the city's gonna save her
chapter three:
The rest of the day flew by, and by the time I knew it, I was on my way home. We didn't have lacrosse today because we'd practiced/played for 6 days in a row and it was against the rules to play a 7th day, so we got off of practice. I straightened my hair, so it was blowing in the wind as Kelly's brother Nate drove me home. Excited wasn't the word that came to mind when I thought about going to work. I still didn't know everything and this guy was probably going to be a jerk about it and not even help me. I was also tired from school, but what else is new, I was always tired. My doctor said just because I was a teenager and I was on 3,000 milligrams of Keppra, but I was always emotionally tired. Like I was going to snap at the next person who looked at me the wrong way. Maybe I should just call out of work. That won't look too good though, calling out sick at your second day on the job. It's only three hours, I can make it through, I figured as Nate dropped me out of the house. I trotted around the back, where the black driveway ended, stepping onto three stone steps, up two chestnut porch steps, and opened the storm door. The key was hidden on the middle hinge of the storm door, under the window and clear from anyone's sight unless you walked right up to it. I opened the door and walked inside, and locked it behind me. Chance had lacrosse today, so he couldn't take me home. He and Nate were friends, but Nate quit the baseball team and Chance was going on a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh. I had wanted to go there, then he committed. Now I would love to go to North Carolina, but the board of Admissions there is very picky, so I will doubtfully get in. This is all coming from a sophomore who had no experience with the college process. I scrubbed my hands of all the school pathogens I inevitably picked up all day. I grabbed an apple and walked over to the TV and turned it on. Yes, I thought, my favorite show, NCIS was on. Chance and I were hooked on this show. He liked the seasons when Cait was on, and I liked Zeeva better. I sat down and munched on my apple, until I eventually dozed off. I felt my mom shaking my shoulder as I groggily looked at her.
"You have to get ready for work."
"What time is it?" I asked, and rubbed my eyes.
"4:30, you start at 5." she informed me, and I walked upstairs and put on my Cold Stone shirt and black yoga pants (you weren’t allowed to wear jeans, but you could wear yoga pants? Confusing, whatever.) And I pulled my hair into a pony tail and put on a headband so I wouldn’t be stuck wearing the goofy looking visors. My mom was already in the car when I had to run downstairs and get in the car.
“Mom can I drive?” I asked,
“No, you’re already late.”
“Mom they don’t care, I don’t even know who I’m working with.” I said, and wondered what Colin looked like. According to Chris the owners only hire good looking girls. Oh this is going to be great. We finally got there, and as I was opening the door, my mom says to me,
“What time do I have to be there tonight?”
“I close tonight, so I’ll text you when I’m done.” I said, “Bye, love you.”
“Love you too.” She said, and I walked into the store. No one was out front, so I walked to the back, and saw this taller guy standing in front of the ice cream maker. He glanced up and flashed his blue eyes. First thought: oh God, he’s cute. Second thought: tonight’s going to be fun. Third thought: say something, stupid.
“Hi!” I smiled, “I’m Ryan, I’m new here.” and I walked past him to put my phone and wallet into a storage locker for all the employees.
“Hi, I’m Colin.” He smiled, and finished cleaning the machine as I put on my apron and my name tag. I walked out front to clock in, and I didn’t know he had followed me, so I jumped when he said,
“You know, to be honest, I thought I was working with a guy tonight. I thought John and Christi actually hired a guy for once.”
“Oh, no, sorry I’m a girl. Hate to disappoint you.” I laughed, as I started picking out mix-ins to refill.
“Oh, don’t worry; I’m not disappointed at all. It’s just a habit that isn’t broken here.” He laughed, and walked back to wash dishes. I had to go into the freezer to grab some things, and passed him on my way back out.
“So, Ryan, what’s your story?”
“My story?” I asked confusedly.
“Yea, your story, where you come from, where you’re going, which I might add don’t need to be the same thing, and any details I should know.” He grabbed a mix-in to fill up on. “Here, I’ll start. I went to Shanahan for high school, and I just finished my first year at La Salle.”
“Oh, so the boring stuff.” I said, and he laughed.
“Yea, well we’ll be slow tonight, so the interesting things will just have to wait.”
“Alright,” I started. “I go to Concord, and I have a brother named Chance.”
“Where are you going next year?” he asked.
“Concord?” I said, confused once again.
“Wait how old are you?”
“I’m 16.” I said, “I’m finishing my sophomore year.”
“You do not look like a sophomore, at all.” He commented.
“Thanks?” I responded, unsure of what the appropriate response to that. I took it as a compliment.
“No problem.” He smiled, “here catch.” He threw a marshmallow at me, and I caught it in my hands.
“No with your mouth,”
“I’m not good at this.” I said, and he tossed one and I caught it.
“Liar.” He bumped me as I washed dishes and he put them away. Tonight is going to be a lot better than I expected.