PENNY LANE JACKSON , the pessimist and realist, has worked at her parent's record store, Iris, for as long as she can remember. Now at the age of 21, and with two dead parents, she owns the store herself. Everyday is the same, filled with limited cu...
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OUT OF THE many, many things Penny hated, one of the things she despised the most were people who could not pick up on social cues. There were many of these social cues that could just be considered common knowledge; when someone is not looking in your eye while you are talking, they are uncomfortable. If someone rolls their eyes, they are annoyed. And Penny's personal favorite, if someone is rhythmically banging their head against a counter, they simply want you to go away. If all of these were considered common knowledge, Penny seriously wondered why the woman standing in front of her would not leave her store.
"...and you see, dear, if I got him a more older, classic vinyl, he may think I consider him old." The forty year old woman exasperated, throwing her hands in the air. "But if I get him something more modern, he is going to think that I think he has no good music taste!"
Penny slouched even more in her chair behind the counter ( if it was even possible), and looked blankly at the woman. "Oh no."
"I know! I swear the man should've just taken up my offer on a nice night in the city. Our own hotel suite, laying by the pool; Its like I lost all this weight for nothing!"
Penny dropped her gaze for a moment to look at the lady's appearance; in her opinion, from the "pre-weight loss" photos she saw just five minutes before, she still looked the exact same.
"So, what do you think, dear?" The woman leaned against the counter. "Do you have any ideas on what I should do?"
Proper manners were something Penny's parents had educated her in very immensely when it came to the store, but as Penny sat there, looking blankly at the woman who did not have any social experience and who must be blind when looking in the mirror, she couldn't help but speak her thoughts.
"I think you should get out of my store."
The woman paused, and blinked. "Excuse me?"
Penny waved her hand to her left, towards the door. "You are excused."
The woman, her facing looking as crimson as a ripe peach, gave Penny a reprimanding look. "People these days have no manners! It's shameful."
Penny raised an eyebrow. "It's shameful how you don't pick up simple social cues to leave. So I had to say it to your face."
It is safe to say that the woman didn't stay long after that statement.
Sighing, Penny rested her head on the palm of her hand, her blonde curls brushing the counter. She didn't usually let customers get to her like that; in fact, she never spoke to them. Penny liked to keep to herself, but when that lady opened her mouth, she had the insults on the ready. She liked to believe she wasn't easily irritated (even though she was), but today just wasn't her day.
It all started when she woke up twenty minutes late this morning, already throwing her off her schedule; this lead to her being unable to take her morning shower. Next, she spilt coffee all over her brand new white shirt, causing her to have to clean up that mess then also having to change, which put her ten more minutes off schedule. And let's not forget that when Penny left for work, walking her usual route, she tripped over her neighbor's dog.
Yes, a dog.
After all those instances, it was very safe to say that Penny Lane Jackson was not having the best of days. Especially after having to deal with a complaining, talkative, fake-tanned woman.
So, when the sound of a crash echoed throughout the store, followed by a loud "Fuck!", this could only add to Penny's frustrations.
The few customers lingering in the store gave an odd look to the back far right corner, and started to swiftly moving away. Groaning, Penny hopped off the stool, stomping towards the corner. This day couldn't get worse, could it?
"I swear, if one more fucking thing happens today," Penny ran her fingers through her hair, while turning a corner. "I might kill someone."
"I don't think killing is the solution." An unfamiliar voice chirped in. "Plus I'm young, and I have a life to live, you know?"
Penny stopped in her tracks, and rose her eyes to meet deep chocolate orbs. Standing a couple yards in front of her, was a young man, a very attractive young man, who had his hands raised in the air. Her eyes would've lingered on his perfectly sculpted face if she hadn't caught sight of the boxes of vinyls spilt on the floor. But even that wasn't what set her off her rocker; it was the couple of vinyls peaking out of his beaten, old brown bag, that was zipped halfway. But certainly not far enough to hide them from her sight.
She put on her best glare, and crossed her arms, making her five foot stature seem as intimidating as the Himalayan Mountains to a mountain climber.
The man gulped, and shot a nervous look towards her rapid tapping foot. He put a sheepish grin on his face, his cheeks a soft pink. "I can explain?"
"Yes,"Penny thought to herself. "This day could get worse."
