Behind The Mask [Watty Awards 2011]

Behind The Mask (o2)

“I promise I’ll do whatever you say! Just please don’t fire me!” I yelled at the top of my lungs once we were outside. Thankfully, no one was close enough to hear me. It would’ve been embarrassing if anyone heard me say that to Parker, who looked like a male model.

“Fire you? I’d have to be crazy to do that!” Parker exclaimed loudly. He dug into the pocket of his jeans and pulled a pack of cigarettes. “I came out here to ask you out.” He said simply. He’d pulled out a lighter and lit his cigarette.

“What?” I asked him, clearly confused. Parker never really showed an interest in me, so why suddenly did he now?

“I said, do you want to go out with me?” He had taken a drag of his cigarette and slowly breathed it out through his lips. The awful scent of it caused me to cough.

“I don’t understand, why do you want to go out with me?” I asked him. I was skeptical of why he wanted to go out, on a date…with me!

He took another drag of his cigarette and released it through his nose this time. Once again, I coughed at the strong smell. I took a few steps back so that I wouldn’t be able to smell it that much.

“You seem like a wonderful lady, it would be wrong of me not to take you out.” He held a shy grin on his beautifully tanned face.

“But...” I was going to open my mouth to complain again, but Parker cut me off.

“Would you like to go out or not?” He said firmly, but in a gentle voice. His cigarette rested between his index and middle finger. It slowly oozed out smoke and glowed red at times.

“Um, sure, I guess.” I said quietly, looking at the ground at all times. I felt my face heat up the minute Parker put his cigarette out on the pavement. He had taken a few steps closer to me, nearly closing the space in between us.

I despised how I managed to turn a deep red color so easily. The slightest touch of Parker’s hand on my cheek was enough to send my heart beating at a thousand beats a minutes.

“Um, we should get back to work…” I said quietly. I’d taken a few steps back for precaution.

“You are right. Say, I’ll see you tonight at around six?” He asked me; deep brown eyes stared back at me with a warm look.

“That’s fine, but do you know where I live?” I’d never given him my address and he’s never been over.

“I’ll check the employee files. Don’t worry.” His gorgeous smile warmed his elegant face. “In the meantime, let’s go back to work.” He offered me his hand like he had earlier today and I gladly took it.

“Yeah, see you tonight.” I tried to smile back, but I couldn’t force it onto lips. I knew I liked him, just not as much to have a crush on him. Maybe I was just nervous, or scared. Maybe later I’ll begin to feel more towards him.

I walked back to my spot behind the counter. No one was inside besides Spencer, the workers and I.

I liked it this way because I still got paid regularly without have to do any physical labor. I guess it would’ve been considered cheating since I didn’t do anything at all.

The hours ticked by and Spencer still sat at his usual table. Nobody dared to go talk to him, I’ve tried, but it always failed. I guess you can say I’ve kind of given up trying to see what’s wrong with him. Maybe he doesn’t need someone to talk to, or maybe he thought I was being nosy.

Either way, I never got anything out of him other than his order.

I played with a strand of my curly dark brown hair at the register. I was bored out of my mind sitting there. Parker and the employees were hanging in the back of the building, smoking their cigars and cigarettes. I never went out there since it connected with the dangerous alleyway. In daylight or nighttime, I had never crossed by it.