Flirting 101

Aunt Helen's announcement came out of nowhere. "We need to return the monitor to Best Buy," she said, her voice carrying a hint of challenge. "But just a heads-up, they're notorious for giving customers a hard time over returns."

I raised an eyebrow, fidgeting with the hem of my skirt. "So... what's the plan?" I asked hesitantly, already sensing that I wouldn't like the answer.

She gave me a mischievous smile, one that made my stomach drop. "Oh, nothing too complicated. We'll just use the fact that you're a charming young lady to our advantage."

My eyes widened. "What? No. I don't know how to—" I stammered, but Aunt Helen interrupted, waving her hand dismissively.

"It's simple!" she said with a conspiratorial glint in her eyes. "Flirt a little with the young man at the customer service desk. Men can be swayed by a pretty smile and some sweet words."

I felt my cheeks heat up. "But I don't even know how to flirt," I protested, feeling a mixture of dread and embarrassment.

Aunt Helen rolled her eyes as if I were being overly dramatic. "Don't worry, I'll give you a crash course. Here's what you do: smile directly at him, look into his eyes, and don't be afraid to get a little close. Touch his arm lightly if you can. Oh, and play with your hair. It drives men wild," she added, winking.

I groaned, feeling my entire body tense up at the idea. "This is going to be a disaster," I muttered.

But Aunt Helen wouldn't hear it. "Nonsense. You'll be great. Besides, it's just a bit of harmless fun," she said, practically dragging me out the door.

---

The drive to Best Buy was filled with Aunt Helen coaching me on how to bat my eyelashes and say things like, "You're so helpful," in a sweet, demure voice. By the time we arrived, I felt as if I'd entered a parallel universe where I was supposed to be this alluring, confident girl. It was both surreal and nerve-wracking.

We walked into the store, and sure enough, the customer service desk was manned by a young guy who couldn't have been more than twenty. He was tall and lanky, with dark, floppy hair and an easy smile. Aunt Helen nudged me forward, and I took a deep breath, clutching the monitor box like a lifeline.

"Go on, Heather," she whispered. "Remember: smile, eye contact, touch his arm."

I swallowed hard, feeling a lump of nervous energy in my throat. My legs felt wobbly in my low heels as I approached the desk, the weight of Aunt Helen's expectations pressing down on me. The guy looked up, his expression neutral, but his eyes brightened a bit when he saw me.

"Hi," I said, forcing a smile and trying to sound friendly, though I was sure I came off as awkward. "I need to return this monitor. It, um, didn't work out."

He looked at the box, then back at me, his smile slipping. "Returns can be tricky. Do you have the receipt?"

"Yes," I replied, digging through my purse, my hands trembling slightly. When I handed it to him, I tried to remember Aunt Helen's tips. I looked him in the eye and smiled as sweetly as I could. "I really hope this won't be too much trouble. You look like someone who could work miracles," I added, feeling ridiculous.

He blinked, and for a moment, I thought I'd completely blown it. But then he chuckled, his cheeks turning a bit pink. "Well, I'll see what I can do," he said, and I could feel Aunt Helen watching from a distance, probably beaming with pride.

I kept the smile plastered on my face, even though my heart was pounding. Remembering Aunt Helen's advice, I played with a lock of my hair, twisting it around my finger. The guy seemed to be working faster, and when he handed the receipt back, I dared to touch his arm lightly, just as Aunt Helen had instructed.

"Thank you so much," I said, my voice as soft and sweet as I could make it. "You've been really helpful."

He stammered a bit, his ears turning red. "No problem," he managed, and I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of triumph and embarrassment. It had worked, and I couldn't decide if I was proud or mortified.

When I rejoined Aunt Helen, she was grinning from ear to ear. "See? That wasn't so bad," she said, patting me on the shoulder. "You're a natural."

I wasn't so sure about that, but as we left the store, I couldn't help but feel a tiny thrill of accomplishment. Maybe I wasn't completely hopeless at this "being a girl" thing after all.