Over the next few days, Marshall visited the store regularly, always at times when it was quiet and few customers were around. He would go through the same routine each time, pretending to be lost, needing a product or advice.
Emily gradually became less indifferent towards him, her helpful nature and sense of duty as an employee keeping her from sending him away. With each interaction, he was slowly chipping away at her walls, getting a little bit closer. He could see the subtle change in her demeanor, the way she softened around him, her guard lowering with each meeting.
Today was another day where the store was relatively empty. Marshall sauntered in, his eyes scanning the shelves as if searching for something. He spotted Emily restocking a nearby aisle and his heart rate quickened a bit. He had a plan in mind, one that would push the boundaries a little further.
He approached the aisle where Emily was restocking, pretending to scrutinize the items on the shelf. He waited for her to notice him, his heart beating loudly in his chest, his anticipation growing.
Emily, engrossed in her task, didn't notice him at first. Then, she caught his reflection in the glass of the shelved products. She turned around, her expression a bit guarded at first, but then her features softened as she took in his familiar face.
__Emily: "Oh... Hi Marshall." she smiled at him
Marshall flashed her a smile, playing his part perfectly.
__Marshall: "I'm good, thanks.Just thought I'd drop by for some grocery shopping. And there's no better time than when the store is less crowded." his said, how voice casual
He chuckled softly, feigning a bit of social awkwardness.
__ Emily: You don't like when there're people around?
__ Marshall: "Actually, crowded places aren't really my thing," he admitted. "I tend to get a bit overwhelmed. And waiting in line isn't particularly enjoyable, especially when you're just trying to get your daily grocery shopping done."
Emily smiled sympathetically. She had seen her fair share of customers who shared the same sentiment, so his words weren't surprising to her. But something about the way he spoke, the slight hesitance in his voice, tugged at her heartstrings in a way she couldn't quite explain.
Marshall picked up on her sympathetic smile, the slight softening of her expression, and it thrilled him. He made a mental note to keep up the facade of mild social anxiety, knowing it would only make her more receptive to his advances.
Emily, noticing his slight hesitance, thought to herself that he seemed different than the usual customers. Most of them were in a hurry, their eyes focused only on the items they needed, indifferent to the world around them. But he was different, his eyes darting around, his movements slightly unconfident, almost vulnerable.
She found herself watching him more closely now, her curiosity and a hint of concern sparking inside her. She wondered if he struggled with social anxiety or if there was something else that made him uneasy in large crowds. She couldn't help but feel a strange pull towards him, as if the quiet, awkward man in front of her was someone she should pay extra attention to.
Marshall, fully aware of her increased attention on him, feigned another awkward glance around the store, his eyes settling back on her face. He could see the slight furrow in her brows, the concern in her gaze. Bingo, he thought, his act working better than he had imagined. She was noticing him, reacting to his vulnerability in exactly the way he wanted her to.
Emily could see the way he looked at her, his gaze holding hers for a bit longer than necessary, as if seeking reassurance. She suppressed the flutter in her stomach, attributing it to the strangeness of the situation. This man, with his hesitant looks and soft voice, was making her feel somehow responsible, protective almost, and she wasn't sure why.
Sensing her internal struggle, Marshall took a small step closer to her, closing the gap between them. He let out a soft sigh, as if he was gathering the courage to say something, then finally spoke, his voice low and a hint shaky.
__Marshall: "The thing is," he began, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before finding hers again. "Sometimes I get a bit overwhelmed when there are lots of people around. I tend to... overthink, I guess. I start wondering if everyone's looking at me, judging me..."
His words, though slightly rehearsed, were laced with genuine vulnerability.
Emily's heart lurched at his words. She hadn't expected such raw honesty from him, and something about the way he admitted to his over thinking, his own insecurities, tugged at her heartstrings. She could see the fear in his eyes, genuine or not, and it stirred a protective feeling within her.
Marshall smiled in his head. had spent his life studying human behavior, reading people like open books, and he knew exactly what worked on a person like Emily. And from the look in her eyes, she was falling for his act, hook, line, and sinker.
Emily's heart lurched at his words. She hadn't expected such raw honesty from him, and something about the way he admitted to his over thinking, his own insecurities, tugged at her heartstrings. She could see the fear in his eyes, genuine or not, and it stirred a protective feeling within her.
She took a step closer, so close now that she had to tilt her head up to meet his gaze. She swallowed, her heart beating strangely fast in her chest. She fought back the strange urge to reach out and comfort him, to tell him that no one was judging him, that he was just like everyone else.
__Emily: "I... I understand," she said quietly, her voice betraying a hint of sympathy. "It can be hard. But I promise, people are usually too busy with their own thoughts to really notice others."
She paused, her mouth going dry as she realized how close they were standing, her body almost brushing against his.
Marshall felt her proximity as well, her body heat radiating against his. He was acutely aware of how close they were, how easy it would be for him to reach out and pull her closer. But he held back, letting the tension between them build. Her empathy, her gentle reassurances, it was all playing out just as he had planned.
Despite her best efforts, Emily couldn't ignore the way her heart raced, how her skin tingled just from being this close to him. She could smell the faint scent of his cologne, could almost feel his breath on her cheek. She shook her head slightly, as if to clear her thoughts, and took a small step back, trying to regain the professional distance she should have maintained.
Marshall noticed the subtle step back she took, the slight flicker of confusion in her eyes. He could tell she was fighting against the magnetic pull between them, trying to keep herself from giving in to the inexplicable attraction.
He let a small, dejected sigh escape his lips, his voice soft.
__Marshall: "I guess I'm just... not very good in those situations," he murmured, feigning a hint of shame at his own words.*
Emily couldn't stop herself from feeling a pang of sympathy towards him. His vulnerability was disarming, his honesty making her feel strangely protective. She hated seeing the resigned look on his face, his eyes downcast as if he truly believed he was less than others.
__Emily: "It's alright," she said gently, reaching out without thinking and placing a hand on his arm.