A quiet moan escaped Tori’s lips. It had been several days since they had been intimate; getting adjusted to their new life had left them both exhausted every night. This night, however, promised to make up for lost time.
Chapter 29
Tori decided on a button-down shirt and black dress pants for her interview. She wore her hair in an updo and applied darker makeup so she’d look more at home in Wyckid. She studied herself in the mirror for a few minutes, wondering if there was anything else she could do to improve her chances.
Chloe walked into the bedroom, smiling as she saw Tori nervously peering at her reflection. “Babe, you look fine!” she insisted. “Stop worrying so much!”
Tori frowned and chewed her bottom lip. “I’m just afraid they’ll take one look at me and tell me I won’t fit in.”
“Don’t worry about what you look like,” Chloe said. “As long as you can sell yourself in the interview, you should be fine.”
“I’ve never been on an interview, though,” Tori argued. “They’ll ask if I have any work experience, and I’ll say no, and it’ll be over. Or I’ll get all nervous and sound like a bumbling moron, and they’ll think of me as just another dumb blonde.”
Chloe sighed as she walked over to hug Tori. “Stop worrying. Everyone needs to start somewhere. Just tell them you’re a quick learner and dedicated to whatever you put your mind to. Tell them that, until recently, you were the head cheerleader to demonstrate that you can balance school and work and know how to lead. I also doubt they’ll think of you as a dumb blonde once you speak; you’re very intelligent.”
Tori wrapped her arm around Chloe’s waist and leaned her head on her shoulder. “I hope you’re right,” she muttered nervously, studying Chloe’s face in the mirror. She adored the compassion in her eyes, and she was thankful for Chloe’s patience during her times of frustration and impatience.
“I am right,” Chloe insisted, kissing Tori’s forehead. “Now let’s get you to your interview.”
Tori’s leg shook nervously during the entire trip to the mall, and her clammy hand gripped Chloe’s leg to maintain composure.
Chloe stroked Tori’s hand gently, trying to send Tori calming vibes with her touch. “You’re going to be fine,” Chloe insisted, glancing over at her. Tori’s face was pale, and she was chewing her lower lip again.
Tori stared wearily at the mall’s entrance as she sighed and got out of the car. “Here goes,” she muttered.
They headed straight to Wyckid, and Chloe kissed her gently on the cheek and squeezed her hand as they parted ways. Tori scanned the store, noticing the styles of the customers and staff. Most of them had multi-colored hair, body piercings, and multiple tattoos. As she looked around, Tori took a mental inventory of herself. Her ears were pierced once, but that was about it. She had no tattoos, and her darker makeup paled in comparison to the extreme styles around her. Her stomach twisted as she worried about her chances of getting the job. If I don’t get a job, I don’t know what I’ll do, she lamented. The money my mom gave me won’t last that long. I guess I could try to find something close to home that I could walk to, but how will I manage that in the winter? Glancing at her watch, she noticed that she was about ten minutes early. At least my punctuality will be a positive point for me.
The blue-haired clerk scrutinized Tori’s looks and clothing as she approached the register. Tori thought that she saw the clerk subtly roll her eyes as she sweetly asked, “Can I help you?”
Tori smiled nervously. “Uh, yeah,” she replied. “I have an interview at two-thirty.”
The clerk quietly scoffed, smirking. “Okay. I’ll go get him.” She yelled for another clerk to watch the register as she walked into the back room.
A few moments later, the girl returned with a man following behind her. He was a little less extreme than the other employees and patrons with spiky brown hair, gauged ears, and a button-down black shirt. He smiled politely at Tori, shaking her hand as soon as he got close enough. Tori noted the firmness of his handshake and tried to replicate it to seem more professional.
“Hi there. I’m Gregory,” he greeted. “You must be Victoria.” Tori nodded. “Great! Follow me.” He led Tori into the back office, squeezing past other employees and overstuffed clothing racks.
They entered the office, and Gregory sat behind a beige metal desk. Tori stood in the doorway nervously. “Please, come in and have a seat,” he said, motioning to an empty chair on the other side of the desk. Tori slid into the seat, twiddling her thumbs nervously as she waited for Gregory to speak.
Gregory scanned Tori’s application, noting her lack of experience. This deficiency was normal for applicants her age; many teens focused on their studies rather than jumping right into the workforce as soon as they were legally able.
“It looks like this would be your first job, correct?” Gregory questioned as Tori nodded in response. “Have you ever been on an interview?”
Tori shook her head. “No, sir,” she replied with a wavering voice, her clammy hands gripping the arms of the chair.
Gregory nodded. “That’s fine. I am going to start the interview by asking you a few questions. Take your time if you need to, okay?” He asked Tori questions such as why she was interested in working for Wyckid, how she felt about absenteeism and shoplifting, what her anticipated schedule would be, and if she’d be able to handle working a register and stocking merchandise while serving customers.
Tori hastily explained her desire to be financially independent—though she didn’t elaborate on the particulars—and discussed her ability to manage time due to years in cheerleading. She also said she’d be able to handle standing on her feet due to years of cheering during football games. Additionally, Tori stated that shoplifting was wrong and that employees should avoid chronic tardiness and absenteeism at all costs. Tori then explained her current transportation issues and added that she would provide him with sufficient notice if there were any changes in her schedule.
Once they were done with the discussion, Gregory excused himself from the room for what seemed like an eternity. Tori waited quietly, her heart thumping as she awaited an answer. He returned within a few minutes, walking briskly to the desk and sitting with a stern expression.
He cleared his throat, looking at the application on his desk. “Victoria, thank you for applying to Wyckid, but I don’t think we’ll be in need of your services at this time.”
Tori’s eyes widened. “Can I ask why?” she inquired.
Gregory sighed calmly. “Well, with no steady mode of transportation paired with lack of experience, we feel you may not be the best candidate for the position. Also, we’re looking for someone that better fits the Wyckid brand; frankly, you may be too ‘bubble gum’ to identify with the customers and staff.”
Tori’s eyes brimmed with tears. She wished that she could cuss out the supervisor and storm out of the store with rage, but she remained professional. She stood up, shaking Gregory’s hand. “Thank you for the opportunity to be interviewed,” she replied as she held back sobs. He led her from the back room, and she briskly exited the store. Once she was out, she hurried to Trend to report her news to Chloe.
Chloe noticed Tori’s tear-stained face before she even entered the store, and she automatically knew the results of her interview at Wyckid. It didn’t necessarily surprise her; Tori didn’t exactly fit the Wyckid mold. Still, she knew this would be a blow to Tori’s ego and her desire to succeed without the help of her parents. Chloe hurried around the register and embraced Tori, feeling Tori’s heaving shoulders and warm tears as she vented her sorrow.
“I’m sorry, hun,” Chloe said solemnly.
Tori sniffled. “What am I going to do?”
“You’ll be fine, sweetie,” Chloe assured her. “You can find a better job than that, anyway.”
“But where?” Tori demanded. “No other place in the mall has called me back!”
Chloe sighed. “Give them some time. They probably h
ave a ton of applications to rummage through. If no one calls you back on Monday, then call them back; it’ll show them that you are eager to work for them.”
Tori wiped a tear from her eye. “Yeah, maybe,” she muttered. “This just sucks so much! I can’t even get a stupid clerk job at a stupid mall store! How much do I suck?”
Chloe smirked. “Sweetie, you don’t exactly fit the bill to work there. Not to be rude, but look at you. You’d probably never walked into Wyckid before applying there, huh?”
Tori grinned. “Yeah, well, maybe not.” She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I guess I just wasn’t meant for that store.”
Chloe nodded. “You’d probably fit in more at Torrent downstairs,” she suggested.
“I guess you’re right.” She glanced out of the store at the nearby escalator while she considered her options. “Well, since I’m here, should I go down there and ask them about the job?”
Chloe shrugged. “It’s up to you, hun,” she said. “It wouldn’t hurt to check, though.”
Tori thought for a moment. Her stomach rumbled with nervousness, and she decided against it. “I guess I’ll just wait till Monday. I can always call them.”
Chloe nodded in agreement. They stood in silence for a moment as Tori wiped her eyes. Chloe wanted nothing more than to kiss her and hold her for the rest of the night, but work beckoned.
Sensing Chloe’s concern about getting back to work, Tori hugged her once last time while kissing her cheek. “I guess I’ll head home,” she said. “Text me when you’re getting ready to leave, and I’ll come get you, okay?”
Chloe nodded. “Okay, sweetie. I’ll see you then.” She held Tori’s hand for a moment before returning to the counter.
* * *
Tori entered the house, hung up the keys, and headed upstairs. The attic still devoid of furniture, she sat cross-legged on the floor and looked around. Light filtered through the small windows on the front and side of the house, illuminating the small collection of Tori’s possessions. Cherry wood planks stretched across the floor, in desperate need of polishing and throw rugs, and the walls could use a new coat of paint. Tori sighed, remembering her old bedroom, its large windows covering most of the wall and brightening the freshly-painted space. Her walk-in closets stored her vast collection of trendy and designer clothing worth thousands of dollars, and her queen-sized plush bed had fluffy down pillows on which she could relax while watching movies on her large plasma screen television.
While she inspected her meager living space and frowned, she felt a pang of guilt. Tori knew that she was fortunate to have someone willing to take her in on such short notice and trusted her enough to cosign on a bank account and add her to their cell phone plan and car insurance policy. She chastised herself for complaining about something so trivial and superficial, but a life of luxury was the only life she’d known; she’d gotten used to a certain standard of living, and it would take time to fully adjust to her new accommodations.
After rearranging the trinkets she’d smuggled from her old bedroom, she made her way downstairs and planted herself in front of the television. She’d already finished all of her homework and had hauled all of her belongings to the attic; with nothing to keep her mind occupied, despair began to envelop her. The television show wasn’t keeping her attention, so she struggled to busy herself with other activities—reading, surfing the internet, cleaning up—but one could only read or surf for so long before boredom set in. The TV only provided a minor distraction for Tori as she became lost in her thoughts.
Tori began replaying the locker room incident, how her former friends provoked her until she snapped—which, she realized, is exactly what they’d been trying to do; it was probably the only way to get her kicked off the squad. The entire school had been told Sabrina’s version of the skirmish in the blink of an eye, and Tori’s suspension only made it seem more plausible. By the time Tori got back, Sabrina’s side would be considered fact; even if she tried to refute it, no one would believe her.
As fear and anger threatened to consume her yet again, Tori sprang from the couch and shook her head to clear it of negative thoughts. “I need to stop this!” she screamed, her voice echoing off the walls. Tori grabbed the car keys and stormed outside, desperately trying to escape the memories and fears that were robbing her of her sanity.
Tori walked to the car, the key ready for the ignition. Before she could unlock the door though, she stopped herself. The last thing I should be doing is driving, Tori thought. I don’t want to wreck Chloe’s car. I should take a walk and enjoy the sun and warm weather. Tori sighed, agreeing with her thoughts, and headed down the street to the end of the block.
Not familiar with the neighborhood, Tori was unsure of which way to turn, but she kept walking nonetheless. Tori drank in the gentle breeze and sounds of chirping birds, and she realized how long it had been since she’d strolled outside or stopped to appreciate nature; most of her teenage life had been spent indoors or in a car. The tree-lined streets of her new neighborhood were especially comforting, and she drew in a long breath through her nose while her pulse slowed to a normal pace.
If I don’t get a job at the mall, Tori thought, I think I’ll buy a bike and work around here, at least until I can save up enough money to buy a car of my own.
She pictured herself replacing a car for a bicycle, and she chuckled to herself. It’s amazing how much I’ve changed. If someone would’ve told me on the first day of school that I’d be walking around for fun and riding a bicycle to my job, I would’ve told them that they were insane. Tori continued walking, calmer than she’d been since her life changed, finally returning home when the sun began to dip below the nearby hills.
* * *
Near the end of Chloe’s shift, Tori ventured back to the mall, looking at bicycles in a sporting goods store. She wondered what local job opportunities existed and if she’d be able to handle cycling to work every day after school. She also hoped that she’d be able to find a bike for a better price; she had no idea that bicycles were so expensive or that their features differed so much.
Having a better idea of what she was looking for, she headed to Trend. Chloe was preparing to leave as she walked in, and she beamed when their eyes met.
“Hey, baby!” Chloe greeted, embracing Tori. “I’m just about done, okay?”
“Hi, honey,” Tori replied, squeezing Chloe’s hand. “Go ahead and do what you need to do; I’ll just browse around till you’re done.”
As they walked out of the mall, Tori noticed a flyer on the community bulletin board which made her stop in her tracks. The words were in large, bold font, and a small, triangular rainbow adorned the bottom of the page.
Did you recently come out?
Have you been shunned or discriminated against for being LGBTQ+?
Are you confused or scared?
The Outreach Center for Community Acceptance may be able to help. Please call (412)555-0522 for more information, or visit the center at 818 Center Street.
We’re here for you!
Tori’s heart leaped with excitement. She recalled the LGBTQ research she’d done after realizing that she’d had a crush on Chloe, and she was ecstatic to know that there was a center that she could go to for support. As Tori imagined what it’d be like talking to others who didn’t have a positive coming out experience, she filled with hope. Sharing her pain, venting her fear and anger, and crying on the shoulder of someone who understood her plight would be cathartic. It was an option that she would seriously consider; it’d be nice to feel somewhat normal again.
Tori motioned towards the sign. “Do you see that?” Tori asked Chloe.
Chloe squinted. “Sort of.” Tori and Chloe walked to the sign, and Chloe read it. “That’s pretty neat! I didn’t think there were places like that around here.”
“I want to give them a call,” Tori declared, adding the phone number to her contacts. “It’d be nice to join a support group or something. I k
now it’s only been a week, but I’ve been sitting at home all day while you and Cynthia are working, and I’ve been getting lonely. Then I start to think about what my parents and former friends did, and I start to get really angry. I’d just like to talk to someone about what I’m feeling.”
“I think it’s a great idea!” Chloe agreed. “You need all the support you can get.”
Tori grinned, hugging her. “Thank you, babe. Your support means a lot to me. I’ll call them tomorrow.”
Chapter 30
On Sunday morning, Chloe and Tori told Cynthia about the flyer that Tori had seen the night prior, and Tori expressed her interest in the Center.
“It sounds like a great resource to help get your life situated and to help others,” Cynthia agreed. “Hearing what others have gone through and knowing there are others like you out there will help you heal.”
Tori nodded. “That’s what I thought. I’m sure there are lots of people who have it worse than me, especially if they didn’t have anyone to take them in or help them start their life over.” She squeezed Chloe’s knee, smiling. “I think helping others might help me, too.”
“Go call them,” Chloe insisted, nodding upstairs to where Tori’s phone was.
Tori nodded and ran upstairs, retrieving her phone and returning to the table. “I’ll put it on speakerphone so that we can all hear, okay?”
“Outreach Center for Community Acceptance,” a woman greeted. “This is Angie. How may I assist you today?”
“Uh, yeah, my name is Tori,” she began anxiously. “I saw your flyer at the mall, and I wanted to know if I could have some information about your facility.”
“Certainly!” Angie said enthusiastically. “First of all, I’d like to add that all of our services and programs are confidential; we understand that some people wish to remain ‘in the closet’ for various reasons, and that’s fine. We have several programs for those interested in both life assistance and volunteerism within the community. Do you know which would interest you the most?”
Our New Normal Page 19