Chasing Prom Queen

Chapter 1

  

Holly's POV

"Holly, can you go help Kyla tidy up the stock room, she's been out there way to long." Steve, my supervisor, orders as he walks past the aisle I was re-stocking. Probably on his wat to bark orders at another employee.

"Okay." I say, putting the last of the tins on the shelf. I'm half-way through a six-hour shift in the grocery store I work part-time in. For the last two years I've been working in my local store being the general dogs-body. Filling the shelfs and keeping the stock room and shop floor tidy, as well as occasionally severing on the tills. It's not a fantastic job but at eighteen and still in my senior year of high school it helps me out.

Collecting all the plastic wrap up I head to the backroom. Putting all the rubbish in the correct bins – cause, god forbid, a stray piece of plastic the size of my pinkie nail gets put in the cardboard bin – I make my way deeper into the stock room and there I see the sight that makes this crappy job worthwhile. The golden yellow hair of Kyla swings in its simple ponytail. The gap between her lime green polo and jeans increases as she stretches on tip-toes to reach the items on the back of the shelf. Muffled swearing comes from her as she struggles to pull items forward. She's amazing.

I quietly make my way to her as she finishes pulling everything forward. As she lands back on her feet I wrap my arms around her middle, placing my head on her shoulder.

"Jesus, you scared me." She jumps before settling into my hug. "Not that I'm complaining but what brings you out here?" she says moving a hand to caress my head.

Submerging myself in her perfume, I place a few light kisses on her neck, earning me a soft moan. "Steve sent me to help you, apparently you're taking too long out here." I say releasing her, ready to reluctantly get back to work. I probably would have kept the job had Kyra not started the week after me, even with drill sergeant Steve. Actually, no I wouldn't have, there is no doubt in my mind that she is what keeps me coming back. Got to love the perks of working with your girlfriend.

"Ughh. It wouldn't have taken so long if I didn't have to pull everything forward. The number of items that have been shoved to the back is ridiculous. I feel like my shoulder is going to pop out of its socket." She grumbles.

Messaging her shoulders, I ask. "Where do you want me, my love?"

She gives me a saucy grin and an eyebrow wiggle before explaining what she's done so far and where she wants me to help. We settle into working along side each other just like we have for the past two years. It's not the most glamorous of jobs and the pay is pitiful. But this dank dusty store room will forever be one of my favourite places in the world, it was in here that I fell in love with the blonde beauty next to me.

We'd gone to school together ever since I'd moved to America seven years ago. My first ten years spent in my Mothers country Wales, before we moved back to my Fathers home land America.

When we first started working together we were very different people. Although we were in the same year in school we'd never spoken to each other before that first shift. Kyla is the typical high society popular kid crowd whereas I'm in the invisible middle ground of the school social structure. At least that's what my friends tell me, I don't play into all that popularity rubbish. I do my best at school and I have my mates, while also enjoying a secret romance on the side. We were like two planets circling the sun, each on their own path. Thankfully something happened to bring us together. That something being a low-market locally owned grocery store, that needed cheap labour.

We've spent a lot of time working along side each other out here, it was slow going, first building a friendship. Something I never thought would happen when she first arrived.

It was my second week on the job, only my fourth shift when Janey the college student called to me.

"Holly, we got a new girl starting today." And around the corner comes the last person I would expect to see working in a shit hole like this. "Holly this is Kyra, you two are about the same age." She introduced us.

"Yeah, we're in school together." I blurt out.

Kyra pauses, it was obvious she was about to say hello and now I've said that she's trying to think if she's seen me around in school.

Janey didn't pick up on the awkwardness or else just didn't care. "Okay, great so you know each other. Holly started with us last week so she can show you what you need to do." And just like that I was stuck training her in how to put stock on the shelves because that was all I'd been told how to do.

It was the second shift before I got her to crack a smile at something I said, making me think there was more to this girl than at face value. Then after a few months, more.

It started with fingers brushing, then touching arms when talking to each other, eventually the tension built until we had our first kiss just a few metres from were we are currently. A year and a half later things have progressed a lot further than that first tentative kiss.

While we're madly in love, as far as the rest of the world knows we are still those two planets constantly circling but never destined to meet. The only people that know we are even friends are my parents. In front of everyone else we keep up the expected charade. Making this stock room our private oasis.

"You coming over mine tonight? My parents were talking about going to see a movie tonight so I've got the place to myself for a while." I ask after a while of working in silence. My room had become our regular meeting place, while the stock room gave us the time to get to know each other it's not exactly the right place to make-out. Sleep-overs offered the perfect cover.

"Ohh, I really wish I could. My Mom said this morning that we would talk through ideas for my prom queen campaign when I get home from work. If I get done early enough I'll call you, okay?"

"Still plan on running for that then?" I scoff. She's been talking about being prom queen for as long as I've known her. While I've never been bothered about actually going. Besides it's not like I could openly go with my girlfriend. No, we'll both be going separate, more than likely with our own friendship groups. Only about a month left of high school to go at least.

"Of course. You know I've been waiting for this moment for as long as I can remember."

"Don't I know it." Ow. My tone got me an elbow in the ribs. "Sorry, I guess I still can't see the reason everyone gets crazy about prom. It must be the Welsh in me but, everyone's reaction just seems silly." I shrug. Seriously I just don't understand the fascination. People go crazy for what is essentially an over-priced disco in formal wear. I'm not going to lie I do have a dress lined up but I'm still in two minds whether to go. Wanting to see Kyla all dressed up and in her element being the main reason I think I will check it out.

"You know your half American as well, this should be in your blood."

"My Mum says my Welshness counteracts the American in me." I say childishly to get a chuckle.

She laughs, rewarding me for my effort. I love making her laugh. "I love your Mum." She says shaking her head at the craziness that is my mother.

"Sometimes I think you love her more than me." I fake pout.

Kyla puts down the boxes she was organising and wraps me up in a hug, placing a toe-curling kiss on me. "Never," she whispers huskily. "I much prefer her gorgeous daughter." She places a kiss on my cheek. "The one who taught me how to cwtch." She kisses my other cheek.

"I love when you use Welsh words." I breath. Really, I love hearing say anything.

"And I love you." She says before dipping in for another kiss.