Cory was mopping the aisles and about halfway through the store, working his way towards the tills in the centre aisle..
Lydia was a fast counter and was already onto printing out her daily totals “You know what I’m gonna make for supper? It’s gonna be a chicken Caesar……..I love a chicken Caesar……What about you Pixie?”
Paul called over “Hey me too….got room for 5 more? Better than my frozen pizza plan.”
Pixie stands at her register as she spins and hits print to also checking out her register. She stocks her plastic and paper bag pulling them up from the bundle she just got from the back . ‘God they tanked and spanked today .. she says as she watches the printer keep spitting out paper. ‘ she waits as she plays with her faux bun picking at the rhinestones in her hair readjusting them . ‘Nah.. I'm making curry for Saj .. what wine goes good with curry ,” she says as she lets the machine vomit her hard days work as she browses the wine aisle . ‘hey paul can take some wine “ she says looking down at her choices .. ‘What about you Cor… you in for chicken ‘ thanks anyway . she bellows out to Lydia ‘
Lydia snorts “Oh I wasn’t inviting any of you. No offense….Paul you bake those p…” She opens her mouth to say more but then stops and stares at Cory who’s rounded the corner and brandishing his mop like a weapon at something on the floor.
Cory scurries back and practically dives into Pixie as he hop sits up onto her cash desk, mop out like a lance. A spider runs out from under a display of cans.
Paul can be heard shaking out a tarp in the produce and calls out a bewildered “What’s that Lydia?”
Pixie barely has time to not drop the two bottles she is deciding on and looks around staring confused then she has to hold her tongue to stop bursting out laughing.. She didn't like mocking people as she was bullied in high school for being a bit plumper then the other anorexic looking crack whore cheerleader mean girl types in beverly hills . . she bits her tongue literally then winces looking over to Lydia then up at Cory.. ‘Cory .. you're being such a gnimble right now.. She didn't think he would even know what that was.. ‘It's just a small spider.. Probably won't even take 10 hit points or isn't poisonous.. She says picking it up on a paper and walking it to the backroom .. she didn't like killing things in real life even spiders cuz spiders ate flies and grosser bugs.. She'd been Saj's friend so long she adopted some of her best friends’ ways. She comes back looking up . ‘aint a dragon but its gone now cor.. Can you get off my day's work? she points the print out he was stepping on that curled on the desk ..
Cory just stared at Pixie like a deer in the headlights the moment she said Gnimble. He followed her with his gaze, not moving until she pointed out he was on top of her work. Then he stepped one gangly leg down at a time and extracted himself, balancing with the mop. “How did you know?” He asked quietly as he mopped himself away from her.
Lydia rolled her eyes “Cory...cory get down off the desk!” She chided when he jumped up. “Lord…” she muttered and picked up her cash tray and papers, taking it to the safe.
Paul peered around the corner and saw Cory perched like an awkward bird on the counter “What the hell?” As he got down Paul just shook his head. These kids couldn’t get any weirder some days.
Pixie furrows her blonde perfectly manicure brows and raises one. ‘How did i know what .. that it wasn't poisonous.. Well it's not a recluse and it's not a black widow.. She's hotter.. She jokes. ‘No but seriously . It's just a garden variety harmless spider. They eat flies and more annoying bugs.. So i'm not going to kill it . she rants on about the spider ‘you'd be scared if it was tom holland dress in his spidey spandex.. .. she says softly ‘sorry that was mean .. ‘ she stops ‘ i probably would too cuz he is hella hot in a cute gangly nerd boy way . ‘ she say softly
She grabs her receipts and opens her cash tray . looking at him a bit apologetic. ‘I hate those talking dummy things .. ever since goosebumps .”. she softly “what are they again ‘ she says questioning herself or him . it wasn't clear
Cory blinks through Pixie’s long explanation and it’s hard to tell if he’s still freaked out by the spider, has something else on his mind or is just annoyed. He mops furiously and goes down the last aisle without commenting back to her.
Paul is whistling and walking up and down, picking up the odd thing left astray. He pushes through the door to the staff room after Lydia “What was up with Cory?”
Lydia laughs out “Spider again…” as her time card is punched out. “Good night Paul.” She calls out “Night Pixie, night Cory!”
Paul laughs and calls after Lydia “No chicken Caesar then…” but she’s out the door. He takes off his apron and waits for the last two of his staff.
Pixie looks bewilder as Cory just leaves her there without an explanation .. but shrugs and members . This is Cory we were talking about . When did he ever talk more then hi and bye. And the occasional squeak. She shrugs and looks dreamy, thinks about tom holland in his tight spandex spidey gear and walks to the back humming softly though looks tentative. ‘ . she attempts to call out to Lydia . ‘bye.. Never mind you gone.. She says as her older coworker is out the door and earshot. She goes to the office to return her tray and day’s sale receipt. ‘No chicken for you ‘ she say in a soup nazi impression . ‘I'm ready to go, Paul. curry, makeovers and girl talk are screaming for me!’ she says exciting but look back at door where cory still is finishing up his cleaning then looks back to Paul
Cory whizzes by Paul and Pixie as he goes to dump the mop, not engaging, just passing.
Paul gives Pixie a friendly smile “Oh I get the girl power thing. Remember I’m a cool dad of three daughters…” e looks truly proud and is unabashedly cheesy sometimes. As Cory goes out of earshot he drops his voice “Was it a big spider?”
Water is running in the back covering their conversation as Cory rinses.
Pixie grins widely ‘tots girl power . i so wanna watch spice world again .. love the spice girls ‘ she chuckles as she lifts up her fist . ‘That's amazeballs man . I'm sure they're more than glad to have such a great women empowering father . like my dad was ‘ she beam s. ‘ she drops her voice.. ‘Between you and me .. she shakes her head. ‘But fear is a magnifying glass paul.. It probably seems like aragog to him .. she says looking sympathy for the guy . it's like me and those dolls people use to talk with … i swear their eyes are looking at me .. ‘ she shivered .. ‘we all have fear.. Some just more than other ‘ she say softly
Paul nods slowly “That’s deep...and creepy. I gotta see a man about a horse. I’ll be right back.” He drops his apron onto a hook and heads to the bathroom.
Cory returns and heads towards the punch clock and then hesitates in front of it and turns to Pixie looking a little freaked out “How did you know….about Gnimble? About my gnome?”
Pixie sets her tray down on the staff table and looks at him oddly for a second.. ‘How did you know Gnimble was a gnome.. She widens her eyes and lowers her voice. ‘Wait... you’re Gnimble??!” she says in surprise.. ‘Really ?? ‘ she say softly “you play fairy realms ?"she say softly
Cory’s body posture relaxes a little and he gives Pixie a little smile “Ok so clearly you do too….Who are you?” His gears are visibly turning like he’s trying to guess.
The toilet flushes behind the wall and door and then the water runs for a bit.
‘ she juts out her shoulder blades shaking like she does in the game. Her ample bosom shakes abit her chest bouncing. ‘What other girl you know can tank and spank like a boss.. While looking beeee.. Utiful.. She winks and shakes her head stopping herself .. internally tell herself stop game foreplay in rl.. ‘ she smiles ‘guess … she flaps her arms abit ‘you offer your big sword to me.. She say softly
Cory’s eyes drop to her bosom and then he blushes so fiercely he looks sunburned and his eyes snap to the wall behind her head. He’s catching on but as soon as she says the sword he laughs a little “You’re Bubblebumble….of course….”
Paul emerges from the bathroom and claps Cory on the shoulder “You ok man...you look a little flushed. You kids clock out yet?”
Cory stiffens again and quickly clocks out “Yeah sorry Paul.” He drops his card in the slot and steps back in case Pixie hasn’t and then grabs his jacket and backpack.
Pixie has to bite the inside of her cheek so she doesn't laugh as he checks out her bosom.. Anyone else she would have deck them . but it was kinda cute in a weird way .. So there is a man in that mop/bagger/produce boy somewhere down deep . it was a challenge like he threw a gauntlet at her feet. She smiles and nods ‘that's me the bee. She smiles and she then realizes Paul was still there. ‘Oh god. Another mishap at the time clock witness duh Paul was still there he only owned the place. ‘ she thought . she just smiles and plays it cool.. Cooler than she did with owen. ‘ she picks up her tray and receipt and hands it to Paul. ‘Just waiting to give this to you . ‘ she smiles and turns to clock out . ‘ have a good Knight.. She say to Cory..not knowing if Paul would pick up on it ‘ just about to clock out .. curry dont make itself ‘ she say softly
Cory backed up from the room, giving both Pixie and Paul a little wave. Just before he’s out of sight he does a little bow like Gnimble does in game “Night...knight…”he trails off bashfully and is out the back door.
Paul takes the cash tray and opens up the safe “No worries Pixie...night Cory...fancy exit there buddy.” Paul whistles again as she locks up the safe and then swings his keys around after pulling on his jacket.
Pixie giggles softly as he bows ‘fancy indeed ‘ she waves to Paul clocking out and picking up her sparkling pink backpack and fluffy pink faux fur coat and goes out the back door ‘bye Paul see ya later have a good one ‘ she say as goes out the door humming walking to her tiny flat about be true.
Sajani is leaning against the building on her phone and sees Pixie coming down the street “Hi...I’m early...I walked faster than I realized.” she swoops to hug her friend “How was work?”
Pixie rushes up the street to the door of her flat looking a bit flushed both from walking fast and from the recent timeclock mini mishap.. ‘You're not early, I'm late sorry.. I stumbled on a gnome at the time clock . she fishes her keys out of her backpack and opens the door to the stairs to her flat discarding her shoes at the doorway and holds the door open for her best friend. ‘I'll get the curry started “ she say hastily
Sajani follows and kicks off her own shoes, dropping her phone into her big colourful purse and setting it down by the shoes. “ Gnome by the time clock…..is this a metaphor?” She notices the state of her friend “You’re all flustered...is everything ok? No rush on curry. I’ll help you with that…”
She drops her backpack on floor by her pink softa and sit downs exhaling. ‘Nooo its no metaphor.. I have a gnome named Gnimble at Thrifty . she say catching her breath.. ‘It happen again.. You know I'm going to hate time clocks before this is all over with . she say soflty . she pats the sofa beside her looking to her friend half hassle but half happy .. ‘i I don't know wither to be happy or weirded out by myself . ‘ she rants on quickly
Sajani eases herself onto the sofa beside Pixie and focuses on what her friend is saying making little drawing motions in front of her face with her finger like she’s mapping out the information. She tap points and invisible destinations “Gnimble…..from out game? Fairy Realms?” She taps back at a point behind the awareness of Gnimble in Thrifty’s and then taps forward “At the time clock…..which coworker is this?” she holds up the finger ready for a new air destination.
Pixie nods feverous.. ‘Yeah like our Gnimble mr big sword aragog hating fairy realms gnome.. ‘ yeah. ‘She say softly ‘ its squeaky Cory.. . ‘ she says softly looking abit confused and complex… ‘’he really dislike spiders out of world.. Like jumping on my cash desk loathes them just as much as I'm beginning to loathe timeclock.. Why by the time clock.. Bad shit happens by the time clock.. ‘ she rants on .. ‘i called him a gnimble when he jumped up. And he caught on about the game.. And told me at the time clock
Sajani flips her hand now as if she’s holding an invisible cup and twists it back and forth. “It’s kind of fascinating...the time clock. Pixie the time clock is just this vortex of all your emotional energy! Let’s unpack that…..but first squeaky Cory. I thought you didn’t like him. And now I understand the spiders in game….”
Pixie ruffles her short hair making it stand up . ‘ it's like a bad version of dr who.. But rory is squeaky . bagger boy.. ‘ she says softly ‘’ i never said i didn't like him .. i said he was okay.. I mean he's sweet. But definitely some evidence of manhood is in there .. he was looking at my bosom after i shook it when i was pretending i had wings to tell him i was bubblebumble ‘ she spits out fast. She puts her head in her hand 'what's happening to me Saj.. i'm losing my head ‘ she say softly and looks over to her friend confused ‘ its Cory after all .. sweet scared gangly… ‘ she trails off dreamly ‘tom hollandish geeky .. badass fairy realms gnomeo… Cory.. I mean Gnimble.. She exhales.. Looking confused to her friend
Sajani pets her friend's head like she’s a cat and has to giggle “You shook your girls at the Gnome and he turned into a man. Oh wherefore art thou Gnomeo….” she says dramatically. “I’m going to have to come shop and snoop at this Cory...I think i know the one you mean...glasses, a little bit of acne?” She’s shopped at Thrifty’s and knows of the staff vaguely.
Pixie mock murs at her petting trying to make sense of it all… " yeah i didn't mean to .. it sorta just all happened.. i was trying to give him a clue who i was in game.. and well the girls got shook when i was doing that flappy wing animation and yeah .. she trails off "he couldn't help but stare it's not like these girls are mosquito bites " she chuckles nervously.."you know i dont think ive seen him check a girl out.." she shrugs as she goes to start the curry but yeah. "She winces when Sajani mentions she's going to check him out."yeah that's the one skinny tall glasses and acne. I mean he's a nice guy. : she struggles as she gets the rice poured in the rice cooker
Sajani is still giggling “Well that kinda sounds adorable. It’s a good sign when they check you out. In retrospect I’m not sure Dan was really looking at me like that…..more like he was going through the motions of what he thought it should be….” She sighs “Ok...give me something to chop Pixie.”
She hands her some veggies. "We doing a veggie curry right" she say distracted..shw ponders "maybe im reading to much into it "she stops and grimances "look Logans nice but some if his friends mainly Dan is a jerk.. what kinda fuck up troll experiments with people emotion messed up monsters that who "she chops up her own carrot to hard that it flies up hitting the ceiling then lands on her ample bosom.. "guys like Dan and fucked up emotionless pan hook pirate faking french mute ..that's who.. "she grimaces after she says who "face it some of the Reinhardts friends are pure orcs..it's a good thing we didn't get out love lives intertwine with theirs. She looks over to her bestie patting her on the shoulder "sorry this was about you.. she backs off
Sajani smiles appreciatively at the loyalty and then watches the carrot piece fly up and land “20 points Bee Goddess!” She sighs and slices through an onion “I don’t hate the Reinhardts….or even Dan. I realize I need to get over myself. He was confused and I got hurt. I know his path in life is probably harder...I mean it’s that whole privilege thing. He has race privilege and male privilege but I recognize as a straight cisgendered woman I have privilege too. I just wish he had told me he wasn’t sure. Maybe I still would have dated him, slept with him even to help him figure it out...but I would have been emotionally prepared when he told me I wasn’t what he wanted…”
She nods "yeah.. i know you're right.. everyone's allowed their mistakes right.. we've all done more than our fair share." She plucked the carrot out of her bosom popping it to her mouth " yeah i don't hate anyone..its not good for the soul.. beside.. maybe he..they didn't know what they were thinking so how were they supposed to convey it to others. "She goes to hug her friend "too bad so sad for them cuz we are fragging amazeballs. "She smiles.."but he could have told you..so you had the choice to stay .. cuz i know you would have. That's just the sweetie you are ever helpful.
Sajani hugs her back “We are amazeballs...thank you Pixie,” The onions hit her and she shakes her head around “Hoooo that’s strong. Do you have garlic and ginger….may as well do all the smelly things on this board….” She wiggles her nose “So what’s your next move with Gnomeo?” She teases.
Pixie turns around to her spice rack and grabs the ginger and then goes to grab some garlic and turns back handing them to Sajani. She exhales loudly " i don't know..balls in his court.. i just have be careful since I'm running out of young men to terrorize that work there. " she half joke "do you think he even likes me like that. Or am I reading too much into it? " she checks the rice
Sajani starts crushing and peeling garlic cloves and chopping them “Young men to terrorize?” She snorts. “I don’t know this guy so I can’t even guess. It’s tricky getting involved with a coworker though...at the yoga place we had two teachers date and then they broke up and both quit. That’s how I ended up with so many online classes...I mean technically you don’t work side by side...but it’s not a big store right?” Sajani is ever logical.
Pixie nods as she dumps mixes the curry sauce she had bubbling "yeah., that the thing it was embarrassing enough with owen and the time clock now this. If it is even is a this." She exhales "well ill just let it play out abit..worst comes to worst.. Be True is opening next week.. so I'm going part time at Thriftys..crap that's what i was supposed to tell Paul ...i forget to with cory vs. Aragog death match going on..
Sajani looks sympathetic, “Double job...I’m there. My OT work is going to start up again too. It’s hard when you love them both. Which one of yours do you like better? “
She smiles at the sympathy "honestly hands down.. i dont know..before covid.. i would have said be true..because fashion is my passion..but i like working at Thrifty being part of a team. The staff there are wonderful to work with. I haven't laugh so hard in a while at work.. but..i dunno..my boss at be true says i can work both but.. need to put more of the hours at the shop..so i guess ill asked paul if i can go as needed when I'm free or something.. maybe every other Sunday for a couple hours.
She look sheepishly and Sajani knew in the way she was looking Gnomeo had something to fo with it
Sajani gives Pixie a little suspicious look and a “Hmmm…” as she tips the rest of her cut veggies into the curry sauce. “I have heard the McLeod's are really nice people to work for. I also heard the store had kind of a crappy phase when Cheryl was really sick and Paul was busy taking care of her. I don’t know the details but one day...the cops were there. You know...small town talk. Probably good you got hired after all that...whatever it was. Cory worked there through that phase…..your Gnomeo. I have heard Cheryl is getting better so that’s good. I mean they have three kids right? My Dad speaks really highly of Paul and they were really good to us when my mom was sick.”
She smiles at her friend nodding " yeah i heard about my boss was telling something about that.. but it all worked out. They're happy and have a beautiful family. " she exhales" it's really sweet.. but yeah he's a nice man to work for.. understanding . She rubs sajani back when she speaks about her mom.."for that ill be eternally grateful for. " she smiles at her stirring the sauce as she does
Sajani smiles and then leans her head on Pixie’s when she rubs her back. She then peers into the pot and sniffs “Smells like good…..when can we eat?” She tucks her hair behind her ear and walks to the plates and bowls cupboard, knowing her friend’s kitchen. She collects bowls, forks and napkins and sets to the next task.
She nods " dish up the food . I'll get Spiderman :far from home started." She goes to start her streaming app on her tv
Sajani dishes rice into bowls and ladles the glorious smelling curry over top. The steam rises from them both and it’s simply divine. She pads in her sock feet to the couch and sets both down on the table. “Oh I love this movie. I’m so glad we’re watching it again. Hello Tom Holland…..”
They both just squeal and moan in unison "mmm Tom Holland " exchanging dreamy glances as they eat and watch the movie
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