Just Friends

I

Raa

he batteries on the doorb

ng Dong, most doorbells have,

rning, L

stomers of the day. "My name is Mira. If y

to my table of sweaters which have become a bit of

s with a huge smile on thei

ride in

Raa

e who comes through the door, "Good Mor

ie walk through the studio and straight t

kay t

t way. You can ask her anything, anything at all and she'll on

om, walks across the studio a

he'll only be a few minutes but will come back wi

ce sweate

d Jessie walks over to me carrying the potion of life

amel Latte.

hind the counter and l

and asks, "What are y

I laugh and shake my head at her. I see her

mic. Actually, my name is Mirabel Tomic. But the only

ne of my workers know this. They all believe I'm the store manager because

crowave, small two-burner stove, and a sink to wash our dirty dishes. I also had new signs put up and a brand new front counter put in. It's very modern, shiny black with a high back; this hides our register a

is long; it looks small from the f

because Safira means Sapphire in Cr

ds two mannequins; I chang

doing

ries. Our accessories are our main seller. We have clutches, necklaces, bracelets, bangles, costume jewellery, rings, and hair accessories. The reason these are our main sellers is be

ve m

time, 9 to 5. Jessie and Lola get three to four shifts a week d

is coming to l

d, you

o,

I'm freakin

retty much all my life. So when I moved away, it broke both our hearts. I had my reasons for moving. She un

I'll pack the second bedroom full of her stuff and next week

esome, if

e. "There he is again. Damn, that boy is

quins and my heart stutters. This is not the f

Is

er

ard or a book cover somewhere. B

eks ea

Just

way am I going to get there on time and this ticks me off. I open the sto

y store and I don't have parking spaces under or behind the building. I've tried taking the bus a fe

ling when they see me running towards them. One of them

et and I was stuck. I hope you haven't been waiting

row my bag onto the kitchenette counter,

woman is wa

rning. My name is Mira. H

rment on the counter and rep

great Jers

ike it. " I'm trying to be sympathetic but it's kind of h

she looks closely at her nails and

say, "Okay, let me see what I can do." The tags

h. G

st got

tations; they

m. I can't give you a refund or exchange. I'm sorry but o

s. She would be so

n my face, "This is BULLSHIT! That d

pieces and is fab-U-lous. I really want to ask her

ke a goddamn

adly want to scratch at it. I say quietly, "L

he spits, "I wanna

spond, "I'm

ly and says, "Then I wa

yeball and I'm thankful no

rm voice, "I

now how to describe it, but if looks could kill, I'd be six feet und

Raa

mn

t batteries for th

ile a minute pointing towards Safira. The man is obviously talking back to her because she stops talking and starts pouting. Then she stomps her foot. Yes, actually stomps her foot

second to no

My.

song when this man was born. I

so han

us olive-toned skin. He's dressed in suit pants and a shirt. He has broad shoulders and great arms; I can tell from the muscle definition I can see through his shirt. He has a face made of straight angles and his

akes m

hands just so I can get a good look at him, but t

see from my vantage po

lip is curled as he loo

girlfriend's money back for the fabulous dress she's ruined. I

come in here and yell

o the pavement (another turn off-litter bug), steps on it, and walk

e the typical ones you'd normally see at a club. It also looks narrow. Not quite as

hite

l to it. The words are written in blac

ange name

conf

at a nightclub

ity? He's defini

I want to know

s. He takes three cigarette breaks a day. He is always dressed in busine

ver seen

my thoughts

wh

er my features and I

ip?" Jessie smirks. "Yo

o

, "Sorry. What w

sh at me and she spits, "I said th

essie. I'm very affectionate and hugged Jessie once. Once was enough to realize this is

who is a bit younger than me and comes fr

aw him, Jess. He's looking pretty good

say?" She narrows her eyes at me. "You've been watching him

,

do relat

in one relationship. It was good in the beginn

ose men broke through the thick wall I've built around myself. I call it protecting mys

know I can't do that, hon. I think a new box of those li

n and she mutters, "Way to ch

om but my attention is pulled back

e wrapped bags of candy. One has Raspberry bullets in it, w

to be nice to him. He won't

egister. I write three small words. I fold up my note, punch a hole in it, and

he time on

'll be back for ano

. She comes out front to man the counter for me. I walk o

my girls pretty well, too. We're there at least three times every day to ge

unge in the store because that's all it can fit. It's about a quarter of t

nd Sam behind

st who I ne

and smile, he smile

ute. At least, I think he is, under all that dark hair. His hair is long and

s, "Mira, babe, w

reply, "Actually, Sa

rms on his lips and he says in a husky voice, "Sure!

Oh my, not that kind of favor! Sam, I'm ol

at me and responds, "M

r like this all the time. It's h

I say in mock sternness

rs again and he replies,

e I've lost my mind. After pleading with him and plantin

back to Safira. I relieve Jessie, and take back my

appears, right on time, cigarette in hand. I spot Sam mak

hat was I thinking??!

n paper bag to him. Sam says a few words and walks away

pen the brown paper bag

fused. I'm n

opens it and reads. He looks even

ext makes it

nd a small smile t

he first smile I've seen on his gorgeous face

Not such a bad

ace once again. I go about my work w

r R

ge and glare at

stands

ike being a girl is a disease and you

'2". Olive skin tone a

esmer

that eye color before. He has dark brown

s man is

me, places both forearms on my counter, lean

tied. His voice is as s

's voice in the store, Jessi

down and narrows her eyes. She

ay she'd done mere seconds before a

t buckle and I

s, "Great. I'm looking

rom my chest up. This is because on t

usion. She reads the note and I know I'm

bore into me, I w

er voice was colo

who is now looking at me with narrowed eyes, his head at

I answered with a shrill,

er. We all look down and what I see makes me even redder. I

a Bou

n Safira

Mort

ver meant

C'mon, sweetheart. Y

Wh

er, "Ex

the note and says, "Bo

Wh

I whisper loudly,

He answers, "I'm not sure, sweetheart. " He says swe

hand into his arm. I know he sees uncertainty in my eyes. He looks at Jessie an

responds, "Jessie." She points

ack soon. " He starts pulling me along

wide, she smiles big and

w this was