Cassie Huwit

It begins the same as it ends.

My alarm blared through the covers of my bed that I was curled into. I slam down, reaching for my alarm to stop, only to take three attempts before finding the button for snooze.

My bed to warm too leave yet the thought of being late for my first day pulled me out just in time. Kitchen to bathroom to bedroom and back; in an hours time I was ready for work.

Morning traffic congested the roads like a sore throat. Men in ironed suits and woman in neat skirts all rushed to the overbearing office building that caged everyone in just outside my apartment.

A sign spinner, pushing elbows in peoples faces, got one sharp blow to the concrete like he didn't matter, I often feel in a big city like this that unless you are rich and famous, no one cares for you, you are looked over and pushed aside. Feeling terribly sorry for the man, I rushed over to help him by picking up his sign.

A big arrow with large font that says 'Erik's Toy Store' donned the cardboard sign, the poor man is dressed in a worn out teddy bear costume with bear ears glued to a headband. "Thanks"

He whispered it so quietly I could barely hear it above the honking and hollering from the cars to the left of me.

"No problem, have a nice day sir" Silence smiles faded as we went our separate ways.

The rest of the walk to Palmer's wasn't long being that it was almost 9am people begin to disappear into stores and offices, clearing up the streets.

I went through the back entrance to the store like Vanessa had shown me, she was in the office on the phone; spinning in the padded chair. Vanessa looked up and waved at me with a deep smile, the day feels like it'll be a good one.

I set my bag in my locker, just a hairbrush, touch up make-up, wallet, keys and my phone - nothing special. I can see Luke and Michael pulling boxes off the back of a large truck, and who I presume to be Winston working the forklift next to Luke.

Luke waved at me and I returned the gestured; smiling.

A loud bang makes me jump from my worn out sneakers.

A tall man slammed the lockers just a few feet away from me.

Sharp sleek dark brown hair neatly combed that falls gracefully across his left cheekbone, deep brown eyes with a stare that didn't meet mine. He is much taller than the lockers, wearing the Palmer's uniform of cargo pants and a tight black tee that clings to him in all the right places. His biceps seep from under his short sleeve, veins and tattoos make different shapes and colors across his olive skin.

No wedding ring.

His belt has wrinkles marring the surface. His shoes are dress shoes and shined, way too shiny to be working with dusty boxes. The reflective of the harsh fluorescent lights shimmer off his sliver necklace and the sound of them hitting against itself when he walks.

The insanely attractive man walks my way and slams right into my left shoulder. Damn near pushes me to the ground. Asshole.

He walks by me like I'm nothing, not even human. Dickface.

He just walks over to a stack of boxes, cuts open the tape with his retractable box cutters, and starts organizing the contents inside to where they go in the store.

Well I guess that's Sam, can't wait to work alongside him. Not.

I moved to help the boys open pallets of boxes that are all taped together and start doing what Sam is, organizing the contents to be put on trolleys to stack the shelves inside the store. After Winston helps us get all six of the pallets of the truck, Sam and I moved onto our second pallet and the boys began dragging the trolley of boxes through the doors, going their different ways around the store.

Luke and Michael came back for the third and fourth trolley full of boxes when another truck pulled up through the gates.

"Hey Cassie can you work with Winston to get this load off, oh and uh you too Sam" Vanessa yelled out from the pale office door, holding the phone to her chest to snuff out her yelling to the person on the other side.

I looked to Sam, watching as he just dumped his last box on the end of Luke's trolley, but he never even shifted his eyes in my direction.

The truck had just left the lot when another pulled up.

Sixty six pallets, eleven trucks and four hours later and it was 4.28pm.

Winston clocked out after he pulled the last pallet off the truck, Luke and Michael said they still have two more hours and Sam is nowhere to be found. '

I said goodbye to Vanessa and went looking for Luke and Michael to say farewell when I spotted Sam hiding behind a shelf, writing something down in a small notepad. I tentatively viewed Sam like a scared animal, he looked like he was copying the time sheet of all the truck deliveries, I was afraid he would catch me watching him again so I just left without saying goodbye to the boys.

The outside air were surprisingly warm for late October. Whilst walking my phone rang with Alice's name and number.

"Hey honey." Oh no whenever Alice is nice to me it means she wants me to go clubbing with her.

"How was work, You busy tonight? How about-" "No, no clubs Alice" I just managed to cut her off and I could practically feel her pouting through the phone.

"Please... just for a few hours, I got the perfect dress for you." Alice held her hands together, begging me.

I guess a night out might make the day go back to being a good one after Mister Asswipe ruined it.

"Fine, a few hours"

The squealing through the speaker made me temporarily deaf.

Keys thrown in the bowl, shoes kicked into the rack and a small sprint to the shower. Blasting 80s music in the shower and out, painting my toe nails a crisp white, twirling soft curls in my brunette hair.

Alice showed up just in time to hear Bryan Adams 'Have you ever really loved a woman' playing in the living room, she hands me a tight black dress with small straps to drape down my shoulders paired with high heeled boots that reach my knees.

I finished my amazing look with a soft pink powder across my eyes, false lashes and a bold burgundy lip.

Alice had called a cab before we left.

Alice arrived in a short ruffled dark red dress that had a metal ring in the neckline and white peep toe heels. Straightened auburn hair with white money pieces, long acrylic nails and dark brown makeup.

The cab parked up just as we existed my building. Talk about timing.

The driver was polite yet quiet , older guy maybe early fifties to late sixties, peppered hair and wrinkles around his eyes and mouth like he had spent his entire life smiling.

"You ladies have a good time tonight" The driver sported a toothy grin when he pulled in front of the club, 'Pandemonium' written in neon red flashing towards the taxi near blinding me when I noticed it.

Men and woman of all different walks of life lined up against the wall while two big burly bald men stand at the front IDing most that walked through. It took twenty minutes to reach front of the cue, Ally is twenty two while I am twenty one yet I still get nervous like I'm underage. "You're good to go" The bouncer gave my ID back to me, heart jumping at the same time as reaching out to grab it, I know he's a big man but I wasn't expect that deep of a voice; I thought to myself.

The club is packed floor to ceiling with sweaty people rubbing up against each other, whether they mean to or not. I follow Alice up to the bar.

"Two shots of vodka please mister bartender" God not shots again; last time Ally made me take shots, she went home with the bartender just because he had a motorcycle. The bartender winked at Alice shouting the usual, 'coming right up.'

We downed the sharp liquid in one, the affects yet to kick in but I could already feel the weight of a long day lifting.

The dance floor was packed but we made room in between two guys. Rubbing up against strangers isn't my favorite thing to do but five shots makes me a new person. The pull on my waist was strong - comforting, but I had to sit down so i patted his arm as a sign to let go and lucky he got the message.

I wiggled my way towards the bathroom for some fresh air - ironic right the bathroom are more breathable than the club, the LED lights were a stark white compared to the clubs strobe lights, it was sore to look at but my eyes soon adjusted.

After cleaning up the stray make-up and brushing my hair out, it was time to face the music again.

Just as i turned to close the door behind me a familiar voice spoke out from behind the next door over. Sam. I had to be imagining it, I told myself, only just meet the man and i'm obsessed already.

I tsked at myself and headed back into the crowd.

Pulling Ally into a cab was hard work but I knew she would thank me later.

It was a different cab driver, a woman this time, mid thirties and a talker. The ride home felt hours longer than it really was, Alice was knocked out and I had to politely nod every time the woman spoke; when the car came to a stop I couldn't have ripped Alice from her seat hard enough and slugged her up to my apartment.

Keys in the bowl, shoes ripped off, and an unconscious Alice snoring on my couch; I washed my makeup off begrudgingly, replacing my dress with my nightwear, and heading straight to bed.

Another day to begin tomorrow at Palmer's Grocery.

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