This story is a Harbinger96 original, is owned by Harbinger96, and is not to be reposted by anyone other than Harbinger96 without Harbinger96's permission. All people in this fictional story are of the age of 18 or older.
---
Dawn came early for Rose House, my alarm rang in my ear at 6:45 a.m. I had gone to bed before midnight, but there hadn't been any disruptions when I called it a night at 11:00. Much to the girls' credit, they stayed with me until I said I was turning in.
I had work at 8:00, and I had given Lara the $100 from Todd and Bill last night to head to the Tax and Labor Office to buy a big bag of temporary Rose tattoos and QR codes before school. Belle and Lara were serious about going through this with me, and it was a hopeful move in case we got other Roses to join the cause.
I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as I got ready for the first day of my junior year of community college. I had the deep pull of wanting to look nice, to make an impression, but it was also my first time going to work and classes as a Rose, and that was terrifying. How long would I be able to stay in the outfit I chose? What shape would it be in by the end of the day? I didn't know if I should just dress simple and casual, or like a cute pornstar, which is where I knew I was heading, planning on going because what else could I do?
I decided to just fucking send it. I put on my cute black skirt that went just above my knees. I loved the felt texture. It was so comfy and sleek looking. I often found myself rubbing my hands on my thighs because it was like petting a stuffed animal or a fluffy blanket, but it wasn't overly warm.
A classic white button-down blouse didn't seem like a good idea, as I expected that it wouldn't last long, so I decided to go with a plain white t-shirt and a white bra so it wouldn't show through. I looked pretty classic American Girl with my look and my long black hair in a sleek ponytail. My makeup was very simple because I didn't want to try too hard for what I was heading into, and I had limited options on bronzer and concealer due to Rose Laws.
After a quick breakfast that went a little better than yesterday but still didn't feel right, I tried to amp myself up, tell myself that I was pretty, about to make hella money, and that at least I couldn't get dicked down.
I checked my school email and saw that I didn't start work till 8:00 at the Coffee Hut, but at 7:30 I decided to rip off the bandaid and see if I could start early because I hated waiting. My last two days involved big bandaids.
---
Getting to the Coffee Hut was simple enough. I had two shocks of hair hanging casually on each side of my face that didn't make it into my swishy ponytail. It was a good look and hid my tattoo. I also wasn't sure just how many college students knew what the tattoo meant, and who would think it was just a cute tattoo I got over the summer.
The Hut didn't open until 8:00, and the only person there was the manager, opening up. The manager looked like a student-worker, too.
"Excuse me," I said in what I hoped was a happy, conversational voice, approaching the counter with a bright smile. "My name is Kate Riddick, I'm a new student-worker."
The guy turned around, wearing a band t-shirt and some beat-up jeans. He was a little nerdy and I didn't like the way he raked his eyes over my body before he met my eyes. "Hi, Kate. I'm Lance, the manager. It's good to meet you," he told me with a lecherous smile and shook my hand. "I received the email yesterday from the Tax and Labor Department that they were switching you over here? You never applied, they just dropped you in?"
"Yup," I said, nodding. "Job portion of the Lottery," I explained, and he looked at me calculating. "Pretty nice upgrade from my job at the on-campus grocery."
"I think you look familiar. I'm also a fan of the basketball team. Riddick? You're a hell of a defensive player!"
"Thanks!" I smiled, happy to be recognized for my dedication to my sport and not the tattoo.
"Well, it's just about 8:00 so let's get you all signed in!"
Lance gave me an easy-going tour of the coffee kiosk and then gave me a quick tour of the stockroom that we leased from the college cafeteria. I smiled, waved, and said hi to the cooks, who looked like student hires and some older fellas that helped direct the students. My hair still hid the Rose, and I'm glad, because even without them knowing, they looked at me like I was a juicy steak. I was muscled and lean, a gym rat even. I was also a 22 year old Junior and not an 18 year old freshman. I had taken a bit of time between high-school and going to college, so I was a bit more woman than they were used to in student workers.
"Well there we have it. Study these recipe cards until we get a customer, and then I'll show you how our checkout system works," he said once we were back at the kiosk. Lance was nice enough, but he was a leering little bastard that wasn't shy about checking me out. I wondered if he knew I was a Rose and was waiting for someone to do all the work for him. Had he already seen my Rosewatch video(s)?
Before we had any customers, I saw Belle and Lara come into the entrance of the dorm hall and they came right for me.
"Mission accomplished, Cap!" Belle said, holding a Tax and Labor Office official box in her hands. "100 stickers. Well, 98," she giggled. She and Lara already had the roses on their cheeks.
Lance looked at the girls with an interested, popped eyebrow. "Well what's going on here?" he asked, a little more predatory than we would have liked. He definitely wasn't on the vibe pass that Bill and Todd had been last night.
Lara looked at Belle like she was an idiot, and Belle's face took an expression of shock. "He didn't know yet, did he?"
I crossed my arms and shook my head. I could feel my face was showing how miffed I was at my air headed but so sweet friend. "He does now," I groaned as Lance invaded my space and brushed my hair behind my ear, showing my rose.
"Whoa, holy shit! Our college has a Rose, and she's my employee?" His voice clearly told me that this was some kind of fantastic he's had for probably far too long. He quickly grabbed his phone and I held up a hand. "And her hot friends, too?"
"These brackets mean I don't have to touch you, Lance," I said firmly. "I'm legally protected from male genitalia because I'm a lesbian."
Lance huffed, and for a minute, he looked pissed. He scanned my arm anyway. "Skirt and shirt off, Ms. Riddick. All shift."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" I scoffed. "You want me to work for three hours in just my underwear and a blue apron?" The grin on his face told me that's exactly what he wanted. I should just be glad he wasn't having me strip all the way down.
"I paid, so off they go," he said impatiently, crossing his arms and keeping his eyes on me. "And don't think I won't be doing some internet research to see what I can and can't do with you."
"You are a disgraceful little pervert," I growled as I took off the apron, which was the only part of a "uniform" we actually had.
He just smiled like he won some kind of great victory over me. "Maybe we'll get some better sales with a basketball babe in her underwear making drinks."
"Well I was going to apply here, but that's not going to happen anymore," Lara gruffed, glaring daggers at Lance.
