A/N:I'm back! Kinda later than I anticipated, but what with moving back into my dorm room and LIFE, I got kinda busy -v-' But here is the next installment for all of you ho waited patiently ^^
Also, I was wondering if I should make the "previously on TLE..." a thing, so, yeah. Let me know. Ok, here we go~
Roxas POV
I don't know who this little fucker thinks he is, but if he thinks the whole summer is going to be him being a disrespectful little bitch, then he has another thing coming.
"You should know that if you keep talking to me with that level of disrespect, I have the power to cut your pay. Or worse," I threaten.
"Like what, pipsqueak?"
Oooh, he is pushing my buttons.
"How about I just fire you and give the job to someone who actually has a shred of decency, let alone professionalism." I was doing very good at not cursing him out, and keeping a level of professionalism as a temp-boss, but if he keeps testing my patience, I'm afraid this conversation will end with my fist in his face.
"You can't do that!" He cries, a little less cocky now.
I snort at his ignorance. "Oh yes I can. Insubordination will not be tolerated while I'm the boss around here." The look he gives me is a cross of shock, hurt and fear. Oh great. "Look, I'm not trying to fire you, but if this attitude keeps up, well, let's just say I'm not spending the summer tolerating my employee."
Silence ensues for the next couple seconds before he opens his mouth and shuts it a few times. Good. He was thinking before speaking.
"Sorry…sir," he apologizes forcefully.
"I accept your apology. Now let's get to work." I drop it and turn away, not even bothering to wait for him to follow. He was so lucky there were no customers in the store at the time. "The pop section probably needs to be fixed up and there's a box of imports with your name on it in the back. Put those in the industrial section. I've already cleared out a rack for them while the store wasn't very populated." I'm already back behind the counter and he still hasn't moved. "Am I speaking another language? Let's move it!" He kicks his butt into gear and rushes off to the back. After a few minutes pass, a couple customers come into Pearson Tunes. I see Reno go over to help them, and return to his own workload once they're finished. Over the course of the day, he showed he was a good worker when he wasn't being a snobby brat. I can see why Mr. Pearson hired him.
Its five to eight and everything that needs to be packed is away…and I have Reno close the front shutters because I can't reach them.
"You really are a pipsqueak, ya know that?" he says as we walk out of the soon to be closing mall.
"Did you know you're horrible at small talk?" I say dryly.
"Like, what were you gonna do if I wasn't tall enough to reach it? You never met me 'til today."
"Mr. Pearson has told me a lot of things about you. One of them being how you close the shutters for him every day at closing." Really, did he think I was an idiot?
"Oh," he answers dumbly. I don't say anything, hoping he catches the hint, but apparently 'reading the atmosphere' was not a strong point of his. "Did he say anything else about me?"
I sigh. "Yes, he did." I leave it at that.
"Like what?"
"Have you heard the phrase 'take a hint'?"
"Yes," he answers.
"Then take the hint. Yes, he spoke to me about you, saying you're a good worker, yadda yadda yadda. Now then, I have a ride waiting for me, so I'll see you tomorrow, hopefully when your shift starts this time." I speed up my walk, but he easily matches it with his long fucking legs.
"I had good reason for bein' late today! I was-"
"Yes, yes, I don't need to know right now. Come in on time, tomorrow, we'll discuss it, and I'll see how much I have to deduct your pay for the hours you missed."
"Seriously?!" he asks incredulously, as if I'm wronging him somehow. I'm doing my job, what did he expect? "Can't you just let it slide?"
"Uh no. And if you think I'm that type of person, then you're in for a long summer."
"You gotta be kiddin'…"
"See you tomorrow." I turn left to cross the long parking lot. Axel offered to drive me home from work since one: Cloud's work schedule starts as soon as my work day is over, so he doesn't have time to pick me up, nor does Leon, two: I don't have a car, three: I don't know how to drive, and four: I don't want to learn. I've got enough stress in my daily life, adding the anxiety of driving to the list would just drive me to an early grave.
You know I'm tired when I start making puns. Bad puns.
"Hey sunshine," Axel greets when I get to his car.
"Mleh," I respond back.
"Use your words hun," Axel chuckles opening my door for me. What a gentleman. "I'm assuming rough first day?"
"Mm, not really. It was actually pretty good. The only part that sucked was meeting my 'star employee'," I grit.
"Was he not doing his job?" Axel asks, starting the car while I tell him the anxiety of opening, the nervousness of serving customers expecting Mr. Pearson, and the horrors of my employee.
"Who is he anyway?" he says.
"I wanna just call him 'little fucker' but you know, I'm a professional now or whatever. But he's-"
Life is a waterfall, we're one in the river and one again after the fall
I pull my phone out of my pocket to see I'm getting a call from my mom.
"Just a sec Ax." I slide across my screen to answer the call. "Hello?"
"Oh honey, how was your first day at work, were you okay? Did anything go wrong, was everything okay?" she says worriedly.
"Mom, I was fine. Everything went smoothly."
"Oh that's good. I was just worried is all. What with you moving in with Cloud. Not that I don't trust Cloud, but he's not your mother, and you're so far away from home, honey and I miss you so much."
"I miss you too mom." I was surprised I could even work that sentence in.
"Call me if you ever need anything, and just because you don't currently live hear doesn't mean you can't drop by, spend the night, visit for a weekend or so…"
"Yes mom, I'll keep that in mind."
"I love you honey, good luck, okay?"
"Okay."
"I love you honey."
"Love you too mom. Bye." I know if I didn't say by first we'd be on the phone all night. So I hang up after that and stuff my phone back in my pocket. "Okay, what were you saying?"
Axel chuckles and shakes his head. "Don't worry about it love. Let's just get you home."
Speaking of home, I pull my phone back out and send a quick text. "Do you want to come over for dinner Axel? I meant to ask you earlier, but I'd been practically babysitting all day and forgot about it." In a sense, Reno was a lot like a child.
"Does Cloud mind?"
"Nope," I answer, after I receive the 'ok' from him. "It's all good. We're just having pasta though…but warning: Leon makes a mean alfredo sauce."
"I look forward to it then." He takes his right hand off the wheel and places it on my leg. It gives me a bolt of both anxiety and excitement.
…
"Watch out!"
It was too late. I couldn't save it.
Reno, as well as a couple customers stare on in astonishment as the 2001 off-white Fender electric guitar banged against the linoleum flooring, collapsing onto the bridge. And me, arms extended after dramatically diving over the counter and sliding a good couple yards across the floor. I didn't make it. All I saw when I looked up was my empty, trembling hands and the pieces of what was once a beautiful piece of art.
The people looked on worriedly, asking if I was alright. Reno just stood there, pure shock on his face. Then fear. Unadulterated fear.
I slowly stood, apologized for the commotion, picked up what I could and placed them on the counter.
"I'm…uh…"
"DON'T." I hold up my hand to cease his impending sorry-ass excuses. "I'm going to be in the back for the rest of my shift. Man the front. If it gets too busy, call me. Understand?"
"Yes…sir," he whimpers quietly. After making two trips to bring in all of the parts of the instrument, I shut myself off in the backroom.
The first thing I do is call Mr. Pearson to inform him of what happened. I didn't really want to bother him while he was on vacation, but I didn't know what to do with the broken guitar. Luckily, it wasn't in too bad of shape, but it was going to take some work. He told me to just leave it in the back and he'll get to working on it on his return. I asked if I could tinker with it a bit, see what I could do to fix it, in which I got the green light.
It was 15 to closing when I hear a knock at the office door. I sigh. "Come in Reno."
He peeks into the room cautiously, fearing I might bite his head off. For pete's sake. "Come in, Reno. I'm not going to do anything." Once I made that clear, he entered fully and sat in the chair in front of my desk gingerly. "I'd like to apologize for yelling at you earlier. I shouldn't have taken that tone with you when it was clearly an accident."
For the second time today a look of shock crossed him. "Um…it truly was an accident sir."
"I understand."
"You're not gonna fire me, are ya?" he asks, nearly with tears in his eyes.
"What? I'm not-"
"Cause I really like my job here, and I feel bad for what I did, and though I make fun of ya 'bout yer height an' baby face, it don't mean I don't like ya, I do, a lot, yer a good boss, I reckon the best I'd had 'sides Mr. Pears'n, please don't go 'n-"
"RENO," I say loudly to interrupt his rambling. "I'm not. Firing you."
"Yer not?"
"No."
"Are ya gonna not pay me nuthin then, since I broke the guitar?"
"No Reno, you will still be paid your regular paycheck. Deducted by tax, but that's all."
He finally chuckles. "Thanks boss."
"No problem, rookie," I tease, reaching across to wipe some stray tears away. He backs away and flushes slightly at the gesture.
"Man, I must look like such a fucking wimp right now. Oops!" He covers his mouth, apologizing for cursing in front of me.
"Dude. We're basically the same age. I may be your boss, but I'm still your co-worker. You don't have to worry about cursing. Heck, I have a fucking sailor's mouth."
"Heh, I guess you're right," he laughs.
"But speaking of, what was with that accent? You went like, full country on me there," I point out.
"Ah…yeah. I grew up in the south, but moved up here with my family not so long ago. It's mostly gone now, but sometimes when I get riled up, it'll come back out." The way he's scratching his head, looking away, is all shy and cute. I think I like this side of him.
"Listen. We don't have to be at each other's necks all summer. Why don't we actually try to get along, huh?" I bring up. If you looked past the snarky douche that he acted like sometimes, I could see myself hanging out with him.
"Maybe be friends?" he suggest quietly.
"Yeah. Friends sounds great." I smile, and soon after so does he. "But I'm still you're boss rookie."
"Hey!" he laughs. I smirk and get up to head back into the store to help close up. "So like, how old are ya anyway? Cause to be perfectly honest, you look fucking 13, at most."
"I'm 15, ass-wipe," I answer begrudgingly. "Soon to be 16."
"What?!" he exclaims loudly.
"What?"
"I'm only 14! What the hell, you're older than me? But you're like 4 feet-"
The glare I send him shuts him up real quick. "Here's a word of advice for you. Don't. Make fun. Of my height."
"Yes sir," he gulps.
"Good. Glad we're on the same page," I smirk. We walk out of the mall together, separating at the exit on a better note than the first day.
…
"I think I've almost got it…" I say to myself in the back workshop. I'd been working on fixing the 2001 Fender (which I have named Fender Bender) all week, and it was nearly done. The most damage had been done to the pegs which I just replaced with new ones. I filled in the chipped areas and spiced it up with designs. Mr. Pearson had given me free reign on fixing it, so hooking it up shouldn't be a big deal.
My phone vibrates on the table next to me. I carefully put down Fender Bender to check, and see its Axel.
Axel: How's the work today babe? Did your employee actually stay civil during the week?
In fact, Reno had been doing an excellent job at remaining professional. I'd even say his work performance has increased, but, you know, that could just be me. It's not like I'm the boss or anything. Wait, indeed I am!
Okay, so I might have let the power go to my head. Just a little.
Roxas: Actually he did. I'd even go so far as to say he's my star-employee :)
Axel: Wow, that's saying something coming from you
Roxas: What's that supposed to mean?
Axel: I'd like to meet this employee of yours
I paused for a second to comprehend the possible underlying tone in the message.
Roxas: Could you be jealous?
Axel: No.
Oh my god.
Roxas: You are so jealous!
Axel: Is it so wrong that I wanna see who's spends most days with you?
Roxas: I guess not…jelly bean.
Axel: Really? :P
Roxas: I am going to hold to this theory until I see you again
Axel: Which hopefully will be soon ;)
It's probably time for me to get back to work. After a few more tweaks and another half an hour, I think he's ready to go.
"Alright Fender Bender. Let's see if daddy did a good job." Positioning the guitar in place on my lap, I strum a few times. "Well, so far so good." I try to think of a song to play, but nothing really comes to mind. For once in my life, I don't know what to play.
"Boss, it's almost closing time," I hear Reno yell from the store front. That can't be though, last time I checked it was only- holy shit! Glancing at the clock on the wall, I could now see it was well past seven. What I thought was a half hour was more like 70 minutes. "Boss? Ya hear me?" Reno came into the workshop.
"Yeah rookie. Just in time, I just finished working on Fender Bender," I say, lightly strumming the strings.
"Fender bender?" he asks, scratching his head.
"The guitar. I named him Fender Bender," I answer.
"Why is it a guy?"
"Because I don't play around with girls," I wink suggestively. His blush makes me burst out into laughter. "I want to test him out, but I don't know what to play…"
"Hmm…what about…Desperate Measures? By Marianas Trench?" he suggest shyly.
"Let's see…" I strum the first few chords, trying to figure out the rest of the song.
Gonna make a heart-throb out of me
Just a bit of minor surgery
These desperate times call for desperate measures
I was singing quietly to myself because I was mostly just trying to make sure the guitar was playing correctly. But after glancing up and seeing Reno standing there, staring, my performance side comes out, and I stand up and continue, louder.
I'll give you something to cry about
Show some skin, and would be, cache
How could you let this get to desperate measures now?
I was getting into the groove of this. It wasn't even one of my favorite songs, but it felt so nice to play during work hours, and Fender Bender sounded fucking gorgeous.
For a first effort this,
Feels kinda last ditch
I guess this just
Got kinda drastic
Trust us you just fell off the bus, baby
I can't let this, I can't let this, I can't let this go!
I was in full on rocker mode. And today I was even wearing my dark grey and black plaid pants rolled up halfway up my calf, with matching vest, and a simple short sleeve white button down.
After rocking out for longer than intended, I sigh happily and tap Fender Bender. "This here is a beautiful piece of work, rookie. Well, you can place her on display out front, and then we can close shop…rookie?"
But Reno was nowhere near paying attention to me. I doubt anything I just said was retained in his memory. "Rookie. RENO."
He shakes his head, finally emerging from his stupor. "Huh, what?"
"Fender Bender. Front display. Then close. Got it?" I say as I hand him over to my employee.
"R-right." He turns to leave, and I warn him to be careful.
We're closed and shut down after 10 minutes, and we walk out together again today, this time silently. It stays so for another minute until Reno speaks up. "I…I didn't know you played."
"Uh. Duh," I say. But to give him credit, I don't think that's something he could have known unless I told him specifically.
"And…sing."
"Dude. I sing in the store every day," I point out.
"Yeah, but I could never hear you!" I look over to Reno who is super flushed.
"Do you like my singing?" I ask. I'm pretty sure that's what was going on here. However, just asking that question made his face resemble the color of his hair. It makes me think of Axel. Though there eyes are different colors, as I found out upon closer inspection, they have other striking similarities.
"It's…uh…well, ya know, it's nuthin special, just pretty great," he stutters. I don't think he realized the paradox in that statement.
"Thanks, I'll take the compliment," I grin.
"I said it wasn't nuthin special!" he presses.
"Sure, sure rookie. Whatever helps you sleep at night," I tease.
We continue to laugh at our witty banter (well, my witty banter. He's basically been reduced to babbling at this point) until we reach the exit. But the doors open up on us before we even reach them.
And standing there is my one and only redhead.
"Axel!" I shout happily. I'd gotten better at receiving surprises since he seemed eminent on always surprising me. I take the few steps to him and hug him tightly. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming to meet me?" Cloud was going to pick me up tonight since his shift started later on Fridays. I'll have to text him to tell him of Axel's impromptu visit. Speaking of… "Axel? Hello?"
He shakes his head and hugs me back absentmindedly. "Sorry…I wanted…to surprise you."
"Yeah, I guessed that already." What was going on with him?
Looking up I can see him staring off behind me. Turning, I see Reno standing stock-still with his eyes wide open.
"Axel?!" he exclaims pointing at my boyfriend.
What in the blue blazes was going on?