Things Change
Chapter Six
Ever since Christy had shown up at his house and he spilled everything to her, he really began to feel better. Not good enough to go and run back to his mother, like he longs to do, but good enough not to think he has to hide from the world. What he didn't understand was how she still wanted to be his friend after telling her everything. He murdered his father. How could she even want to be anywhere near him? But she did. She was still friendly to him at work, smiling and chatting away like she always does, she even called him occassionally. Christy was sure determined to be his friend whether he liked it or not. He wasn't quite sure what to think of that.
But he soon forgot about it after his shift one evening while he was sitting in the office counting the money in his till. Frank had come in and sat down in the leather armchair in the corner of the office, waiting for Ron to finish counting his till and filling out the end of shift paperwork. After Ron carefully locked the till in the safe, Frank turned to him with a smile on his face.
"Ron" he said. "I've seen great improvement the past two weeks and I must say I'm happy for you. You seem to be getting back on your feet. Any reason for the sudden change?"
Ron didn't think there was much of a change in him. Yeah, he felt slighty better after talking to Christy, but he didn't see any big improvement. Obviously Frank did, though. Ron shrugged, not wanting to get into anything. "No, no reason"
Frank nodded and said, "Well, Simon's last day is tomorrow and I'd like to offer you the assistant manager position. Are you interested?"
Ron widened his eyes slightly. "Umm, well, I....umm, yeah, sure" Ron really wasn't sure how much he wanted the position, but he knew it meant a raise and he desperately needed more money.
"Great!" Frank said brightly and stood up. "Starting Monday, you will be our new assistant manager. I'll have your new nametag and a set of keys for you when you come in Monday morning"
"A set of keys?" Ron repeated.
"Sure" Frank said. "You'll be in charge with opening and closing the store from time to time now. You'll need keys to lock and unlock the doors" He shook Ron's hand and left the office walking back into the store .
Ron let out a sigh and walked out into the store after Frank. It was nearly 8 at night and he was dead tired. He had been here since 9 that morning. He had no sooner left the office when someone jumped on him, giving him a big hug. Christy. He pulled back, flinching, not wanting her to touch him. She didn't seem to notice his hesitance. She was all smiles. "Ron! Frank just told me. Your the new assistant manager!" 'She's too damn bubbly', Ron thought.
"Yeah, I guess I am" Ron said, unenthusiastic.
She did, however, notice his lack of enthusiasm. "Aren't you exicted?"
He shrugged. "I suppose so. I need the money"
"Well, I think it's great" She said. "I'm happy for you"
"Thanks" Ron said.
Christy stared at him for a few moments, looking like she was contemplating something. "Your off tomorrow, aren't you?"
Ron nodded. He was off tomorrow, Saturday, and then again Sunday. He didn't like that. He liked working. He'd work seven days a week if he could.
"I'm off tomorrow, too" Christy said. "I was thinking maybe we could go out and do something tomorrow evening"
Go out? With Christy? But Ron never went out, unless it was to work. He didn't like going out. Christy knew that. But then, of course, that was probably why she asked him to go out. She's mentioned time and time again that she thought getting out would do him good.
Ron shook his head. "No, Christy. I'm sorry, but no. I can't go out"
"Ok, well, why can't you go out?" Christy asked him.
"I don't like going places" Ron told her.
"Why?" She asked softly. "I do understand that you feel guilty about what happened, but you can't let that guilt control your life. I promise you will feel much better if you get out and do something. Don't wallow in self pity. That's not going to get you anything, other than more heartache. You are a good person and you deserve much more than what you are setting up for you"
Ron just stared at her. "Fine, Christy" he said. "You win. Tomorrow night it is"
She let out a delighted gasp. "Really? Oh wonderful! You want to come pick me up? Or I can pick you up? Or we can meet somewhere?"
"I'll pick you up" Ron said.
Christy smiled and scribbled her address on a scap piece of paper. "Tomorrow at 5?"
Ron nodded. "At 5, it is" He bade her goodbye and headed home, wondering what he got himself into.
Chapter Seven up soon