Author's Note: This story began as a very simple Dialogue practice between me and my writing partner. The original title was, creatively named "The Hooker" - so sorry for the somewhat lack-of-imagination-title here! After we'd been at it for a while, we decided to try to turn it into the first chapter of a longer story. Let us know if you like it - and whether you'd like to read more about Emily and Ben and what we have planned for them.
--Jasmine & Daniel
"Hey! You off to work?"
Ben locked the door before turning, meeting his neighbor's eyes. "Another day, another opportunity to make a million, no?"
"Hah!" She grinned and tossed her head. Her thick brown hair, tied into a ponytail swayed and came resting across her white sweater. "Well, at least you own your own business. Maybe I'll swing again by when I'm done working?"
"I'm sure you'll find exactly what you're looking for." He said dryly.
"What?" Her smile slipped a fraction "A girl can't be into that stuff?"
"No, no. Of course, they can." He raised his hands. "Just not...you? I guess? I think." He grinned. "Sorry. 'Course you can - if you want. I'll even give you a discount."
"You should come over to my place sometime." She tapped the door to her apartment with two long-nailed fingers. "I'll show you my collection, and we can compare!"
He chuckled and shook his head, beginning to walk down the hallway. "That'll be the day, hm? I think I'm just a bit old for you to be hanging around with."
"What?" She frowned, catching up. "That's
dumb
. You're thirty. So?"
"I'm Thirty-three."
"Yeah, so? I'm twenty-one."
"You're nineteen - in a few weeks, i believe." he corrected, putting his hand on the front door of their building.
"Well, fuck!" She glared "It's no big deal, just hanging out."
"I have enough friends" He grinned at her and pushed the door open. "After you, Emily."
"Look, i-" She'd compressed her lips into a thin line and gave her head an annoyed toss, her walk causing her hips to sway in a way that surely got some attention from the peers at college. Then her phone gave a loud 'ding!' "Shit." She glanced down at it, then back at him. "Dude - I gotta scoot to work, but this isn't over!"
"See?" He laughed "I'm no
'dude'
. Haven't been
'dude'
for years!"
"Fine!" She was already running down the street, but looked craned her neck and half-shouted "This isn't over,
sir!
" She flashed him a smile, turned, and ran.
Ben shook his head.
College kids
. Ever since his neighbor had found out - how he didn't know - that he ran a store and been there once, she'd been on his case about hanging out, doing things together. Whatever she could come up with, it seemed.
It's a wonder she gets anything done between her college, her work, and whatever she does in her spare time.
Tossing his backpack in the backseat of his Fiesta, he started the car, put on some music, and drove to work. And 'work' it was. Five years back, he'd had the ingenious idea to rent a small space near a suburban strip mall and open his own store, selling things he loved.
Make your hobby into a business - fuck yeah. Great idea. Minimum wage thanks to the crap profit margins, rents, insurance, and utilities, and get to deal with kids coming in, checking stuff out, and ordering it off Amazon while you watch.
Except...it had been a great idea - that was the thing. He was making enough to pay himself enough to live. He really did get to work with his passion all day long - even if part of it was restocking shelves and doing inventory work, and he'd never felt so free and happy in his life - even if he had to be at work 7.30 AM or feel like shit.
The American dream.
He turned off his car and opened the stoor. Lamps illumined shelf after shelf of comic books, board games, figure games, card games, and tabletop roleplaying games.
That certain...smell to it. Newly printed paper and...well, burgers. From the place two doors down.
He put the "Open" sign out the window. There was a lot to do today. He sipped at the coffee from his travel mug and went to work.
It'd been weeks ago when she'd first come in.
He'd been perhaps thirty minutes from closing when the old-school door had announced someone entering. His eyebrows rose when he saw who it was - because he'd seen her around the building. At that time, he didn't even know her first name, despite the fact that she was his neighbor.
"
Hiiii
! Cool store." She'd announced brightly, looking about. She'd carried a handbag, worn a modest black skirt and a white blouse with a dot pattern. In short - she'd looked
exactly
like someone who most people familiar with the hobby would say did
not
belong there. Her hair had been half-straight, half curly, and left free that day, spilling across her shoulders.
"Uh-huh. Can I help you with something?" He cleared his throat. Try not to be the mental picture of an awkward nerd, hm? He cleared his throat "Sorry - if you need anything, just let me know, alright? I'm Ben."
"I know! I'm your neighbor." She came forward and offered her hand. It was small, warm, and smooth. "Emily. I'm Emily Carlyle."
"Ben Williams. Owner." He added his last name - and job title.
"Yeah. Kiiinda figured from the sign." She flipped her thumb to the 'Williams Hobby Store' and grinned, showing a crescent of white teeth and a pair of charming dimples.
"So...you lookin' for anything special?"
"Nah, just browsing." She walked around, peeking at the various shelves. "I like this stuff."
"Oh, sure. This...stuff." Right.
"What? A girl can't kick some ass?" She picked up a box and frowned at it. "Some...empire ass, I guess?"
"Elf." He corrected. "Sure they can. Not the cheapest hobby for a college student, that's all."
"Oh, I do fine." She near-sashayed over to another shelf. "Besides, it's been some time since I last checked this stuff out. It's fun to see what's new."
"And how long ago was that?"
"Couple of years. Must've been...thirteen?" She frowned, then nodded. "Me and my guy friend had a big collection." She picked up a starter Ork starter box and grinned. "Yup. These are my guys. Oh shit!" She'd apparently glanced at the price.
"Yeaaaah, they've gone up a bit the last few years."
"I'll say. Wow." She put the box down. "So how come you never say hi to me in the hallway?" She rounded the shelf and came to stand by the counter. "Or really...
anything
? I've seen you around."
"Oh." he frowned. "Not sure? The whole
'don't get too close to your neighbors'
i guess? Not sure if you've seen movies, but sometimes neighbors turn out to be serial killers." He grinned.
"What? Do I
look
like a serial killer?" She put her hands on her hips.
He squinted at her. "In the right light...maybe?"
Emily laughed.
He raised his hands and shook his head. "Nah, look - I don't know. Neighbors don't often talk, or even greet in the building. Plus, I either go to work or come home - I usually have a lot on my mind. Sorry?"
"Gotcha." She smiled. "Well, I certainly heard you a few weeks back. Quite the party you had. I'm a little offended you didn't invite me over."
Ben snorted. "I'll keep that in mind if we have another Battlestar marathon."
That was a great night.
He and his two friends had spent hours re-watching the first season.
