After school, Ellie headed over to the local mall to fill out some job applications. She wasn't looking forward to one of those standard mall gigs, but she needed the money and this was the best way to fill out many applications at one time. She eventually ended up at the movie theater and saw Paige working the ticket booth, looking bored as usual. There was no line so Ellie just walked up to her window.

"Hey, Paige."

"Oh, hey Ellie. Came to check out the new Johnny Depp movie? I'll give you half off since he's so cute," joked Paige.

"No, but I'll pass."

"So, how are you holding up after Sean stayed in his hometown? Ashley told me everything, I hope you don't mind."

Ellie let out an annoyed sigh. "Wow, word gets around fast here."

"We go to Degrassi. Nothing stays a secret there."

"I'm doing as well as a girl who just got abandoned by her boyfriend could possibly be doing. But I'm not here to talk about that. I wanted to know if you guys were hiring."

"Actually hon, you're in luck. This guy just quit yesterday because he's moving away to university. Let me get you an application." Paige walked towards the back of the booth and returned seconds later with the paper. "I'll put in a good word for you."

"Thanks. I've got to go. I'll return this later. See you."

That night, Ellie went home, sat on the couch, and tried to do her homework. It was too difficult to concentrate on the assignment; polynomials and functions just didn't seem to matter enough. They weren't going to help her pay the bills and they certainly weren't going to help her get Sean back. She threw her math book and notes on the floor in frustration, and held her head in her hands.

The loud and piercing ring of the telephone echoed throughout the house. Her stomach filled with anxious butterflies; Sean could be on the other end of the line. Ellie's hand shook as she reached for the phone. Holding her breath, she answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Hi Ellie, it's Paige."

She let out a sigh of relief, not quite ready to speak to Sean just yet. "Hi Paige. What's up?"

"I've got great news, hon. You're hired! The boss lady really needs someone to work the nightshift, so she could really use you."

"Wow. So I don't need to do an interview?"

"Don't worry about that. I already talked to her; she's cool. I told her I knew you, and that since you need the money, you'd work hard."

"Thank you so much, Paige. You saved my life."

Paige let out a laugh. "No problem. Just be here tomorrow at 6:00, alright?"

"Okay, bye."

Ellie hung up the phone, feeling more confident and pleased with herself. She returned to her math problems.

"Wait, how do I do this again?"

Paige rolled her eyes for the hundredth time. She had been training Ellie all evening for her new job at the movie theater.

"For the last time: First you heat the cheese like this, then you mix in the salsa, next you take this mixture and place it on the nachos over here, and you ask the customers if they want some jalapenos." Paige demonstrated for Ellie the proper way to assemble the nachos. "Got it now?"

"Sure..."She lied. So far the movie theater job was not going so well. She already messed up three orders and broke the Icee machine. But somehow Paige managed to be patient with her. "Thanks, a lot Paige. I know you vouched for me for this job and I'm having a tough time, but I'm really trying to make this work."

She let out an understanding smile. "Don't worry Elle; you'll get the hang of it eventually...I hope." Her eyes wandered over to the clock. "Oh goodie, my shift is up. Alright, I'm out."

"Wait," Ellie pleaded. "You're going to leave me alone. I can't handle this by myself."

Paige put her arm on Ellie's shoulder to reassure her. "You're not alone. You've got Alex. Right, Alex?" The two friends shifted their eyes to Alex who just walked behind the concession stand, fixing her apron, ready to begin her shift.

"Right what?" She asked looking suspicious.

Paige sauntered away from the concession stand, giving the two an amused look, leaving them to fend for themselves.

"Hey I need some service." Ellie was cleaning out the popcorn maker while Alex wiped the counter. They turned around and noticed it was Jay standing there.

"Jay, wait outside. I'm almost done," Alex snapped. He was there to pick her up from work.

He gave her a wounded look. "Not even some free old popcorn?" Alex was unrelenting as she had on her "don't mess with me look." He retreated outside and left the girls to finish cleaning up.

Ellie noticed the tension between the two. "What's going on with you and Jay?"

"What do you mean?" She asked, playing dumb.

"Well, you practically chewed his head off a few minutes ago. Did something happen?"

"Look, not that it's any of your business, but some stuff went down and I'm not proud of it. And..." Alex stared into Ellie's eyes, she seemed like she was genuinely interested in what was going on with her and Jay. She wasn't ready just yet to confess her involvement with the recent tragedy. "...Jay and I we need to work out our problems." Wanting to change the subject, Alex noticed the time and noted they could clock out. "Alright we're done for the night. Want a ride?"

"Sure."

"I'll meet you outside."

Ellie gathered her things, and made sure everything was secure. On her way out, as she was looking inside her purse for her house keys, she bumped into someone and dropped her purse. Various items spilled out of her bag.

"Oh, sorry," she said, rushing to the ground to pick up her purse and her belongings.

"Don't worry about." An attractive young man also fell to the ground to help her with her purse. He was nicely dressed in expensive clothing, hair slicked back, clean shaved, and his hands and neck were adorned with platinum jewelry. He basically wore his wealth on his sleeve.

"Thanks she said shyly."

"You work here huh?" He asked, noticing her uniform.

"Yeah, I just started."

"Like it?"

"Not really. I don't make that much."

"Yeah I know how that is. I used to be like you; working crappy minimum wage jobs, living from paycheck to paycheck. But now, I'm doing pretty good."

"Yeah I noticed," stated she, admiring his Rolex watch.

"You know," he started, pulling out a piece of paper and pen, "if you ever get tired of working at that minimum wage job, give me a call."

He handed Ellie the paper, and she took it cautiously. She was now skeptical of this person; who was he and why would he offer a job when he just met her?

"Thanks," She answered slowly, reading the name off the paper "Jerome."

"You're welcome...uh..."

"Ellie." She extended her hand in a handshake to be polite and he took it, gently, messaging it a little. Jerome officially skeeved her out and she wanted to get to Jay's car as soon as possible.

"I've got to go. Bye." She waved him off and power walked in the direction of the car in the parking lot.

"Bye. Hopefully we'll be seeing each other again soon." He had already disappeared into the darkness of the night when she looked over her shoulder. She opened the car door to Jay's vehicle and noticed the stares coming from the Jay and Alex.

"Who was that guy you were just talking to?" asked Jay, looking worried.

Not wanting to give any details about his offer she shrugged her shoulders. "Oh I don't know, it was just some guy."

"Better be careful, there are a lot of creeps around."

Ellie smirked. "Don't I know it." Her thoughts turned to Sean and the fact that he still hasn't called.