Test Scene 2A
“Move.”
“Move? I can't move. I don't have the money.”
Sally gave Nickolette one of her “don't bullshit me” looks. “Seriously? Just apply somewhere else. Devil's Peak or something. You got a car. It's that or stay in this shit hole.”
“It's not that much of a shithole.” Nickolette protested.
“Oh yeah? Boss is coming, and someone thought it was a good idea to wear a skirt.”
“Oh shit.” Nickolette swore as she tried to push down the fabric of said garment. “That's not fair, I got kicked out this morning.”
“Mmmhmmm.” Said Sally.
“Nikki, babe.” Said Carl.
“Not your babe.” Nickolette said, putting a little annoyed heat in her tone.
“I'd like everything off the top shelf today.”
“And you’re going to hold the ladder.”
“Safety first.” Carl sang as he wandered past.
“This is sexual harassment.”
“Take it up with HR.” Carl, the entire humanoid resources department, called back.
“I hate him.” Nickolette said.
“Use your brother as a mailing address, get a gym membership for a shower, live in your car for a couple weeks. Or stay here and deal with this shit.”
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Nickolette frowned.
“Hey! Nikki! You coming?”
Test Scene 2B
Nicolette leaned against the counter, absently fiddling with a pen while her coworker Sally leaned over, whispering conspiratorially. “You know, you could always move. Devil’s Peak is only a few hours away.”
Nicolette sighed, her tail flicking in irritation. “I can’t just pack up and go. Moving takes money, and I don’t exactly have a savings account right now. And my car is falling apart.” She avoided Sally’s gaze, focusing instead on the chipped paint of the counter.
Before Sally could reply, Carl, the store manager, walked past with a clipboard in hand. His eyes lingered too long on Nicolette, his smile making her skin crawl. “Hey, Nikki,” he called out, “I need you to clear off the top shelves in aisle five today. Got it?” His tone was dripping with fake cheerfulness, but the underlying insinuation in his glance was impossible to miss.
Nicolette stiffened, clutching the pen so tightly her knuckles turned a shade lighter. She mumbled an acknowledgment and turned back to Sally, who rolled her eyes the moment Carl was out of earshot. “You forgot to change out of that skirt after your… morning drama. You know he’s going to take advantage of that.”
“Don’t remind me,” Nicolette muttered, pulling at the hem of her skirt as if that would make it longer. She had been too frazzled after her fight to change into her usual jeans, and now she felt like she had a target painted on her.
Sally leaned closer, her voice dropping. “You know what you should do? Use your brother’s address to get out of here. Get a gym membership so you can take a shower, and sleep in your car. It’s temporary, but it beats staying in this hellhole and dealing with Creepy Carl every day.”
Nicolette’s tail flicked sharply, a sign of her frustration. “And then what? I’ll just be homeless in Devil’s Peak instead of a miserable stock clerk here? That doesn’t sound like much of an upgrade.”
Sally shrugged. “It’s not perfect, but at least you’d have a shot. Staying here means more of the same. Dead-end job, rundown town, and Carl thinking he can get away with… whatever that was.” She gestured toward the aisle where Carl had disappeared.
Nicolette hesitated, the weight of the decision pressing down on her. Her tail coiled slightly behind her as she considered her options: endure Carl’s harassment and a dead-end life in her hometown, or take a risk, even if it meant sleeping in her car and starting from scratch. Neither choice was ideal, but Sally’s words planted a seed of possibility she couldn’t quite ignore.