Trust Me- Chapter Two
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thank you guys for the reviews! I hope that those that didn't reply are still enjoying it. Reviews make me smile and post faster, so please hit that little like button down there….yeah, just at the end of the post…looks like a heart….there ya go! Oh, and BTW, I have never met Robert Downey Jr, much less know him or his family (though if he reads this, my email is attached to my tumblr and I would love to hear from you!;-) This is purely fictional. Thanks! Enjoy!
Extras, tour guides, store helpers…nothing was really speaking to her. She sat outside a small coffee shop searching the want ads and nursing a cooling cup of Costa Rican brew. It had been two days since her arrival and she was finally getting down to business. Yeah, that B.A. degree in Communications that she had worked her ass off for was doing a whole lot of good now…The waiter, a pimply-faced teenage named Ryan(it was on his nametag), walked over to refresh her drink and saw the paper.
"Looking for a job?" he asked and she sighed.
"Yeah, but no luck so far. "She replied, setting down the useless newspaper in frustration.
"Well, I don't know if you're interested but we're looking for a new manager here, morning shift." He said and she perked up slightly. It wasn't exactly her dream job but it was better than being a tour guide.
"Really?"
"Yeah. The owner is really cool, too. You should go talk to him. His name is Mr. Daniels." Ryan said and pointed to a portly man sitting inside at the counter. Chris walked inside and introduced herself. He turned out to be quite the character, gracing her with stories of his time as a stuntman in the olden days of movies. She was instantly taken and he must have liked her as well. She walked back to her table 20 minutes later and smiled at Ryan.
"Say hello to your new manager!" she said and he cheered.
"That's great! You'll love it here. I guess I had better get to work or your first act of command will be to fire me. Welcome!" he said and she laughed. Well, so she had a job. Now she just had to get an apartment. Easy enough, right?
"My god! How does anyone afford to live here?!" she bemoaned a few days later, looking through the paper. Rent was insane for such small spaces and, while Mr. Daniels was a very generous man, she was far from being able to afford much more that a closet….and a small one at that!
The customers were few and far between that day- it was just too hot for coffee- but that suited the workers just fine. Ryan was wiping down already clean tables, Tracy (the barista) was reading a magazine and filing her nails, and Chris was busy frowning at the papers. She had only been there for a few days but she had learned quickly and her charges were good, hardworking kids that she genuinely liked. They all glanced up as the door chimed and she realized it was the guy from the theater. With him was a young boy, about 9 years old or so.
"Hello, LA!" she greeted and he smiled as he recognized her.
"Well, hey there, Tennessee. Fancy meeting you here." He replied. She looked at the boy expectantly and LA pulled him close. "This is young Master Indio, my boy." He said proudly and Chris smiled at him.
"Hello, Master Indio." She said and he nodded quietly. "What can I get you gentlemen?"
"Um, double Americano for me and chocolate milk for him, please." LA said and Chris called out the order to Tracy.
"So, what are you two up to today?"
"We're going to a movie in a little while. Just having fun on our weekend together." He said, ruffling Indio's hair gently. The boy frowned and pulled away, then fixed his hair as most kids do at that age. Chris saw that he was eyeing some cookies near the end of the counter and got an idea.
"What's your favorite?" she asked and he shrugged. "I bet it is Chocolate Chip."
"Yeah." He finally said and she grinned. Walking over, she pulled out a cookie, wrapped it, and then handed it to him.
"It's on the house." She said and he finally smiled. Oh, there was the family resemblance- he smiled just like his father.
"Can I eat it now, Dad?" Indio asked and LA nodded. Plopping down at a nearby table he dug in. Chris grinned and turned back to LA, passing his readied drinks. He paid for the drinks and left a very healthy tip in the jar, she noted.
"Thanks. You didn't have to do that." He said and she shrugged.
"No problem. Consider it a karma boost for me." She replied and he grinned.
"So, how do you like Los Angeles so far?"
"It is nice here. It is different from Tennessee but in good ways. It is a culture shock! The only problem I'm having is the prices for apartments. They are crazy!"
"Yeah, there is a bit of a sticker shock, but I'm sure you will find something soon. Don't give up." He said and she nodded with a smile. She watched as he looked around and bit his lip in thought for a minute. Oh, that was cute, she thought. Leaning closer, he asked, "I, uh, was wondering if you might like to have dinner with me sometime?" Oh….well, that was unexpected. She took a slight, unconscious step back and shook her head.
"Um, thank you for asking, but I can't" she said and he frowned, clearly disappointed.
"Already have a boyfriend, I guess?"
"No, it isn't that. I'm just not interested in dating. I moved out here because I don't know anyone. I'd like to keep it that way, thanks. " She explained and his frowned deepened.
"That sounds kind of lonely" he said and she shrugged.
"I'm used to it." She replied. He was about to ask more but Indio ran over, his face smudged with chocolate. Chris smiled at the sight and handed LA a dampened paper towel.
"Dad, we're going to miss the movie!" the boy said as LA cleaned his face gently.
"Okay, I'm coming. Well, I guess I'll see ya around, Tennessee." He said, obviously wanting to continue the conversation, but Indio came first.
"You know where I'll be. Goodbye, Indio. Goodbye, LA." She said warmly and they smiled as they headed for the door.
"Goodbye, Tennessee, and thank you for the cookie!" Indio called and she watched them leave. Strange, she felt that hair-raising sensation throughout her body once again. Shaking her head with a grin, she turned back to her duties and the fruitless paper.