*Ding Ding* "Order Up!" I let out a sigh. If I could never hear that damn bell again I'd be ecstatic. I rush to the alley grabbing the plates from the window muttering a "thanks" to the young cook on the other side of the counter. I deliver the food to my guest sitting in their booth, check on my other tables then return to the cash register in the front of the small burger joint. This was my life, fake smiles, endless running, rude people and "would you like fries with that?" It was a glamorous life working in a small town shopping mall for minimum wage. Days felt like they would blend together. The same annoying customers, or "guests" as my boss insisted we called them. I had been daydreaming about getting out of this small town when my coworker Grace came up to the register.
"Have you seen him yet today?" She asked leaning on the counter. I raised my eyebrows.
"Who?" I asked back, knowing full well who she was referring to.
"The Hot Topic guy!" She practically shouted. I shushed her and rolled my eyes.
"No, I haven't seen him in a few days. He must be tired of our hockey pucks we serve" I sigh.
Hot Topic Guy, who's name I later found out was Xander, was a regular who also worked in the mall with us. He was just shy of six foot with an average build, purple hair, hazel eyes, stretched ears, tattoos, and multiple piercings, in his mid-twenties I was guessing. Needless to say he definitely belonged at Hot Topic. We had struck up conversation a few times while he waited for his to-go order. It was clear to my coworkers that I had a crush. I wear my heart on my sleeve and my face rarely hides my emotions. It's something I've come to accept in my 26 years on this planet. I can't change it so why let it bother me. Grace and I chatted for a bit while she clocked in and prepared herself for the shift. I went back and checked on my tables, grabbing the check off of one and brought it to the register to cash it out. When I finished pulling the money out of the cash drawer the phone rang.
"Johnny's Burgers, this is Willow. How many I be of service?" I answered.
"Uh hi, yeah can I place an order for to-go?" The familiar voice on the other end of the phone asked.
My heart began pounding in my chest. It was him. I took a deep breath and took the order as usual. He gets the same thing every time; Chicken tenders, extra bbq sauce, sweet potato fries and a lemon lime soda no ice.
"And what's the name for the order?" I asked even though I didn't have to.
"Xander." he replied.
"Okay Xander, it'll be ready in about ten minutes." I said maybe a little too cheerfully.
"Great, see you then." He replied and hung up the phone.
I punched the order into the computer sending it through. I went back and checked on my other two tables, cashed them out then looked at the clock. Oh god he's going to be here any second.
I rushed into the back of the restaurant and rifled through my bag for some lipstick then ran into the bathroom. I fixed my long red hair into a messy bun, applied my lipstick and shook my head looking at my atrocious work uniform. This apron is so not sexy on anyone. I sighed, something I tend to do a lot during my shifts and headed back out to the register. Grace noticed my addition of make up and smirked from across the restaurant. It was a pretty slow day, no new guest had arrived in the time I was in the bathroom. I decided just to hang out at the register, where the to-go window as also located. A few moments later Xander had arrived to pick up his order. We made small talk about how dead the mall was today, he showed me his new tattoo on his leg. Having a few small tattoos myself, I appreciate these things. After I hand him his bag and a cup of soda he leans on the counter towards me. I smiled and thought to myself "now where is this going?"
When he said, "hey, I don't want to seem rude or anything.."
My heart stops, I'm forcing myself to keep breathing. Is he going to ask for my number? Ask me out to dinner?
Then he continues "but you have lipstick on your teeth."
My entire face blushes and now feeling completely embarrassed say the first thing that comes to my mind, "Of course I do!"
Then I try to discreetly run my tongue over my teeth to get rid of it. He smiles and it nearly knocks me off my feet. He apologized and told me that he figured I would have wanted to know instead of going the rest of my shift like that. I thanked him for letting me know, told him to enjoy his lunch and the moment he walked away from the window I slid down the wall to the floor and sat there contemplating why I even try anymore.
To say I'm awkward is an understatement. I was never the cool girl, never hung out with the It crowd. In high school you could find me with the nerds and geeks playing Dungeons and Dragons at the lunch table. I have no particular taste in music, liking a little bit of everything but leaning more towards rock and punk. I occasionally drink, I don't do drugs other than smoking weed but that's more for my anxiety than anything. I don't find myself pretty, maybe I have a cute face but I'm about five foot seven inches, long red hair, green eyes, full lips, I have a humble chest and a bit of a booty. My figure is on the fluffier side of curvy. I'm nothing to write home about. The only thing exciting about me are my few small tattoos and my stretched ears that make me feel badass. I myself by no means am a badass. My friends call me the mom of the group because I'm the one always keeping us out of trouble. I was raised in a strict Christian household by uptight Republican parents. They don't even know I'm bisexual, not that it's any of their business anyway. But I've always been the good girl. My siblings, mainly my older brothers were the trouble makers so it was easy to skate by when all the attention was on them.
After brooding for a few moments, deciding I really do hate my life, I willed myself to get off the floor and finish my shift, filling Grace in after closing. She laughed, like genuine belly laughed when I told her what had happened. That didn't make me feel better at all. It didn't take long to close up shop, thank goodness. I was totally over this day.
When I got to my car, I immediately sparked the emergency joint I keep in my glove box. Luckily, by the time I get home my parents are in bed. They don't know that I smoke weed, cigarettes were a big disappointment for them. I recently moved back in with them after leaving my ex boyfriend of six years. It was a rough breakup but I just wasn't feeling it anymore. When I was having sex out of obligation and not because I wanted to fuck him, I knew it was over. After grabbing a bottle of water from the refrigerator, I flopped onto my bed and put something on Netflix.
I couldn't get Xander's sexy voice out of my head. I replayed that moment over and over in my mind. Eventually I started fantasizing that he did ask me out. We'd see a movie, he'd take me back to his place and now we're naked. My hands sliding into my pants I felt how wet I was just thinking about him naked. Imagine kissing his pierced lips I began rubbing my wet pussy toying with my clit. It throbbed as my fingers moved in slow circles around the tender flesh. Thinking about him kissing my neck down to my small breasts, taking one of my soft pink nipples into his mouth. My other hand grabbed at my nipple playing with it as I imagined. Then I thought about his cock pushing deep inside me as I slid a finger into my now soaking wet pussy. Sliding my finger in and out as I used my thumb to tease my clit, it wasn't long before my body trembled and I let out a soft moan into my pillow. I had cum so hard my blood felt like it was carbonated, tiny little bubbles flowing through my veins. It felt like I was in a swimming pool filled with seltzer. "Oh god this feels so good" I thought to myself. Then I blissfully drifted off to sleep.
The next few days were a blur. I worked as usual making decent tip money. It was the same shit; wake up, shower, work, smoke, eat, sleep, repeat. Nothing special happened. I didn't see Xander at all the rest of the week. But seriously though, how much chicken tenders and fries can you eat in a week? Still, everyday I hoped he would come and order something. I'm such a dork, this guy wants nothing to do with me and I still wait like a lost puppy for him to come and talk to me. He has no interest in me, he's just being polite, making small talk. I was a fool to believe he was going to ask for my number.
It wasn't until the following Thursday that I saw him again. This time he didn't call ahead. I had no tables to worry about so I had all the time in the world to chat with him at the window. I found out that he loves seeing movies. I told him how my ex never wanted to go to the theater because of how expensive it was but that I loved going. We were chatting about what movies were currently playing when my cook, Jesse, came over with Xander's usual order.
He saw the two of us, put his arm around my shoulders and asked bluntly, "So you got a girlfriend?"
My face went hot. I could feel how much I was blushing. Xander chuckled and shook his head.
Jesse continues with "So when are you gonna ask Willow here out already? I've seen you two playing this bullshit game for weeks now."
I elbowed him in the ribs. I was mortified.
