Chapter I
It was Sunday night and I was dog tired. The white walled fitting room in the back of the store was often the worst to clean up, and I was the lucky one who had to do so. On one side was eight different changing rooms, each filled with clothes left over by customers, each barely clinging to their hangers. On the other side, a wall of mirrors only broken up by a long red flat couch.
"Just great" I heard from the other side of the fitting room door.
It was Jen, the store manager. She was standing over the red couch, her hands crossed in disappointment.
"Looks like somebody's spilled milk on our new couch."
I looked over to see a few white stains near the edge of the couch, one being particularly big and messy. I couldn't help but laugh.
"What?" Jen said, looking at me with sigh of disbelief.
Chapter II
It was the previous Monday and I walked into the break room like I do before any shift. I picked up my name badge and put my lunch in the store's mini fridge. I then checked the whiteboard to see where they had me today.
"Hahahaha."
I didn't realize anyone was in the office until I heard that laugh. And I knew that laugh. It was Vanessa, or "Little V" as we lovingly nicknamed her (there was another, older Vanessa in the store we nicknamed "Big V"). I peaked around the corner and mouthed "hello" to her.
Vanessa looked up and smiled, her upper lip showcasing it's trademark curl, white teeth gleaming. She quickly covered the receiver of the phone she was on.
"Did you check the schedule?" she exclaimed, "looks like we're going to be closing together Thursday night."
I quickly glanced at the schedule before heading onto the store floor, and just like she said, it was just us closing that evening. I thought that was rather weird to have only two people scheduled, but Thursdays were often very slow and so figured they were just trying to trim some hours.
Chapter III
Seeing that no one was looking, I quickly pulled out my cell phone to check the time. Thirty more minutes till lunchtime, yet I couldn't wait, I was so hungry. I was called in early to work that Tuesday. So early I didn't even get to eat breakfast.
Vanessa was working that day as well. I had hardly seen her though, only briefly seeing her golden blonde hair in the distance, whipping around as she ran from one end of the store to the other, helping every customer in her path.
"That looks great!"
No matter where in the store you were, you could hear Vanessa. She just had a voice that carried, and often times she didn't even need to use the walkie-talkie to communicate, something we often teased her about.
I busied myself with filing paperwork, trying to kill time before I could go to lunch.
"You wanna grab a bite?"
It was Vanessa's voice yet I figured she was talking to someone on the other side of the store. I jumped when I felt a hand touch my shoulder. I quickly turned around to see Vanessa's ice breaker blue eyes staring back at me. I was so surprised I choked on my own words, and couldn't answer.
"Well?" she asked.
While we usually ate at the food court, Vanessa wanted to try the cafe inside one of the department stores. We sat across from each other and began to eat. She daintily eating Caesar salad, while I munched on a club sandwich. Like always, Vanessa did most of the talking, and I did most of the listening. Yet today she seemed even more eager to speak, and while we were friends, the topic was more liberal than usual. She rambled on about her ex-boyfriend, which she stilled lived with. I wondered why she hadn't moved out yet.
"Must kill your love life" I joked, before taking another bite of my sandwich.
"You don't know the half" she exclaimed "I haven't gotten any in months!"
I choked back a nervous laugh before answering back "ditto." I hadn't gotten any in what seemed like forever, and hadn't even been on a date in nearly half a year. At one time I did contemplate asking Vanessa out, but after I learned she was older than me, figured this plain fellow didn't stand much of a chance.
"Plus I gotta capitalize while I still have the body" she continued. "I'm not gonna have this figure forever, and it's beginning to give way."
I shook my head in amazement. Vanessa must have been joking because she was just as slender as ever, her long pink legs and heart shaped bottom filling out a cute black skirt.
"Well at least these girls are still perky" she joked, sticking out her 34B chest. And she was right, as they stood at attention, almost pointing right at me. Sometimes when it wasn't even that cold her nipples would still poke through her sweater.
The conversation continued as we finished our meals and walked back to the store. I stood outside the entrance, quickly finishing my coke.
"I'll see you inside tiger" she said, before humorously slapping my behind.
Chapter IV
Wednesday had arrived and the week seemed to be squeaking by. Five minutes had passed in my fifteen minute break, as I sat there texting a few friends until I had to return to the grind. I looked up for a moment to see Vanessa barreling towards me, chatting on the phone. She passed me by, barely acknowledging me, and headed into the office, leaving the door slightly cracked open. Even so I could faintly make out what she was saying.
"Have you ever heard of friends with benefits?" she asked whomever was on the other line, "because I could desperately use one right about now."
I couldn't believe what she was saying. Didn't she know that I could hear her? I continued to listen but grew bored with the rest of their conversation. Soon enough the office door opened up, and out walked Vanessa. She walked past me out towards the store floor before briefly glancing back. I could have sworn she winked at me.
Chapter V
Thursday had finally come. I was to be off both Friday and Saturday so I just wanted tonight to go by as fast as possible.
The second I entered the store, it felt cold and crisp. It was rather moderate outside yet out store manager must have decided to boost up the air conditioning.
As I entered the break room, I saw Vanessa sitting there, eating a granola bar. As I grabbed my name badge, I couldn't help but notice Vanessa's nipples erect as ever through her shirt. It seemed like she wasn't even wearing a bra. I starred a little too long, and Vanessa seemed to notice. Trying to cover myself, I said the first thing that came to mind.
"I'm freezing in here" I stammered.