Love Lost

tHiRtEen

Harold was organizing records at the register of the local independently owned retro music store before closing when his cellphone rang.  The ringer on his phone overshadowed the ding of the store doors opening. 

"Hi, Leshawna," said the redheaded nerd.  He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. 

"Hey, Harold-baby!  What time are you comin' to hang tonight?"

Harold held the phone between his ear and shoulder, continuing to organize the records.  The sooner he got it done, the sooner he could close, and the sooner he could close, the sooner he could see his bootylicious queen.  "Should be sometime past eight.  I'm just closing up-" he saw a flash of short dark brown hair.  "-gotta deal with this customer and then I should be good."

"Alright, sugar!  See ya then!"

Harold slipped the phone back into his pocket and called out to the latecomer.  "Hey, we're closing soon, so if there's anything I can help you with, it'd have to be now."

The brunette approached the register as Harold continued to pile the records.  "Hey, Harold."

He looked up and did a double take.  "Sierra?  You changed your hair!  What are you doing here?"

"Oh, you know how girls like to change things up when the going gets rough." Sierra flipped her shoulder length hair.  She let out her typical awkward sigh chuckle.  "I remembered you worked here, so I thought I'd drop by..."

Harold laughed nervously.  "Yeah well, I'm sorry about Cody."

"Me too." Sierra looked down at the floor.

"Hey, so some of the gang is hanging out tonight.  Would you want to join?" Harold asked, feeling bad for the stalker chick.

"Oh, I don't want to intrude.  I doubt they'd want me there anyways."  Sierra fiddled with her hair. 

"Come on, it'll be cool.  No one will care." Harold insisted.  I'm just not gonna tell Leshawna until she's already there and it's too late to turn her away. 

Sierra smiled.  "Okay, I'll come."