Alone
tr1xx777
Chapter Two
I woke up in my original spot at the bus station. I yawned and crawled out of the cheap secondhand sleeping bag that I got at the thrift shop, a block from my new 'home.'
A new day to look for a job and beg people for cash. Oh how I love my life. Note the sarcasm.
It's been two weeks since I've been let out of Camp Green Lake and I'm pretty sure I have the shittiest life out of all of D-tent. Including Dr. Pendanski who is serving time in prison. At least he gets three definite meals a day.
My mom left. Gone. Never to come back. I went over to the trailer park to try and find her and instead, I found a backpack full of my old clothes and an empty lot.
I trudged into Mo's Diner and took my usual spot in the corner. I had been coming here every morning since I got back, because they gave out free coffee and that's all I can afford at the moment until I get a job. Eventually, I might actually order some real food but for now, it was just coffee and water for me.
"Hey El." I nodded to my waitress. I used to go to school with her, she thank n the same grade as me but already graduated because I had to spend most of my senior year digging holes.
"Morning Squid." El nodded as she got the coffee ready. I was usually the first person to come to Mo's in the morning and I was always here before the coffee was actually made and El was usually the only one here other than the cooks.
El walked over to my booth like she did every morning as she fastened her long chocolate brown hair in a knot on the top of her head. She was honestly one of the prettiest girls I had seen and a lot of people agreed with me.
Back in High School, before Camp Green Lake, El had been a cheerleader and one of the popular kids. She wasn't like, the leader of the school but she definitely belonged higher up on the social ladder.
"Coffee and water?" El asked as she placed the days newspaper in front of me and I nodded. She knew what I wanted but she had to ask anyway, just in case I actually decided to order something.
I opened the newspaper and went straight to the Classifieds where they had the job listings. I scanned through the paper and looked for someplace that would consider hiring me.
Pet shop? No, I'm not exactly good with animals. The most I knew about that kind of stuff was not to get bit by a yellow spotted lizard. Because you will die. Always.
Bar? Too young to be serving alcohol.
MacDonald's? Well that's just degrading!
"Still lookin' for a job?" El asked as she slid into the booth with the coffee and glass of water. I nodded. "I've got a friend who's fiancé owns the HMV on fifth and he's looking for some people to work. I can put your name in."
I grinned, "really?"
El shrugged, "Sure, he'd like a guy like you."
"Thanks."
It was always polite chat between me and El. We weren't exactly friends but not enemy's either. We just talked before the customers started coming in and then I would leave and go look for some steady cash.
"Just tell him that El sent you." the brunette winked before the door to the diner opened and a few truck drivers walked in. "Nice talkin' to you, Squid."
I finished the rest of my coffee and waved goodbye to El once before leaving. I knew the place she was talking about, fifth street was only a block from here and I could be at HMV in a few minutes.
I started my trek to the CD store as anxiety pumped through my veins. I always felt like this before I went in for an interview or to hand in my résumé. I don't know why, it's not like I haven't tasted the defeat of rejection before and I was used to it.
HMV was already opened when I got there. I simply pushed open the door and walked in, taking a second to let my eyes adjust to the dim light. There was a man behind the counter and I assumed he was the guy who owned the place.
"Uh, hey, a friend of mine told me that you guys were hiring?" I shifted on my feet awkwardly, "El sent me."
The tattooed mans eyes lit up remarkably. "You know El? She's always been a good judgement of character! My fiancé is one of her best friends!"
"I'm, Alan, but you can just call me Squid. That's what everyone else calls me." I shrugged.
"Well, Squid, welcome to your new job! You're hired."
My jaw dropped. What the hell was going on? "W-wait, what?"
"If Ellie sent you then you must be a good guy. Start whenever you'd like."
Okay, this was just surreal. There was no way that this was happening. People don't just get jobs because they know the right people. I don't even know El, she's just my waitress!
"Er, yeah, okay?" I was still baffled to what was happening. This was just a dream, I'm going to wake up and be back at the bus station, or even better, back at Camp Green Lake. The guys are probably looking at me weird because I'm freaking out in my sleep!
The man, Jack, showed me all the things I needed to know. He gave me a clean black shirt and showed me how to work the cash register. I wasn't trained enough to handle my first customer but I did inventory.
By the end of the day, I was exhausted. I just wanted to curl up in a bed and sleep for a month, but I still had to go back to the diner and properly thank El. I know I'm not really the guy to go around thanking people or shit like that but the chick got me a job.
Besides, I need some coffee.
Horrible, horrible chapter but it's all I've got so far.