The remainder of his work hour moved by quickly, and he found himself situated in a strange position. "So, this extra work you wanted me to do...?"

Scott looked to Ashton then back to the odd little necklaces that hung from her rear-view mirror. Seated in her Ford F-150, he could not help but wonder at what she had in store.

Ashton gripped the steering wheel tight then sighed. "I know it's not right, but I need a dependable guy like you to help me out..."

"So, not on the clock?" he asked her. "Don't you have to work tonight?"

"No, my shift ended a while ago. I just needed to wait until the night shift leader came in, he was running late," said Ashton.

"Alright... so what am I supposed to be doing?" asked Scott.

Ashton frowned prettily. "I know this isn't right. It's like, super, against the rules and stuff... but I really need you to come home with me."

Scott leaned away from her a little. "Hey, I'm flattered, but we barely know each other."

She laughed abruptly then shook her head. "Don't get your hopes up, Scott! I just want someone there with me tonight to make sure Bradly doesn't come by."

"Wait, so what did you want me for before all that happened?" he asked her. "You asked me to stay late even before he popped up."

Ashton sighed. "Look. I know we're not friends, or anything really, but I have no one else. I just moved to the area for work. Plus with Bradly acting the way he's been acting lately, I wanted to end thing with him tonight... Honestly, I don't even want to go home or see him right now."

"So, why not stay at a hotel?" he asked her.

"I don't know. Guess I just don't want to be alone tonight," she admitted. "It's stupid. I mean, I know you don't think much of me."

Scott kept silent and looked out the window. Ashton left her words hanging in the air for a moment as well.

"It's not like I hate you, or anything," said Scott. "It's just hard not to get irritated when I'm constantly being asked to come in to work because everyone else is off being lazy."

"I know that's not fair..." said Ashton, "But you're so..."

"Dependable?" asked Scott quietly.

She closed her eyes and leaned her head against her steering wheel. "I'm being selfish."

"Yes," said Scott. "You are."

Ashton chuckled softly then leaned back and took a breath. "I'll drop you off at home, if you want. That's the least I could do for getting you involved."

Scott remained quiet for a moment then said, "We should order a pizza."

"What?" she asked him, surprised by his change in attitude.

"If you don't mind sleeping on the couch, you can squat at my house till morning. We'll order pizza and watch a few stupid romantic comedies or whatever," said Scott.

Ashton snorted at him, but a slight smile crossed her lips. "Sure your girlfriend won't get jealous?"

"Girlfriend?" asked Scott. He looked away and unleashed a snort of his own. "I my dreams, maybe."

"Hey, don't sell yourself short..." said Ashton, "I mean, you're not really my type... but I guess my type didn't work out too well."

"It's cool. Better if I'm not your type, so no one has any hard feelings," admitted Scott.

Ashton's smile grew slightly. "Alright, just sort of hanging out with pizza and cheesy movies... I can do that."

"Also, you have to tell me that I'm pretty," said Scott in a mildly sarcastic tone while he looked out the window.

She laughed warmly then nodded, "So, pretty."

He chuckled at her antics then sat back a bit and looked at her. "Alright, but if you're one of those weirdoes who put anchovies on your pizza, we're going to fight."

"Gonna take me down, huh?" she asked him playfully.

"Hard, and without remorse," said Scott in a sincere tone.

Ashton's cheeks colored slightly and looked down at the steering wheel. "Friends, huh?"

"Work acquaintances who eat pizza and bitch about men," corrected Scott.

"Pftt!" she exclaimed as the desire to laugh obvious. She turned and looked at him, her expression one of absolute amusement. "What are you? My girlfriend, now?"

"Aw, that's such an adorable question," he said in an upwardly inflected voice. "Let's, like, go paint our nails and be super girly and stuff."

"I, so, do not sound like that!" she exclaimed excitedly, her voice becoming high-pitched near the end.

Scott gave her a look, but said nothing. Instead he allowed his smug expression to do the talking.

"Hmm?" asked Ashton in an accusatory tone. "This is going to be interesting."

He shrugged at her. "Nah. I'm a pretty boring dude. It'll be chill."

Ashton gave him a look that signified that she did not quite believe him. He said nothing, however, so she fired up her truck then drove out of the parking lot.

Scott noted something interesting as they left the parking lot and headed out onto the mean streets. He did not have to tell her which direction to turn. A suspicion began to creep up inside of him. A few minutes later they passed a familiar gas station. Not long after that she turned down the side street that led to his house.

He glanced at her then back at his front door as she drove into his driveway. "So, you know how to get to my house?"

"Drove by once or twice," she admitted cheerfully.

"This road ends in a dead-end turn-around," said Scott in a mildly sarcastic tone.

"Mhmm," she said in a non-comital manner.

"I'm curious to see how you live," said Ashton lightly.

"Like a guy who makes slightly above minimum wage at a job that swallowed my soul years ago," remarked Scott in an equally light tone.

"Oh, it can't be that bad." Ashton pushed at him playfully.

"I'm dead inside," said Scott with a smile, though his eyes held a creepy sincerity to them that unnerved her slightly.

"Uh, ok then..." said Ashton with a slightly nervous laugh, "Still, I bet your place has its charms."

"Nah. It's pretty boring. Here, see for yourself." Scott unlocked the door then turned toward Ashton and opened it wide without looking inside.

Ashton blinked and tilted her head sideways as though she were looking at something odd. Scott blinked at her then slowly turned to see what had caused such a strange reaction in his boss lady.

"Welcome home, beloved master!" cried Shara cheerfully. "This humble pleasure slave is here to sate your every desire."

Shara had somehow managed to stuff the entirety of her feminine wiles into a harem outfit reminiscent of the one Barbara Eden had worn on the classic television show, I dream of Jeannie. Though, in her case it was changed from a cute bit of apparel to downright erotic cosplay.

"T-the hell...?" asked Scott slowly as his eyes widened. Shear curtains spread throughout the room gave the place a strangely Arabian vibe.

"So, boring and without a girlfriend... huh?" asked Ashton in a calmly measured tone.

Scott glanced to her then back over to Shara in her harem outfit. His left eye began to twitch a little. "I don't even know my life anymore."

Shara clapped her hands together and smiled brightly. "Ah! My master, a thousand blessings on his name, has brought home a nubile young mistress to delight in this evening!"

She genuflected to the side and made a welcoming motion with her hand that caused her bosom to bounce invitingly. "Come! Come! Enjoy his splendor. Prepare your body with fine food, drink, and aromatic oils as an offering to his majesty's many carnal appetites."

"Prepare my body?" asked Ashton, her face turning bright red in the process. A cute whimpering noise slipped past her lips. Her hair stood straight up in two different places giving her the appearance of having animal ears.

Silence reigned for a time as Shara held her position. In time, Scott's eyes slowly shifted back over to Ashton. He ignored the redness of her face and asked, "So... pizza?"

Ashton gave him a good once-over then glanced at Shara. The girl winked and gestured playfully for her to come inside. Despite certain, she offered a slight smile then emphatically said, "Sure, pizza..."

They entered Scott's Arabian nightmare and closed the door behind them. It promised to be quite the boring night, indeed.