It was Karlie’s lunch break the next day, and once again, there was Taylor. Sean had healed and was back to work, but said he didn’t feel well enough to go out on his rounds, and so he was only in the factory working the machines that processed the milk.
Karlie did not stay in the storage room anymore, wanted to avoid any possible confrontation with Taylor.
Sean and Karlie were sitting behind the counter as Taylor continually tried to speak to Karlie. She got no response, as Sean looked at Karlie curiously.
“What’s wrong?” he mouthed.
“I’ll tell you later,” said Karlie quietly.
Taylor gave up after a few minutes, and everyone in the store was watching the scene in amazement.
Never before had Karlie been so rude.
“I’ll be back!” Taylor huffed, as she turned away and headed out the door.
A small part of Karlie died and she finally looked up again; just a moment too late – as usual.
“What’s up with you?” asked Sean.
“Nothing, I just don’t want to talk to her. That’s it.”
No, that’s not it, that’s not it at all.
Sean looked at Karlie for a moment, expression confused, then finally made up his mind.
“Oh, okay,” he said, smiling, “so the other day –
The boy never noticed anything much, really.
---------------
The phase continued for several days, until Karlie did not know how much longer she could resist the urge to be dragged away by Taylor, helpless; and so she locked herself in the storage room, again – but this time, there was actually a lock on the door, so that no one could let her out except herself.
She even locked Sean out, wanted to be alone, and Sean didn’t want to be in the room anyway – he only wanted to rant and blab to whoever would listen.
Taylor continued to return to the store, standing at the door for several days, and then finally realizing there was a better way to know what she wanted to.
“Sean,” she called one day as she entered the store.
“Oh, uh, hi Taylor,” said Sean, as he looked up from behind the counter.
“Karlie’s still in the –
“Oh, I wanted to talk to you, Sean, if you’re not busy.”
She was smiling.
“S-sure!” stammered Sean.
----------------
They were sitting behind the counter now, talking about anything and everything Taylor wanted to know.
“Tell me about Karlie, please,” said Taylor.
“Oh, Karlie! She’s an interesting one. Haha!”
Sean looked to Taylor for her reaction.
Oh, so he’s one of those people. I need to react every 5 seconds for him to keep talking.
She forced a weak chuckle.
Sean looked satisfied enough, and smiled brightly.
“Okay! Well, she wasn’t born here, ya know, she was born in New York, I think –
