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Of the Unknown
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Simon Kierney: 23 years old, Londoner, shy, quiet, lives with his head in the clouds because it’s the only place he can be free, works at a restaurant he could never afford to eat at.
Rhiannon Jones: 19 years old, Welsh, devious, sneaky, running away from her problems because if she doesn’t look at them they don’t exist, believes in aliens more than is probably healthy.
Closing was near-silent. The soft jazz pumped through the restaurant, that could barely be heard during business hours over the clinking of glasses and blur of voices, was the only thing Simon could hear. He hummed along with it, mostly mindlessly. It was habit.
Simon was the only employee around for closing. His boss said it was because it was faster with just Simon than with a whole team. Simon thought it was because everyone else begged to not have to do be around.
He rolled up the sleeves of his white button-down and reached into the supply closet. He had the thing organized so he could find anything without even looking. Very few of the others even knew the closet existed, so everything was always how he wanted it. Simon grabbed the broom and dustpan, then snagged the mop too, for good measure.
It was nearly midnight, according to Simon’s watch, when he began to sweep the floors. The music lilted throughout the restaurant. He could have turned it off, but too much silence would only make him feel more alone.
He worked his way to the back corner of the restaurant, furthest from the kitchen. It was the darkest corner, and no one really like to sit there. Hence Simon’s surprise when he saw a girl laying down in the big circular booth. She looked only a few years younger than him, and had dark hair. Simon cleared his throat, trying to get her attention, but she didn’t move.
She was sleeping, he realized as he stepped closer to her, sleeping right there in the booth. He didn’t recognize her, so it wasn’t likely that she worked there, though she was dressed like a server. Simon almost wanted to leave her alone, but he couldn’t. He had to kick her out.
He stepped forward again, reaching out a hand to lightly shake her shoulder. “Hey,� he said just over the music. It felt weird to be talking at this time of night.
To Simon’s surprise, the girl jolted awake at the slightest touch. She pushed herself with her hands, pushing her hair out of her face. “What?� she asked, looking up at him.
“You all right?� Simon asked. “Cause we’re closed, you know, and you’ve got to leave.� As he spoke, he turned, gesturing with one hand to the door.
The girl just stared, unblinking, up at him. “What time is it?� she asked finally, sitting up fully. She was sort of pretty, Simon thought, though he didn’t linger on that thought for long.
“Just about midnight.� he said, “The restaurant closed an hour ago.� He gripped the broom handle with both hands, propping his chin on top of them. He probably should be more firm with her, but he didn’t mind enough to do so. She wasn’t causing that much of a problem, not to him.
She stood, stretching. Her shirt pulled up a little at the waist, exposing her skin. Simon turned away. The girl ducked under the table for a moment, and came back up holding a small black knapsack. “Door’s that way, yeah?� she asked, pointing. She started heading that direction as she did. “It was nice to meet you, cleaner boy.� She patted his shoulder as she passed, and Simon turned to watch her, a smirk on his face.
The girl stopped just in front of the glass door, considering it. “It’s locked, isn’t it?�
Simon leaned the broom against the table she’d been sleeping at and went to the door, pulling a key out of his pocket as he went. “Yep,� he answered. He stepped around her to unlock the door, swinging it open.
She nodded, stepping out. “My name’s Rhiannon, by the way.� she said, swinging her knapsack onto her left shoulder. “In case you were wondering.� She smirked at him as she turned to walk down the sparsely populated street.
Simon watched her for a moment, just to be sure she wouldn’t double back when he turned away. She didn’t.
Genre: Short story, realistic fiction.
Simon and Rhiannon are two totally different people. Meeting, however, is what will begin to change their lives. A work in progress being written as a class assignment. Also technically a backstory for two OC characters of mine, without the fandom stuff.