A Ghetto Romance

Chapter1

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Jasmine’s phone buzzed in her pocket. Normally she didn’t answer her phone while she was at work, but it had been a slow day, and she didn’t have any customers, so she pulled it out of her pocket. She was glad that she did when she saw who was calling too—Alexandra.

Hi, she said, answering the phone. What’s up?

Oh, I’m so glad you answered the phone, Alexandra’s frazzled voice rang in her ear.

You sound stressed, sis, something wrong? Jasmine asked, trying to sound upbeat.

Don’t call me that, Alexandra said sounding annoyed, you know I hate being called ‘sis.’ It sounds so childish.

Alright, well what can I do for you then, Alexandra? Jasmine said in the most sarcastic tone possible.

Alexandra chose to ignore the sarcasm and move on with the conversation. I need some help and you’re the only person I know that has the connections for something like this.

Alright, what do you need? Jasmine asked, letting go of the petty differences of sisters.

Well, I think I told you that it’s the ten-year anniversary at the dealership this month?

Yeah I think you mentioned that at some point, Jasmine said.

So anyway, Alexandra continued, my boss wants me to get a nice gift for our top three sellers. I have no idea what to get for them—no idea whatsoever. I figured you would know what to get for them and, with your connections at the mall, you might be able to get a good deal, too.

What’s your budget? Jasmine asked.

Well I don’t really have one, Alexandra explained.

Don’t really have one? Jasmine asked astonished.

Well, yeah, my boss, well she didn’t really give me a budget. I mean of course I asked her about how much I could spend, but she just said to get something nice. Something I would like. That of course just complicates everything even more because I don’t know how much a good amount to spend is.

Jasmine could hear her sister’s anxiety over the phone.

So did you want to get them cell phones then? she asked trying to lighten the mood.

She heard Alexandra scoff on the other end.

Jasmine had worked at the cell phone kiosk at the mall for three years. In recent months she had been made manager of the kiosk and was really proud of her accomplishment. Alexandra was more successful working at the car dealership, but for practically raising themselves, Jasmine was fairly impressed at how they had turned out.

Her parents had died when she was in high school and Alexandra had just graduated. Alexandra had gone to two years of college and then started working at the dealership. She had worked hard and earned everything she’d received at the dealership. She was now one of the best employees the dealership had, all due to her hard work and dedication to the company.

Jasmine hadn’t gone to college. She knew her parents would have wanted her to, but things just hadn’t worked out that way for her. She had started working at the mall during high school. She had worked various jobs in the mall, finally landing at the cell phone kiosk after high school. It was a good job with commissions and the ability to move up to manager. She had stayed there and been dedicated to the job. It paid better than most jobs in the mall, even better than most manager jobs.

Sometimes she regretted not going to college but mostly that was because she knew her parents would be disappointed in her. She was happy with how her life had turned out. She and Alexandra lived together in a townhouse and took care of each other. They weren’t always the best for each other, but they looked out for each other, which was just what sisters did.

So do you think you can help me out? Alexandra’s voice resonated over the line.

Of course, isn’t that what sisters are for? Jasmine said smiling.

You’re a lifesaver, Alexandra said with relief.

I know, Jasmine said laughing slightly.

Don’t mess this up, Jasmine, Alexandra said. You know how important this is. As if she needed to remind her.

I got this, Alexandra, Jasmine said reassuring her, don’t stress it, go back to work. We’ll talk about it when I get home. 

Just don’t purchase anything without my go ahead, okay? Alexandra asked, but more like demanded.

As you wish, Jasmine conceded.

Oh, shut up, Alexandra said before saying goodbye and hanging up.

Jasmine helped a few customers and waited for her next break and then headed out to work on Alexandra’s gifts.

I’ll be back in a few minutes, she told James, the other employee at the kiosk.

Not a problem, James said. Take all the time you need. I’ll take care of things until you get back.

Thanks, Jasmine said. She knew she really could take all the time she needed— longer than a normal break. James had wanted to date her for years, but she had never really taken advantage of the situation. She’d known James for a long time, and dating someone she worked with made the situation far too awkward for her.

She had thought about it. It would have been nice to have someone in her life, but she didn’t want to date and then have to come to work and have it be uncomfortable. And she didn’t want to do that to a guy like James. James was a good guy and he deserved a good relationship with a nice girl that was in it for the right reasons—or at least in it for a long-term relationship. Jasmine knew that she wouldn’t go into the relationship for the right reasons.

They had a lot in common, too. They had gone to high school together and had a lot of the same friends. He was a good looking black guy with a nice personality. They got along, but their lives were just headed in different directions. He just didn’t have the kind of aspirations that Jasmine was looking for in a guy. Jasmine thought that he had a hard time understanding that sometimes, but he hadn’t pushed the idea too hard.

Jasmine walked through the mall shops trying to see if anything would pop out at her. That’s when she saw the jewelry store.

Perfect, Jasmine muttered to herself as she walked inside.

The store was practically deserted except for a wandering customer that was escaping out a side door just as Jasmine was walking in.

Hi, good afternoon. Can I help you? an employee approached Jasmine.

Oh, hi. Afternoon, Jasmine replied. Yeah, can I, uh, speak to a manager or an assistant manager? she asked.

The employee was extremely good looking. Jasmine was taken back for a second, not usually attracted to white guys. He was tall, well-built, with sandy blonde hair and stunning green eyes. She was immediately drawn to his eyes. They were open and honest, not the typical salesman type that were overly friendly and fake. Instead his eyes read like an open book and seemed genuine and kind.

I’m the lead for today, the employee replied. My name is Ryan. How can I assist you?

Oh, that’s great, Jasmine said. It’s great to meet you. I am in need of a few gifts. Three to be exact. They are for my sister actually. It’s kind of complicated. She needs them for her company.  Jasmine felt foolish and confused. Ryan was extremely good looking and she was embarrassed for fumbling through her explanation of why she was there to begin with.

Have I seen you around the mall before? Ryan asked. Do you work here, like in the food court or something?

I’m a manager at the Cell 4 U Kiosk, Jasmine corrected him.

Oh I’m sorry, that’s far different from working in the food court, Ryan apologized.

It’s okay, Jasmine said, brushing it aside. It’s an easy mistake.

I wouldn’t want to be mistaken for someone working in the food court though, so I really am sorry. I would find it offensive. I really do feel bad. I don’t know why I thought that, you deserve to hate me for thinking that, Ryan ran his fingers through his hair obviously trying just about everything to apologize for what he thought was a damning mistake.

Jasmine tried to move on, while secretly she thought his apologizing was quite cute. So let me explain why I am here. My sister works for a car dealership and she is in charge of finding three gifts for the top three sellers in her company. They are commemorating their ten-year anniversary this month and are celebrating with all sorts of things—this being one of them. Anyway, her boss put her in charge of finding these gifts, and she in turn delegated it to me. So here I am trying to find something that is a nice gift. Make sense?

Yep, Ryan said. So let’s get to work. Ryan walked into the back of the store and came back with three large catalogs. These are kind of the bread and better of our inventory. Anything we can order will be in here. 

My break is just about over so I can’t sit in here and go through these, Jasmine said nervously.

Ryan tensed. Jasmine could see him weighing the options in his mind before he made his decision. Go ahead and take them, but you have to make me a promise. Bring them back to me in the next two days. You have to take care of them like they were solid gold. I’m not supposed to let these out of the store and if anyone finds out that I let them go out of the store I could lose my job.

I’ll be careful, Jasmine promised holding them close to her chest. She walked out of the store and waved back at Ryan. We’ll be in touch soon. I’ll talk to my sister tonight and come back tomorrow!

Alright, we will talk again tomorrow. Please be careful, he called again. Oh and I’m sorry again for thinking you worked in the food court.

Jasmine turned around and winked as she headed back to her booth. Once she arrived back she tucked the catalogs carefully with her things so they wouldn’t get lost before she went home after her shift. She pulled out her phone to send Alexandra a quick text.

I have some ideas to show you when we get home for the gifts.

Almost instantly she had a reply back from Alexandra.

You didn’t buy anything though, right?

Of course not. I’ll show you when we both get home.

The rest of the afternoon was slow at the kiosk. Jasmine didn’t have a lot of customers so she was able to browse through the catalogs while things were slow. By the time her shift ended, she had a pretty good idea of a few things she thought she would suggest for the gifts. She got all her things together and headed home around dinner.

She arrived home about an hour before Alexandra was scheduled to get home, so she started dinner. Jasmine thought she’d have it done about the time Alexandra walked in the door.

This was customary for them to do. When their parents had died, Alexandra had really stepped up and taken care of them so they weren’t split up. If Alexandra had been selfish, she could have sent Jasmine to a foster home, but she had sacrificed and taken care of the two of them. It meant that both of them shared household responsibilities.

Jasmine didn’t have a normal high school life. She came home after the end of the school day and helped make dinner or clean the house—the things that mothers normally do. It wasn’t necessarily anyone’s fault, it was just circumstances. If anyone was to blame, it was her own parents, but Jasmine tried hard not to think like that.

She looked through the cupboards and decided that she would make spaghetti for dinner. It was a simple, but delicious, meal. Alexandra liked it, too. She threw some noodles in a pan full of boiling water and started some ground meat browning. Once the meat was cooked, she started making a homemade red sauce.

As everything finished cooking, she started some garlic bread under the broiler. She also threw together a green salad from the vegetables they had in the refrigerator just as Alexandra was walking in the door.

Hi, Jasmine said welcoming her sister home. How was your day?

Oh, fine, Alexandra said hanging up her things. Dinner smells good.

Thanks, it’s almost ready, Jasmine said pulling the bread from the oven and placing it on the table.

She pulled everything else off the stove and put it in some serving dishes before putting it on the table.

The two sisters sat down at the table and began eating.

How was the rest of your day? Alexandra asked.

Slow, Jasmine said. But that gave me some time to go through and pick out what I think are some great gifts for your top sellers.

What do you mean? Alexandra asked obviously confused.

Jasmine took a minute to explain about going to the jewelry store and picking up the catalogs from Ryan.

So you brought the catalogs home? Alexandra asked.

Yeah, of course, Jasmine said in between bites of spaghetti.

Well go get them, Alexandra said. Let’s start looking at them now.

Let’s just wait until after dinner, Jasmine said feeling nervous about having the catalogs around the dinner table. She knew how important the catalogs were to Ryan and to his job.

Alexandra almost always got her way, but since they were almost done eating anyway, she didn’t argue. When they were finished, Jasmine offered to clean up while Alexandra went through the catalogs looking for anything she thought might make a good gift.

Jasmine tried to shout her ideas from the kitchen while she cleaned, but Alexandra mostly ignored her. Jasmine had marked the items that she had liked the most earlier that day with post-it notes. That was helpful for Alexandra as she went through the various items in the catalogs.

Once Jasmine was done with the dishes both sisters sat down with the catalogs and went through them extensively, showing each other an item anytime there was something that stood out. By the end of the night they had narrowed down their list to six great items.

Alexandra decided that she wanted to take those options to her boss and see what she thought about those six items. They kind of ranged in price a little, so she wanted to get a feel for what her boss was looking to spend before ordering anything.

So can I take the catalogs to work with me tomorrow? Alexandra asked.

No, Jasmine said. I promised Ryan I would return them tomorrow.

But how am I supposed to show them to Christine, my boss, if you won’t let me take the catalogs? Alexandra was starting to get annoyed.

We’ll just have to figure something else out, Jasmine said shrugging her shoulders. I can’t let you take the catalogs.

Alexandra crossed her arms across her chest obviously frustrated with her sister.

Jasmine racked her brain for a minute searching for a solution. Then she thought about their printer, which also dubbed as a copier and scanner. She grabbed the catalogs and ran over to it.

We’ll just copy all the pages from the catalog that have the items you want to show Christine. Simple.  She was happy with herself for coming up with such an easy solution.

In no time she had six copies of the pages with all the items they had chosen as options for the gifts. She handed them over to Alexandra.

She seemed pacified at least for the time being. She didn’t exactly say thank you, but she seemed satisfied enough with the solution.

Well I think I’m going to go to bed, Jasmine said standing up. I’m working the first shift tomorrow, so I’ve got to open the kiosk.

Alright, I’ll be in touch with you about what Christine decides. We’ll probably make a decision tomorrow or the next day, so I’ll let you know. Keep your phone on you in case she makes a decision.

Yeah, no problem, Jasmine said heading to her room.

It wasn’t hard for her to fall asleep. She thought about checking social media before falling asleep, but she was already asleep before her head hit the pillow.

*

Jasmine rushed into work the next morning and opened the kiosk just as the mall was opening. She had done it so many times that doing everything was second nature to her. She walked around the kiosk and couldn’t help but think about returning the catalogs to Ryan.

She wondered what time he was working today. They hadn’t really set a time when both of them would be working. She hadn’t realized how much she had enjoyed their chance encounter the day before. She hadn’t ever dated a white guy before. She had always stuck to black guys, not because she didn’t like guys of other races, but because it was just easier to stay in her own race. After interacting with Ryan yesterday, she had seen how easy it was to be with someone else.

She pulled the catalogs from her bag and flipped through them absentmindedly. She wasn’t really looking through them for anything in particular, just thinking about seeing Ryan again. The mall wasn’t busy yet, and she wasn’t anticipating any customers that early in the day.

She was daydreaming a little, so she didn’t notice when James approached the kiosk. He cleared his throat to get her attention. Startled, Jasmine almost fell out of her chair.

God, James, you startled me, Jasmine said smoothing down her skirt and putting away the catalogs.

What are those? James asked pointing to the catalogs and storing his stuff in a locked storage compartment under the kiosk.

Knowing that Ryan might in trouble for lending out of the catalogs, Jasmine quickly put them away and changed the subject, hoping he would take the bait.

Oh, nothing, just something for Alexandra, she rolled her eyes, I’d forgotten you were working again today, too. Let’s organize these pamphlets that just came in the mail this morning.

Whatever you say boss, James said taking the pamphlets and pulling them from the envelope.

Together James and Jasmine organized the pamphlets and made the kiosk look nice for any passing customers.

***

The mall usually wasn’t busy during the week. Ryan couldn’t help but try and figure out what could be bringing in all the customers during the middle of the week. It wasn’t the holidays or even the summer, but the jewelry store had had a continual