Modern Darling

12

"I am sorry but you can't return the books they're final sale." The old woman looks up at Tabitha through what seems like six layers of mascara.

"I understand that now, but there are no signs saying as such next to the books." Tabitha has enough sense to know that it's true, and if it was up to her she would have done the refund fifteen minutes ago and sent the customer on her merry way. That's just not life though is it? The new assistant store manager was shooting daggers at her from the other side of the store. Apparently the rate of returns had increased at an unprecedented rate and the store was losing more money than they could afford. Thus, a crackdown on policies.

"I bought it for my grandson." She repeats for the sixteenth time. "He already has it."

"I understand that and I apologize. Surely there is someone else you can give it to?"

"My husband is dead."

Tabitha takes a deep breath. "I apologize." They're having a standoff when Tabitha's work phone begins to ring. "I have to take this." Tabitha takes one more look at the old woman whose gaze isn't budging. "Just do it Sadia." She tells her walking away in defeat.

"Tabitha," she answers.

"It's Andrew." Tabitha's throat thickens. "Can you meet me by the dairy bunkers?"

"Sure, shouldn't you be on cash thou-" The line goes dead.

Tabitha walks up to the bunkers and see's Andrew re-organizing the ice cream bars. He's told her previously he thinks they should go by flavour and not by brand. Tabitha had told him they didn't pay her enough to care.

This was the first time they were seeing each other since the night at her place. Tabitha was trying not to over think it but she swore her brain was hardwired for romance. Still sex and love were two very disconnected concepts in her head. There was still time to repress the sounds of his moans and how his fingers felt inside her if that's what he wanted. She was more interested in the way he had made her feel when they weren't having sex anyways.

"Andy?" She calls making her presence known. He looks up at her and smiles his signature toothy smile. Heat rises to Tabitha's cheeks. She couldn't help but admit things were different. Things are always different after you see someone naked.

"Tabby, hi."

"Hi."

"Hi." Awkward silence.

"You better have a good reason for not being on cash, the line is stretching into the bakery section."

"Oh I do. I have a proposal for you and let's be honest, the front end workers are the nosiest people in the store. Had to be said at a time I was sure they weren't around." That was sound Andy logic she supposed.

"What's the proposal?"

"Well I'm thinking I have the answer to your roommate problem." Tabitha crosses her arms waiting for him to continue.

"Me."

Her eyes go wide. "Excuse me?!"

"I mean moving in with a stranger in this city has like a 20% success rate, besides I'm clean and I'm nice." He winks, Tabitha was trying to piece her thoughts together.

Had the sex been that good or that bad?

"Look I'm kind of in a tough spot. I was living with my brother and he just found out his fiancée is pregnant. They're freaking out and totally resenting having me there. You'd really be helping me out." Tabitha didn't know Andy had a brother, suddenly her brain was filled with all the blank spots of all the things she didn't know about him.

She considered his proposal. He was right, of all the people to live with he didn't seem like a bad choice. He was thoughtful and he had cleaned the water glass he used before leaving her apartment. Besides, they had already had sex, now they could go full into a friendship with no possibility of awkward sexual tension.

"We can't yanno- again." Tabitha tells him in a hushed voice. "Strictly friends."

Andrew's eyes go through several different emotions before he nods and offers his hand.

"Shake on it." Tabitha rolls her eyes.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Cause that's silly. Now go back to your cash" She demands. He juts out his bottom lip as if that'll sway her. "You had ten seconds before I start paging for you."

"Oh come on don't roomies get special privileges?"

"FIVE"

"Alright boss, I'm going."

Night time again. Tabitha pours herself a large glass of wine and sways her hips lazily to Harry Styles debut album. Andrew and her agreed to him moving in tomorrow which makes this the last night she can dance naked in the kitchen to radio hits.

So that's precisely what she's doing.

Her nipples are pinched, since she decided to blast the AC a rarity she never allows herself to enjoy on the chance of a higher power bill. She sings loudly, her words beginning to sink together and her glass empties.

Boom. boom. Boom.

Tabitha cringes at the loud banging coming from her bedroom. She stumbles to lower the volume enough to hear Eric's grumbling voice through the wall.

"Neighbour? Do you have any idea what time it is? I swear just when I thought you were becoming bearable to share this wall with you go an-"

"Aright." Tabitha decides not to let him steam out the rest of his sentiment. "Alright sorry. I was celebrating or mourning? I'm not sure now." She laughs to herself. "I am am too much."

"You also sound drunk." Eric responds. Tabitha scoffs, leaning herself against her white desk.

"Oh how I missed your judgemental tones Eric."

"Well I certainly didn't miss you." Tabitha can't tell if she believes him or not.

"Cool. Didn't ask." Tabitha turns her music back up and begins to sing. Guess Eric was back to being unbearable.

"I am happy you finally got laid though, after our conversation the other day I was worried I was going to wind up being the person who found your dead body in thirty years after the cats scratched a whole through the wall."

She chooses to ignore the fact that as suspected, he had heard her night with Andrew. "'That's certainly a creative scenario." She replies attempting a triple pirouette. She knocks over a scented ocean candle and the glass shatters around her. Tabitha stares at the twinkling pieces for a moment and laughs. "Ah fuck."

"What was that?" The wall asks. Tabitha ignores him. She focuses on finding a dustpan to sweep up the damage. Darting into the kitchen she slides over mitts over her feet just to be safe. Eric continues to call for her, and she continues to ignore him.

"Don't you have anything better to do!" She shouts after what feels like the fifth minute of him calling out for her. In actuality it was probably only one. There's silence from his end and Tabitha takes a sigh of relief sweeping the rest of the less into the dust pan before she can be too sad about damage.

"I just dropped the candle my Mother made me for Christmas." She confesses, she's unsure if she'd like a reply but she knows she's disappointed when there's none.