“Rise and shine!” my dad’s voice rang into the room. He popped his head in quick when shouting and leaving just as fast. With the way I felt, it could have easily been the crack of dawn, but the clock proved me wrong. Sleeping was something I was good at, so I was planning to sit here for about another good half hour just sitting on Tumblr. My body nor mind was awake yet, so moving was not on the agenda at the moment.
In the bed next to me, Cassadee groaned and threw one of her throw pillows over at me. I could feel it hit my waist while keeping my eyes glued to my phone. I could sit on my phones for hours not even realizing how much time had passed. My mom was say it was like I was in a trance, which wasn’t something I could argue with.
I glanced up when Cassadee sat up and looked around the room. She rubbed her eyes then opening them wide trying to wake herself up. She got off the bed and headed to the vanity tossing her level 10 bed head in a bun. That was when she turned giving me the your-turn look that I acted as if I didn’t notice. My body lay in a position that I didn’t intend on leaving until Cassadee reached yanking the blanket off me. I made a squeal with a rush of cold air.
“Time to get up!” she said tossing my blanket onto her bed just to get it out of her hands. I couldn’t reach across the space to get it leaving me in defeat.
I curled myself up. Maybe if I stayed like that, she wouldn’t make me get up. School was like hell getting up every morning. I had to get up around 5:30 just so I would get there on time. My mom couldn’t always drive me, so I would have to head down to the busstop at 6:30 and get off on the stop that was closest to my school. It just so happens that that stop was five blocks away. I would ride an old skateboard the rest of the way, making it there in a matter of minutes.
I eventually rolled over just enough where I wouldn’t completely fall off the bed. She stood akimbo at the foot of my bed in her gray v-neck and shorts. “Gotta get up sometime,” she said.
“Now is not that time,” I mumbled back in a tired tone.
When I returned my attention back to my phone, Cassadee snatched it from my hands telling me that if I wanted it back, I would have to get up. She stood in front of me, so I reached out in front of me, lazily stretching my arms to take it back. She knew better placing it in the pocket of her shorts. She headed to the door, gave me a smile, and left the room knowing I would get up and follow her.
It took me a minute, but I pulled myself to my feet. I copied Cassadee’s sloppy bun smearing off some of the leftover makeup I had on last night. Even with a shower, I fail to take it off. It was like cement for your face.
I could hear my dad trying to get Danny to eat his waffles, but the little boy would protest dipping his fingers in the maple syrup and licking it off his sticky fingers. The other day, when we finally made our debut on the beach, Danny would pull Cassadee around wanting her to build little castles and moats with her. He would tell her that I was on the other team, and they would pelt me with little shells. For the most part, I didn’t mind. It was until Danny dumped a bucket of sand on my lap that I picked him up and splashed around in the water with him.
Carmen and Cassadee were, what I assumed, finishing a conversation as Carmen took a bite from a waffle on the counter and sitting down next to my dad with Danny. She told him that if he finished his waffles, they would go onto the boardwalk later and get ice cream. Four year-olds treated ice cream like an acceptance letter into Hogwarts—something you’d never pass up.
I wished them a good morning at the same time as eyeing up one of the waffles that was clearly calling me. I slipped around grabbing a fork from the drawer turning to see Cassadee already have half of it in her mouth. She didn’t realize how I dropped my shoulders and look at her with disbelief. She turned giving me double take smiling an ‘oops’ grin when realizing that she indeed took the last blueberry waffle.
Blueberry would always take the win against normal. It’s like finding little excitements inside, but I was stuck with one of the original ones since Cass robbed me of the last one. I put the two waffles on a plate searching through the pantry for my sweet topper and crunchy center piece. Some would put maple syrup on their waffles with butter, others, like myself, like honey and loads of crunchy peanut butter. I would always get weird looks from my mom whenever she saw me put honey rather than syrup and cover it in peanut butter; I was used to it by now.
Happy they had them, I pulled the two ingredients out not hesitating to coat and then drench the waffles. What’s better than waffles, honey, and peanut butter? Blueberry waffles, honey, and peanut butter. I can honestly say I wasn’t hesitating to let that go easily. She owed me. “Honey and peanutbutter?” my dad asked.
“I gotta bit of a sweet tooth,” I replied. I popped the lip shut on the honey, satisfied and ignoring the confused looks from others. I couldn’t be the only one who does this? This was one of the best combos; who could resist?
“Okay,” my dad said going along with it. Al the humerous looks were worth it once I started eating it. It was as if the waffle was gilded, and even though I could be prone to exaggerating or even being slightly biased, it was true.
Danny cooed while my dad and Carmen took turns giving him little pieces of waffle. I ate down my meal, satisfied. The one reason I was up so early was because today was the day I would be looking for a job. I would spend my time aimlessly walking around hoping I could find at least one place that would spark my interests.
My dad would go on and on about how many different opportunities there were, which I took as a sign that he was pushing for me to hurry and get a job. I’ve only had one other job before this, and it didn’t end well. It was at a candy store called GumDrops, and I could honestly say it all went well in the beginning. Long story short, you make sure you don’t slip on the water you accidently spilt. If you don’t, then you’ll fall back into the sugar sticks dispenser that does a domino effect in the giant M&M machine. Probably one of the most intense situations. I was sitting in a pile of sugar and M&Ms trying to fight the temptation to eat it. The people there stared amazing and confused while my boss just proved how infuriated a person can be.
My fingers were sticky from the honey and my refusal to use utensils. I needed help turning on the sink just so I didn’t get everything coated. I repeatedly pressed the pump on the soap until it was pretty much pouring out of my hands before trying to scrub the sticky coating off. My dad patted my head as after slipping Danny’s dish in the sink, who was running over into the living room to finish putting together his lego sets.
“Better get cleaned up if you’re going to get a job,” my dad said to me. I turned off the water with dripping hands, searching the drawers for a towel.
“Oh the joy,” I said sarcastically. I dried my hands and dropped the towel on the counter. I wasn’t the only one getting a job; Cassadee would be searching for one as well, but she’s has had a decent amount of job experience. She lived with her mom solely, so she would work part time at a grocery store throughout last year with her mom taking day shifts at the hospital and night shifts during the weekends.
I had to wait for Juliet’s three our shower until I was able to wash up in ice water. It’s crazy how much faster a shower could take when the water feels like little balls of hail. I could feel my hair frosting when I stepped out. I actually felt warmer when I stepped out, which was something I would have never thought was possible before today.
“What are you wearing?” Cassadee asked me sifting through the closet. She was still in her shorts and tee deciding on showering once she was confident the water was a whole continent warmer.
I was already dressed into clothes that I had no idea worked for getting a job. I found a collared shirt and tucked it into my white jeans. The jeans looked better than the shorts, and while I was aware that I would be most likely sweating, at least it looked better.
I had my black strappy sandals that I would wear along with that, so overall, I don’t think it was too bad. I was able to actually start my little quest after finishing my hair and makeup on.
To be honest, I had no idea where to start. It was like being sent to the store to get something but having no idea what you’re supposed to buy. I began looking around on the boardwalk, but there was nowhere that I had an interest working at. I would see the same stores over again, and that was when I knew I wasn’t getting anywhere. When I went down to the streets, I saw a few places that were hiring, so I took a walk in, had an interview with the feeling that I wouldn’t get it or I wasn’t fond of the idea spending a lot of time there.
The book store was a place that I was somewhat hoping worked out, but when they told me they weren’t hiring, I could literally see the failure of this day. I found a small store on 14th that attracted me just with the posters on the outside. It was a music store, so it wasn’t like I wouldn’t be disappointed to show up. Record boxes were in aisles when I walked in with CDs along the walls and posters covering any bare walls. It reminded me slightly of the store in Pretty In Pink where she worked. I headed to the back of the store scanning the columns and walls of CDs and magazines. Most of the music seemed to be older music, and I could recognize some of the records and albums from the ones I listened to with my mom. It was pretty cool, but that was when I wished I never walked in.
I kept my head low hoping that the boy sitting at the register with his feet propped up on the counter didn’t see me. He seemed pretty occupied by his phone, so I was hoping that I could turn around and leave unnoticed. I was in the back of the store, and the counter remained right next to the door. I mentally killed myself for not seeing Alex when I first walked in, but I thanked god for the fact that he didn’t see me. Now would be the mission impossible of getting out of here with the disappointment that this place had to be crossed off my list.
When doing a good job at sneaking to the front, like the failure I am, I botched the move and tripped right on a crate of records. Even though I was able to save myself from the fall, I was unable to save myself from the conversation.
“Well, hello,” Alex said looking up with a tone of laughter from my trip.
Hoping my face wasn’t too red, I replied with a small wave and pursed grin. I watched as he leaned forward crossing his arms and leaning onto the counter next to the register which was covered in stickers of various artists.
“Can I help you?” he asked with a smile of taunt on his face.
“You work here?” I asked him.
“Is that what you came here to know?” he shot back just for me to give him a dull look. “Around three or four months now, believe it or not. I actually have a life outside of you,” he let out a small laugh before asking me once more what I needed and why I was here.
“Ha. Ha. Ha. Well, actually, I was just leaving,” I replied to him.
“So soon? C’mon you must have come here for something.” I looked around the shop also searching for an answer; because I knew telling him why I was really here would start something that could easily be avoided. He tapped his fingers on the counter waiting for me to reply.
“I was walking around and saw the posters in the front, and I, uh, I decided to just take a walk in.” I said back with the doubt he would believe it but with the façade that it was true. It wasn’t all a lie. The posters were what drew me in.
“Then why were you in here for about a half a second before making a break for it? I don’t bite,” Alex sneered. It was stupid that I thought I was going to easily put one past him. He looked at me like he could see right through me or like a toy.
“Can I just go?” I uncrossed my arms pointing at the door.
“You could have left whenever you wanted. I’m not stopping you. You’re the one who’s carrying on a conversation with me and didn’t already leave.” I hesitated for a moment wondering if I should say something, but I just left with the hope he didn’t see my crimson face. I was forcing myself not to overthink what he said, but that wasn’t the easiest thing. He made it seem like I wanted to stay and talk to him, when I didn’t. He didn’t have to talk to me unless he wanted to, which from the looks of it seemed about right. So with that, that is the story what I will be going with, because that was not my fault.
I kept that thought aside and continued walking. I wasn’t too sure what time it was. I didn’t get out of the house until around noon, so I could assume it was around 2:30. I wasted about five minutes in that shop playing mind games with a guy that I never expected to run into as many times as I did. I swear, I didn’t understand our everyday meeting all of a sudden.
I was almost home when I passed a place with a help wanted sign. It was one of the very few places that actually had one other than a pizza place that I applied for—not positive I was going to get it—and a hardware store that I didn’t apply for with the lack of knowledge and experience in that field.
This was different. It was one of those moments where I didn’t think it could show up at a better time. The place was called Primary, and I was able to tell from outside the windows it was an arts supply store. I could see the vertical aisles and counter in the front. I was able to read the different sections for paint brushes, sketch books and pencils, crayons and markers, and even clay. The floor had splashes of paint blobs which matched the walls. I was upset that didn’t find this place sooner.
“Hi, you need any help?” a girl asked from the counter to my right. She walked around from the counter and leaned back on the front side.
“Um, well, I saw your help wanted sign, so I was wondering if I could apply,” I said slightly nervous for some reason. She looked surprised with a grin on her face as she wiped her hand on her apron that appeared to be covered in clay that was tied on over a yellow shirt.
“Oh, awesome! Lemme go get Matt,” she gestured to a door next to the counter where she slipped behind. I was assuming Matt was the manager or boss or something.
The nerves were now starting to kick in. My palms were getting clammy which I tried to dry on the thighs of my jeans while I took small paces in front of the register. This was a job that I would actually want. It was in an art store that wasn’t too far from the house that I would love to go to.
The wait for the girl and Matt to come back seemed to take ions when really it was a matter of minutes. He seemed just as relaxed as the girl having a welcoming grin on his face as he held out his hand for me to shake.
“I’m Matt, the manager. I hear you’re looking for a job?” he asked clapping his hands together and dropping them at his side. I nodded in reply. “Okay here just follow me.”
He led me back through the aisles of various pencils that had millions of colors and names and types along with the sketch books and poster all the way into the back of the store. We sat at a table that was to the opposite side of the room as what looked to be turning tables for pottery then there were easels, some with blank canvases and other with a small amount of work on them. I could honestly say I was falling more and more in love with this place.
“Can I have your name, please?” Matt asked. I turned my attention back to him just to be greeted with his sweet smile.
“Stella. Stella Hepburn,” I answered.
“Like the actress?” he asked. Like the beer? Thoughts about the first day I came here and met Juliet and her friends just to be compared to a beer by Ale…Andy. I was thinking Andy, not meaning for any possible slip up, because I wasn’t thinking of Alex. I had no reason to. I just saw him just a little while ago, so even it wasn’t even that I was thinking of him but the situation. I got caught up in a whirl of thoughts, I didn’t even hear Matt trying to get my attention back.
“Stella?”
“Oh god, I’m so sorry” I replied shaking my head in embarrassment. He laughed shaking it off telling me not to worry about it and moving forward with the interview, which went well once it was over. He asked the basic questions about hobbies and interests which ultimately led to what goes on here. All the nerves that I had from the beginning stayed until the very end, but I had nothing to get worked up over. Part of me thought that he noticed the slight edge in me, so he tried to keep it mellow, which I highly appreciated. Unlike Alex, who simply enjoyed seeing my nerves run and knowing that he was able to get under my skin. Because I would usually like to think I wasn’t the easiest to annoy.
The girl who I had met at the front was his friend Tay, who I would soon work with for the summer. She worked almost most days except for Mondays and Fridays, which were her days off other than Sunday which was when the store was closed. Every Tuesday and Thursday she would teach pottery classes, which explains all the pottery wheels, and my job here wouldn’t take too much effort. Restocking and filling shelves, maybe testing some of the supplies, and checking people out. It didn’t seem like too many people were stopping in, and Matt just claimed it was a slow day and things would pick up.
Matt finished telling me that on my first day he would start telling me a little bit more along with the days I would work. Pay wasn’t something I brought up, but he said that pay would range between the hours I work. I get four dollars an hour and the shop is usually open from 9:30 to 6:30. That was about eight hours, tallying up to thirty two dollars a day which I was not complaining about. The shop was pretty low maintenance, so with only three people working and usually a decent amount of people coming in and out, pay wasn’t that bad. Also, the cost of the pottery lessons went to that and fresh supplies.
“Thank you, like so much,” I said to him.
“Ah no problem at all, welcome to Primary!” he smiled. “Okay, well I guess Tuesday or Wednesday would be a good day to start. I’ll give you a call Monday, but as far as uniforms go, as long as you wear red, we’re good.” He put a thumbs up to me.
“Sweet, okay, but why red?” I asked curiously.
“Cause I wear blue and Tay wears yellow, so we’ll be like the primary colors,” he said enthusiastically with me replying with a laugh. It was cute, because it’s artsy and the name of the store, but then Matt continued. “and it’s cool cause we all got one of these,” he pointed to the ring pierced into his nose that I just got that all three of us had.
We said a few more words before our goodbyes, and I left around 4:30 getting home to an empty house. I would have at least thought someone would be there, but nope. My dad left a little note on the fridge saying to call him once I got home, letting him know how the job hunt went. He and Carmen took Danny up to the rides up on the boardwalk for a little while, and I knew that they wouldn’t be back for a little while. When Danny got the chance to ride on the amusement park rides, he would go on every one he could. He loved them.
I tossed the note aside figuring that I would go up and try to find them or at least find something to eat. I texted Cassadee hoping that she was available at the moment to meet up, so I didn’t look too much like a lonely outsider—even though that’s exactly what I was.
My familiarity with the town has gotten better. I was aware of where some things were and how to get to more places without loads of help. There were times when I would feel totally lost, but for the most part, I was okay.
I couldn’t get over the thought that I actually got a job. Me, pretty much a hopeless failure, was able to get a job on my own. It just made me smile that it was at an art store and how awesome the people seemed to be. Pay was decent, and considering Tay’s schedule, the days were pretty good. She got off three days working the other four, so I was hopeful. Working was never a big thing so I was both anxious and filled with anticipation.
It wasn’t too late, so the boardwalk would start to get filled soon. They didn’t notice me, but I could see Alex, who looked pretty bored just playing with the sand at his feet, and all his friends, and that included Juliet and Andy sharing a blunt and Austin and Jack sitting on their phones. I wanted to simply roll my eyes and the empty bottles that were dug into the sand and currently being used as an ash tray.
I walked around the promenade until Cassadee texted me with the words: Meet me at the arcade. First to 20,000 wins, rememberrr. Would you like a little bear or kitten?
I could hear her taunting and threatening words in my head. Nope. I’m going to get my Totoro. I turned looking around eyeing the arcade a little ways down. I shall avenge.

Notes

Sorry it's been so long since an update, but hope it was sorta worth the wait! Please subscribe, comment, and vote(:

-Giii oxxx