Stepping Into The Light (Hidden Under Darkness Sequel)

Chapter 8

**Fairlight’s POV**

“Can I sit here?”

I look up at Simon in disbelief. This is just like our first meeting.

“Uh,” I say.

“Thanks,” he smiles, sitting down.

“I’ve got to go,” I tell him, standing up. He leaps to his feet too.

“Wait, can I have your number?” he asks.

“Uh, no,” I say, “I have to go.”

“Wait,” he says, “if I can make this sugar packet disappear, will you give me your number?”

I give him a look of disbelief which he takes as consent and he does some weird hand thing and makes it slide up his sleeve in a way he must think is sly.

“Number?” he grins.

“How about this,” I say, “if I can guess your name and age, you leave me alone.”

He laughs.

“Deal,” he smirks, “and if you can’t then you have to go on a date with me.”

“Deal,” I agree, holding out my hand. He shakes it, smirking. I press my fingers to his forehead and close my eyes, counting slowly to ten. Then I open my eyes.

“Your name is Simon Thomas and you’re twenty-seven,” I say. He looks astounded.

“How did you do that?” he exclaims.

“Magic,” I smirk, “goodbye.”

I walk back to work and, for the first time this month, my boss Josie is here. She’s standing at the counter reading a magazine and chewing gum. The height of classiness. I decide to change the window displays since there are no customers.

I take the dresses off the models and set them aside to be dry cleaned. I choose five new dresses and begin to redress them when the shop bell tinkles.

“I’ve got it,” Josie mutters, walking over to the customers. I hear her greet them and ask if they need help.

“I’ve got to get a dress for my daughter,” a woman’s voice says.

“I want it to be pink!” a little girl pipes up.

“Uh, righ’, hang on,” Josie says. She walks over to me and pokes her head around one of the mannequins.

“Oi, Fairlight, can you deal wiv these two?” she asks, “I can’t deal wiv kids.”

“Sure,” I shrug. I get up and walk out to the pair.

“How can I help?” I ask, trying to be friendly. The little girl is absorbed with some glittery shoes.

“My daughter needs a dress for a recital,” her mother says, “she’d like a pink dress.”

Luckily we get lots of kids coming in for recital dresses, so I know what they’re looking for. The first time someone came in looking for a recital dress I had no clue.

“There are some lovely dresses over this way which are very popular amongst the young girls,” I say, leading the woman over to the children’s section.

“Amy!” she calls, “look at these!”

The little girl runs over and her mouth falls open.

“Is there a princess dress?” she asks, searching the rack. I walk over to the window display and pick up one of the dresses I’d chosen.