>>156007
>My boss wasn't too far off from the break room, another small miracle in what has been a day I'd rather not remember.
>My boss Eric was a middle aged man, despite working at the super store as a manager his body was more built for physical activity.
>His tanned skin pointed to either his vast amount of time spent outdoors or the possible ethnic background he had, though I had never bothered to ask since I could never really seem to care about it.
>I walked over, trying my best to sort my still scrambled brain
>Approaching, he saw me and waved me over.
>"Hey Anon…"
>He looked me over, probably smelled me too.
>"Christ kid what happened to you? It looks like something serious happened, you ok?"
>"Yeah fine fine…Listen Eric, I have a favor to ask, mind putting me on warehouse duty today? I'd kinda rather not be around people?"
>"Kid I know you're anti-social"
>"Not Joking Eric, I'd like to do work today that's got as little to do with the public as possible. I'd also like you to tell anyone who comes looking for me that I don't work here."
>"Anon kid, you're kinda scaring me here what's up."
>I broke the news to Eric, explaining the situation that had happened this morning.
>Recounting every detail I could caused me to shake as I played back those parts in my mind in various scenarios as I thought back to them.
>Keeping my shit together as best I could I finished my story, Eric just shook his head.
>"…And that's it Eric, I pretty much decked a woman to avoid being proactively dated."
>"Holy shit kid, at least you're ok right?"
>"I'd be lying if I said yes, I'm still a little shaken."
>"Alright well listen, if you're not up for it you can always head home. I won't blame ya."
>"Nah it's fine I can work, I just need to get it out of my system."
>"Alright listen, you've got warehouse duty. I'll get Andy to cover helping customers."
>"Thanks Eric…"
>"Anytime kid, let Andy know he's up front."
>With a deep exhale I went off to find Andy and inform him of the switch.
>One exchange later and I was left to perform work in the stockroom.
>As the time passed I decided to switch on my music and listen to it too keep my mind off shit
>Time seemed to fly as work went on and one track melded into the next, the only real indication of a song ending the brief silence or fade out at the tail end of each melody.
>Eventually find myself singing along to 'Oblivion' from Stardust Memories.
>Hearing footsteps ends that good feeling.
>Finding myself still jumpy I stop what I'm doing, reaching into my pocket and flipping the PSP off to kill the sound.
>Eric appears as he rounds the bend.
>My guard drops a bit but after the incident with Kamille I'm still on edge.
>"Anon, whats with the look?"
>"Eric, what did you yell at me about two days ago?"
>"What are you talking about?"
>"Just humor me here, what did you chew me out for?"
>"You had your headphones blasting music and I told you to turn it down, it's a safety hazard if you listen to 'em that loud"
>Eric's response relaxes me, my guard disappearing
>"Kid are you alright?"
>"After the doppelganger I'm still on edge, figured I'd ask a personal question to figure out if you weren't just her assuming your form. I mean they can't copy memories just appearance last I checked."
>Eric with a worried expression on his face addressed my concern.
>"Anon it's all well and good kid, but I think this thing has shaken you up. Listen it's lunch, take your lunch and after head home ok?"
>"Eric I can still work…"
>"Not when you're jumping at shadows Anon, get lunch, go home and relax"
>"Eric, I didn't bring lunch."
>"I didn't either, want me to grab you something from that subshop? You can just pay me back later?"
>"Alright, Large Pastrami with swiss and hot mustard, grab me a lemon tea too if they have any."
>"OK, got it, just go wait in the breakroom or something and try not to interrogate everyone who comes in."
>With Eric leaving to go grab lunch I headed to the break room to relax.
>The rather spacious break room was pretty empty except for people occasionally ducking in and out to either grab lunch and eat elsewhere or to check something on their phone.
>Trying to relax I killed time by watching one of the few shows I had managed to format for the PSP.
>Some time after Eric returned with lunch, we ate and talked about small things to kill time.
>Checking the time, my PSP read 12:35 break had come and gone at a rather brisk pace.
>"Alright Eric, I-I'm gonna try to head home now. Wish me luck".
>"Anon you need any help getting home?"
>"I'm fine…sorta…I can manage Eric, don't worry it'll take more than potential rape to break me down."
>"Alright, just when you get home call my cell so I know ya made it".
>"Righto, see ya tomorrow Eric…hopefully"
>"See ya tomorrow kid, enjoy the rest of the day."
>"I'll try…"