Ghost Pepper

One step forward: 9

Carolyn was shocked by her confidence.

Thanks, you too xx

She re-read her message over and over, she couldn't believe she sent that. What was she thinking? Her mind was like a maze.

A ping and she jumped to her phone,

Hans liked your message

Her heart skipped a beat. He liked her message? Carolyn squealed in joy with a wide grin on her face. Flustered, she began enjoying her dinner while watching the Vampire Diaries. The thought of Hans and his drop dead looks clouding her mind.

Not only was he good looking but he was also a gentleman, what a catch. A man like that didn't exist and Carolyn knew something must've been wrong with him but she didn't dwell on that for long. What she dwelled on was the fact that Hans saw her living conditions, she wondered what he thought of her now.

The night passed by within a blink of an eye. The following morning Carolyn woke up feeling lighter. The usual heavy weight on her chest was no longer there, her body felt light as a feather not to mention her mind was not a land mine. The usual dull hues that greeted her were bright, warm and welcoming.

A small smile graced her lips as she did her usual morning routine. Before long she was out the house and on her way to work. She didn't feel like dread was clouding her mind as she headed to work, rather she felt excited for the day to come. Knowing tomorrow she had a date  with no other than Hans. Just the thought lightened her and made her heart skip a beat.

"Good morning, Carol, how are you?" Melissa greeted Carolyn.

"Good morning Mel, I'm alright and you?" Carol greeted her with a small smile.

Melissa was shocked at the friendliness she was greeted with.

"I'm good thanks, what's got you so chipper this morning? Not that I'm complaining." Melissa asked with a raised brow.

"Nothing, it's just a nice day," Carol tried to defend herself with a flustered look as she thought about Hans.

"If you say so, but I gotta say I like this side of you." Mel said with a wide smile.

The girls began opening the shop together. Before long the shop was open and customers began pouring in. Due to the sunny sky a lot of people were outside creating a lot of foot traffic in the shop.

Over all it was good for business, but it meant the workers were running around like headless chickens. Serving customers, changing clothes, selling items and so forth. By the time the shop was closed everyone was ready to drop dead, Carolyn's feet were aching and her back was sore.

"Wow what a rush," Melissa complained as she cracked her back.

"You can say that again," Carolyn said with a groan.

The shop looked like a hurricane had flown through. Clothes in the wrong racks, shoe racks everywhere, empty food cartons left unattended. The place was in shambles and the girls groaned at the work to be done. But they pulled up their socks and began cleaning the shop till it was speck and clean.

It was only around eleven thirty when everything was done and the girls began ordering their transports. This was the only time Carolyn had looked at her phone in over four hours. She had two missed calls and over six messages from Hans.

She couldn't conceal the shock and surprise on her face.

"Everything ok?" Mel asked her in concern.

"Uh yeah I'm ok." Carolyn said.

"Do you need a ride?" Mel asked her

"No I'm good thanks," she said politely.