Opposites Attract - Rhea Ripley

Chapter 5 - First Day on the Job.

1 Week Later....

Waking up at 7am... It had been a while since I had done that, but I guess I needed to. First day of my new job. It was supposed to be temporary until Christmas, but who was I to complain? The pay was minimum wage but at least it'd get me into a good sleep schedule. I was working at a retail store, in the middle of town, so I knew it'd be busy, especially because September was the time that most tourists came here. I quickly got ready, had breakfast and my dad offered to drop me off and pick me up at 5pm.

We arrived at 8:45am so I had 15 minutes to myself, I said my goodbyes to my dad and got out. I really didn't want to spend free time the other employees, but I had to. They all seemed nice enough though, and we all had the same goal in mind: to make money. It was already pretty busy outside, and I could see the tourists milling about, taking pictures of the storefronts and the statues that dotted the sidewalk.

In the staff room, I scrolled through my phone. My mind kept wondering to Demi, the way she and I were so close at the nightclub, just seconds away from kissing. It was the first time I'd felt so crazy about someone, and I wasn't sure if it was because of the alcohol or if it was really how I felt.

I snapped out of my thoughts when someone tapped my shoulder. "You okay?" asked Jackie, the woman who'd given me the shop tour earlier.

"Yeah, I'm good, thanks." I replied, trying to sound more convincing.

"I know you may feel a little nervous, it is your first day after all, but you'll fit in just fine. We all had our first days at some point, right? I mean mine was a long, long time ago, but still." Jackie and I chuckled. I couldn't help but feel a little more at ease. She was right, I guess. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Right everyone, time to clock in and start!" Jackie stood up, followed by everyone else. I just followed the group of them, feeling a little nervous but also excited. It was going to be a long day, but I was determined to make the most of it.

I scanned my work badge on the register and began unpacking my things, making sure to put everything in its place. The store was already bustling with activity, and the tourists seemed to be everywhere, their voices a cacophony of languages I couldn't quite identify. I felt a sense of camaraderie with my co-workers, all of us working together to make the day go smoothly.

Within minutes, a young couple in their 20s came over, with their stuffed backpacks and map in hand. They seemed a bit lost, so I offered to help them find what they were looking for. As it turned out, they were on a backpacking trip across the country, and had heard about our store from a friend. They were interested in buying some hiking gear for the mountains that stood about 30 minutes from the store, but didn't know much about it.

Luckily, Jackie had shown me around well enough so I led them to the hiking section without any trouble. As we browsed through the various equipment, they seemed really interested in the lightweight backpacks and waterproof tents. I explained the features of each item, making sure to emphasize the durability and quality of our products. They seemed particularly drawn to a bright blue tent that was on sale, and after some back and forth, they decided to buy it, saying their thanks to me.

My job was to walk around, help customers and make sure the shop was clean. The tourists kept coming in, some asking for directions, others looking for souvenirs. One family in particular caught my eye: a mother, a father, and a little girl, who couldn't have been more than five years old. The little girl had a bright smile on her face and seemed to be fascinated by everything around her. Her parents, on the other hand, looked a bit exhausted from all the traveling.

I offered to help them find what they were looking for and they told me they were interested in some postcards and magnets. As we browsed through the various displays, the little girl kept pointing at different things, asking questions about them in her cute, little voice. Her parents would smile and answer her, but I could tell they were still tired.