Random RP for me and Cricket

"I could have been the stress...right now it's not really important." Tammy forced a smile to him and took his hand, "We have other things to think about now okay?"

Shayne nodded solemnly, he didn't see it as unimportant at all. He picked Kirah back up, and handed her to Tammy. "We do..."

Tammy was thinking about it deep down but her excitement came back when she was holding Kirah again.
I'll always wonder what caused it now. It's mind boggling.

Shayne was thinking the exact same thing. What if she has another, and I'm not there for her?

-Years Later-

Robert was young and new to life as a researcher. He spent many hours studying and less time using his voice. So whenever he spoke it sounded raspy and unused. He had black hair, normally combed back professionally, glasses and a goatee. He was tall, slightly lanky but other than that very smart. His quite personality led people to believing that he could care less about humanity or the world altogether.

Kirah tried hard all her life to ignore people, and see only the good in them. To ignore the rudeness, and love the person for who they could be. Well, she succeeded... kind of. She succeeded in loving people, but she could never forget things said. Words spoken didn't roll off her back, and she was easily hurt, though she tried not to let it get in the way of loving people. She worked as a simple cashier at Wal-Mart, and paid her own way through college to get a degree that wasn't even useful where she lived. Now, she pays off student loans and realizes that she'll never pay them off if she doesn't use the degree she went to school for. The problem? She doesn't make enough to move somewhere where she could put it to use.

Robert was grocery shopping, buying junk food mostly but then there were healthy things he bought as well. He was still in his researchers uniform and looking slightly less professional with his hair going spiky on him and not staying combed back like he wanted. He went down every aisle to grab at least one thing before coming up to the register.

Kirah smiled kindly to him. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, with a few strands in the front refusing to be bound by cloth-covered rubber. Her bright hazel eyes seemed to sparkle with joy at seeing another human life. "Good afternoon, Sir! How was your day?" She seemed generally happy as she gently scanned his grceries, taking care not to damage them.

Robert lifted his eyes to her and smiled, "Good and yours?" He had a kind sounding tone but he also sounded like he'd just recovered from strep throat. He was about to ask her something else but was interrupted.

"EEEK ROBBY!!!" A shrill sounding voice came.

He turned to see a thin blond girl coming, the shock there was his smile broadened. "Jamie!" He shouted lifting her into his arms when she reached him.

"Reasonable..." She stated softly to herself. She finished ringing up the list, and came up with: "$110.67 Sir."

Robert and Jamie were having a mini makeout session when he was brought back to his senses by her words.
"Oh! Yeah sorry!" He pulled out his wallet and whipped out the 'American Express', handing it to her quickly before jumping to converse with his girlfriend.

"So how is that research going?" Jamie asked while waiting around.

"Great, it's been a bit rocky though, I'm not sure if there is a cure just yet." Robert replied as he was putting bags in the cart.

Kirah offered a soft "Thank you." as she took the card, and keyed in the number, then swiped it. She set it on the little ledge in front of her, and tore the receipt off, laying it beside the card with a pen. "Sign here please." She said with a small smile. It seemed like every even remotely handsome, or well-mannered man seemed to be taken already. Not that she had a chance... no one in there right mind would date a Wal-Mart cashier... it's not like Masters in Software Development was written on her forehead... even if it was on a piece of paper on her wall at home.

Robert smiled warmly and pulled a pen out of his chest pocket. Quickly scribbling out his best signature before shoving the receipt towards her and picking up his card. "Thanks! Have a nice day uh..." He pushed his glasses up on his nose and smiled, "Kirah!" He could feel Jamie tugging at his arm in a giggling fit as they walked off talking.

"You too." She stated automatically after him. She sighed sadly. Why people so happily in love always came to her register, she didn't know... but it seemed like torture. She caught herself daydreaming when another customer arrived, and she began the process of scanning items, and swiping cards once more. It was her job, and wished it wasn't. She wished people could stop being so ignorant, and notice that she wasn't just a shy Wal-Mart employee... she was a major in Software Develpoment, and if you asked her how to code Windows 98 in Binary, she'd simply smile, and get to work on it. Oh, she was good.

Robert stopped suddenly, "Hey...my wallet...I must have dropped it inside." He said quickly.

Jamie frowned, "Robby...it's probably in your back pocket where it always is!" She laughed awkwardly, knowing for a fact that he always said he lost it because he wanted to go back in and grab something, it was a monthly ritual. He would say he lost his wallet and run back in, then come out with two twelve pack boxes of sodas.

Kirah yawned as she took the signed receipt, and placed it in a drawer in front her. Now it seemed like everyone was bypassing her... it was always like this. First a flood, then a drought. She winced as her manager yelled at her for not having her 'May I Help You?' pin perfectly straight on her vest. Her manager left, and just like always, the girl burst into tears as she helped another customer. Turn her manager in, you ask? Why? Who would replace her? No one has worked long enough to fit the criteria... it was useless. Besides, if Wal-Mart hasn't replaced her the twelve other times she's been reported, why would they now?

And suddenly Robert was back with those two things of soda, "Hey! I forgot something!" He exclaimed with a smile, his voice still sounded totally awkward.

Kirah smiled warmly, though the fact that she had been crying wasn't easily hidden under the bright fluorescent lights. But she said nothing, and scanned the two boxes of soda. "$12.98" She said, with a crack in her voice. It wasn't at all clear and musical as it had been before. Oh, but thus was her life... she never was good at letting things roll off her back... she took everything to heart... and she hated that about herself.

"Hey...are you okay? Oh! I remembered what I was going to ask, are you looking for a better job?" He asked out of curiosity.

"It depends what job it is." She didn't answer his other question, it would just lead to her manager being reported AGAIN and Kirah's pay being deducted AGAIN, and of course, she'd be yelled at... AGAIN. She didn't think it was at all worth it... just to let the man know. No, it was better this way, it was so much more peaceful.

"Well we're looking for people who know computers so we can get some new tech going in the hospital...we're pretty behind right now." Robert said as he picked up his bags of soda.

She looked at him quizzically. Why did he ask her? Surely he didn't know what her job was supposed to be. "Why ask me? I mean... I'd love to, but surely you could find better people than me." She gulped as she saw her manager coming again. This wasn't good. Fear reflected in her eyes as she hurried to make her already neat work area look spotless. Too late, a hair, that didn't even belong to her was picked up, and shoved in her face. She was then screamed at about public safety, and keeping it clean and bacteria free, and how her manager didn't even see why she kept Kirah. Her pay would be deducted, and her hours increased. She walked off, and Kirah began to cry again... she could barely meet her house payments before... what would she do now? Go hungry, or live homeless?

This made Robert angry, "That's not right. Here..." He pulled out a card and laid it in her hand, "Call me if you need a job...I'll pull the strings and get you in okay?" He smiled again and began to walk off.

Kirah stared after him... why did he care? From her experience... no one really cared... so what made this man different? Still, she signed the birthday card for the manager that was placed on her work station, and passed it on. She didn't hate the woman... she didn't hate anybody... but she was scared of her, and what she might do if she turned in her two weeks notice. With a shaky hand, she wrote a short letter of resignation. She'd turn it in tomorrow, she hated to quit on the woman's birthday.. she thought it was mean.

Robert walked out with a smile but couldn't find Jamie.
"Jamie?" He called looking around. Thought she was waiting for me... He couldn't seem to figure this out and began to worry, it wasn't like her to just disappear.