"Why didn't you just tell me you liked Lucas?"
Oh, this took a bad turn.
She let go of me, "It's okay peaches. I ...I won't date him then."
"Wait...really?"
"Of course, Maya, no boy is ever going to come between us."
Could this be an...opportunity?
"You're right. I like...Lucas," I said trying not to throw up. "So either of us should date him."
Did this make me a bad person?
Riley looked down at the ground, "Yea, either one of us should date him."
I hugged her real tight. I'm sure it will pass. It was just a boy after all.
%%%%
I woke up this morning happy. Riley was in her bed snuggled up against me.
No worries at all.
%%%%
It's Monday. And it was finally time for Riley to tell Lucas. I watched at lockers as she talked to Lucas. He looked confused than upset. Riley walked over to me.
"What did you tell him?" I asked her as we walked into class.
"I just told him that I wasn't ready for a relationship yet and I didn't want us to ruin our friendship."
She looked really sad.
"Are you okay, Riles?"
She nods. The bell rang. We sat down in our seats. Lucas sat behind us. Super quiet. Mr. Matthews stood in front of his desk.
"So today I want to give an assignment that I hope will help your future."
Great. Another stupid assignment.
"Who here knows what they want to be when they grow up? "
Of course, Farkle was the first hand up along with Lucas and a handful of people. Riley's hand wasn't raised and neither was mine.
"Good some of you, know. But some of you don't. And that's okay because you all are still growing up. So I want you guys to interview three adults in your life about their careers. How did they get their job? Did they go to college? What did they study? Was this the job they always wanted as a child? If not what changed their mind?" He goes on. "I'll even give you a free one. My name is Cory Matthews and I love being a history teacher. To become a teacher. I had to get a teaching certificate. I had to major in education with a minor in history.
Did I always want to be a teacher? No. When I was a kid I wanted to play for the Phillis. "
We all laughed at the idea of Mr. Matthews being an athlete.
"Yea, laugh it up. Obviously, I got over that phase. For the longest time, I actually didn't know what I wanted to be. In fact, even in my first year of college I still didn't know."
"What made you decide on history?" Riley asked.
"When I was your age I acted like I didn't care about history. However, I learned to love it because of the man who taught it to me."
"Mr. Feeny?" I asked.
"Yes, Mr. Feeny showed me what an amazing history teacher was. He taught me that if we did not learn our history, we are bound to repeat it. And as a teacher, he believed that to make a diamond you had to put pressure on a piece of coal."
I looked down at my phone. Shawn texted me/
Hey, kid you okay?
I quickly typed back.
Skype later?
%%%%
"Hey, could you help me out with some homework?" I asked Mrs. Thompson as we prepared the salad for tomorrow's lunch.
"Ok sure," she said, shrugging her shoulders.
"It's a history assignment, where we are supposed to talk to adults about their jobs and why they choose them. I know it sounds stupid."
"That's not stupid. I think it's a great assignment."
"So what made you want to be a lunch lady?"
"Honestly? I needed something nice and stable to support my family."
"What did you want to do?"
"At one point...I was silly enough to want to be an artist."
Wow, I would have never guessed.
"Really?"
"I loved painting. But I had to learn to be responsible young. I got my first job in the kitchen as a teenager."
"So do you like cooking?"
"Yea...I do. I like it fine." She says rather unconvincingly. "I was actually a stay at home mom for years. Raising my daughter. My...my spouse was doing very well so I didn't have work."
"What happened?"
"Their business went down hard. Luckily my daughter was already grown. So I was looking for kitchen jobs again. And that led me here."
"Do you still paint?"
"Sometimes, but it's kinda of...as you kids would say, lame."
That's was really sad to hear. I wish I could see her paint.
There was a knock on the door. Mrs. Thompson looks around confused. She opened the kitchen door. It was Lucas.
"Hi...can speak to Maya...for just a minute?"
She looks over me then back at him, "Alright, but hurry. My salad is getting cold."
I laughed at her as we stepped out of the kitchen.
"What do you want Ranger Rick?" I asked, taking off my plastic gloves.
"Did I do something wrong on Saturday?"
"No."
He leaned in close, "Did she say I was a bad kisser? Because I can practice."
"Ew," I smirked. "No...she just...wants to be friends. Okay."
"I'm very confused."
"Yes, you are Huckleberry," I said before walking back into the kitchen.
Between you and me. I was starting to feel sorry for him.
I went back into the kitchen and washed my hands.
"Is that your boyfriend?" Mr. Thompson asked.
"Nope," I said rolling my eyes.
%%%%
When I got home, I told Shawn everything that happened with Riley and how I said that I liked Lucas to get Riley not to date him. He shook his head.
"You know you've messed up. This is not going to end well."
I shrugged, "I'm sure it will pass. So can you help me with some homework?"
"Sure, more Shakespeare. "
"It's actually one of Mr. Matthews's crazy made-up assignments. He wants us to interview adults about their jobs to help us find out what we want to do when we grow up."
"That's so Feeny." he chuckles.
I clicked my pen and started writing, "So Shawn Hunter, what exactly is it that you do?"
"I am a photographer and writer. I work for various magazines and websites. Editorials. Interviews. Sometimes I also do reviews."
Wow, I never thought there were so many options in photography. Shawn talks about all the cool gigs he's had and the works he's most proud of. I don't know if Shawn realizes this, but when he talks about this work he moves his hands a lot. He also holds his head up and speaks louder.
"You like what you do?"
"Oh, I love it. I love the travel. I love the atmosphere of the set. I love meeting new people. I love playing with the equipment. I had to idea what I wanted to do until I got a part-time job at a photography studio. See with photography I get to use hands and I get be creative."
I sat back.
"So...what about you? Any ideas?" He asks me.
"I like to draw. I also like learning about art and artists. But I'm sure there are no jobs in art."
"Well, why don't we google it and see?" Shawn says.
I groaned.
"What's that for?"
"Don't tell Mr. Matthews that his assignment actually worked."
He laughed then nodded.
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