When I'm With You (Little Hollow Series, #2)(4)

A woman who must be in her late fifties walks toward me and I give her a small smile. I shit you not, I watch her look me up and down then cross the sidewalk and start walking on the other side. What. A. Bitch. I’ve only been in town for three days and I’m already sick of all the disapproving looks from its residents.

I shake my head and carry on walking, who does that?

I make it to the store and notice a sign hanging in the window, getting closer I see it says they’re hiring, perfect. I need to get a job ASAP before I go stir crazy. Sam works in the local hair salon; after we met I found it weird that out of all the professions she could have, she was a hairdresser like me. She had asked if I could work in the salon with her but there was no vacancies, it wasn’t a big salon.

I don’t need a job for the money, I have plenty of savings. In fact, I probably have enough to live frugally for a long while, but I’m not the type of person that can sit around on my ass all day and do nothing.

I look around the store for someone that works here, eager to apply for the job. I see a middle aged woman walking down an aisle with the store logo on her shirt, and walk up to her. “Hey, I saw the hiring sign out front. Do I just need to drop in my resume or is there a form to fill out?”

She looks me up and down like the woman outside did, pursing her lips. “Oh I’m sorry, dear, the position has been filled.”

My fists clench and I narrow my eyes. “Is there a manager I can speak to, please?” The please is strained.

“I’ll just go check if she’s in the back, if you could just wait here,” She says, looking me up and down again like I’m going to steal something if she leaves me alone.

I grit my teeth and nod. She pauses for a minute before turning and walking away toward the back of the store like she can’t wait to get away from me.

I’m starting to get agitated when ten minutes later, the middle aged woman rounds the corner of the aisle, followed by a woman with dark hair and beady eyes. “Hello, I hear you were asking about the job position. Unfortunately,” she looks at her colleague and thinks I don’t notice the little smirk, like I’m a fucking idiot. “Unfortunately the position was filled just this morning.”

She gives me a tight smile and I return it in kind. “Did it really? Well shit. Thanks for taking time out of your OBVIOUSLY busy schedule to come and talk to me.”

They both have shocked looks on their faces and don’t say anything as I walk away to pick up the creamer I came for. As I’m heading toward the checkout, I overhear a conversation in the next aisle. “…then hand it in to any of the staff. Interviews aren’t until Thursday, so you have two days.” It’s the icing on the cake. I’ve been as polite as possible up until now, but enough is enough. If they’re going to treat me like a delinquent, I’ll give them nothing but.

I storm around the corner of the aisle and waltz straight up to them. All three women look at me with surprise. “Thursday? I thought the position had already been filled?” The manager gawps at me not knowing what to say.

It’s the first woman I spoke to that answers me. “That one was, this is for something different.” She smirks triumphantly, a little premature for my liking.

“Well in that case, go get me a form. I’d like to apply.” I stare at her defiantly, wishing for her to argue with me.

“I’m sorry, miss, but you’re just not the type of candidate we’re looking for.” The manager straightens up, having found a backbone apparently.

“And what type of… candidate do I need to be to work in a grocery store?” I’m not a job snob, a job’s a job, but I’m pissed.

“This is a high-end grocery market and we all take pride in that fact. We can’t have someone with… with metal in her face as the literal face of this store, it would give off the wrong impression.”

Oh, I get it. It’s got nothing to do with me and everything to do with the fact that they’re just assholes. “Well thank you very much, you’ve done me a favor. I wouldn’t want to work with stuck up bitches with nothing else to do with their lives other than judge people on their appearance anyway.”

I turn around and flip them off over my shoulder. It feels good for a second, but it doesn’t ease the blow any less.

And I don’t get my creamer.





I struggle to unwrap myself out of the blanket fort I made myself last night as my phone blares out from my nightstand. “Alright, alright!” I unhook my leg from the sheet it’s caught in and make a grab for it, putting it to my ear. “Hello?”

It keeps ringing out and that’s when I realize it’s my alarm. Ergh, morning. I’m not a morning person. I turn off my alarm and flop back down onto my bed.

Too early. Need coffee.

I stretch out my whole body and yawn as I peel myself out of bed. It’s barely eight, that’s a lie in to most people but I just love my sleep so damn much, all I want is to crawl back into its welcoming warmth. I rub my eyes, heading for the kitchen.

Sam is already up, as usual, and hands me a cup of happiness without saying a word. She knows the score by now, I don’t wake up until I’ve had my morning coffee and shower. I drink it up in silence and hold it out to her to refill with a grunt, she shakes her head with a laugh but fills it anyway, knowing I don’t mean anything by it. I take a few more sips, feeling myself come alive with each swallow, and after it’s all gone, I put my cup in the sink and head for the bathroom.