ᴏɴᴇ. ʀᴇx ᴍᴀɴɴɪɴɢ ᴅᴀʏ

Suki slammed her car door shut with a huff before stomping her way across the street. Her face was scrunched up with irritation and her lips held a slight frown.

Suki's morning had not been going well. First, she was rudely awaken by her neighbor blasting music at four in the morning and by the time she fell back asleep her alarming was going off. She then spent an hour getting ready only to spill her coffee all over herself and have to change making her a little late to work. And to top it all off, it was Rex Manning Day.

Rex Manning. God, Suki hated him and his music. Suki didn't know why he was coming to Empire Records in the first place. His career had faded a while ago. The only people who still liked him were middle aged women and Corey, who Suki had heard talking to Gina about her school-girl crush on him. Something about having a plan to offer herself to Rex.

Suki thought she was insane. Corey was still in high school, and her dream guy was a washed up eighties pop star? She thought Gina at least would try and help by hooking her up with one of the many men she would hang around, but from the conversation she had heard Corey was dead set on her first time being with Rex Manning, and Gina offered her nothing, but support. If Corey and her were friends she probably would've gave her advice on why her sleeping with Rex Manning was a bad idea, but she was sure Corey couldn't care less about what she had to say.

In fact, the only people that Suki worked with that she would really consider her friends are AJ and Debra. They were the only two who really made an effort to talk to her. Joe would always talk to her when she needed too, and he cared for her, but he was still her boss. She didn't know if she could really consider him a friend.

When Suki entered Empire Records, the first thing she noticed was Rex Manning's new song playing on the speakers throughout the store. She rolled her eyes internally screaming. Then she noticed Corey, Gina, and Mark dancing by the stairs making her shake her head and continue her way to the back room.

"Hey, Suki." AJ greeted her as soon as she walked into the break room.

"Hey, AJ." Suki greeted him back. Her mood perked up a bit seeing him. Suki enjoyed working with AJ. He made it a little easier coming to work everyday.

"It's Rex Manning Day." AJ said with fake cheer. "Aren't you just so excited?" He said making his voice higher.

"So very." Suki said with sarcastic glee. AJ chuckled before looking back down at his sketchbook. "I can already tell this day is gonna drag." Suki groaned as she pulled her jacket out of her bag before hanging it on the hook beside the shelf.

"Yep, can't wait to stand around and watch women in their forty's almost pass out from meeting Mr. Say no more." AJ sang the lyrics to Rex Manning's song, doing a little dance in his seat.

Suki shook her head and laughed at him as she slipped on her jacket and zipped it up half way. She walked over to the wall and grabbed her slip of yellow paper, clocking in for her shift, before walking over to AJ.

"What are you drawing?" Suki asked. She attempted to look at his paper, but he closed it before she could.

"Nothing." AJ said. Suki put her hands on her hips and glared at him, but he only have her a cheeky smile in return.

"Fine. Don't show me." Suki huffed dramatically walking over to the couch. "I'll just sneak a peek later when you aren't looking." She said playfully teasing him.

"I'd like to see you try." He retorted with a smile. He put his sketchbook down and went to join her on the couch. His mood shifted a bit which Suki was able to notice immediately.

"What?" She questioned turning her head to look at him.

"Can I tell you something?" AJ asked.

"Of course. Always." Suki nodded her head and turned her whole body to face him.

"I'm gonna tell Corey that I love her today." AJ said with nervous eyes.

Suki's eyes widened in shock. She felt like she had just been slapped in the face. He's gonna tell Corey that he loves her? Corey? Corey Mason? The girl who is planning to sleep with a man twice her age today?

"Suki?" AJ tilted his head. She blinked a couple times looking down at her hands. "I'm gonna tell Corey I love her, and I need you to tell me if it's a stupid idea." He said grasping her shoulders.

Suki brought her head up and looked him in the eyes. He was really serious about this. She opened her mouth to speak, but stopped herself. Should she tell him about Corey's plan? It would absolutely break his heart, but how can she let him tell her he loves her when she's thinking about hooking up with someone else?

"Suki, come on." AJ shook her shoulders. "I can't do this without talking to you first." He whined.

"Do you really love her?" Suki asked.

"I think so." AJ nodded.

"Then you should tell her." Suki said with a nod. "If you really love her, tell her." She gave him a small smile.

"Okay." AJ grinned. He pulled her into a hug before standing up. "I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna tell her I love her."

"Right now?" Suki looked at him with a brow raised. "Do you even know how you're gonna tell her?" Suki said making him pause and think for a moment.

"I'm gonna figure out how then I'm gonna tell her." AJ nodded to himself. He began walking towards the door to go back to the main part of the store, but he turned before exiting the break room. "Thanks, Suki. I really appreciate it." He smiled.

"No problem." Suki returned the smile. "No problem at all." She sighed to herself when the door shut behind him. She stared at the door before her trance was interrupted by Joe.

"You okay, Suki?" Joe asked standing at his office door.

The moment Suki looked at him she knew he had overheard her conversation with AJ. Joe was aware of Suki's feelings for the boy. He seemed to be the only one though. Maybe it was because the others didn't pay her much attention or maybe she was just good at hiding it from everyone else, but Joe knew Suki pretty well. She had been working there for years, and they had gotten to know each other pretty well.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Suki said with a fake smile.

"Why'd you tell him to go through with it?" Joe asked.

"He said he really loves her." Suki said softly. "I want him to do what's gonna make him happy, you know?" Suki shrugged. Joe nodded.

"Why don't you sit in my office while I go run an errand?" Joe offered. "It's quieter."

"Oh, no. I'm fine, Joe." Suki said standing up. "I already clocked in anyways. I need to get to work."

"Are you sure you're fine?" Joe asked watching her walk towards the doors.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Suki nodded. "Thanks, Joe." She said before disappearing from his view.

𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐗 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐒:
How did you guys like the first chapter?? I'm really happy with how it turned out actually.
So as we can see Suki is more of an introvert. She doesn't talk much with everyone. She's definitely closest with AJ, and kinda Debra (which you'll see some of in later chapters ofc). I kinda imagine her having a cute relationship with Joe. Kinda like a father-daughter type thing.
Also I feel like this seems like I'm hating on Corey a bit, but I promise I love her! This passive aggressiveness is for the plot. Lmao!
I hope you enjoyed this. Don't forget to comment and vote please! Thank you for reading 💜