, Hal and Cal waiting on the other side with stunned looks on their faces. I looked down and remembered I was in a sports bra and spandex. Oh well, they were the ones who knocked. Shaking himself out of his stupor Lester grabbed me and threw me over his shoulder. I was now staring at a very yummy ass, framed in a tight set of cargos. "Lester Santos, what the hell are you doing?" I shrieked at him, he ignored me and continued walking. I knew trying to get him to put me down was worthless so I just sat there patiently, waiting to find out what was so important.
Arriving in the gym, Lester walked us to the locker rooms, and deposited me on my ass in the middle of the shower floor. Bobby picked up a 5 gallon bucket and threw the contents at me! I was screaming at him by this point, and realized I was surrounded by most of Rangeman. I recognized a few faces, Manny, Bo, Binkie, Junior, Vince, Woody, Zero and Zip. I would have smiled, but Bobby and Lester will still drowning me in honey as I squealed and tried, unsuccessfully, to get away. I was slipping on the honey coated shower floor and went down in a honey smothered heap. I lay there thinking this couldn't get any worse and I have no idea how i was going to get this shit out of my hair, when the rest of them up-ended 1lb bags of powdered sugar on me. They all laughed and shouted 'Welcome to Rangeman Stitch' before Zip turned the cold water on me! They turned and walked out, leaving me sitting in the cold shower.
I laughed in spite of myself. I just got hazed! They were accepting me into their circle. Well the ones who showed up anyways. I had no idea how many people worked at Rangeman but there were quite a few faces mixed in that I didn't recognize. Noticeably missing was Ram, There was twinge in my chest and I felt rejected. I turned the water to warm in an effort to melt the honey, powdered sugar mixture off my body. When I felt like I was clean enough to get to my room and finish, I turned the water off and wrapped a towel around my body. I walked quickly to the stairwell and ran into someone who was just coming out. I felt the buzz in my neck and didn't need to look up to know who it was. Ram ground out "I see you let someone else get you in the shower Princess" and pushed past me. I put my head down and ran to my apartment. How could he assume such things, what happened between us? I knew the answer to that was hidden in my memories. I pushed my door opened and noticed my phone was blinking at me. I unlocked the screen and opened my new text message.
Hal: Try Dawn dish soap. Ella keeps a big bottle beneath the sinks to refill the little ones.
I smiled at Hals thoughtfulness. He may have been a part of it but he had helped me out because I knew I had nothing that would have worked. I grabbed the dish soap from where Hal had said it would be a trudged to the shower.
An hour later I was finally back in bed and comfortable. I turned my alarm off for the morning. I would work out whenever I woke up.
When I stretched out the next morning, the sun was shining through the window. My phone told me it was just before 9, early but still considered sleeping in, in my books anyways. I jumped in the shower again using regular shampoo and conditioned this time. Thank god that all the sticky sweet mixture came out. I made myself a reminded to thank Hal.
I ran some mouse and gel through my hair and then scrunched it into a low slung messy bun. The bun thing was a holdover from the ARMY, it was easy and comfortable, especially now that I didn't need it to be a perfect ballerina bun. I threw on some tight jeans, a blank cami and a dark purple lace tank top over my Victorias Secret Bombshell push-up bra. I sat down to pull on socks and my new Nike Shox. I made sure to throw my key fob in my little purse and double checked to make sure I had my truck keys and my wallet. Heading up to the main floor I smiled at all the guys and stopped in to say hi to the ones I knew that were on duty today. I stopped in with Ranger and collected the card so that I could go distraction shopping.
"Stitch, surveillance shows he likes his girls in skimpy and slutty. Are you sure you're up to this?"
I rolled my eyes and threw back a "Just wait till tonight Ranger, you'll see how up to this I am!" I took the elevator down to my truck, and gunned her out of the garage. I had been away from Treton for along time but the streets hadn't changed, sure there were new stores and more places but the mall was still in the same place. I just hoped they had upgraded their stores!
I found a parking space very close to Macy's front doors and I thanked my lucky parking karma. I started with jeans, grabbing several pairs of Silvers and then threw a ton of different colored camis in the cart, moving on to shirts and more tank tops. I made sure to grab more workout clothes, and more socks. If I didn't find anything else I knew I would be back here for a dress and shoes.
I ran to payless shoes and grabbed a couple more pairs of Shox and some black combat boots for work. Grabbing a few pairs of good workout socks, i walked to the counter and paid. The ARMY had cut my shopping time in half at the very least. I knew I would be back once i got my own place to do some more extensive shopping and to fill my closets. But I was on a mission. I took the bags out to the truck and put them in the back seat. It was now lunch time and I went to the food court in search of food. I had a vast array of food to choose from but went with Panda Express and got Mongolian Beef and Sweet Fire chicken with noodles. I had water to drink and sat down at a table to eat my food. While I was eating I called and set up meetings with the real estate agents at the condos. I set them all up before 5 so that I still had plenty of time to get ready for tonight's distraction.
Finishing my Panda I threw the trash away and set the tray on top. Deciding to peruse the mall in look of a great distraction dress. I was window shopping when I found it. It was perfect. Black lace on top of red satin low cut, barely there back and very short. This would be perfect! I went inside the store, Leather and Lace, and asked the sweet old lady if she had the dress in a size , she pulled out a carbon copy of the dress in the window. I took it to the dressing room and fell in love with it! I went back out to look at shoes and other accessories I may need.
While I was perusing her store, she came over and pulled out a pair of sky high red heels, a pair of Fuck Me Pumps if I ever saw them. She had pulled out a size 6 a perfect fit, and then led me over to the jewelry counter. WE talked while we looked at jewelry and I learned her name was Betty and she had needed something to do when her husband died a couple years ago. She had always wanted to be in fashion and now she was. I told her what I did and that I would be here in the future for more outfits. She pulled a gorgeous set of rhinestone drop earrings out that had a matching choker, with a drop centerpiece that would fall deliciously between my breasts. I told Betty that I would take the set and she looked at me and said "Silly girl we are not done yet, you need lingerie. My stuff is better than Victorias Secret for this type of dress!" She brought out what I would need in my sizes and wrapped it all up for me. I paid with Rangers company card and walked out of the store headed for my truck. I hung the dress bag up on the 'oh shit' handle and took off for my first appointment.
The first apartment was okay, nothing special, simple design and a good place, about 15 minutes from the office. I told the agent I would think about it. The second apartment was a no. 20 minutes from the office, in a bad area of town. I was scared to leave my truck out front. The inside was horrendous, it smelled like it had been firebombed more than once. I told the agent thanks but no thanks and drove like a bat out of hell to the third appointment.
It was a very pretty place, needed a passcode to get into the garage and the lobby before using your key fob and personal passcode to get into your apartment. The inside was immaculate, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, lots of space in the living room, washer and dryer behind a closet door. The bedroom did it in though, well more accurately the closet. It had a walk in closet with lots of racks and shelves, it even had a space for me to put a small gun closet/safe. I walked into the attached bathroom to find a jacuzzi soaking tub and separate stand up shower with no less than 4 heads and a shower massager. I was sold, totally and completely. When Anne the real estate agent was going through the amenaties and benefits, I saw the gym and pool that we all shared plus a large courtyard and common area. But the biggest selling point for me was that it was secured by Rangeman. No wonder the pass codes and key fobs seemed familiar. It was available to move in now, and I told Anne that it was sold. I stepped out into the hall way to cancel my 4th appointment.
I now had my own place, a gorgeous place, only 10 minutes from work. I signed all the necessary paperwork and lease agreements. Anne stopped at the office on our way out and we assigned me a passcode and they were able to, after a brief call to Hector, take my Rangeman key fob and put my apartment onto it as well. I walked out of the apartments on cloud 9!
I would need to go furniture shopping tomorrow and move myself in. But that was a task better served tomorrow. I stopped at my old time favorite sub and pizza shop Pino's and sat at the counter while I waited for my meatball sub and tiramisu. I heard the door behind me jingle, and heard someone move next to me to sit down.
"Well, hello gorgeous. I don't believe I've seen you before." No it couldn't be... Joe Morelli.
AN: Hey guys, this ones longer! Hope you like it! Reviews please!