Who: Katniss and Lorna with a side of Thor Where: an ice cream shop What: getting Katniss a job When: 2/20 Warnings/Rating: PG Status complete
Lorna was enjoying the end of her short day at work. Wednesday was too hit or miss for her to bother keeping the shop open too late. So she was driving around just to pass the time. It was nice to get out and do stuff, and she was sure she wouldn’t miss the three sales she would have made in the three hours she’d cut out.
She stopped at an ice cream shop, because it looked delicious. Maybe she’d grab a pint after enjoying herself and split it with Alex when he got home from work.
Thinking about Alex made her grin like an idiot. Things were going a little fast, but the dreams were definitely the cause of that. Or maybe she was just blaming them to cover up how into Alex she really was. He was great at making her laugh, but not so mushy or immature she felt like the only grown up in the room. He made her feel the same way Bobby had. She just hoped things would turn out better, this time.
Whoever this green-haired woman was, she was a bit too cheerful. But then, Katniss’ mood had been on a slow incline for months now, despite the terror that seemed to await her every night. She blamed Pansy and Peeta for that.
She was even able to muster something close to a smile.
Lorna smiled back at the (cute) girl as she passed. “Hi!” She was in an extremely good mood. Who wouldn’t be, when eating ice cream was the next thing on the list of things to do?
“Hi.” Katniss’ smile widened. It was even a little shy. “Try the chocolate fudge. You can’t go wrong with it.”
“A lady after my own heart.” She grinned at Katniss, then went to order. She did indeed get the chocolate fudge ice cream, with hot fudge on top, because she could. She took her ice cream back to Katniss’s table. “Do you mind if I join you?”
Katniss bit her tongue and nodded. She was making an effort to be sociable. It reflected good on Peeta and for that matter made her a happier person, anyway.
She paused to reflect on that, then shrugged her shoulder.
Lorna didn’t mind. Worst case scenario she’d just eat quietly and go. “It’s a pretty day out, huh?”
“It’s pretty enough.” She looked out the window. It actually was a pretty day, and Katniss blinked twice, before she looked back at Lorna. “Okay, it’s really pretty.”
Lorna giggled. “I love that about southern California. It’s always really nice here. San Francisco is so cold and foggy compared to here.”
“I come from Nevada. It’s nice to have days are are nice and cool.” Katniss laughed.
“Oh, man. No way I could do actual deserts. Even if I do kind of have an interest in rocks.” Now. The dreams were pretty trippy, in that regard.
“We were farther north, but...it’s still all pretty much deserts. My dad died in a construction accident in Reno.” Katniss sighed. It still stung to think about, but maybe if she talked about it.
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” Lorna said, with great sincerity, and a little of her own sadness. “I recently lost my parents, too.” She didn’t want to think about that. Not after the incredible morning she’d had with Alex, and the great afternoon and evening she had in front of her.
But no, now her mood was definitely lower. She poked at her ice cream, eating a lot slower. “Do you want to talk about what happened?”
“It was a long time ago. I’m too busy caring for my sister and a bitch of a mother. I’m grateful to have them, mind you. I just never have time for myself.”
“It is important to get time to yourself. Even if your parents are super cool, you’ll never be much but their kid while you’re living with them.” Lorna was glad that she wasn’t in San Francisco during the attack. It was a terrible, selfish thought, but deep down she knew her parents must have been glad for the same thing, if they’d had time to be glad at all.
“I know.’ Katniss was the primary breadwinner, so her perspective was a bit screwed. She just didn’t want to admit how fucked up her life was to a stranger. She took another spoonfull of her ice cream. “Wish I had more time.”
"I wish I could help with that." If she could solve that problem she'd be a millionaire. "But you're relaxing now, at least."
“Ice cream is relaxing?” She laughed at the thought. “I’m Katniss.”
“It isn’t?” Lorna said, laughing at Katniss’s response. “I’m Lorna.”
“Not when you’re getting an ice cream headache,” Katniss replied. “Which I usually get, but it’s usually worth it.”
Lorna tilted her head. Her tone was neutral when she asked, “So what do you like to do, then?” Not much, from the sound of it. But that was the risk a person took when they started a conversation with a random stranger. It wasn’t a big deal.
“Go to the forest. I don’t ever get to go. My dad used to take me camping. It’s kind of a peaceful memory.” Katniss missed the forest. At least in some ways that was a good thing about her dreams. The only good thing.
“That does sound really nice.” Lorna said, her cheer returning. “Where did you go camping?”
"Zion National Park once. A couple state parks. Once or twice on someone's land." She grinned.
“I used to camping in Lake Tahoe now and then with my parents. It was so pretty, and very peaceful.” She smiled softly.
“I’d like to go there some day.” Katniss sounded so wistful. She really hadn’t been in the wilderness since her father’s death. No time. They had to survive. That was all that mattered. Keeping Prim alive. Even her mother was secondary to that goal.
Lorna thought for a second. “Hey, how much do you need to make to keep your family fed and stuff? I need an assistant at my shop, or I will totally lose my mind.”
Katniss chewed her lip. “More than I’m making right now, to be completely honest. I’m working sixty hours a week at two jobs, and even with what work my mother can get it’s always tight.”
Lorna made a ‘pfft’ sound. “What kind of retail experience do you have?” She could use the help, and the girl could use the help, so it was a win win. Beside, with it being just her making the decisions, she could fire the girl if things didn’t work out. Katniss didn’t seem the kind of person who was likely to steal her produce.
“Wal-mart cashier,” Katniss replied. “And I work at a fast food place. All over the fast food place.” She hated both. “I’m surprised Wal-mart didn’t fire me after I was hurt so badly I couldn’t work.”
“I don’t think they can, legally. Especially if you hurt yourself at work.” Lorna thought that over. “Okay, so I run a pot dispensary and craft store. I’m the only one working there right now, and it’s kicking my butt. Would you like to come by the shop and see if you think it’s something you could do?”
“I wish I’d hurt myself at work. Don’t think you’d believe me if I’d told you.” Katniss shrugged her shoulder. Being attacked by robots while your best friend showed you her magic wand? Yeah. She looked up sharply. “Really?”
“Yeah. I mean, you need a better job, I need less work so I can sleep, it helps us both. I don’t know if I can offer any kind of benefits, so think about which job you already work has health insurance or whatever, and I’ll work around it.” Lorna didn’t want to take away the girl’s only source of healthcare, or become her only job. After all, the shop might not make it, most small businesses closed within a year of opening.
Katniss smiled tightly. “They both keep me at too few hours to actually qualify for benefits anyway. That’s what most of mom’s money goes to cover.” Fortunately, except for that virus that nearly killed Prim, they were all pretty healthy. “I’d happily ditch Wal-mart in a heart beat.”
“Okay, what hours do you work there?” Lorna was hoping for mornings. Sleeping in would be a glorious thing. She could always keep the shop open later and work Mondays if she could get five days of sleeping in.
"Usually evenings or nights. Mornings on weekends and during break from school." Really, she was pretty close to just dropping out.
Bummer. Oh well. “You’re 18, right?” She was pretty sure she couldn’t have someone underage working in her shop. It was a big risk for the girl, too. Marijuana was still illegal under federal law, if they got busted it would be a felony on her record. She would only be able to get a job or go to college in California.
“Uh.” Katniss’ heart sank. “Not for another few months.” At least. Dreams of escaping the devil yellow smiley face evaporated. It was never good when someone asked that question, at least employment-wise.
Lorna sighed. “Damn. Why the heck are you working two jobs?”
“Because my mother is next to useless and my sister is more important than my needs.” Katniss’ voice was firm on both matters. “Ever since dad died, mom has just... I don’t know. It’s like she doesn’t care any more.....or maybe that’s not it. I only know that she was practically catatonic for the first few months.”
Lorna tapped her finger on the table as she thought. That was a pretty bad situation. “Okay, I’m going to be super rude and use my phone, but I think I know someone who can help.” She pulled out her phone and dialed Thor’s number.
"You really don't need to go crazy or anything," Katniss said quickly, loathe to owe anyone anything.
Lorna waved her hand. “Making a phone call doesn’t count as going crazy.”
Thor picked up and blinked as he saw the number. "Hello? ” He was curious now.
“Hey, Thor. I have a question for you. Do you know anyone who needs an assistant? I’m talking to a really responsible girl who’s in need of a new line of work. She’s still going to school, but from what I’ve gathered she’s willing to work hard, and just needs that first little boost into a worthwhile job."
Katniss gaped.
"Reliable, sensible, not easily embarrassed? " Thor had an idea.
“One sec.” Lorna looked up. “Are you easily embarrassed?”
She stared at Lorna, and shrugged a shoulder while shaking her head. “I don’t.. know? I think it depends?” She didn’t want to lie, but she didn’t want to screw up an opportunity.
Lorna turned her attention back to her phone. “What the heck are you wanting her to do, anyway?” She didn’t get the easily embarrassed question, she hoped he didn’t have something weird in mind.
“Open and answer mail, including fan mail. Since my little near death experience and being signed to three consecutive movie deals made the news, I’ve been getting tons. I have no time to answer it. Some of it includes rather inappropriate pictures, offers, money, pictures, audio tapes and videos. I need someone to go through it all, sort it, and under my instructions, help me manage it.” Thor’s smile was warm as he spoke.
“Oh, I see. Okay.” She turned back to Katniss. “Thor needs someone to open and respond to his fanmail. Think you’re up for it?”
“Thor? The Thor?” Katniss had been paying more attention to tabloids since she’d started to date an Olympian. “Uh. How much and how many hours?”
Lorna turned back to her phone, then shook her head. “Thor, I’m going to put the girl on. You’ll like her.” She handed her phone over.
Katniss took the phone, and with more confidence than she thought she had, said, “Hello?”
Thor had very good ears and started talking immediately. “Hello, Katniss, and to answer you, in reverse order, 30 hours a week, and $12 dollars an hour, paid weekly or biweekly, as you wish. Of course, i would require anything you read to be kept confidential, unless it constituted a violation of the law, when you would be expected to contact first me then the police.” A pause, then more “Paid sick time and vacation time would come with it. Do you live in Irvine, or the surrounding area somewhere?”
"Yeah, of course," Katniss replied excitedly. That was 3 dollars more than she made at Wal-mart, and about as many hours. "I live in Santa Ana."
She'd never had paid sick time before....She wouldn't know what to do with that OR vacation time.
“Good. Would you be willing to travel occasionally, to where I am shooting, if I need it? It wouldn’t be often, but on occasion, maybe once or twice a year, all expenses paid, of course? How soon would you be available to meet face to face? We should be sure that this will work for both of us.” He had been working without someone to do this for awhile and he wanted to get it fixed and moving as quickly as possible.
“I uhm. I’m free tonight?” Katniss looked at Lorna, a completely stunned expression on her face. “I’m willing to travel, but I’d need someone to check up on my sister once in awhile while I’m gone. I can probably get a friend to do that.”
“Of course. We can discuss arrangements. We could meet say at six? If you can be there then. I’m at [location]. Lorna knows the way.” He nodded to himself.
“Thank you so much,” Katniss said. “I owe you both.” Because good things never come without conditions, but Katniss was learning to let go of that feeling.
“You’re welcome. And honest work will prove out. I’ve been needing someone full time on this for some time.” Thor smiled. “See you at six, then.” He nodded and then hung up, sitting back and grinning.
She turned, handing Lorna back her phone. She didn’t hug her, but she did smile. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. Helping people is my thing.” She smiled at Katniss, accepting her phone. “And you don’t owe me anything. All I did was dial.”
“Still. Thanks.” Katniss exhaled, then got to her feet. “I have to get home and changed!”
Lorna giggled. “Do you need a ride?”
“I couldn’t...” Katniss chewed her lip and looked sheepish. “Yeah.”
Lorna chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. Come on, I hope you don’t get cold easily.” Not that her scooter went that fast or anything.
“I’m good with cold,” Katniss promised. Cold and hunger had been constant companions in both her lives.
Lorna led the way to her scooter. “Okay, tell me where you live and we’ll be off.” She lifted the seat and replaced the battery wires, then slid onto the scooter.
Katniss hopped on after her, and gave her address. She was too excited to feel embarrassed by her neighborhood.
Lorna didn’t care, anyway. She drove the girl home, smiling brightly, glad she could help out at least a little.