“That sounds fun, but where—''
“And of course you're going to have to fill out that blasted paperwork. Where on earth did I put them?”
“I don't know ma'am, but if you—''
“Mary Beth.”
“What?”
“I told you to call me Mary Beth, dearie. Please try to remember.”
“Sorry, but where is—''
“Well go on now, no use standing around. Won't learn anything that way.”
My head was swimming with Mary Beth's erratic conversation. Shaking my head, I gave up and went in search of the bathroom.
I was grateful that Mary Beth seemed to know what size I was. I braced myself and quickly walked back behind the counter and waited for Rosemary to notice me. She worked through the line of customers, offering soft smiles and quick jokes as she moved from one customer to the next. I hated to just stand around and was growing impatient. I was at my limit already. Whoever said patience was a virtue should be shot. I started to drum my fingers against the back counter while staring daggers into the back of Rose's head.
She glared at me but kept serving the customers. When the last of them left, I kept up the drumming.
“Would you just flipping stop!”
“Oh, I'm sorry. Am I bothering you?”
“Look, I don't care who you are, or who your mother is. You're not getting a free ride here, little Star. I don't have time to waste on you so why don't you just quit now and get it over with.”
“I don't know what your ridiculous problem with me is, and quite frankly, I don't care. You want to be a bitch? Fine, but just remember that I can be as big of a bitch. I'm not here for a handout, I'm here to work, and that's all. Either you can do your job and teach me, or I can find someone else who's more capable than you to do it.”
I glared down into Rose's emerald eyes, my anger rising along with the strange, almost electric, currents. The darkness was beckoning and I was tempted, oh so tempted to let it loose.
“You want to work? Fine. You'll work, little Star, and I'll be damned if you're still here by the end of the week.”
My face flushed with anger as she jabbed her finger sharply into my chest. I gritted my teeth, my temper on its edge. “Do. Not. Touch. Me.”
An evil smile flitted across her face. She poked me again. “Ooh, touchy are we?” I had had enough. My rage flared, sending all rational thought out of my head. I grabbed Rose's finger and flung the offending hand away from me. Getting right in Rose's face, I pushed her. “I told you not to fucking touch me!” At my shout, the remaining customers in the store stopped to stare at us.
The feeling of eyes boring into me fueled my rage even more. I felt the currents flare wildly off my body, starting to connect with objects around me. Slight movements from the counter caught my attention. I was shoved abruptly against the counter behind me, causing my attention to be pulled back to Rose.
She was standing toe to toe with me, her own anger seeping out through her eyes. Again, she pushed me. “You fucking BITCH!”
I snapped and pounced on Rosemary, effectively tackling her to the ground. The display products and merchandise on the front counter were thrown off in sync with my movement, almost like a storm blew in and threw them into the currents of rage radiating off of me.
We rolled along the floor, slapping and scratching at each other while shards of glass and Styrofoam rained down on us like a mock celebration.
Pain radiated through my scalp as Rosemary yanked my head back by my hair, creating a clean shot to my face. My head snapped back as the blow came, pain flicking across my jaw. I threw Rosemary off of me as, causing her to slam into the front counter. The force of the impact made the last remaining products to fall down onto her. Blood was steadily dripping from my mouth, fueling my rage.
I threw myself at her, starting to slap her repeatedly. With each blow, the darkness and waves of the electric currents flew out of me, causing small waves of destruction.
Books started to fly from their shelves, tables started to overturn and chairs were sent flying. Becoming fearful, the last remaining patrons fled from the scene, ducking and weaving, trying to avoid the flying objects.
I leaned back to get a better swing at Rosemary's face and didn't see her foot coming straight at me. Sliding sideways, Rosemary kicked the side of my face, officially dislodging me from sitting on her. I slammed into the ground and began rubbing the side of my face while glaring at Rose.
“Fucking short people!”
“Jealous much? Not my fault your flexibility sucks!”
We both stood up, warily watching each other while looking for an open area to attack. Okay, she's a leftie, so if I sweep in with a left uppercut, maybe I can decapitate the fuc—
“What the fuck is wrong with your eyes?” Her voice had turned odd, almost frightened. It sliced through my anger, leaving me feeling dizzy.
“Huh?”
“Your eyes, dumb ass. What's wrong with them? They're the wrong color.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I felt shock course through my body.
She gestured toward the reflective surface of the display case. “See for yourself.”
“No, I'm not falling for that shit.”
“I'm being serious! Just look for fucks sake!” she took a couple steps back and raised her hands in surrender. ''I promise I won't finish kicking your ass until after you look.”
“Dude, you weren't kicking my ass! The only reason you got that shot in is because you're a damn midget!”
“Just shut up and look already! You're starting to creep me out! And I am NOT a midget!”
“Fine! I don't know what you're freaking out about but this shit is ridiculous!” I stomped over to the display and eyed Rose's proximity. Seeing my suspicion, she took another couple of steps back. Satisfied, I peered quickly into my reflection. I felt tendrils of ice work its way through my system as I stood there in shock. Those weren't my eyes.
“I told you it was creepy!” she moved closer, looking at my reflection.
Where normally my jewel toned violet eyes only had flecks of gray, they were now almost a liquid silver, burning in its intensity. Not a spot of violet could be seen. As the darkness abated, quickly replaced by fear, the gray started to recede. It slowly turning back to the normal, violet tone I was used to.
“What the hell is going on in here?”
We jumped back and looked guiltily at Mary Beth.
“What have you two done? If you think I'll allow any fighting on my clock you are sadly mistaken!”
“Mom! She started—''
“I did not! You're the one that's been a total bit—''
“I. Do. Not. Care. That is more than enough from both of you! Rosemary, lock the doors and turn over the closed sign. Starlette, you wait right here until she returns.” She crossed her arms angrily over her small frame.
I paced angrily back and forth. Yes, we shouldn't have fought, but I had more important things to worry about. Like my eyes changing a different color. I was beyond freaked and just wanted to go home, but I'd be damned if Rose put the blame solely on my doorstep. As Rosemary came back into sight, Mary Beth continued. “Both of you will spend the remainder of today cleaning. There will not be one item out of place or one speck of dust marring this store, do you understand me?” I looked over at Rose and could tell by her stunned eyes that she was just as shocked as I was over Mary Beth's sharp tone.
“At the end of the night, you will both report to me. Rosemary, you know where the cleaning supplies are, show Star. Both of you will work together, and if I hear so much as a peep from either of you, or one of those foul curse words again, so help me God there will be consequences. Severe consequences.”