One long wall divided the antique shop in half. The front was the showroom, with a full upstairs level Sue used as an apartment. The back section was the warehouse, where our lockers sat between the loading dock and Sue's office.

I fumbled to set my treasures on the ground to open my locker door and realized Rachel was right; I did have a problem with hoarding things. One glance inside my cubby gave me a second vote on the matter.

'Where am I going to put all this stuff?'

A plethora of shiny trinkets and baubles cluttered every inch of space. Spotting a worthy place for the trinket box I had to have, I moved a few smaller items away to make room.

'Perfect!'

A small glass dish with a gold rim was next.

'This will be ideal for holding oil pastels and should fit right…about… here.'

I placed it behind an old picture frame with a photo of an elderly couple and two sisters standing together. I liked to think my parents were the couple, and the two women were me and Rachel. A tinge of pain reared up through the back of my mind at the thought of family and what having one felt like.

'Damn this day.'

I shook the thoughts away for another time and gave my locker a second once-over. Seeing everything all tucked in, cozying up together, filled my heart with joy.

'Okay, off to work I go.'

The faint sound of shattering glass froze me in place. A loud groan from Rachel echoed through the warehouse. Sue stared at me from the new inventory, and the expression on her face told me what she wanted to say.

“I know, I know, I’ll handle it. Just remember how much you love me.” I bolted before she could argue or retort.

“How the hell did this happen?” I asked, surveying the broken lamp by Rachel’s feet.

“I was doing what Sue told me and getting my dust on when some dude startled me.”

“What dude?”

“The super hot guy with a cute butt. He went over in that direction." She pointed toward a different aisle. "Today might be the day... makeover time."

"Oh, please, grab the broom and clean up your mess while I tend to the customer. You’re a little too high-strung right now for dusting, so I will take over once I’m finished. Go stand at the register and look pretty when you're done.”

“Don’t I always?” she asked as she curtsied with her duster in one hand.

My short stature was getting the better of me while trying to locate said customer, but I managed to catch a sliver of dark hair peeking over a tall armoire and made my way to him.

"Hello, sir, can I help you?” I approached the man standing between two end tables.

He stood tall and wide, taking up most of the aisle. His coarse black hair, which curled slightly on his head, complemented his darker skin. A fitted burgundy button-down shirt stretched taut across his thick, broad shoulders. Rachel wasn't lying; he did have a cute butt underneath his tan dress slacks.

He cleared his throat as he turned. “Ah, yes, sorry if I startled your colleague there; I didn’t mean to give her a fright.” His hazel eyes darted to the end of the aisle.

“Ha! Give Rachel a fright? I can assure you, she’s okay. She just gets in her own world sometimes when she has to do manual labor. She hates it, so she’s too busy plotting our demise to notice things around her.”

'Why the hell did my own brain let those words come out of my mouth to a complete stranger?'

“I’m Savi, by the way. Is there anything in particular you’re looking for today?”

“I was on the hunt for a matching pair of end tables, but there doesn’t seem to be a set here at your establishment. Such a shame. I must be on my way and search elsewhere. Good day to you, Ms. Savi.” The man turned on the heels of his brown leather loafers and hurried out of the store.

“What did you say?” Rachel scoffed from the desk as I walked toward her, looking dumbfounded.

“What do you mean, what did I say? He said we didn’t have what he wanted and scampered off. He was actually quite rude about it, if you ask me. His accent made it hard for me to tell whether I was being insulted; I feel insulted, Rach."

“You always manage to make it awkward. I don’t blame him. We need to practice your small talk.” Rachel leaned her elbows on the counter. “Oh well, at least you got to ogle the eye candy while it lasted. And yes, that South African accent, oh my God! I love being this close to the city; all the rich boys from all over the world travel here for work.”

“He was looking for two end tables; I doubt he is visiting. He probably lives somewhere in the city, and judging by that giant watch on his wrist, I would bet on the nicer side.”

“Then who knows, maybe fate will have you two meet again one day." She winked at me and twirled the end of her long chestnut hair.

The front door alarm dinged, and we both turned to find another man making his way to the counter. He was wearing a Rolling Stones T-shirt with some faded jeans and thick combat boots. His messy blonde hair fell limp over his forehead, squished and sweaty from the motorcycle helmet he carried.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Hey, Coop!” I waved at him, turning to face Rachel as he stepped beside me and plopped a sack on the counter.

“Whaddup ladies? Hello, Savi, and hello, sewer gremlin," Cooper teased as he shot her a daring grin.

Cooper and Rachel acted as if they hated each other in public, but at home, they were thick as thieves. He was the last one to join the ‘house of chaos’ (as we liked to call it), but I had known him longer than Rachel.

He turned closer to me. "Whoa, you look like shit.”

She burst into laughter. “That’s what I said too!”

“What the hell, guys? Come on.”

“Brought ya something, Savi.”

It only took a split second before the aroma from the bag slammed into my nostrils at lightning speed.

"Oh my gods! Pizza!” I squealed with delight.

“Yup, fresh from Fellini’s. I got a pie and couldn’t finish it, and since I was riding by, I would see if you wanted it. I noticed you forgot your lunch in the fridge this morning.”

“Yes, I was so pissed but I was late, and didn’t sleep well. And I had therapy this morning, so my brain was riding the struggle bus to get ready today. All of which explains the ‘looking of the shit today’ as you two so graciously pointed out. Thanks for that boost of confidence, by the way. But you brought me pizza so all is forgiven, bestest roommate ever!”

I dove headfirst into the bag and pulled out the to-go carton from Fellini’s. It was the best pizza joint around the city, hands down. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I was already halfway through the first slice.

Rachel eyed me with both disgust at my statement and jealousy as I devoured the pizza slice in seconds. “Ahem, excuuuuse me… one, I am THE BESTEST ROOMMATE EVER,” she said, doing air quotes.” And two, where the hell is my lunch, dude?”

“What? No dicks around here for you to munch on today, Rach?"

“I haven’t had the pleasure of being around a good dick today, not even in this very moment.”

I almost choked on a bite of my second slice. “You two, I swear to the gods.”

“He started it," whipped Rachel.

"And she would love to end it.” Cooper retorted as he mimed a girl getting erotically showered in the face, tongue out and all.

“Fucking hell, we’re at work, guys! Come on! Chill, Coop, so inappropriate, funny, but inappropriate.” I laughed as I wiped grease and sauce from my mouth.

Fellini’s is not healthy food by any means. I chose to ignore my growing food belly and enjoyed my pizza anytime I wanted. Counting calories sucks.

“Heyyy Sue!” Rachel straightened, hoping Sue hadn't overheard us.

Sue walked around the corner. “We have a break room, Savi; might I suggest you use it from time to time? Hey, Cooper, how are you, sunshine?”

“I’m already done," I said as I scarfed down my last bite. "As much as you love me, you’ve never once called me Sunshine. I’m hurt, Sue.”

“Have you seen your face today?” she grinned, telling me she had heard every word.

'Figures she would join them in the teasing.'

"What the heck?" I threw my arms in the air in protest of their shenanigans.

“Ohhhhhhh damn," Rachel and Cooper said in near-perfect unison.

'Those two bastards.'

“I’m just kidding. You guys forget, security cameras catch everything. Also, sunshine, this is my place of business, cool it with the sexual gestures, mmkay?” Sue said as she walked behind Rachel and pulled out a logbook from under the counter. “I just got off the phone with a new job applicant, so be careful, Rachel. One more break and you might be replaced.”

“You lose me; you lose Savi too!” Rachel yelled to Sue as she walked away.

“Speak for yourself. After today, with both of y’all saying I look like shit, I’m beginning to question finding new friends.”

“You’re too awkward for that, so you’re stuck with us," Cooper interjected, trying to cut any perceived tension. ”But speaking of new friends, you know that chick I met at the bar I was telling y’all about?”

“How could we forget? You groaned on about her incessantly the other day. What was her name again… Asterisks?" Rachel sneered.

"Haha, very funny; her name is Aster. Don’t be a jealous twat, lovey.”

"Language, sunshine!" Sue shouted as she walked by us again to check a tag on a dining table near the front door.

"Sorry, Sue," Cooper apologized. "Her name is Aster, my most beautiful friend, Rachel,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“That’s more like it, dear.” Sue smiled as she headed toward the back again.

Cooper peered back at Rachel and grinned from ear to ear. “Anywho, so, yeah, Aster. We were chilling out the other day and she told me about her grandma and how she had to meet her to do some witchy stuff, and it got me thinking. You know how you’re always having those recurring dreams, right?”

“Yeah, what about them?" I asked, wandering to the drink machine by the register.

“Witchy stuff?” Rachel asked. “How can you trust someone who claims to be a real witch? Isn’t that just a bunch of nonsense? Red flag number one, Coop.”

Cooper ignored her and went right back to talking to me. “Well, I told her about them."

Spewing the first sip from my mouth in disbelief, I yelled, ”You what?! Oh great, we’re gonna meet this girl and you’re gonna have to be all like, 'Welcome to our home, here’s my two roommates, hoebag, and crazy pants.' Why would you do that? Don’t you want her to like us?”

Rachel shot me an irritated glance, but didn’t take the bait.

“Relax. I explained to her what’s been going on and she said there's stuff she can do to help out if you’d be willing to meet. I for one think you should totally meet up with her. I would love to experience the two of you in the same room holding hands and whispering in the candlelight.”

"Oh gross, Coop," Rachel said, and threw a gum wrapper at him. "And you call me a hoebag?”

“I’m joking. But, in all seriousness, it couldn’t hurt, right? Just meet up and see if they can help you figure stuff out. Might help you get a full night’s sleep, for all our sakes. Nonsense or not.”

I reared back and punched him hard on the shoulder.

”Hey, I didn’t mean ‘cause of your looks. I mean, when you can’t sleep, you work in your studio, which means I can’t sleep. You were out there the other night painting and making all kinds of racket. I came out to tell you to cool it, but you were so into your work you didn’t hear me, so I gave up and went back to sleep. Well, I tried to, anyway."

“I’m sorry I didn’t hear you. I don’t remember painting late this week, though; are you sure it was this week?”

“Yup, I’m sure of it.”

I looked down at the counter in deep thought, confused. There were times when I would stay up late in the studio working on a new piece, but I couldn't recall doing it recently. Especially this last week.

“It’s no big deal, alright? I ended up getting enough before work, so it’s all gravy. Don’t sweat it," Cooper assured me, noticing the worry come over my face.

“So, this friend of yours, when did she want to meet up?”

“She’s got a thing this weekend, but I’m sure I could arrange to drive you out there since I’m off. Maybe afterwards we could check out the bar in the city. You game?"

“No papers, no ID – remember, genius?”

“You let me handle that, smarty pants, or was it crazy pants?” he teased. "Okay, I will see you guys tonight and we will go over the details. Chin up, buttercup, we’ll figure out those dreams so I - I mean, you - can sleep.”

I reared back to whop him again, but he turned and ran, throwing a peace sign behind him.

“What do you say? Up for some possible adventure?” I asked, glancing at Rachel.

“I don’t know… witchy shit? Do you even believe in all that? After what happened last year around this time, should we go poking the bear? I know I’ve given you crap all day about looking rough, but I really am worried about you, hun.” Her voice took on a calmer, more genuine tone.

I paused for a second at the mention of last year's disaster. The complete and utter mess I had made still haunted me.

“I dunno what I believe in, honestly, but if it could help, I’m game to try anything. Last year won’t happen again, I promise.” I tried to assure her, but a slight bit of hesitation caught in my voice.

'It can’t happen again. I won’t let it.'