I'll Be Your Puppet
"You're fired!" I always hear those words at every job I worked for. I just wasn't good at working with people, minus kids when they aren't little demons. This time I was fired for well, I don't know why; I got my stuff and just left. After high school, I wasn't smart enough to be accepted to the college I wanted so I have to work for it, problem was, I can't keep a job for more than a week so it wasn't easy. I sighed as walked home with my Ipod blasting music through the earphones plugged in my ears. Oh Hale-storm, you make me so happy.
Checking my Instagram, I took a photo of me with a frown and hash-tagged it, 'Fired Again'
I received notifications of likes from the 10 followers that were on. Putting my phone back in my pocket, I huffed the cold winter year of 2015 and continued on my way to bus stop. I always pasted this empty block that was covered with grass, notice the past tense in that sentence.
Now it was filled with this huge building that Construction workers been working on for the past two months, The place was still empty on the inside, there was no sign on the fence or on the building itself, just blank, it was being painted and looked over by men in suites. One of them catching my eye, he was different from the others that were dressed to impress, he had messy black hair in a loose ponytail, he always was missing his dress coat and was covered with a faded purple shirt and white dress pants with black shoes. He was handsome and just my type but I wouldn't admit that or even try to get with him, it just wasn't me.
Looking back to the building that was painted a peach color, I saw bright colors on the walls inside pass the glass window. I looked back at the man in purple, quickly getting his attention. He just stared at me blankly as if I wasn't there and he was gazing off in space, my skin crawled and then he smiled at me and made me shiver, I quickly and awkwardly stormed out of there in a fast walk.
I spent the next two weeks looking for a job on the Internet, after many many calls, I finally got a job as a cashier at McDonald's I did well there for some reason, maybe because people actually tried to help me be a better worker, I lasted a good month there and got a raise. Things were looking up, Until..
"Hello there." I looked up from the register and was lost for words, it was the same guy from before, how did I remember his face only seeing it once when my memory is bad, I don't know. "Hello?" He waved and snapped quietly in my face, bring me back from my open eye coma, I could say.
"Welcome to McDonald's. How many I help you?" I greeted with respect, having full eye contact, straight poseur and a warm smile on my face that read 'I-am-to-serve-wholeheartedly'
He gave me a side smile before looking to the menu and ordering number 2 and a medium smoothie, I set the order, received extra change and went to the side to get his smoothie, I had to make myself but it was hard when he was just staring at me, I slipped on some ice, I made a mess on the machine and he kept staring and smiling, my face was hot, I was slipping.
"Hey, Chris. You alrig-" I slipped again and tossed the cup in my boss's face. He sighed deeply, taking a napkin to clean his face he said. "Maybe you need to take a break."
"How long?"
"Forever."
"Agreed." I muttered and went in the back, head hung in shame as I got my stuff and left out the door.
I sat on a bench, my face in my knees, crying. I totally embarrassed myself, my music wasn't making it better. I cried silently for what felt like hours but really was mere minutes. I felt a tap on my shoulder but ignored it, thinking it was some nosy person wanting to get a kick out of someone else's misery. The pat continued until I shot my head up, face wet from silent tears, cheeks and eyes red. My vision was blurry but I refused to wipe them away. Knowing me I was probably giving the person a scary look, but I wasn't so sure when they just stood there. I took out my earphone and they handed me something white, I stared at it for a moment before grabbing it, it was a napkin. I quickly wiped my face, feeling so happy, i don't wear make up because then it would have been hard to get rid of. After clearing my face, the man sat down beside me with a bag of McDonald's on his lap.
"You look like you need a friend." He said and I was just thinking what would be the odds. I looked at him with a sad look before facing front.
"No, I'm fine."
"Then you wouldn't be crying."
"Crying is sometimes the best thing to do." I countered.
"How so?" He asked, taking a bit out of his burger.
I was quiet for a moment, unsure on how to answer it so I just said what sounded right. "It makes me feel better."
The man didn't say anything for a while, maybe because he was eating, I didn't speak because I didn't want him to think I talk, a lot. Which is something I do when I'm comfortable or too dumb to stop.
The man stopped eating and packed the tray in the useless bag and leaned forward, elbows on his knees. He turned to me with a smile and said. "My name is Vincent." He reached his hand to me but stopped 50, I went the other 50 and shook his hand, it was huge compared mine, I was so petite for my age.
"Chris." I couldn't help but smile.
"Is it short for something?"
"Yeah, Christine"
"Ah right.." Vincent leaned back. "You know you owe me a smoothie."
"I got fired, sorry."
"I know that's why you're taking me out." He chuckled. I turned my head to him, cheeks red and eyes holding confusion "You heard me. I paid for a smoothie so I'm going to get a smoothie."
I sighed and pulled out my wallet. "I understand." I took out the extra change for the cup he ordered but he made a stop motion with his hand and stood up.
"I'm asking you out, Christine."
I made an O shape with my mouth. "N-now?"
"Yup. Come along."With out thinking, I got to my feet and followed him, he was so much taller than I was and wider too, i couldn't see pass him so I was forced to walk beside him. He went back to McDonald's but passed the doors and went to a car, i stopped in my tracks. I don't know him to get in the car with him. He could be a killer.
"I'm not going to kidnap you." He chuckled looking back at me. I swallowed my fear and went to the passenger side and bucketed myself in. Vincent drove us to a cafe in town, there were many people, I felt safe. I was still in my red shirt, black pants and black boots while he was dressed casually. Yeah, I'm looking good. (sarcasm)
He opened the door for me like a gentleman. I stepped into the short line and checked the prices on the wall menu then back at my wallet, It was only enough for any kind of large cup and nothing else but I really wanted to try that chocolate cake in the glass cake case.
Vincent ordered his smoothie and I was ready to pay for it when he ordered the cake I wanted and I froze. I whispered the quietest I could. "I only have enough for your smoothie."
"I know." My eyebrows touched but relaxed when the young man returned with the cup and a slice of cake, Vincent paid with credit card, taking the cup and plate, he ushered me to a small table for two people, he placed the cake in front of me then sat down with the straw in his mouth. He ordered a strawberry pineapple mango and happily slurp the cold drink. I ate my cake happily.
"Thank you, Vincent." I smiled at him. He looked at me laughed quietly to avoid unwanted attention. I took out my IHeart NY pocket mirror and saw my teeth were covered with frosting and cake pieces. "How embarrassing." i said, looking the other way, using my tongue to clean the inside of my mouth.
"No, that was really cute." He seized his cackling and continued to sip his smoothie, he must have drunk too much because he clenched his head followed by a low 'ah' noise.
"Take your tongue and squeeze it." I ordered, he did with a question look, soon the brain freeze ended. "Feeling better?"
"Yeah thanks."
"You're welcome." My phone buzzed in my bra, I took it out, tapped the number pad of my password and saw my 3 miss calls and 2 text messages from my room mate, He left his key and his needs to go. I got up from my seat and typed in 'On my way.' "I have to go. It was nice meeting you, Vincent. Thanks for the cake "
"Where are you rushing to?"
"My house, my room mate is locked out. I have to go." I casually walked out the cafe, looking for a bus stop, there were none as far as my eyes can see .
"Do you want a ride?"
I shrieked when I heard Vincent's voice so close to me. "No, thanks. I can't allow that. You already done enough and I just met you." I was giving him hints, I was hoping he would take them.
"None-sense, You'll get there faster than waiting for the bus and having to go with schedule."
He beat me with logic. "Alright. Thanks."
He parked across the street from my apartment complex and I hoped out the car and rushed to my home shouting. "Thanks again."
I ran up the flight of steps, slipping as I skip 2 and 3 at a time. "Made it" I huffed as I handed Jake my key. He was leaning against the wall, catching the key, he unlocked the door and let himself in, tossing my key on the couch which I tossed myself on. Boy, was I tired.
Jake left with his key and went on his double date with his girl friend and best friend and his best friend's girl friend that was cousins with the Jake's girl friend.
I took a shower, escaping from my ex-employment uniform and into comfortable pajamas. Tomorrow my job search would start all over again.
