Chapter Text
Hayley adjusted the oversized name tag, which was already slipping sideways. She was standing in the back room of the toy store, surrounded by stacks of boxes filled with what looked like way too many plush bears and board games, and all her new coworkers. She really didn’t want to be there that much. But rent, right? Rent. And Christmas was coming up, which meant she could work extra for a couple of months, get some extra cash, and hopefully have some fun with it before leaving and returning to normal one-job Hayley.
“Okay, everyone! Gather round!” a woman at the front of the room called out, clapping her hands together like she was getting ready to direct a Broadway show, her voice chipper and a little too perky for Hayley’s taste. She kept talking while Hayley looked around the room, trying to find people she might like and toys she could get distracted by. “Now, I know you’re all here to help make Christmas a little brighter for our customers, but I want you to remember, you’re not just staff. You’re elves!”
Hayley snorted and whispered a joke to the taller guy beside her about the woman being Mrs Clause in that case, but he just side eyed her and focused back on the speech. The girl on the other side of Hayley giggled at her joke though, and made one of her own about how they wouldn’t have to try very hard to fit in as elves at their height. She laughed back and decided the two would be friends, but she was more intrigued by the serious guy from before. Once the speech ended and people checked the list on the door to see where they would be working, he immediately busied himself with adjusting his perfectly pressed shirt like he was preparing for some major corporate interview and not just stocking shelves with toys.
She tried another comment about the whole elf thing as they stood in the crowd at the door, joking that if she was being asked to play elf dress up, she’d better be getting paid extra for it. She waited for his reaction, ready to see his scowl.
His head snapped in her direction, his eyes narrowing for a split second as he took a harsh breath. She could practically feel his disapproval in the air.
“Maybe, if we take it seriously, the kids will actually be able to enjoy it,” he said, his voice cold.
Hayley smirked, feeling the fire of her own amusement spark. This was exactly how she’d have her fun at work. By messing with… she moved her body round to see his name tag. Taylor. She would have her fun by messing with Taylor.
“Right,” she started, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Because who doesn’t want a grumpy elf making sure you buy a stuffed bear?”
Taylor didn’t respond. He simply turned back to the manager, leaving the crowd, probably wondering how he got stuck in this job.
Hayley left the queue too, just in case he was already trying to complain about her and she’d have to defend herself. But no, he just had to make sure his first impression was as pristine as his shirt, shaking the manager's hand and talking about how grateful and excited he was to be working there. Hayley rolled her eyes and let her gaze wander to the bulletin board on the wall. It was covered in a mishmash of information, with memos about safety hazards, requests for shift swaps, and a big sign in neon writing that read “Do not throw the ball pit balls at customers!”. She laughed again, trying to imagine the scenario that caused this oddly specific reminder. As she scanned the rest of the notes, half paying attention to whatever Taylor was still saying in the background, her eyes caught something that immediately piqued her interest. The Christmas night out. She’d be sure to find that girl from earlier who actually knows how to joke and tell her, as well as make loads of friends who would go with them. Probably not Taylor, though it would be funny getting to annoy him outside of work too, she supposed.
Before she knew it, she and Taylor were the last two in the room, and she could finally go and check the list for her name. Except when she did, it wasn’t on there. She told the manager, ignoring Taylor’s smirk beside her, but not missing the way it fell so fast when she was told to just follow him to whatever aisle he was put on.
They walked through the staff areas and into the front of the vast store slowly, Hayley somehow ending up more excited than Taylor. “You’re still being a grumpy elf,” she said, practically skipping beside him.
“Wonder why,” he mumbled, picking up his pace and straightening himself up a little, too proud to be imperfect even if it sort of proved she was right for a moment.
The store instantly felt even bigger than Hayley had ever remembered. The aisles stretched out in front of them, each one towering with every kind of toy you could imagine. It smelled like plastic, rubber, and the faint sweetness of candy canes. There were kids ringing bike bells, flying drones, screaming at being told no, and laughing at whatever singing toy kept going off loudly.
Taylor stopped abruptly, Hayley following. “Alright,” he sighed, voice tense. “We’ll split down the middle. You take the right, I’ll take the left.”
Hayley raised an eyebrow. “What if I wanted to do the left?” she asked, her voice casual but her mind already plotting with how to irritate him.
He blinked, looking over at her like she’d just asked if she could start the day by skydiving into the displays. “Uh… if you want to. I don’t care, you can have it. I’ll just do the other side.”
She leaned back, pretending to think for a moment. “But what if I didn’t want to do the left?” she grinned, watching his eyes narrow in exasperation.
“Fine,” he muttered, obviously over it. “I’m starting with the left. Happy?”
“Thrilled,” she said, bouncing on her toes as she gave him a little smirk. He didn’t respond, clearly annoyed now, but at least they were getting work done.