Scarlett was nearing the end of a busy day at work when Shane's text arrived. "Can I see you later? xx" it read.
Scarlett replied and agreed to meet him outside the train station after work. She got there before him and noticed he was despondent-looking as he walked through the crowd of commuters towards the station. His face softened with relief when he saw her. "Hi babe." he sighed, pulling her into a tight hug. He stood back and kissed her.
"Are you alright?" Scarlett asked, reaching for his hand and looking at him
"Eh...hmmm," he hummed, entwining their fingers and avoiding looking at her. "...I had a bit of a shitty day... just wanted to see you." he said, looking down. Scarlett frowned at him and looked down to meet his gaze. "I've got stuff for stir-fry in the house. Do you want to come home for dinner?" he asked, softly.
"Yeah, sure." She shrugged and nodded. "What happened today?" she asked, wrapping both her hands around his hand she was holding as they walked.
"Ah... nothing really. I mean yeah, something but..." he laughed nervously, looking at the ground. "I know you're only going to say that you told me so or that you were right or that sort of thing." he sighed.
"Who me?!" Scarlett asked, giggling and squeezing his hand. "Go on then, prove me right." she said.
"Well..." he inhaled sharply, still not looking at her. "The big bosses were in work today and I got pulled in to the supervisor's office after and told to 'address my work attire'." he said in a glum, guilty tone.
Scarlett looked at him and tutted. "How many times have they already spoken to you about this now?! It's not that hard to wear a pair of smart trousers and a shirt or a sweater, Shane." she said, frustrated.
"I know!" he pulled her closer. "I just don't see the point when we're not seeing the customers in person!" he said, defensively.
"Aggghhhh!" Scarlett growled in frustration. "Grow up will you!" she exclaimed.
"Hmm..." he said quietly with an embarrassed laugh. "So... then... at the start of this week the opportunity came up for the team leader job and since I'm the most senior person in my team now, today I submitted my intention to apply..."
"Oh great, that's exciting!" Scarlett beamed.
"Hmmm..." Shane grumbled.
"Aw no, don't tell me they rejected it because of your clothes? Really Shane, you need to stop wearing jeans and band t-shirts to work!" Scarlett groaned.
"No, they told me I couldn't apply because I still have that disciplinary file from last year when I got suspended." he said, his voice thick with bitterness.
"Right...well." Scarlett said firmly and sighed. "We've already discussed your temper and you promised to go to the doctor and find out about getting help with that MONTHS AGO." she said, disappointed. "Maybe this will force you to address it. Cos all of what happened this week wouldn't have been a problem otherwise."
"I know...I still will...sometime." Shane said, his head still bowed as they approached his house. "I told you you'd say something like that. Would you mind helping me pick some clothes for work for the rest of this week?" he asked. She agreed. "Would you help me shop for new clothes at the weekend too... please?" he asked.
"Yeah, if you want." Scarlett said. "But if you go and do whatever you want again afterwards then this is the last time I'm helping you with it." she said sternly, following him into the house and through to the kitchen.
"OK. I swear I will do what you say." he said, looking at her for the first time since they were outside the train station and kissing her.
They made dinner and then went for a walk around the park. They were just about to go back home when Steve sent a text to Shane inviting him for a drink. They took a detour to Steve's house. He was surprised to see Scarlett and she was the only girl gathered into Steve's living room with the small group of the guys Steve and Shane used to work with. Shane sat on the armchair by the window and Scarlett perched on the arm of the chair while they both chatted to different people. Soon Shane pulled Scarlett to sit across his knee, holding her round the waist with his left hand and resting his right hand on her thighs. Scarlett leaned her right elbow on the back of the chair behind Shane's head, he wasn't in the best mood and Scarlett tried to calm him down as they talked about Shane's wardrobe situation while the small gathering became more of a rowdy party around them as more and more people arrived.
"Have your boobs got bigger?" Shane asked suddenly, staring at her clevage.
Scarlett stopped what she was saying and frowned. "I hope not! They're big enough as they are." she giggled. "It's just the angle you're at!" she said, looking down at him.