Fighting For You

TWO

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Harlow | Phoenix | Other people

"Hello?"

"What took you so long to answer?"

"It's one-thirty in the morning. I was asleep like you should be."

"I can't. It'll take me a least another two hours to fall asleep after shift."

"I'm not about to talk to you for another to hours Phoenix."

"You know a lot of people don't have the privilege to call me that."

"To call you by your birth name?"

"Yeah."

"So what does your parents call you?"

"Well my Aunt Justine raised me and she would always call me Nicky which is reserved only for her and my little cousin Dylan."

"Got it."

"What about you? Is it just Harlow or do you have a secret nickname?"

"It's just Harlow. I'm not cool enough to have a nickname."

"We usually go by last names but I'll think of something nice for you."

"No need."

"So what do you do that has you needing a full eight hours of rest?"

"I work in my cousin's beauty shop."

"Like selling hair stuff?"

"That too. Kind of like Sephora."

"What is that?"

"They sell mostly makeup but they have other things too. You know like hair dryers, curlers, flat irons, and stuff like that."

"Oh okay. I got it . . . Do you wear makeup Harlow?"

"Why?"

"I'm just trying to get a visual of what you look like."

"I don't wear makeup no but if I did your opinion wouldn't matter."

"Why are you getting so defensive? I was just asking a question."

"Because everyone always feels the need to express that people shouldn't cake their face with makeup, especially guys as if their opinion matters. I don't wake up in the morning to -"

"Slow down Smalls and take a breath . . . I personally don't care if you wear makeup or not. I doubt that I'll ever meet you in person so you're right, my opinion doesn't matter."

"You're right, sorry."

"I guess you're one of those people who really need eight hours of sleep."

"More like ten but yes."

"Guess I can't talk you into joining the military then, huh?"

"I'm good where I'm at thanks. I don't think being screamed at while I stand at attention would go over well."

"It's all about making you a man or in your case a woman."

"I think life it making me an adult just fine."

"I'm sure you're killing it as an adult. I wouldn't want you to go through what I'm going through. Deployment sucks dirty toenails."

"You're deployed? Where?"

"That my lady is government information that I cannot disclose."

"Seriously?"

"Like a heart attack but you should get some sleep we've been on the phone for awhile now and it's almost three in the morning for you. Goodnight Harlow."

"Goodnight Phoenix"

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Tossing the Styrofoam cup in the trash I rubbed my eyes regretting every unnecessary minute I spent on the phone with Phoenix. I mean it was nice to have a conversation with someone other than the customers I faked smiled for or Brianna but I needed my sleep.

Putting my bags away after clocking in I fixed my curls in the mirror when Brianna walked in.

"Hey girl."

"Hey Brianna."

"You look exhausted. Didn't sleep well last night?" She asked leaning against the wall.

"I was just on the phone longer than I thought."

Brianna walked over and grabbed me by the shoulders. "Who were you talking to that has you looking like a zombie? How long were you two talking? Was it like late night phone sex?"

"His name is Nick."

"Oh a guy!" She bounced clapping her hands. "Tell me everything! When did you meet him?"

"I haven't met him."

Brianna looked at me confused. "What?"

"We've never met. It's a long story and the store is about to open so I'll tell you over lunch."

She pointed a finger at me walking over to the coffee machine. "You better."

Grabbing my name badge I pinned it on my black uniform shirt and walked out front unlocking the store's doors. Taking my place behind the register with two other cashiers, Jenna and Becca, I counted the money putting it into the register just as the first few customers arrived.

Going through the motions I smiled at each person asking if they found everything okay and if they wanted to join the Glamour team that would earn them forty percent off their purchase today.

Throughout the shift my mind kept going back to Phoenix and our phone call last night. He was actually deployed. I wondered where he was in the world since he couldn't tell me. Maybe I could look up the area code during lunch to give me some kind of idea.

 Saying goodbye to a customer a dark skinned girl around my age with pretty short hair walked up to the register setting down a bottle of shampoo and conditioner.

"Did you find everything okay?"

"Um, yeah. I did." She smiled.

"Timara, hold on." We both looked back to an older woman that looked a lot like her. She walked over with a black tube of lipstick. "You should get this honey it would look really pretty with your skin tone."

"Mom, I don't really wear lipstick and I don't go out to wear it anyways."

"Well maybe you should." The woman looked at me then my name badge. "Harlow. That's a pretty name."

"Thank you."

"Harlow my daughter would like to be friends with you -"

"Mom!"

"How about lunch tomorrow?" She continued not caring about her daughter's protests.

"Mom, please stop."

The woman looked at her daughter lowering her voice. "You need to get out of the room and make some friends." She looked back at me. "So what do you say? My daughter would like to be your friends and you seem like a nice girl."

"Um, thank you. Sure." I looked at Timara. "Lunch tomorrow sounds nice."

Timara gave a embarrassed smile. "Great."

"Great!" Her mother smiled wholeheartedly for her.

This was going to be awkward.

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