The next day was Saturday Mika was pretty nervous about going to the mall to find that job at The Penalty Box. Mika's never had a job before she wanted to make a good first impression.
After breakfast Mika got a call from Sam. "Hello"? Mika answered. "Hey Mika". Sam said. "Hi Sam". Mika said.
"I'm gonna be a little late I'm gonna pick up Hayley to". Sam said. "Okay cool. Listen I hope I'm not being a burden or anything am I"? She asked.
"Oh no it's totally cool". Sam said. "Are you sure"? Mika asked. "Yeah its fine I like to help out new people". Sam said. "Okay see you later then". Mika said. "Bye". Sam said hanging up.
Later Mika sat on the couch and watched TV. She was watching Chill TV. What was playing was a rerun of Sweet 16. It was an old one. Sweet 16 apparently got cancelled after 4 seasons. It was really blowing in the ratings.
"I should never have stolen you away from Caitlin! You too totally deserve each other"! Tricia said angrily.
"I don't know who this Caitlin person is but this girl has major issues. I bet she's homeless living on the streets because of the way she treated Caitlin". Mika said predicting Tricia's unfortunateness. Outside Mika heard a car phone beeping.
Mika looked outside and saw Sam's car. Sam waved and so did Mika.
"Mom I'm going to the mall with my friends". Mika said. She'd never thought she'd say something like that. "Okay honey be good and be safe". Her mother replied back. Mika walked outside toward Sam's car.
Sam's car was blue and it's a 2010 Kia. "Hi Mika ready to go"? Sam asked. "Yeah I'm ready". She said. Mika climbed in the back seat there she saw Hayley in the front. "Hiya". Hayley said. "Hey". Mika said.
Once Sam climbed in she started the engine. "Ready"? Sam asked. "Yep". Mika said. With that being said Sam started driving. Mika looked around the back seat it felt weird being in someone else's car.
"You have a very nice car Sam". Mika said. "Thanks my parents got it for me for my 18th birthday". Sam said. "I don't really have a car or a driver's license". Mika said.
"That's okay neither do I". Hayley said. "I'm kinda scared to drive". Mika said. "Don't worry you'll be ready someday it may be hard at first but once you had experience you'll get the hang of it". Sam smiled.
"What if you don't get it the first time"? Mika asked. "You can still take the driving test again but it takes a few months to do it again". Hayley said. "Did you take a driver's test"? Mika asked.
"No but maybe someday if I'm willing enough I'll take it". Hayley said. The drive to the mall was pretty quiet until they stopped at a red light. The radio was on and the song that was playing was Here Comes the sun by The Beatles. Sam was singing along but didn't realize that Mika and Hayley were listening.
"Here comes the sun, here comes the sun and I say it's alright. Little darling it's been a long cold lonely winter little darling it's feels like years since it's been here. Here comes the sun, here comes the sun and I say it's alright". Sam sang.
Mika has never heard anything like it she loved the way Sam sang. "You have a beautiful voice Sam". Mika said. Sam's cheeks turned pink with embarrassment. "Oh…thank you Mika". Sam said a bit embarrassed.
Mika could tell Sam was feeling embarrassed. "I'm sorry did I"? Mika asked. "It's okay Sam gets a little embarrassed when other people hear her sing to herself you didn't do anything". Hayley said. "That's good to know". Mika said.
All 3 of them heard a loud car honk from an angry driver telling them that the light is green and they can go. "Alright already we're going! Prick. " Sam said annoyed.
They drove up to the Galleria Mall and parked in the front. The girls walked inside. Upon entering Mika was amazed at how big and massive the mall looked. It was even bigger than the school hall way. "Mika"? Hayley asked. "Yes"? Mika said.
"Me and Sam have to go to work do you know where to go"? Hayley asked. "Not really". Mika said.
Sam gave Mika a map of the mall to help her get to where she needs to go. "Here take this. It can help". Sam said. It was a small map of the mall it showed the food court, the mall foundation, the amusement park and the stores. There all labeled in numbers and letters.
The labels were F-112 or D-4110. The food court was colored orange, the amusement park was magenta, the stores were a pale mint green color and the foundation was yellow. They were color coded to tell what was what.
"Thanks it seems pretty useful". Mika said. "Sorry we have to leave you like this girl". Sam said. "It's okay don't worry about it". Mika said.
"That map should help if doesn't ask someone who works here I'm sure they can help to". Hayley said leaving with Sam. Mika was left by the foundation with the small map of the Galleria Mall in her hands.
"Okay I can do this how hard can it be"? Mika asked.
An hour later Mika was really frustrated she couldn't find the Penalty Box anywhere. "Uh! This is so hard"! Mika said mad. She felt like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz trying to find her way to the Emerald City. "Hayley said if the map doesn't work ask someone who works here". Mika said.
Mika looked up at a store sign it read 'The Khaki Barn'. "The Khaki Barn it's worth a try maybe someone in here can help". Mika said. Mika entered The Khaki Barn and looked to see if anyone was here. The Khaki Barn looked the same as it always did. It really hasn't changed that much in the past 6 years.
"Can I help you"? A girl asked. The girl was Asian and was really short for a 16-year-old but her size actually made her look adorable. She had brown eyes with long black hair. Her eye shadow looked really natural with eyeliner in her waterlines with mascara and a glossy pale pink lip.
She wore black nail polish and on her right wrist she wore a black and green checkered bracelet. Her outfit was a green t-shirt that said 'This is my lucky shirt' in white writing with two white clovers on the top and bottom where the sentence starts and ends. She also wore light washed jeans and a pair of low top black Converse.
She was Michelle Wong Nikki's baby sis. Michelle looked younger then she actually was from a distance she actually looks 12. "Um hi I'm trying to find a store called The Penalty Box do you happen to know where that is because this map is really useless". Mika said.
"Yeah I'll take you there". Michelle said. Michelle was about to walk out with Mika until she heard her manager call out to her.
"Michelle"! Chrissy snapped. "Aw crud". Michelle said. "What do you think you're doing"? Chrissie sneered. "Nowhere just showing this girl where The Penalty Box is". Michelle said. "Hurry back". Chrissy glared. "Yes mom". Michelle frowned.
They walked to The Penalty Box on the way Mika wondered who that was yelling at Michelle.
"Who was that yelling at you"? Mika asked. "My uptight manager Chrissy". Michelle said. "Uptight"? Mika asked. "She's always on my case and constantly scold's me". Michelle said. "Why"? Mika asked. "Well my big sister Nikki who use to work here use to drive Chrissie insane". Michelle said.
"So what's that gotta do with you"? Mika asked. "She thinks I'm bad just like her". Michelle said. "That's stupid". Mika said. "I know right"? Michelle said.
Chrissy hasn't changed at all over the years although she has changed in her face some. Not in a surgical kind of way but in a hormonal growth kind of way. She's 25-years-old and still manages The Khaki Barn that's impressive you've thought she'd be sick of it already.
While waking to The Penalty Box they run into two animal looking boys. Cat and dog to be more descriptive of how they look like. They were goofing off but they weren't watching where they were going and they accidentally bumped into the girls.
"Ow". Michelle said on the ground. "Sorry about that". Aaron said helping Michelle up. "Sorry we bumped into to you". Logan said offering his hand to Mika. Mika stared up at him like she was a lost puppy looking for love. She thought he was cute.
"Hey do you speak English"? Logan asked still offering his hand. "Sorry". Mika said embarrassed. Mika got up with embarrassed pink cheeks because she felt shy around Logan. Logan smiled a little he thought her shyness was kinda adorable. "Hey you're that new girl…..Meaca"? Logan asked pronouncing her name wrong.
"It's Mika". She said. "I see you know Michelle I'm Aaron and this knuckle head over here is Logan". Aaron grinned.
Aaron was African American with sky blue eyes and black hair. He's also a pitbull dog but he appears to be more human than canine. Aaron appeared to be shorter then Logan.
Aaron wore a layered blue short sleeve t-shirt with a black 5 on the front. He wore a pair of light washed jeans with black Vans and on his left wrist he wore a black wrist bracelet. Logan appeared to be a cat but like Aaron he appeared to be human to.
"I didn't know you guys worked here". Michelle said. "Well actually we're applying to get a job here". Aaron said. "So is Mika". Michelle said. "Really where"? Logan asked.
"At The Penalty Box. What about you"? Mika asked. "Underground Video". Logan said. "….Uh I'd rather not say it's too embarrassing". Aaron said. Logan gave a sly grin and said. "I'll give you a hint it rhymes with tacky". Logan grinned. "Dude don't"! Aaron said embarrassed.
"Is it The Khaki Barn"? Michelle asked. "Yep". Logan grinned. "Logan"! Aaron said angrily.
Logan wore a yellow t-shirt with a black hoodie with the U.K. flag on the chest with a pair of jeans and black Converse low tops. Logan had black hair and brown eyes. The front of his hair had a bit of a spike to it which almost looked like a Mohawk.
"What's so bad about working at the Khaki Barn"? Mika asked. "You don't know the half of it sister". Aaron said. "It can't be that bad can it"? Mika asked. "Well". Aaron said but was cut off by a loud booming voice. "No refunds"! The voice shouted. A hockey stick was thrown in the air along with a frightened customer running out screaming.
The 4 of them turned around and saw The Penalty Box. " This is it I have to go or else Chrissy will shoot me if I'm not back soon". Michelle said going back to work. "Yeah we probably should go to nice to meet you Mika". Aaron said as he and Logan left.
Mika was left alone in front of The Penalty Box. She took a deep breath and said. "Well here goes nothing". She said and then stepped inside.
End of this chapter will Mika get the job? Find out in the next part see you there!