For most associates at Harkman Industries the magic hour was five pm on the dot, but this was sadly not the case for Heather Marie Thompson. Her joyful hour of release was six pm instead - if she was lucky that day. Between her own work, playing secretary for a cost effective boss, and pretending to be a cleaning fairy there wasn't enough time in a normal work period to accomplish it all. Fortunately, as cheap as her boss was, this slightly elongated shift business was acceptable so long as it didn't get out of hand and it earned her a slightly higher salary.
Tonight was beginning to feel like one of those unlucky nights as it was nearly six and she had barely even begun to set up orders that would have to be made promptly in the morning. Setting up orders wasn't bound to take long itself, it just wasn't the only item on her list to get done before she escaped for a night in with a movie and maybe some take out. Sighing, she kept at it, bright purple nails tapping against the surface of her desk when she wasn't busy typing away. This clicking sound was joined on occasion by her singing along to whatever music she was listening to before she would catch herself and cease immediately. A habit she was attempting to break herself of for those hours she had to share the office space with other employees.
"You have a really pretty voice when you're not mumbling and trying to hide it," Gavin Merlin Watson stated with a smile, shaking Heather out of her work flow.
"Do not," Heather muttered as she pushed her headphones down around her neck. "Who let you in anyway?"
"Who wouldn't let me in?" Gavin asked while he put on what he considered to be his most charming smile.
"Anyone with half a brain sweets," Heather shot back, grinning.
"Way to insult poor Mildred. She tries so hard you know," Gavin said, chuckling some as he spoke. "You can't fault the dear woman for being such a romantic about us. After all she's the one that matched us up with her cunning ways."
Heather burst into a small giggle fit over that statement, shaking her head for a moment. "Is that what you told her this time?" She asked despite already being sure of the answer. "You know one of these nights she's going to catch on to your little game right?"
"Hopefully by then some silly bee will be done keeping me locked away in the lobby like some commoner," Gavin retorted as he swiftly took a step back to avoid a smack he was certain he would receive.
Heather pushed herself away from her desk to keep up with Gavin's movement. Reaching her target of choice she reached out to gently punch him in the chest. "Fucker," she exclaimed as her fist connected with him, smiling all the while. "You could avoid such a fate by actually waiting to come over when I've told you that I'm done. But nooo, you have to come early to be a troublemaker."
"It's not causing trouble if they like it. Plus, if I don't come put a smile on your face you would stay here all night. I'm sure your coworkers would love to catch you fast asleep on the job the next morning," Gavin pointed out as he messed up Heather's already disastrous looking hair. "You know my trouble making way is your favorite thing about me. Definitely what caught your eye."
"In your dreams," Heather declared as she rolled her way back to her desk, ignoring her even more problematic hair situation. "There are better traits of yours to like," she tacked on, her fingers once more quick at work on her keyboard.
Gavin smirked as he shook his head, the curled ends of his shaggy blonde hair swaying from the movement. "Those talents aren't ones you can tell from a distance Honey Bee."
"They are ones you can learn from a bathroom stall," Heather was quick to point out, glancing over her shoulder to stick her tongue out at Gavin. "Believe the message was something like for a good time call this number... At least until I cleaned it off."
"Surprised it didn't say something about breaking hearts. That's how you would really know to trust those crudely written notes." Gavin stated, keeping his position of a short distance away from Heather.
"Maybe, but it's working out so far, so I'm going to keep riding this wave until it crashed. Maybe some beach dwellers will drown," Heather announced, totaling out her current project. Clicking open the next program she forged onward. "You know you could make this go by faster by cleaning things up instead of just running your mouth."
Gavin chuckled, leaning back against a nearby desk. "Hey now! That only almost happened once and I was an innocent, curious kid at the time, so pffft." He pointed out as he continued to laugh. Then he fell silent for a few moments as he debated being helpful or staying as just a pest.
"I believe the curious, innocent kid excuse goes out the winder after you're eighteen hun," Heather called out as she double checked the schedule written out on her screen. Satisfied with everything on it she closed the program out, stealing a glance over at Gavin as she did so. "Such a great smart ass helper," she exclaimed as she stood up and stretched. "Means we can blow this popsicle stand if you're ready."
"Baby, I was born ready," Gavin declared loudly as he leaped dramatically out from the cubicle area he had been cleaning. "Your curiosity should never die, regardless of age." He added on as he tossed a small bag of trash into the bin next to Heather's work station.
"Whatever dork," Heather said as she started to pull on her teal wool pea coat. Slender fingers deftly buttoning it up to lock in the warmth. Next she snagged her gray, black, and white plaid scarf, wrapping it around her neck before stuffing it into the front of her coat. Tugging on her white owl hat with one x'ed out purple eye she grinned at her partner in crime.
Gavin waited in silence, content to observe Heather as she prepared to leave. "Well aren't you a gorgeous, wintry sight Bee."
Heather turned away from Gavin then, porcelain cheeks heating up to a lovely scarlet hue. "Must have me confused with someone else. I'm just your average snow bunny. Nothing more, nothing less." She managed to eventually stammer out before once again facing Gavin. Slinging her metallic purple purse over her shoulder she headed towards the exit, heels clicking away as she walked. "Come on then, I've been here long enough today," she exclaimed to shift the focus away from her.
"Yea, yea, I'm coming Bee." Gavin murmured as he fell into step alongside her. Leaping ahead for a moment to push open the door leading to the stairs. "After you my average snow bunny Bee."
A small smile and a shake of her head were the only indications Heather gave that she had heard him. Taking a few quick steps down she turned to look up at Gavin. "Slow much?" She asked while Gavin continued to hold the door open.
"Had to let a few ghosts pass on by," he explained, stepping away from the door to let it slam shut. "What's our plan for the evening?" He asked as he caught up to Heather, sliding his right hand into her left one.
"My plan was some take out Thai food and a movie for a quiet night in," Heather answered, emphasizing the word my.
"Well, I was going to offer my gentlemanly services for the evening, but if you're going to be like that..." He began, trailing off at the end to provide Heather time to object.
"Do these ways include paying for dinner? If so I might be able to handle your company for the evening."
"That's the only way I roll sugar Bee," Gavin stated with a grin, squeezing Heather's hand. Letting go of the aforementioned hand he waited for Heather to unlock the door that led into the office building's central lobby.
"Mmhm, only way indeed," Heather said with an all knowing smile. Fishing the key out of her coat pocked she unlocked the door that hindered their escape. Nudging it open enough to allow Gavin to slide his right foot into place as a door stopper she locked it back up.
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