Double Duty

[a_time_slip]

Due to a party, her night job ran into her day job, and after a quick call to Lynn she hurried to the shop. Looking at a clock in a window, she realized that she was twenty minutes late.

Of course, she didn't realize it was the wrong day.

Comments

[big-appletini.livejournal.com]

Nica was behind the register, a copy of Rolling Stone open on the counter in front of her, a bottle of soda ner her left elbow. It was Monday, always a slow day at this store, but the usual clerk had called in sick and Mom had conscripted Nica into service.

"Hey," Nica said as the woman walked in, not looking up from her magazine.

[a_time_slip]

"Hello." she said, feeling rushed "I apologize for my tardiness. Please, may I have two minutes to change clothing?"

Janie didn't think she'd met the girl before, and hoped she still had a job after being so late.

[big-appletini.livejournal.com]

Nica looked up, at that.

"Umm ... "

Janie wasn't wearing very much, and Nica tipped her head slightly.

"Okay, sweetie. What are you tardy for, and why would you want to change out of a cute little outfit like that?"

[a_time_slip]

"My shift..." Janie said "I was supposed to work, and do not think this is appropriate for here."

Glancing around, she confirmed that it was indeed the correct shop.

[big-appletini.livejournal.com]

"Your shift? I'm covering for Madeline Berkowitz. You don't look like her. And ... yeah, some nice old couple who came in here lookin' for a couple melons might get a little more than they expected. But hey, I still think it's a cute outfit."

[a_time_slip]

"Yes. You are correct, I am not Madeline, I am Janie? Today is Tuesday, correct?"

She looked at her outfit for a moment. "It's not very practical."

[big-appletini.livejournal.com]

Confused, Nica glanced at her watch. Tuesday? No, it's Monday. Hi, Janie, I'm Nica." She waved. "So ... yeah, you're about twenty-two hours early."

[a_time_slip]

"It's- oh my. I'm embarrassed. My apologies, it has been a long weekend."

Relaxing just a bit, she was just about to turn on her clear heels and leave, when she recognized the name.

"...Nica? Marchese?"

She didn't want to meet any of Vito's family dressed that way... What would they think?

[big-appletini.livejournal.com]

"One and the same," Nica said with a smirk. "Don't believe what you've heard, I haven't actually bitten anybody in at least a week. How do you know me, Janie? Pretty sure we don't have any classes together ... "

[a_time_slip]

"I'm older than you." she insisted "Twenty six."

Vito's cousin was in school, wasn't she? "I, um. Your cousin mentioned you. Vito."

[big-appletini.livejournal.com]

"Oh. Oh, you know Vito? How do you two ... "

She trailed off, eying Janie's outfit again.

" ... know each other?"

[a_time_slip]

"Yes. He helped me with a job, and we've had dinner a couple of times."

She was a bit annoyed, but tried to pretend she wasn't getting a look from a teenager.

"I should change, this outfit is what I wear at my other job."

[big-appletini.livejournal.com]

"Well ... I mean ... it's not like you're working here, today, so it's not really a big deal," Nica said. "But if it'd make you feel better, you know where the breakroom is, go ahead and change if you want."

[a_time_slip]

Janie couldn't get to the back fast enough, and changed out of her outfit and shoes in record time.

"What if we pretend to meet again?" she asked, stuffing a shoe in her backpack after leaving the break room. She was dressed in a much more conservative pair of pants, and combat boots, but still in a low cut tank top.

[big-appletini.livejournal.com]

The transformation from femme to butch made Nica's head spin. She was tempted to ask if Janie also had a flannel shirt with the arms cut off, in her bag, but decided against it.

"I'd be okay with that," Nica said.

[a_time_slip]

"Hi, I am Janie. I work here on Tuesday." she smiled, flipping her hair a bit. "How are you today?"

[big-appletini.livejournal.com]

"Good, good. Working hard," she said, pointing to the magazine. "And you?"

[a_time_slip]

"I am well. Are you Nica, Vito's cousin? He's spoken about you before. I am Janie, a friend."

[big-appletini.livejournal.com]

"That's me," Nica said. "So, how do you know Vito? I don't think he's mentioned you, yet."

[a_time_slip]

"We haven't." Janie paused for a moment. "We haven't known each other very long, we're um. Friends? He made dinner for me the other night."

[big-appletini.livejournal.com]

"Oh, that's cool. Right, the veal ... I remember him picking up something for a dinner her was cooking for a date. So, you were the date?"

[a_time_slip]

"Yes!" she grinned "Yes, did he serve it to you? I'm a vegetarian. He's a very good cook, however."

[big-appletini.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I came over Saturday afternoon and we made dinner and hung out for a while. He helped me with my homework, too. So, no meat? That's gotta be tough."

[a_time_slip]

"Yes, he said you were in school. You're lucky to have him." Janie smiled a bit to herself. "No. It's easy for me. A way of life."

[big-appletini.livejournal.com]

"He's a pretty decent guy to have backin' you up," she agreed. "I couldn't do it, I know it's supposed to be healthier and all. You into art, music, anything like that? Do you think these guys are any good?" She pointed at a picture in the magazine.