Peter always brought equilibrium to the team for Alex, Molly, and Ken. Christine loved to bulldoze through the team. Peter was the one that came by and cleaned up after her. He always made sure that they weren’t upset or angry.
“I don’t think so.” She finally said. “Too busy in here.” Then Christine disappeared to the back. Alex waited until she was out of earshot to speak.
“Thanks for trying, Pete.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Peter said. “I shouldn’t have spoken up. That was wrong of me to second guess Christine. She’s right. It’s Friday night, and we’re already short-staffed.”
“True…” Molly said. “But the fact that you’re looking out for me, it means a lot.” Molly smiled. “Besides, it is finally starting to slow down in here. But…it’s fine.”
Peter shrugged. “I’m going to recover the shelves.” He wandered off into the abyss known as the drama section.
“Well, there go our dinner plans,” Alex said. Defeated.
“Oh...” Molly said. “Yeah. I mean…”
“Well, I mean…” Alex said back. They both stood silently, waiting for the other to say something. Alex finally went first.
“…we could still go, I guess. It’s just…”
“…yeah. But it would be late.”
“Right.” Alex nodded quickly.
“I would hate to make you…wait,” Molly said. “You’ve been so nice already. You’re such a good friend.”
She didn’t say the last word any differently. But that’s the word Alex heard the loudest. The f-word is basically a cuss word when it’s used in a sentence by your crush. Even though they had never gone on a single date, vocalizing the f-word out loud is a low blow.
Alex nodded. “Sure. I’m just…I want to be here for you. I know it’s been a really emotional week for you.”
Molly looked down. Tears started to return, but she stopped them before they could. She shook her head and pushed them back in. A customer came up to check out just in time to rescue her from another breakdown. Alex looked at Molly’s preoccupied stage and stepped up to a register to help.
“I can get you on this computer right here, sir.”
“Do you work here?” the customer asked, staring at his ragged hoodie of an outfit.
“I do!” Alex said. “I’m just technically off duty right now. But I love it so much that I even come and work here for free on my days off. That’s the magic of Movie Madness!” The customer cracked up. “Have you checked out our movie sale, by the way?” Alex pointed to the table behind him. The customer turned around and began to examine the stacks of used DVDs behind him. This was too easy.
“Wait. Do I still get commission for this even if I’m not on duty? How’s that work?” Alex looked over at Molly, who was too distracted to hear him.
She quickly wiped away a tear and headed toward the staff restroom in the back to get cleaned up. It was one of the few times in her life that she couldn’t control her emotions. Something she usually took great pride in. Her current state of emotional helplessness just added to the pain and insecurity.
Her family had always taught her that a proper lady stayed composed, even if they are hurt. Save the pain for behind closed doors. That’s what her mom always said. Of course, her mom learned that in her own version of cotillion class as a kid. Just like Molly did herself a few years earlier.
So now, she didn’t just feel broken for losing her friend. But she also felt incompetent that she wasn’t strong enough to keep her head up. And scared for the mystery of it all. She looked in the mirror and let out a deep breath. Checked her phone. 8:17. Just push through a little longer. As she made her way back to the front of the store, she heard Christine raising her voice. What was wrong?
“No!” Christine yelled at Alex. Peter stood between them, trying his best to diffuse the situation. “It’s completely inappropriate. If you ever check out a customer again when you are off duty, you are gone.”
“I’m sorry, Christine.” Alex had his hands in surrender. “Peter was on the floor and Molly was just…she…it’s been a really hard day for her.”
“I don’t care.” Christine barked back. “There are standards, Alex. You can’t just play by your own rules. This town doesn’t revolve around you and what you want.”
“This is my fault,” Peter said. Taking the blame as usual. “I’m the shift manager. This is on me. Alex was trying to help.”
Christine glared at Peter again. “Don’t stand up for him. You weren’t even up here. Don’t take the blame.”
“Please…” Molly said. “Please, Christine. Alex was just trying to help. I kind of lost it for a moment. I’ve just been really shaken up with everything that happened with Amy and he just manned the register for a minute…”
She grunted at this. “Okay. Everyone listen up. I know it’s been a hard week. I get that. But that’s no excuse for us to lose our heads here. I don’t want to hear anything more about this Amy girl. I’m tired of it. That’s all I’ve heard all day.” Arms crossed. “Got it?”
Then silence.
The three sheepishly nodded. Did she really just say that?
Alex was about ready to walk out and call it quits. But he loved this job. And didn’t want to do anything to disrupt it, even if Christine’s lack of sensitivity had reached an all-time high. Or was it an all-time low? Either way, it was bad.
Christine let out a long sigh of frustration. Then put her head in her hand. “Peter, how many customers are in the store right now?”
“Three. I think.” Peter said. “
It’s starting to slow down.” Christine stared at him. Then at Molly.
“Okay.” She put her hands on her hips. “Listen. I’m sorry, Molly. I wasn’t trying to be…I’m just tired. I shouldn’t have said that about Amy. I know it’s been hard for you and hard for all of us. I’m sorry for saying that.” She stared at Molly for a second. “I think I’m just a little worn out. It’s been a long few weeks. Let’s just keep our composure and get through the holidays. You can take off.”
Molly nodded, relieved.
“Alex.” Christine continued. “Just don’t get more involved in situations than you need to be in. Deal?” He confirmed.
Christine abruptly disappeared to the back again. The three looked at each other, speechless. Peter finally smiled and then he made his way to the return box.
Molly and Alex stared at each other. “So…” Alex asked. “Got any dinner plans?”
6
Dinner ‘Date’?
Friday, December 17 - 8:31 P.M.
Alex peaked over his dinner menu to steal a gaze at Molly. Even in her Movie Madness shirt, she was beautiful. Her red hair always looked stunning. He tried to stay subtle, but she looked up and caught him staring. They both looked away.
Even though Bruno’s offered free food to both him and Molly, it was still a bit intimate for a first…hangout time together. Dim lighting. Candle in the middle. And at this time of night, just a handful of other customers in the restaurant. One of the few nicer places left in Pecos, most of the other formal establishments had closed down after the economy tanked.