V: An Unlikely Job

Kris had always struggled with computers, but she managed to work through this confusing piece of tech. Currently, she was attempting to do an online search for job applications. At first, Kris didn't know what to think about this method until it turned out pretty helpful. She was finding jobs in all types of areas she never expected to. Plus, with an excellent resume like hers, she saw no reason a company wouldn't hire her.

That is what she thought until she realised Kris didn't have formal clothing or experience for any job she applied to.

They were all office jobs or local government, but none of her experience as a waiter or cashier would help her.

Nevertheless, she thought she could try. If it doesn't work out, she could always apply for jobs similar to her previous ones again.

Besides, she had a different concern to worry about.

Steph.

See, after hearing she found a job for Steph, she did not like it.

Not one bit.

She constantly complained throughout yesterday, begging Kris not to make her work, yet it all fell on deaf ears.

Kris didn't like working as much as the next person, but she did not like being a bum or supporting one. Perhaps it was because of her childhood, but growing up, it didn't matter if your job was to lick the dirt off people's shoes or stare at a tree in case animals moved on someone's property. As long as you were getting paid, she respected it highly for their service.

So seeing Steph act like this wasn't that convincing to her.

"C'mon Steph, it'll be fine. You're working for my brother. I know that place in and out, and it's not that hard of a job."

Kris had said that to calm Steph's intense shaking, but it only worsened with that comment. "But just because you're his sister, doesn't mean I'll be treated the same! What if he wants me to do d-dirty stuff or something?"

"If that happens, I'll punch him in the face. Besides, he's not the type of person do that." Kris sighed. Though, Steph's mentioning that confused her, considering what she attempted to do that morning two days ago.

"I just... I'm scared of doing something like this so soon. I wasn't even meant to be alive right now..." She trailed off, whimsically thinking of death.

Kris could empathise.

She turned around and held a finger of Steph's (Kris attempted to grab her whole hand but settled for a finger). "I know how hard it is to live, but it's not like I was supposed to be alive today either."

"Then why don't we kill ourselves together? Why do you insist on living, especially me living."

Kris was caught off guard by the question.

It was a thought nagging her at the back of her mind.

'Why not die with this person? Why not end it as you planned? Why still live on?'

For the past two days, Kris struggled to answer that being. Even though she always answered it, the being would never take her answers each and every time. And how easy it would be to coordinate a new suicidal plan with Steph feels ever so tempting. She was definitely eager to do so and willing as well.

Any obstacle that came their way would crumble like sand if they worked together.

Then she thought about the moments between the two. Those soothing, melancholic feelings that Kris unconsciously began to long for with Steph.

Someone that she understood on a deep level.

Perhaps they never felt or experienced the same moments, but that emotional tie which connected them was enough for her.

Finally, Kris could answer that thought and Steph, once again.

"I like living with someone that connects with that pain rather than die, leaving that pain and that person. Isn't that why you haven't attempted to escape and kill yourself as well?

Steph was taken aback, fidgeting at her response. Maybe it was the light playing tricks on her eyes, but Kris could see a shade of pink form on Steph's cheeks.

Steph whispered her reply, "I can't deny that, but it's a bit deeper than that. Its kind of like being with you makes me doubt the desire to die. Because, it would mean leaving you. I know we don't know each well, but...I just feel like I want to understand you more, y'know?"

She smiled sweetly at Kris, leaving the receiver with a deep red blush all over her face.

"Yeah...I get you... even if I'm not suppose to feel this way towards girls."

"Feel what way?"

"N-Nothing, don't worry about it. Forget I said anything actually." Kris shuttered.

Steph's sweet smile turned into a cheeky one. "Oh, oh, I would like to know more."

"Ah! If you want to know more, t-then you would have to do something for me first, okay?"

Steph's ears perked up. "And what's that?"

"Go to work," Kris stated with a huge grin.

"...I should have figured you would say that. Butttttt, finnnnne." Steph groaned loudly while Kris snicked. 'At least her groaning is better than her complaining.'

Though Steph stopped groaning to add in something else. "Uh..thanks for telling me that. It must be tiring answering that question every day. To me, and probably to yourself too."

"No worries. I, hm, know the feeling of needing something like that to be repeated until it, hopefully, sticks in your head. I feel like I have to remind myself of why I live a lot nowadays."

"I feel that. But hey, at least you got me!" She exclaimed like a child.

Kris grinned. "Yep, and so does your new job!"

"I hate you keep reminding me about that."

"Sorry, not sorry."

~~~

Because of Steph's request, Kris had to travel with her on her first day working. Kris thought Steph could figure out how to arrive there alone. But, surprisingly, Steph was clueless about how to get there. Even riding the bus was confusing for her.

Though Kris didn't think it was anxiety or trauma, but a genuine lack of understanding of how to do simple things. Almost like the information she knew was scattered and based on random things. Sure, she could go to the bank and complete that process, but riding the bus was agonising for her.

Also, realising she didn't have a phone, Kris had to ensure she made it to her job safe and sound.

At least the chilly but soft morning in August was the perfect weather for Kris. It almost made her forget the time she was losing.

Almost.

Because Kris was too preoccupied with Steph's knowledge about the world - She had to figure out the extent of it, for Steph's sake.

Kris started off simple, "Do you know how to drive?"

"No. Looks fun though."

"Did you finish school?"

"Kind of. I think I got kicked out, but I don't really know how it went down."

"Did your parents not tell you?"

"Not really, no."

"Your friends, did they teach you anything about the world?"

"I never asked them to, so they never bothered. Besides, almost all of them gave up on trying to get me to do things."

"Almost all of them?"

"Oh look, the bus is here!"

And the bus did appear to be in front of them.

They both hopped onto the bus and sat in the front row.

Kris did want to continue the conversation but decided against it.

Those moments made Kris notice the walls between the two. She did the same thing yesterday by avoiding any mention of that old man, but was that really the right thing to do? Kris doubted they would become any closer if they didn't talk about those uncomfortable people in their lives.

Then again, Kris wasn't sure if she wanted to be close to Steph.

Maybe the comfort they bought to each other without understanding was enough for her.

To ruin that emotional tie would possibly be the worst act Kris could do.

For both of them.

Besides, they didn't have to open up to each other to be happy together. As long as they had jobs and no big arguments, life could be worth living, perhaps.

'That thought still feels weird,' Kris thought, cringing at her own optimism.

While Kris dived into her usual, deep daydreams, Steph hummed to children's nursery rhythms again.

Kris attempted to guess them again, only to fail the one-sided competition again when the bus stopped.

Steph 2; Kris 0

Silently, Kris vowed to look up every child's nursery rhythm later to beat her.

The two women got off the bus, heading straight to Wilson's store.

While Kris went straight to the entrance, Steph looked up at the large sign, which made her realise she had forgotten to tell Steph the store's name.

Before she could say it, Steph read the sign aloud:

Beyond Designs

Steph looked way too excited at Kris. "I think I'm going to love this job!"

Her smile was so bright, the sun would need to look away.

'So pure and innocent.' Kris now felt immense guilt for convincing her brother to hire her.

She sombrely thought, 'What an awful friend I am.'

Kris knocked four times on the door as she prayed Wilson or Nolan were not there.

Unfortunately, Nolan quickly opened the door and grabbed Kris's hand, throwing her inside the shop. Then he took one good look at Steph, jumped off the steps with the grace of a dog seeing a stick, and bowed down to Steph as he lay across the pavement.

"O' beautiful one, I thank you for providing the exquisite gift of your wonderful being. Never before have I, a lonely young lad, seen such a sight for the ages. I would fight wars for you; I would die for you; I would do everything and anything for you. These feelings may have strupt up on a glance, but it was a glance guided by fate. If you would do me a simple, selfish favour, may you work here forever, or at the minimum, enter my workplace that do not deserve the graceful feet as they stand on the floor."

After Kris recovered from the shock of how fast everything went, she could tell Steph was holding her laughter.

Her cheeks were filled with impending air, yet she wanted to keep it to herself. From only knowing her for three days so far, Kris knew she didn't start to laugh solely because Steph wanted to save it for later.

She was strange like that.

Strange and cute like that.

"O-O' lad, I...I," Steph appeared unable to even finish a single word without bursts of laughter sneaking out.

Kris could only guess what was going through Nolan's head, still directed at the ground, probably along the lines of, 'Man, that was so smooth of me. You go Nolan! You the man!'

'No, Nolan. You are not the man and that was not "so smooth" of you.' Kris wished to tell Nolan telepathically.

Eventually, she went down towards the almost-laughing female and the- stupid child, stating blankly to Steph, "Let's go inside before you do something you might regret." Hinting very clearly at the ticking clock on her laughter.

Steph replied, pushing the laughter as deep inside her as she could, "Y-Yeah, let's g-go."

Kris led the way inside, and Steph's laughter completely faded into childlike joy upon seeing the store inside.

She sprinted across the many sections of strange objects. Despite constantly tripping, Steph looked too absorbed in everything to notice or care. She fidgeted with everything from the Fast Maths (A calculator, but can only multiply and add) to the Spatial Audio (A record player, but to play music, you have to physically move the record while singing to the song), and Steph looked to be in heaven.

Kris smiled softly.

'Prehaps, this was a good thing afterall.'

Her worries might have been for not. Now Kris only had to worry about how well Steph would do at her, supposedly, first job.

Once she thought of that, her worries immediately shot up through her body.

Wilson arrived from upstairs in his usual outfit: a brown lab coat with overalls, looking mightly happy. "Welcome, new employee! I see you're enjoying the many inventions around!"

"Yes, it's all so wonderful! Do you make these yourself?" Steph was currently holding the Future Teller. She repeatedly kept pushing the button over and over.

"Not all of them, but some are mine, like the Future Teller." He looked worried about Steph's constant fidgeting but let it slide. Kris knew that anyone who took an interest in these inventions would be forgiven by Wilson, no matter how much they broke them.

Not like many people showed any curiosity in the store.

"Oh, is this the Future Teller?" She clicked the button again.

"Yes, it is." He started to anxiously walk down the stairs.

"I like the bird in this. It's cute," Once more, Steph clicked it again.

"Yes, it is." Wilson was edging closer to Steph, reaching out his hand.

"I wonder...if I just..."

"AND, that's enough!" He swiped it out of her hand before she pushed it once more.

Unusually, he looked nervous about what could have happened. It didn't click in Kris' head until a flashback occurred. "Wilson...did you add a voice box?"

"Whaaaat, noooo, I would never do...yes, I did," He crumbled in his response from Kris' one deadly look.

Steph asked, "A voice box?"

"I think you can tell that Wilson barely gets any customers," Steph shook her head in disbelief, "So when he does get a customer, he adds a voice box that activates with certain conditions. Let's say, "Kris grabbed the Spatial Audio from the bottom and spun the stylus clockwise until a tiny speaker popped out the centre.

The speaker was in the shape of a bird, and it loudly yelled, "THAT'S NOT HOW YOU USE IT! COME BACK TO BEYOND DESIGNS IF YOU NEED HELP! MAYBE BUY A NEW PRODUCT ALONG WITH THE GUIDE! WE HAVE AMA-" Wilson hit the bird swiftly like a knife cutting a soft piece of bread, resulting in the bird turning off and heading back into its home.

Wilson was as bright as a tomato.

Steph looked ready to explode in laughter.

Nolan had walked in and realised what had occurred, receiving severe second-hand embarrassment.

And Kris?

Kris was silently regretting every decision she had ever made thus far in life. She also was hoping to whatever God existed, for the first real-time in her life, that this job would help Steph in every way possible. She hoped that it would provide some joy to her.

Kris then thought, 'Weird how I'm thinking that for someone.'

And so, instead of teasing Wilson, asking Nolan why he bothered to stay here or stop Steph from laughing, Kris let out an affectionate laugh.

A laugh that those around her would know is coming out of a place of love, not malleolus.

Nolan smiled to himself for his own reasons.

Steph finally let out all the laughter she had been holding in.

Wilson stood up straight in pride at what that bird said.

'Perhaps...,' Kris began, '...It was worth this moment.'