Chapter Text
Working at David’s Craft Store wasn't Kelley’s first choice, or her second or even her third. The only reason she had to settle was every where else she applied was already full of college kids needing jobs during the holiday season.
That’s how she found herself in an empty craft store surrounded by Santa Clause and the ever politically correct ‘Happy Holidays’. Because who wanted to spend their Saturday afternoon in a college town store.
The brunette turned a page of her book as the leaned against the register. The only other thing to do was take inventory, but the other employee had beaten her to the task. Not that Kelley minded, she was just getting to the climax of the story and even after reading it a hundred times, she still didn’t want to put off reading her favorite part.
“O’Hara!” Came a scream followed by the sound of crashing glass.
Having jumped initially due to the yell, the crashing objects had the smaller woman rushing to the aid of the owner of the scream.
Slightly panicked at what she would find when she found the aisle of her fellow employee, she stopped short at the end of the row and burst out laughing at the other’s predicament.
“Wow, Solo. I’m surprised to see you getting into the holiday spirit.” Kelley giggled behind her hand at the woman's icy glare.
On the floor at the other end, the taller woman was sat on the floor surrounded by smashed glass from snow globes and covered in the glitter water.
“Shut up, O’Hara and help me get this glass cleaned up.” The other woman made to stand up when a hiss escaped between gritted teeth. “Shit.”
Kelley moved forward at the hissed expletive to help her stand up. As she stood, a freckled hand grasped Hope’s arm with concern at the blood on her palm.
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” The older woman said, trying to pull her arm away from the other brunette but found her arm held fast.
Having not only height but legit strength, she could have easily pulled her arm away, but the steady grip on her wrist had her stop and meet concerned brown eyes with her guarded blue.
“Nope.You’re coming with me, Solo. I have a first-aid kit at my register.” “Do i even want to know why?” She asked with a raised eyebrow that was met with a pink tongue sticking out at her. “I have a...tendency...to get injured in some way. Usually paper-cuts.” She tugged gently on the wrist and started leading her to the front of the store.
“Paper-cuts? Like from those things you call novels? Isn’t that like karma for bad taste in reading material?”
Kelley stopped walking when they reached her register and glowered at the older woman. “Just because I don’t like reading ‘great’ philosophical authors like you doesn’t make my books any less good reads.” The mutter was aggressive as she reached for the first-aid kit and started rummaging through it and grabbing the appropriate bandages.
When she looked up and at the other woman’s face she was met with a small smirk and playful glint in her eyes. “So you admit my reading taste is better than yours?” Kelley glared again and shook her head. “I was being sarcastic. Ayn Rand is ridiculous and I’m amazed that someone of your intelligence can stand to read her material.” She responded shortly but gently grabbed Hope’s arm to start cleaning up the blood.
“If I’m so smart, shouldn’t that mean I know more than you about gooding reading?” The taller woman’s smirk hadn’t left her face and seeped into her voice as she the usually peepy woman opposite her examine her arm.
“Puh-lease. I go to Stanford, remember? Just because I said you were smart, I didn’t mean smarter than me. Besides, with how horrible and petty the world is, why not escape in cute romance-y type books?”
Hope scoffed. “As much as I would love to educate you on literature, I should go clean up the snow globes.” She pulls her arm away from freckled hands and turns to walk away when a mumble and cough stops her. “You okay there, O’Hara?”
A blush covered her cheeks as she looked up and into blue eyes.
“Well, maybe, I mean if you really want to, but you don’t have to-”
“Dear God, spit it out already.” Hope sighed exasperated.
“Doyouwanttogetcoffeesometime? You can try and convince me to read something new. Or not. Like I said you totally don’t have to.”
Kelley took a deep breath after her quick ramblings and felt her blush redden further.
“Wow...Didn’t know you had that in you.” Hope’s eyes slowly scanned the younger woman's body. Noting the paint stains on her apron and tight leggings showing off her muscular legs. She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow and smirked playfully. “We’re both off at 7. I know a great diner a few blocks away.”
“Sweet, sweet. Uhm, yeah, that works out great.” Kelley sputtered out happily shocked at Hope’s suggestion.
“Okay. I’m going to go back to work. One of us has to be professional.” Hope winked and turned to saunter away.
As the taller woman disappeared around the corner, the freckled brunette fist pumped and muttered as quietly as she could, "Yessss!"