Spiced Apple Toddy ~ Karl Jacobs x Candle Girl

IV

A/N

The beginning is just kind of a lot of fluff to show how awesome Clara is because I made the realization that she hasn't been cool enough yet. Sorry, not sorry.

*******

Soon enough, I'm onto the next day, back at that stupid Bath and Body Works. Don't get me wrong, my job could be a lot worse, I just don't like people enough to work in customer service. Well I like Karl, of course, but he's not every customer.

I get the usual, a lot of teenage girls, most of whom seem to think they're better than me. There's also a lot of young moms who either drag along their significant other or their poor little children who do nothing but complain the whole time. 

Then you get the really sweet old women who are just there to buy presents for their grandchildren or getting candles (I bet their houses smell amazing). And last, and certainly least, you have the old men who try to get their hands on you and/or relentlessly flirt with you.

This morning was one where I experienced one of the last kind.

This man came in who appeared to be about 60 to 65. Now I hate to assume things based off only past experiences with different people, but being a woman and all, my brain is kind of hard-wired to be cautious around any and all older men. 

So he comes into the store. Regardless of the fact that I don't want to help him just based off of his vibes, I still have to go up to him because it's my job and there's no other customers in the store right now.

I go up to the man and say, "would you like any help with finding anything today?"

The second he turns my way to answer the question I knew I made a mistake coming over here. He looks me up and down in one swift motion. "I'd take help from you any time, sweetheart."

Though I've been in these kinds of situations, I still never know what to say to these kinds of people. Instead of standing up for myself, I just give him a little smile under my mask and say, "what can I help you with, sir?"

He looks surprised, like he wouldn't make it this far. I'm surprised I let him, so there's not much I can blame him for being surprised for. 

I know I have to get the message out to Clara or one of my other co-workers that I'm distressed but I don't really know how. 

"Well the kind of help I'd like from you would be hard to achieve right here," the man said winking at me and reaching towards my arm. 

My eyes widen and I go into full panic mode. How do you respond to that? I've had my fair share of creepy customers, but none have ever been that blunt or intimidating. 

(A/N I'm listening to music right now and Heat Waves just came on, pog.)

I look around to see if I can catch the eye of a co-worker, any of them. Instead what I see is Clara just walking straight out the front door. What. The. Fuck.

There's no way she's just oblivious to my situation, and she just walks out?! What a friend she was. 

I managed to catch the eye of one of the older ladies who works here, and give her the eyes that say without words 'I need help'.

She gets the message immediately and starts walking over and says, "Oh sweetheart, I think you need to restock the shelves over there," she makes a broad gesture over to the far wall, "I'll take over with this lovely gentleman for you."

Thank the Lord for that sweet lady. You know what, fuck Clara. All she does is watch me and my customers every spare second she has so it's virtually impossible she didn't see what was happening, and yet she just walks out when I'm in distress.