There’s a B&N store in my work building, which is usually awesome cuz I can drop by before work or during lunch. Even more awesome cuz I can cut through the street entrance to the building entrance. I used to do it all the time. Used to.

Then the B&N security guard started getting really friendly. It started off with a bland good morning, then a hi, then asking about my weekend. All normal stuff like any other acquaintance conversation, and I thought he was an ok guy. Then he started going out of his way to see me. If I’m wearing a hat, he’ll duck to see my face and catch my attention. Or he’ll see me from down the hall and wave hi. A little creepy, but I thought he was just being friendly and over eager.

Then one day on my way to lunch he saw me and asked if I would pass back that way. I said yes. When I came back he was cornered me (as much as you could corner someone next to a table of books) and said “I didn’t see you for a while.”
“Yeah, you know, sometimes I’m late to work and don’t get to pass through.”
“Yeah, I didn’t see you for a while and got worried so can I get your number?”

Wait. What?!

“Uhh, no,” I said, starting to edge away.
“Oh ok, that’s too bad. You’re taken?” A glance down at my left hand, which, thankfully, I had on a silver ring on my middle finger that could be been mistaken as a wedding band.
“Um, yeah.” I edged away and made my excuses. So much for being nice to a security guard.

Since then, I’ve been a chicken. I just don’t like the awkwardness. I now scout from down the hall to see what entrance he’s standing at. If i absolutely have to go inside, I whip out my phone and made like I’m looking for someone in a hurry. It sucks because the entrance is right in front of the only stairway down from the second floor. So, I became a more frequent customer of Borders and the other B&N that are at least 12 blocks away from work. Good thing I like walking.

So, after a couple months of successfully avoiding him and not seeing him at his usual post, i thought it was safe to browse the area near the entrance again. Not. As I looked at greeting cards, someone said hi to me. Crap. He stood guard in a totally different area than before. So we exchanged niceties and I went on my way to the register. When I left, there he was, at the back entrance as he used to, ready to say bye to me with a smile on his face. Creepy.

He’s still there sometimes. And I still avoid him.

–submitted by The Chicken–

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