Dalton.” He flashes me a wicked smile and then he
says.
“Be careful, Rose,” I smile at him again, loving the way that
he says my name. I slowly begin to walk across the parking lot
towards the entrance of the store.
I enter the Wal-Mart supercentre and I immediately rush
towards the Subway restaurant –that’s where I work. I push my way
into the small seated area –which they call a restaurant and I am
instantly greeted by my co-workers.
“Rose, you made it! I was scared that the rain took over you,
girl.” I laugh at Ryan’s comments as I make my way to the workers
lounge. I push through the heavy door –followed by Ryan. I enter
the small, bright room, which only has a small table, a few chairs
and a coat stand. I quickly hang up my drenched coat and then I
smooth myself out as best I can, as I begin to go to work. I turn
around in the direction of the door and that’s when I notice Ryan
standing behind me, glaring down at me. I smile up at him, as I try
to push past his muscular demeanour. Ryan places his hand onto my
wet shoulder as stops me in my tracks. I look up at him and I
narrow my eyes at his childish behaviour. He is staring at me,
through his dark eyes and he is holding me in position with his
strong hand. Ryan and I used to be together –he was my boyfriend,
but things between us fizzled out and I feel that he still hasn’t
moved on. I shake my head at him, whilst I try to break free from
his grip.
“Come on, stop fooling around, I’m late.” I say playfully, as
I glide myself away from him. I am walking towards the door and I
as I reach for the door handle, I can hear Ryan laughing and I
smile because I know that he is only getting started with his
playful attitude.
I push my way through the narrow walk-way until I reach the
counters. I quickly make my way over to my till and I sign into my
account. I see that there is a long line of customers, so I waste
no time in serving them. A tall, skinny lady brushes up first, she
orders a skinny latte, skinny muffin all the while she is talking
heavily on her phone. I quickly make up her order and I place it
onto a tray, she pays me, grabs her food and then she walks away
–without flashing me a smile. I sigh, as I have had a year to get
used to this job and its annoying customers. I live with my Uncle
George and his wife Jen, I have just finished high school and I
have no plans to go to college. My parents died when I was six and
I have lived with my uncle ever since that night. He isn’t the
world’s richest guy, but he does his best. He is a mechanic and he
works over at AL’s garage, Jen is a first-grade school teacher and
they have two kids. Simon is twenty-five and he is currently away
at college in Boston, Rachel is sixteen and she is the most popular
girl in school. She has shoulder length blonde hair and a
sun-kissed complexion, her eyes are bright blue and she is a very
beautiful girl. Every guy in her school wants to date her, every
girl wants to be her and Rachel loves the attention. Every school
has a girl like Rachel, beautiful, cheer leader, stunning hair and
make-up and a sense of don’t come too close to me. I feel that
Rachel tries to maintain a certain level of attitude, but deep down
I know that she is soft and gentle, caring and loving. If only she
would snap out of her pretentious ways and let everyone see the
real her.
The customers are quickly being served and as I make sandwich
after sandwich, I can’t believe my eyes when I see him –again. I
quickly hand my latest customer his sub and then I gently fix my
hair as he approaches me. The guy from earlier, the one with icy
fingers and the deep blue eyes is heading in my direction. He
glides towards the counter and he smiles when he notices me
standing at the till, with my red subway shirt and my faded blue
jeans on. My heart slightly begins to race as he places his long
hand onto the counter. He towers above me and as he looks down at
me, I almost feel as if his
C. J. Cherryh
Learning to Kill: Stories
John O'Riley
Brenda Sinclair
Christopher George
Stephen Lloyd Jones
Karl Iagnemma
Celya Bowers
Jill Gregory
Aria Cunningham