Thanks mellythumbs for my only review. At least I know someone's reading this story. I'm glad you liked the part with Alex. And just so you know this chapter is the one you asked about before. Enjoy!
Chapter 8 - Alien Aprons and Cash Registers
Maria, having been awake all night with Michael stealing the crystal and now at the Crashdown working, was starting to feel the effects of the last 48 hours.
There had only been a few problems. The first had occurred when she went to the register to ring something up. Once there she realized that she had no idea how to use it. This register was nothing like she was used to. It was just a box. The top of the box was a computer screen. One side of the box had a hole with a tray attached to it and a slit above where the hole and tray were. On the opposite side of the box was a small grey square.
Maria just stared at the contraption wondering how to work it. At a loss for what to do, she touched the screen, immediately it came to life. The screen read, "Order Please." Maria touched the screen again, hoping it would do something, but it didn't. After messing with it for a few more minutes the screen finally changed. This time it read, "For easy to follow directions on how to use this product say, "Directions." Maria was confused at the words, but decided to try it anyway.
"Directions." she said aloud. To her delight the screen changed again, this time telling her what to do.
Touching the screen when asked to and speaking when told to, Maria figured out what the price was and told the customer. Once they paid she looked at the screen to see what to do next. The screen read, "Say the amount given and then place your finger on the FPIP (Finger Print Identification Pad) on the side of this product. CAUTION: Only recognizable prints will be able to open the money drawer."
"$25.00." she said.
Maria was worried that her prints wouldn't match, but she decided to tried. Surprisingly, the drawer opened. She placed the money in and was about to take the correct change out when two bills came out of the slit in the side of the box and change came out of the hole and landed in the tray. Maria grabbed the money and handed it to the customer.
"I'm so sorry. It's my first day." Maria lied.
"It's okay. Just promise me you'll learn how to use that thing before someone else has to pay." the man said laughing.
"I will. And thank you for being patient." she said.
The next thing that happened completely caught Maria of guard. She was cleaning up some tables and started to sing. The girl that looked like Ava, who everyone had been calling Emma, came up to Maria with a look of confusion and astonishment on her face.
"Are you singing?" Ava/Emma asked (Maria still wasn't quite sure what to call her.)
"Is there something wrong with that?" Maria asked, wondering why there would be a problem.
"Well, yeah. Since when can you sing?"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, I get it your messing with me aren't you? Ok, Travis come on out. I know your around here somewhere." she said looking around.
"What are you talking about?" asked a concerned Maria.
"Wait a minute, I just remembered he went of with Dad to......Are you telling me that you were really singing?" Ava/Emma asked when realization finally dawned on her.
"Yeah." Maria said slowly.
"I'm losing my mind that's all it is. I'm losing my mind." she kept saying as she walked away from Maria and into the back.
The last thing the happen, occurred when the place was packed. The ice machine had broken and Ava/Emma pulled Maria aside to talk to her.
"Beth, the ice machine is broken, fix it." she told Maria. Maria had no idea how to fix an ice machine, but decided she had to try at least.
Ten minutes later, Ava/Emma came to find out what was taking so long. When she saw Maria fiddling with the machine trying to make it work, she almost flipped.
"What are you doing?" Ava/Emma asked.
"I'm trying to fix the machine like you told me to." Maria said wondering why she would even ask.
"I didn't mean fix it. I meant fix it." she said winking.
"What?" Maria asked confused.
"Use your powers." she said through gritted teeth.
"Powers?"
"Yes, powers. Now, hurry up." she said then left to get back to work. Powers? I don't have any powers, so how am I going to fix this thing? She thought to herself. Then in a moment of frustration and anger, she exclaimed out loud, "Why is this happening to me? Why won't you just work? You BANG stupid BANG piece of BANG crap!" Chug, Chug, Chug, Hummm After hitting it a few times it started to work. This is going to be a long day, she thought
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Beth had been working only a couple of hours, but it felt like an eternity and she didn't know why. It's not like it's the first time I've ever worked at the Crashdown before. Maybe it's because of everything that has happened today. Maybe it's finally taking it's toll on me. I mean first there was the whole mess with Marie, then wandering all over town looking for Zan, and then the being sent to the past thing and having to pretend to be my mother. Yeah, that's most likely it. She thought.
A lot had happened the few hours she'd been working, as well. First was the cash register. Sure she'd seen ones like it before in old stores where the owners refused to update, but actually using it was completely different. It was big and bulky. And what was with all of the buttons? And if it couldn't get any worse you had to count out the money yourself instead of the machine giving it to you, what's up with that?
It had taken her what seemed like forever to figure out how to use it, but finally Liz noticed her confusion and came over and helped. She's going to think I'm stupid or something. Once the customers where gone, sure enough Liz began asking questions.
"Maria, what's wrong, I mean you couldn't figure out how to use the register?"
"Nothing's wrong." Beth said. Except that I don't belong here!
"Don't lie to me, people just don't forget how to do something."
"Liz, really, nothing's wrong. I promise. I just had a minor case of amnesia." she lied.
"If you say so." Liz said skeptically. As she walked away she couldn't help but wonder what had happened to Maria earlier. Because she had no doubt in her mind that whatever it was that had caused Maria to be late for work was the same thing that had caused her to forget how to use the register.
Wow, I'm really going to have to be more careful. I don't want to do anything that might change their future and my present, Beth thought.
Several times later Beth secretly used her powers to help with the work load. One particular time she had all most been caught by Liz. The ice machine had broken down again. Does this thing ever work? She asked herself, while wondering why Liz had never sprung for a new one in the future.
She started to check it out to see what was wrong, so she would know if she could fix it or not. Then she saw the problem ice had gotten stuck together and was blocking up the machine. She quickly caused fire to form in her hand and began melting the stuck ice. Once it had all melted she got rid of the fire. Then swiped her hand over the melted ice and it began to reform into ice again. Just as she was finishing Liz walked in.
"What are you doing?" asked Liz, confused as to why her friend was messing around with the ice machine.
"The machine wasn't working so I'm trying to fix it." said Beth, startled that she had been caught.
"Really?" she asked wondering how Maria would know how to fix an ice machine.
"Well, I was just messing around with it, I was lucky it actually started working again." she said, hoping Liz would buy it.
"That is lucky." Liz said when she saw that the machine was indeed working. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot the reason I came looking for you. Alex is out front the wants to tell you something."
"Ok." She said and followed Liz out front.
Alex was sitting on a stool at the counter. Beth went and sat down on the stool beside him. "So, what did you want to tell me." she asked, praying it was something she could answer.
"I was wondering if you were free tomorrow night?"
"I don't know, I'll have to check. Why?" she asked curious.
"The Whits got a gig to play at the place across town." he said excited.
"And you want me to sing?" she asked weakly.
"Of course. So can you do it?" he asked again.
"I'll have to see." she said and before he could say anything else she got up and locked herself in the bathroom. Me sing? I can't sing! How am I supposed to do that! I think I'm going to have a heart attack! What am I going to do! Zan, you better have a good plan to get me out of this!