Chapter 5
I walked up and down the street passing all the different shops. There were so many to choose from. Clothing stores, food stores, some drug store, and so on. I walked up and down just staring at all the shops.
I've never had a job. Never a real one, at least. I did a few baby sitting jobs, and stuff like looking after pets and helping out at this kid acting camp—just nothing that's really a job.
I kept walking until I hit a brick building with a "Help Wanted" sign. I stop and take a look at it, and go inside. It's a familiar building, but I don't really remember it. I'm instantly greeted by some really hot guy. Really,really hot.
He looked me up and down. "You here for the job applying? Say, weren't you that guy that was with Andi the other night?"
I nodded, and then realized where I was. I was at the club I accidentally went into. From the looks of it they were looking for a new dancer. And apparently from the looks of the guy who was employing me, I was pretty qualified for the job.
"You're hired. Tips vary, as do hours. You have been assigned the time slot of 11 P.M to 1 A.M. You're aloud to have 2 sick and or personal days a week since replacements are easy to find. You do not work on Sundays as we have a special act every Sunday from 11 to 5. We also suggest you don't use this as your primary source of income."
"Is that it?"
"Yes, and we were required to say the last bit by law. Almost got sued a few years back."
"When do I start?"
"Is tomorrow okay by you? Give you a night to think up your gimmick and or act. Mister..."
"Evans. Ryan Evans."
"And just so you know, it's okay to be a little nervous and intimidated by the men, and all you're really doing is teasing them. Giving them some fun, what some can't get at home. The most important thing is to have fun." He handed me a tote bag with some of the rules and guidelines, along with some DVDs of previous acts, in case I can't think of any. I shook his hand as he kissed me on the cheek and left the store. I knew this wouldn't qualify as a real part time job, and I went to look for another.
I walked along the long rows of shops near the end of the street and stumbled across another "Help Wanted" sign. The building was way more glamorous than the previous as I walked inside. I saw the giant words above me spelling out Maureen's Dance Studio and knew I'd find the perfect job.
I picked up the help wanted sign and took it into the office with me. I knocked on the door.
"Hello? I was wondering if you were looking for anybody?"
The girl, Probably Maureen answered. "Yep, Are you here for a job? Or to sign up for lessons?"
"The job."
"Great, sit down and grab a seat, we'll begin the interview in just a moment." She went to the back room and pulled out an application for me to fill out.
I looked over the application as I filled it out. Most of it were normal questions. You know, stuff like Am I legally a citizen and etc. I filled it out with my best penman ship and handed it back to her as she looked it over.
"So Ryan, You go by Ryan, correct?"
"Yes ma'am."
"How long have you been dancing?"
I thought back for a moment. "Since I was about five and a half."
"Really? And you're how old?"
"Seventeen."
"Great, and have you ever had any theater experience?"
I nodded. "My sister and I have had the lead in seventeen school plays, and I've choreographed four of them. We've also been in six local productions of plays and musicals, and have been acting in them since we were three and a half. We started off with some small children parts, then gradually got larger roles."
"I see. Musical experience? Directing experience?"
"Yes. I've been singing my whole life, and have had a handful of singing parts and singing experience. I've also directed Cinderella at a children's camp I once volunteered at. My sister doesn't know this, but I also know how to play the guitar."
"Excellent. And how are you with young children?"
"Fine."
"Excellent. Since you're not old enough to teach the older students how about teaching our youngest age group? They're the three to six year olds and they have class every Monday,Wednesday, and Friday from three to six. Would school be a problem?"
Would it? I didn't know. I haven't been there in a while seeing as I'm not in Albuquerque any more. I shook my head. This is the perfect job, not even school could ruin it.
"No, it won't."
"Good. I'll see you tomorrow at two forty-five mister Evans." She shook my hand and let me leave.
I walked out of the building and back down the street. I had a job. Two jobs. It felt good to know I was going to make my own money and not rely on every credit card Sharpay would give me.
I walked back down to the store where Dani worked. I've been gone for about two hours, and I think her shift was almost finished. I walked back into the store as she greeted me.
"Hey, Rylie, any jobs?" I cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Rylie? What are we, like five?"
"Shut up. Any jobs?"
"Yep, two."
She squealed. "Yay! Where at?"
"Um,.." I looked at my sheets of paper. "Maureen's Dance Studio, and some gay club as dancer or something."
She just laughed. "So you, Ry. Anyways, you still comin' this weekend, right? I told my aunt Tracy to expect a guest. She thinks you're my boyfriend or something, but whatever."
"I'm still coming. I get two personal days a week for my club job, and I don't work on weekends for the other one. So, I'll be fine."
"Great. I get off in about an hour, so you can just hang around. Oh! I did manage to get you some new bed sheets, so the floral designs won't be so creepy. They're blue,hope you don't mind?"
"Blue's fine. I'm not picky with colors, I just didn't really like the floral print."
"It's alright,Ry. We're not mad at you for disliking the floral print. We'd be shocked actually if you were in love with it." She clapped me on the back. "Just about half an hour, then we'll go. Hungry? We'll grab a bite to eat on the way home."
"Not really. I don't care much for dinner."
She stared at me. "Jesus, you're skinny. Ry,Rylie, you need to eat. We're going to eat out, and you're going to eat. If not, I'll make you."
"How so?"
"Oh, I've got my ways. No promise me you'll eat?"
"Fine, I'll eat some of your junk food. Where are we eating, anyway?"
"McDonalds." She grinned. I scrunched up my nose. I wasn't a fan of greasy fast food, even if I have only ate there a few times.
She rolled her eyes. "Don't worry none, Ry. It's what we eat here."
"It's shit, though."
"Whatever, Ryan. You're eating it and that's final."
"But it's-"
"Ryan." She whined. "Please eat it. Pwetty pweaze"
"Oh, fine." I rolled my eyes at her.
"Yay!" She clapped her hands in a very childish manner. She seemed pleased on the fact I was going to eat something extremely unhealthy and unapproved by Sharpay and most dancers.
I thought about crying to protest, using my best acting skills. It used to work as a kid when I wanted something Sharpay had. It still works, actually, if I wanted to be alone, I could fake tears and then get my way. It's childish, but it works. However, I decided against it, it normally worked with my mom anyways. Besides, if I was killing everything Evans like, I might as eat unEvans like.
As soon as she got off the two of us walked to McDonald's, and really that's all we did. We crammed the nasty food into our bodies,and then went back to her house.
We didn't do much when we got back to her house. We just hung around and watched T.V, and then she went to bed.
I stayed up an extra before I went to bed before my first day of my new jobs.
