Disclaimer: I do not own HSM.
There's always something people spend so much time searching for. Whether it's something as simple as a little toy or something as big as the hundred dollar bill you think you lost, there's just something. But like always, you find something when you're not looking and when you least expect to. Such as the day goes for Chad; for the past month or so now he's been searching high and low for a job. He's done everything from applying online to using the newspaper and even walked into stores just to ask if they were hiring. Unfortunately, they went to no avail. With all the searching and applications he's filled out, Chad has had anything but luck. However, he would end up finding it in the one place he'd least expect to.
One Tuesday afternoon, Chad and Troy agreed to meet each other for lunch at the local coffee shop. While Troy merely saw it as a lunch hour to spend time with a friend, Chad saw it as a break from all the searching and rejections. Sitting at a small round table across from each other, they exchanged conversation about their daily lives so far over cups of coffee and some sandwiches.
"So how's Taylor's new job going?" Troy asked as he took a bite of his lunch.
"Dude, she got promoted, not went from being a cashier to a waitress." Chad responded.
"Alright, alright." He replied. "But she's not working the registers anymore. When did she decide to take the offer?"
"We talked about it all week after the owner offered the promotion to her," Chad explained, "and Taylor ultimately decided to go for it. It did seem in our best interest."
"How's that?" Troy inquired, still eating.
"Half the calls she gets deal with the store's suppliers wanting to pick a fight. When Tay picks up that line, believe me, they picked the wrong woman to mess with." Chad answered. "She was also under the impression that few things could be less tasteful than working the register at the place. So for that, it made sense to try out the promotion and see if she liked it. After all, none of us had anything to lose. And with the dental plan we're practically covered, not to mention that the extra money she brings in is really helping us along until I find work."
"But doesn't it suck having her home and less and working extra hours?" he asked. Troy knew that if Gabriella had to work even one extra hour, he'd totally miss her. They would get home practically around the same time every day, and they both had the weekends off, so he couldn't imagine having her for one less day, let alone one whole hour. If it would be that hard on him, Troy could only imagine how Chad would feel if it were Taylor. They'd been separated for so long and now they didn't have as much time together as they wanted. Chad must have been disappointed he couldn't have more time with his woman. However, Chad responded with an answer Troy wasn't expecting at all.
"You kidding? We're practically joined at the hip." He chuckled. "I call her once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Even during her lunch hour she gives me a call and asks how I'm doing. On one or two occasions she's even come home for lunch and I had something ready for her. I mean, yeah it sucks we can't constantly be together like in high school where we could skip class to go and…." He stopped short when he saw the look he was getting from Troy. It was the look that said, 'I know you guys did something so just spill it already before I lose my lunch'. "Well…it's not important what we did." Chad quickly finished.
"Nice save man." Troy muttered sarcastically before sipping his coffee.
"My point is, we can't do as much together that we used to do, but we still find a way around it. And we might as well enjoy it while we can, cause it might be a little harder to talk during the day when I find a job. Especially since the first few weeks or month is usually so crazy." He said.
"Speaking of which, have you had any luck finding a job?" Troy wondered, easily changing the subject.
Chad sighed. "I've checked the Internet. I've checked the want ads. I've asked people if they know anything. Heck, I've even walked into any old store just to see if they were hiring. But practically every time said, 'forget about it'. And the times I did hear back were pure rejection."
Such an answer should come as no surprise. In a time like they were living in, it was hard to find steady work. The economy was slow and still recovering, not to mention that the unemployment rate was still fairly high. And with some jobs just plain getting cut, or replaced by computers, that did not make looking any easier. It was too bad that Troy knew for a fact that his place wasn't looking for new workers, or else he would surely hook his brother up.
"Don't worry man." He encouraged, lightly punching Chad's shoulder, "you'll find something."
Chad nodded and sipped his drink. "I hope you're right. Cause let's face it, I can't keep letting Taylor do all the work and bring in all the money."
"She's not doing all the work," he shook his head, "it's not like you've been sitting at home on your butt doing nothing after applying time and time again. Didn't you say you were doing cleaning and chores and whatnot?"
"Yeah," he nodded, "but it can't keep going on like that. And as much as I hate to admit it, there's only one place I can really go back to without applying or being rejected."
"What's that?" Troy quirked an eyebrow.
Chad sighed. He didn't want it to come to this. Heck, he refused it to. But he was starting to get a bit doubtful. What choice would he have? Maybe he could talk them into some kind of negotiation or something. But that particular boss of his…well wasn't too keen on compromising, to say the least. And after all it caused him to lose last time, why should he even go back? It was completely pointless. However, right now it was looking like his only option. To say the very least, Chad was considering it.
"The army."
Those two words hit Troy hard. After what that place's mistake caused all of them to go through…Chad, his family, his parents, his best friends…why would he even think it was an option to go back? They screwed up once, and they could screw up again. Troy didn't care if it was just the unit Chad was in that stunk. He didn't care if it was one man that was whack. He cared about having his best friend home and staying home. That's where he was safe, and that's where everyone was happy. There was no denying any of that.
"Why in the freaking hell would you even mention that place?" he gasped.
"Dude, believe me, I really don't want to. It's the last place I ever wanna go back to." Chad responded, looking Troy in the eye to show that he was serious.
"Then it's not an option for you to go back there." Troy shook his head. "You'll find some other work. Somewhere close to home and something you'll actually like. If you go back into the army, it's a death trap waiting to happen. It was a mistake once, but that's not gonna happen again."
"I get what you're saying, but-" Chad started, only to get interrupted by Troy.
"But nothing!" he insisted. "Remember the boy who cried wolf, Chad? You're not gonna be the boy and you're not gonna be the wolf. You're gonna be the victim. The first time we got the call – A CALL – that said you were dead, you come back almost five years later. Alright, that's one time and one time should be too many times. That should be a sign to never go back. But if you do go back and the same thing happens again…. We'd get another call that said you were shot, but instead you collapsed into the woods and were healed by a magical polar bear, then get comfortable enough to live there a few years only to realize who you left behind, and come home and we all rejoice again. But then you end up going back a third time…it could be something as little as getting hit on the head by a gun and dying. Actually dying, man. And we get another call or notice or something and they say you really did die this time, we're not gonna believe him. No one is gonna listen, and we're all gonna expect you to come home in a few years and you never do. Cause guess what? That third time you really DID die!"
Chad rubbed his chin, looking like he was actually considering all of what Troy was saying. After all, the guy did bring up some good points. However, Chad was stuck on one minor detail. He looked at his friend doubtfully and raised an eyebrow. "A magical polar bear?"
Troy hit his head. Leave it to Chad to get distracted by the part that made the least sense. "I exaggerated that for a reason."
"What's that?" Chad asked.
"Cause, even if it's just one guy there that's screwed in the head, if you keep going back there and reappearing after we're told something one day something really horrible is gonna happen to you. And none of us are gonna believe them." Troy explained honestly. "And trust me dude, I've seen Taylor get heartbroken from losing you the first time. Hearing it again would devastate her. And imagine what it'd do to CJ. You can't go through with going back there."
That was the part Chad caught loud and clear. Troy wasn't just giving him the facts straight out like they were. He was telling him the truth. He was trying to protect Chad. At that moment, even though Chad had so many others like it, he could have never asked for a better best bud.
"Thanks man." Chad said with a small smile.
Troy grinned and lightly pounded fists with Chad. "Anytime, bro."
"As soon as I get back home, it's back to the job hunt for me. No matter how long it takes, I'm finding something." Chad said.
"Now that's the Chad I know." Troy smiled. He ate the last of his sandwich and picked up his coffee. "Anyway, I'd better head back to work. Catch ya later, ok?"
"You know it." Chad nodded, hitting Troy a quick high five before he walked out. Chad looked at his watch and took the opportunity to finish his lunch. As he did so and got up to throw away his garbage, he was approached by one of the workers. He was a bit shorter than Chad and had sleek black hair. And with the way his hair was styled and the green apron he was wearing, the guy almost resembled the Simpsons' Apu.
"Did I just hear you right, sir? You are looking for a job?" he asked, speaking in a faint Indian accent.
Chad turned to him and nodded, wondering where this was going. "Yeah, that's right."
"Well you happen to be just in luck. I was going to put up a sign today asking for needed workers." He explained.
Chad raised an eyebrow, confused. "Come again?"
Going over to the counter and reaching behind it, the worker revealed a large piece of cardboard with the words clearly stated, "Help Wanted".
"Oh!" Chad nodded, understanding.
"My name is Apu. And I could not help but overhear you talking with your friend." He explained, putting the cardboard away.
And once again, distracted Chad took over. "Oh, you mean like Apu from the Simpsons!"
Apu couldn't help but sigh. "Unfortunately my family comes from a long line of television lovers. My uncle named all of his children after the characters of Star Trek. My brother moved to Africa and named all of his children – and dogs – the same names as from The Lion King. And my parents, who are Simpsons diehard fans, have named me and my five brothers and sisters after Simpsons characters."
"Wow, most TV shows fans I know of just collect toys." Chad chuckled.
"Yes, I thank you to stop laughing at my heritage." He responded.
"Sorry." Chad cleared his throat right away.
Apu folded his arms and nodded. "You should be lucky I did not decide to withdraw my offer."
"So, you're seriously offering me a job?" Chad asked.
"Well if you do not wanting to work I suppose I will just have to eavesdrop on some other poor peoples' conversations job hunting. Thank you, come again…" he said, starting to walk away.
"No, I do wanting to work!" Chad gasped. "I mean, I do want to work."
"Excellent!" Apu grinned, turning back to Chad. He picked up a sheet of paper and handed it to him. "This will being the application you need to fill out in order to be considered for a position here. You can being a cashier, a coffee maker, or a food baker. And on nights when it gets very busy we call in serving people. But those are mostly for holidays and parties. Are you understanding?"
Chad skimmed through the form as he listened to Apu. He then looked at the man and nodded. "Crystal clear."
Apu pointed to an empty table. "You can be sitting down as you fill the paper out. And if you stick around, one of the managers is supposed to be coming in later. I can show him your application and see if you can be interviewed by him."
"That'd be really great." Chad said. "Thanks for the opportunity."
"Happy to help." Apu grinned, sitting him down. "Thank you, and come again." With that, he walked back to the counter to return to work and left Chad to filling out the application. With any luck, even though Chad wasn't looking right that moment and yet something still came to him, maybe this was all he needed. He was going to get this job. What he didn't know was that as he filled the application out, he was being watched very closely.
-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-CT-
"Where is he?" Taylor asked a bit impatiently that night as she stared at the clock. She and CJ had already eaten dinner, and she was keeping Chad's warm for him and yet he hasn't come home. He didn't even call. Taylor didn't know if she should be angry at him or worried.
CJ looked up from his homework and at his mom. "Daddy is coming back isn't he?"
Taylor knelt down to his level. "Of course he is. I'm sure there's a logical reason why he hasn't called about running late."
"Promise?" he asked.
Taylor nodded. "I promise." Leave it to CJ to even in the littlest way remind her that there was nothing to worry about. She knew Chad. He always got distracted by something at some point. Any minute now he would walk in through the door and explain why he was late, and beg for their forgiveness. Then, as if right on cue, that's exactly what happened.
"Daddy!" CJ exclaimed, running over to him.
Closing the door after walking in, Chad picked CJ up in his arms. "Hey little buddy." He said to him. Chad then walked over to Taylor. "I am so sorry I'm late. I left my cell phone at home and I didn't get the chance to call…"
"Is everything alright?" Taylor asked him. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Chad nodded, taking his free arm and wrapping it around her. "Everything's great, actually."
Taylor walked into his embrace and wrapped her arms around him. "We're just glad you're ok."
"Actually, I am kinda hungry." Chad admitted.
"I'll warm up your dinner for you." She replied.
"Thanks Tay." Chad smiled, leaning down to kiss her. Taylor kissed him back and they continued to do so, forgetting for the moment that their son was watching.
"Ew, gross!" CJ said.
They instantly pulled away from each other. Taylor rubbed the back of her head and made her way into the kitchen. "I'll take care of that food, then."
Chad nodded and took CJ back to the couch. They sat down and CJ continued doing his homework. Once Taylor returned with the food, Chad didn't waste any time digging in. Taylor sat down on the other side of Chad and watched him eat. But still, she wondered what could have kept him so late. A bit tardy was one thing, but more than a few hours just was not like him.
"So what happened?" she wondered.
"I guess it started when I was at lunch with Troy. After he left, one of the workers at the coffee shop came over to me and said he overheard we were talking about jobs and told me they were hiring. So he gave me an application and I filled it out." Chad explained. "By the time I finished it, the manager came and the worker told him I was the first applicant, so he told me to wait while he looked over my application. I stayed and waited there for a while, it was probably about an hour and a half later. Then I had the interview, that was for a while. So then by the time that was done, I was showed around the counter with the oven and coffee maker and everything. Next thing I knew, I was in training."
Taylor nodded as she followed along. It was a little shocking to hear all that, and how it happened so fast. Chad had been job hunting for a while now, so it was amazing to know how close he was to getting a job. Now she wondered if what she was thinking was a reality. "Does that mean…?"
Chad smiled and stood up, opening his arms and nodded. "I got the job! Cashier, coffeemaker, and occasional baker person."
CJ looked up at him and tilted his head, half not understand what was going on and half still focusing on his homework. "Yay?"
Taylor smiled and jumped up, wrapping her arms around Chad as he spun her around. "Yay!" she exclaimed. "Chad, that's incredible!"
"I know!" Chad smiled. "We already have a schedule worked out and everything. I work five days, but I get Fridays and Saturdays off."
"I'm proud of you, Chad." She told him. "Everything is finally going at a steady pace."
But sometimes, things aren't supposed to go that steady. There are times when situations could be nothing but rocky. And unfortunately, that was something that they were around to find out – a lot sooner than they could have ever imagined.
Sorry it took so long to upload this chapter. The last couple of weeks were kinda crazy. I went to see one of my friends before she went back to school, I saw another friend a few times cause now I start school this week and she's working and then next week starting school, and not to mention that my mom and i were getting so much stuff for my dad's birthday this past weekend. We had to figure out what to get, then buy that stuff, and come up with more ideas, I ended up making a picture frame...yeah, long story. Unfortunately, I think that means I'm gonna need to push the deadline back for this story. There's still some that I wanna happen here and I don't know if I can make it all happen within this week. And I don't wanna squish everything into one chapter and rush everything along just to meet the deadline because then I won't be having any fun writing it, and you guys probably won't enjoy reading it as much. However, I already have everything worked out for Princess and the Frog from the characters to the chapters so that I can start it whenever ready. So, I start school on Wednesday, I'm out all day this Saturday...I'll see when else I can update this week.