The next day, I felt fine. I went to work fifteen minutes before my shift. I realize back in my younger years of the "break downs" that it's not worth wasting your time thinking about what happened because life moves on.

"Tim!" I swear, if I hear my name screamed one more time in this story, I am going to kill someone.

"Yes, Ms. Piedson?"

"You're late!" She screams from behind the counter.

"What? I got here on time. Remember? Ten o'clock. I left my house at nine forty-five! How can I possibly be late?"

"I sent you a message over the phone. A boy picked up and told me he would tell you when you got home. I figured you would be home by at least six twenty-five at night. You still came late, and it's your fault for not knowing. I'm going to have to lower your pay check!" Ms. Piedson squawked. Her wrinkly skin seemed to hang loose from her jaw and wobble with every screechy word. I am so disgusted.

"Technically..." I trailed off, and look down. I didn't feel like going up against her today.

"Good, I'm glad we came to an agreement." She walks away, a part of her dirty t-shirt tucked in the back of her pants.

I sigh, and go to my station at the register. I sit back and begin reading. No one's here anyways.

"Hey," I hear a familiar feminine voice call. I look up from the words.

"Oh, hi, Zoe! Back again?"

"Well, yeah. I guess. Just have to pick up some stuff to start the day with." She looks back towards the door for a few seconds.

"Mmhmm, stuff like James?" Is what I want to say. Instead, I say, "Oh, that's cool. So, what's up for the day?"

"I don't know. I usually waste my summer days reading. It's kinda dorky, right?" She asks with a mind shattering smile. 

"Yeah, dorky... I MEAN no, no, not at all. It's, uh, good to read. Reading's great," I say, I feel my face grow hot. She totally hypnotizes me. Wait, duh, I have a book in my hands. Of course reading is great.

"Well, my parents want me to get a job besides babysitting twice a month," Zoe says with a little chuckle. "They want me to pay for some stuff."

"Like candy?"

Zoe laughs. Her eyes are a very dangerous looking shade of blue, and yet, they are comforting and welcoming. "Not necessarily. Hey, who's that woman with the stringy grey hair?"

"Who?" I ask, stupidly.

"The one who was yelling at you," Zoe replies.

"Oh, she's my boss. What a generous sweetheart."

"Right? Who lowers someone's salary just because they didn't hear about the new time change? It's a fault on her part, not yours."

"If only I could be brave like you."

"Me? Brave? I have reason, but I couldn't stand up to someone like that."Zoe looks down, her icy eyes looking down at the ground, filled with concern.

"Well, if you tried you probably could."

She offers me a small smile. "I don't know. Anyways, I have my stuff to buy so-" She places her items on the counter in front of me. "Here they are."

I punch in the numbers, and she pays me. She takes her bag and turns away to leave.

"Oh, hey, I meant to ask: what are you reading?" She calls, turning herhead towards me.

"Tale of Two Cities," I reply.

"Ah, a classic. One of the best, in my opinion."

I smile as she walks out the door. What a girl.

I return to reading again, enjoying the book just a bit more than before. Until the bell above the door jingles.

Clara McMasters and her "girlfriends" are swaggering into the store.

Now, normally, I would just act natural. Clara is absolutely into Shane, and it makes me sick. But, wow, she's beautiful. I can't help but drool when I even hear her name. It's insane.

Don't come near me, don't come near me. I hate this stupid job.

Soon enough, the four girls are at the register. I feel my face beat bright red.

"Welcome to Food 'n' Stuff Market. What would you like to purchase?" I drone as usual, but I stutter on some of the words.

"Aw, how cute, you have your own little catch phrases here!" Clara says in her squealing voice, and I realize something.

Clara is actually really annoying.

"Yup."

"Aw, okay, here's what we want," Clara says, and she puts her stuff on the counter. Health shakes and bananas. "You're so cute in your little apron... what's your name again? I swear, I think I've seen you before."

"Tim. Bird."

"Oh, yeah, you're that kid!"

"I guess I am." All of her friends start giggling and it's making me uncomfortable.

"Well, buh-bye, Birdy!" Clara calls and flirtatiously waves at me. And I'm turned on. It's weird, but true. I can't make up my mind.

I can't wait to tell Zoe.

My shift seems so long, but then Dan comes in to act as the "maintenance guy", as Ms. Piedson suggests.

"Hey."

"Hey, man, what's up?" Dan calls to me after walking through the door.

"Well, I've had a bit of a weird sort of day." I can tell Dan almost anything. I mean, why not? He forgets most of it anyways.

"Piedson?"

"Yeah. One of my step brothers must have picked up the phone last night, because Piedy called and said that she was going to change, basically screw up, my hours. Well, my stupid step brother 'forgot' to tell me, and my salary is lowered. And a couple girls from school came by. It was pretty awkward," I explain, and I sigh.

"Totally sucks, dude. Were they the popular type?"

"Yeah, and their leader is hotter than the desert."

"Woa, man, you know guys like us-"

"I know, I know we 'don't stand a chance' and all that stuff. But just maybe-"

"No, no, no, man, girls like that aren't trustworthy, no matter who you are. Trust me." Right, I forgot about Dan. He told me that in his junior year, he asked a girl like Clara out, and she and her friends played a trick on him. The outcome was Dan walking home alone after being beaten up by her real boyfriend, covered in colorful paint and feathers.

How does that even happen?

Poor guy.

"Yeah, she's really annoying anyways."

"Good. Know before you go, that's what I always say. You gotta find a real girl, made of stone, not of plastic."

"Boys! Get to work, ya lazy miscreants!" Ms. Piedson's voice shrieks through the silent air of the store. She is such a witch.

"We are!" Dan shouts back. "There is no work to do!"

"There's always work to do! Mop aisle three!"

Dan turns to me. "Well, I've got to go." He walks away.

I chuckle to myself. And before I know it, my shift is over.