6. Amethyst #2
“Where have you been all my life.” My breath hitches as his words come out not as a question, but a statement. I’m drawn to him in a way I don’t understand. It’s a terrible idea to think of him as anything other than a colleague. But Skyler looks at me like I’m the answer to a long-lived prayer.
And not only is it easy to fall into the fantasy… I want to. Worse yet, I don’t want fantasies. I want certainties. I want to know what his skin would feel like against mine. What sounds he would make if I —
No. It doesn’t matter what I want at present. What I need is a few sessions of therapy. Some time to figure out who I even am anymore. I need to protect my heart and my body too. Skyler could be a vampire. That thought is like ice water.
I don’t know him, and yet, I feel safe with him. Clearly, I need to have a crime show marathon. I sound insane. Stranger danger is still a thing, Amethyst. Even outside of kindergarten.
“Sorry I’m late!” A new voice breaks me out of my thoughts. Skyler glares at the newcomer, a stark contrast to the way he looked at me only moments ago. “Sorry would be acceptable if it were five minutes,” he glances down at his watch, “you are forty -five minutes late, Nitasha!”
She looks in my direction with deep brown eyes, unphased and unamused by Skyler’s chiding.
“Name’s Nitasha,” she eyes me up and down, and I feel like cattle up for auction, “but you can call me Nita. All my friends do.” She winks, following up with, “And you are?” She doesn’t wait for an answer before sitting on the bagging area of register two, pulling a compact mirror and lipstick tube out of her purse, and applying it.
I’m equal parts appalled and impressed by her behavior.
She’s... bold. “I’m Amethyst, it’s my first day.
” She doesn’t even turn my way as she clicks her tongue, still looking in her mirror as now she fluffs her blond hair, two pink strands framing her painted porcelain face.
A thud from behind has me spinning on my heels.
It seems we have our first customer. The woman on the other side of the counter reminds me of my grandmother. Short gray curls, a fluffy, patterned sweater, and slippers. I can’t wait until I can unleash my inner grandma someday.
“Skyler,” the woman coos, drawing out the last syllable, “who’s this gorgeous young lady?” I assume she’s talking about Nitasha, but my cheeks heat as I realize her finger is pointing toward me. Skyler steps up beside me, shooing Nitasha away.
“This is Amethyst. She’s just started and you’re our first customer today. Mind if she has a go at the register, Lady Maple?” The lady shakes her head, “Not one bit, I haven’t had anywhere to be in fifteen years since my Jasper passed.”
My eyes turn soft as she speaks of her lost loved one.
“Alright,” Skyler starts, “now you’ll sign on the register with your employee I.D.
Then you just scan everything, bag like items together, and hit the total button on the bottom right.
” Nodding, I sign on and start scanning.
Lady Maple is buying an odd assortment of items: empty vials, herb bundles, bread. None of which is out of the ordinary.
Yet she’s pairing all that with a pack of blood bottles.
Now I’m wondering if mixed species are real and not just some scary bedtime story.
My knowledge of the paranormal is embarrassingly slim.
Despite my declaration to stay away, I can’t damp down the spark of curiosity.
It looks like I’ll be doing some research in my free time.
My eyes instinctively look for Skyler’s as I bag the last item. He nods in approval, “Very good, Amethyst. Now just remember to hit that total button.” Against my will, I feel my cheeks heat at his praise. Taking a breath to steady myself, I follow his instruction.
“Right. Lady Maple, your total is thirty-three dollars and ten cents.” Her face lights up as she looks at me with an approving nod.
“You’re a natural, dear.” She hands me forty dollars, and Skyler immediately continues my lesson.
“You'll hit this button here for cash, and then type the amount given. The enter key will open the drawer and you’ll just get their change, then a receipt will print out on top.”
I go through those steps flawlessly, feeling like an expert.
But as soon as I wave Lady Maple off, telling her to have a nice day, I forget almost everything I just learned.
A sigh escapes me as both my hands thread through my hair.
Shit. I haven’t worked a job like this in ages.
Maybe I was kidding myself thinking I could do this.
As if sensing my inner turmoil, Skyler’s voice soothes my mind, “Don’t worry, Sunlight. You did great, you’ll catch on fast.” Did he... give me a nickname and another compliment?
“Sunlight?” The question comes out in a chuckle. Skyler’s cheeks warm as his eyes dart away from mine for the first time. “Sorry,” he laughs, “it’s just... your eyes.” His own finds their way back to mine with that intense gaze. “Like the sun’s radiance was captured in glass vials.”
I don’t get a chance to respond or even formulate a thought as Nitasha prances toward us.
A strong, strawberry scent invading my nostrils.
“What am I supposed to be doing today, Skyler?” She asks while rolling her eyes.
Charming. I think if I was the boss, I wouldn’t let employees treat me disrespectfully, but I’m unsure of their dynamic.
Stealing one final glance at me, he turns to her. “You’ll be helping Amethyst learn the basics of the register. Olyver is supposed to be here around noon to start stocking, but one can never really be sure when he’s going to show up. Or if he’ll have a mysterious ailment.”
Nitasha tilts her head back and cackles — a true cacophony.
“Please. That boy’s about as bright as a stormy night.
Probably better he doesn’t show.” I rush to cover my mouth as if my hand can hold in my amusement.
Skyler’s lips curve into a lop-sided grin, “A body is a body. If he can put up at least three totes, that’s three less for me. ”
I quirk a brow at him, wondering if anyone besides him takes this job seriously. He shakes his head at me. He’s known me for a day and can communicate through looks? Incredible.