When we all had jobs at the mall

Ah, the Enfield Shopping Center. A massive collection of kitschy boutiques, stores staffed by apathetic teenagers, a food court that never wasn't crowded, fountain in the middle with a big tacky modern art centerpiece; all of these were mainstays at the massive mall, and it was were the four of us spent the better part of one summer.

We each worked in different places. Amanda, bless her, managed to keep a job in the bookstore despite spending half her time there reading what she was supposed to be selling. Apparently she was just that good at remember what was where- if she didn't get distracted so easily, she could have been manager for sure. Across the way a bit was Becky, working in the Victoria's Secret. She was the last of us to get a job there, and was only just starting there. We begged her not to do something stupid and get in trouble; the other employees seemed to like her well enough, and it was nice to have friends nearby during the workday, but well, I guess it was inevitable. Meanwhile, up on the upper floor, me and Jess worked right across from each other, Jess in a sporting goods store and me in one of those DVD, CD, figures, pop-culture-whatever stores, a set of escalators leading down in between us.

It was boring, most days, but we managed to sync our lunch breaks most days, always had someone who could give someone else a ride to work, and managed to give each other discounts, though we usually just used stuff from our own stores. All in all, not a bad set-up.

Anyway, the beginning of the end came one a fairly boring day, at least for me. I knew Jess was having some sale so she was pretty busy, doling out sports bras, mouth guards and more. Meanwhile, I was up to my neck in discount B-movies and cheap vinyl figures, with nary a soul in sight, aside from Devin, my manager, who'd disappeared into the back room somewhere. I was fiddling with my phone, when I heard the chime of the doorways motion sensor and a familiar voice.

"Hey Beth!"

It was one of my friends, of course, apparently on break. I raised my head, smiling and ready to greet them, but my face sank when I saw them.....

"Oh my god! What the hell are you wearing!?"