"Higher, Vivian! Get those toes UP!" yelled Coach Raymond. Vivian tried to push herself higher. Her light brown ponytail flung up and down. Vivian's spikes hit the ground, and hoisted her forward. She panted, and jumped over the next hurdle then came to a stop.
"What are you doing Vivian? You have two more hurdles left!" Yelled the coach. Vivian put her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. "S-sorry Coach. I'm-I'm tired." Vivian panted. "I'm outta shape."
"Maybe you should've come to practice yesterday. Ever thought of that?" Coach Raymond said, wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead.
"I-I know. Sorry I let you down." Vivian said half-heartily.
Coach Raymond crossed his muscular arms, and leaned so close to Vivian that she could smell his aftershave.
"We have a state meet in one week, Vivian. ONE WEEK. You can't even jump over all the hurdles with out running out of breath. You better pull yourself together, or I'm gonna replace you with Aubrey." Raymond said. Vivian turned around to see Aubrey, filing her nails. Audrey slyly grinned at her and waved. She blew Coach Raymond a kiss, and he lovingly looked back at her.
"Gross..." Vivian mumbled. After imagining kiss-up Audrey taking her place on the track team, Vivian was suddenly determined. She tightened her ponytail, and jogged to the starting line. Vivian jumped over the first hurdle, then the second, then the third. Vivian approached the fourth hurdle. Her legs were soaring over the hurdle when her toes got caught. She fell flat on her face, with her foot still caught in the hurdle.
"Vivian!" Coach Raymond yelled from the other end of the track. "Get up!"
Vivian groaned, and slowly got up. She pulled her foot out of the hurdle and walked over to Coach Raymond.
"Vivian, I don't know what's going on out there, but it better stop." Raymond said.
"Everyone messes up once in a while, right?" Vivian said, laughing nervously.
"You can not mess around, Vivian. I think it would be best if you headed home and figured out what's going on. Audrey, you can practice in place of Vivian." Coach Raymond announced.
"Yay me!" Audrey said, and clapped.
"Whatever." Vivian said, and grabbed her bag. She poured the rest of her Gatorade in her mouth then took out her phone.

Maura: Meet u @ the mall around 5.

Vivian: K.

Vivian put her phone back in her bag and took out her car keys to unlock her green Jeep. She decided to stop at Starbucks to get her usual Iced Coffee.

"Hi. Welcome to Starbucks. How may I help you?"

"Oh, hi there. I'll have one of those Iced Coffee thing-a-ma-jigs."

"What size would you like your coffee?"

"Umm...small."

"Anything else?"

"Nope. That's it.

"Ok. That will be $2.59 at the first window."

Vivian pulled up to the next window. She dug in her purse to find her cash, and pulled out a five dollar bill. The window opened just as the chorus of her new favorite song started.
"So it's gonna be forever, or it's gonna go down in flames!" Vivian belted out.
"Uh-excuse me, your coffee?" Said the boy at the drive thru.
"Oh gosh! Sorry!" Vivian said, and turned around to see Adam at the window. She blushed.
"That was embarrassing." Vivian said.
"Ok...well here's you coffee. Thanks for stoping at Starbucks." Adam said, looking at Vivian peculiarly.
"Uh you too." Vivian said, and quickly took her coffee.
"Hey, Vivian. Good voice, by the way." Adam said, and winked.
"Gross." Vivian replied, and pushed her foot on the gas. Vivian continued singing once Adam was out of sight.
"Gotta love those Starbucks lovers!" She sang.

Vivian drove towards the mall. She saw Maura waiting outside of Victoria's Secret for her. Maura was staring at her phone with her sleek black hair covering her face. Vivian jumped out of the Jeep and grabbed her coffee with one hand and her purse with the other.
"Took you long enough, Viv. It's 5:45." Maura complained, and took a sip of Vivian's coffee.
"Had to take an emergency trip to Starbucks. Whatever, let's go." Vivian replied. Maura and Vivian linked arms and walked inside.
"So, are we going job searching?" Maura asked.
"Yeah. But I see you already stopped at Victoria's Secret and American Eagle." Vivian said, looking at the shopping bags Maura held.

"You know Aubrey?" Vivian asked.
"Who doesn't. That girl is a wacko." Maura's said.
"Yeah, well that wacko is gonna take my place on the track team." Vivian said.
"No way!" Maura said, and almost spit up Vivian's coffee. But before Vivian could explain, Maura pointed toward Build a Bear Workshop.
"We should work there, Vivi!" Maura said happily.
"Not happening." Vivian said.
"What about Dick's Sporting Goods?" Maura asked.
"Since when do you like sports?" Vivian asked, confused.
"Oh yeah, I don't like sports. Good point." Maura said, and Vivian rolled her eyes.
"JCPenny?" Vivian said.
"No way. They have to wear the ugliest outfits." Maura said, and made a disgusted face.
"Perfect!" Maura said.
"What?" Vivian asked. Maura pointed towards a sign.
"Mattress World! Viv, it's perfect! Talk about a comfortable job." Maura said.
"I do NOT want to work at a mattress place." Vivian said.
"You're so picky." Maura huffed.
"Chinese Buffet?" Vivian asked.
"I don't know how to speak Chinese!" Maura complained.
"Let's try Pearl's Perfumes." Vivian stated. Maura shrugged and walked into the perfume shop with Vivian.
"Hello! Welcome to Pearl's Perfumes. I'm Ashley. Can I interest you in any of our Spring Time Perfumes?" Said a perky lady wearing more makeup then a clown.
"Hi...Ashley." Maura said. "Me and my friend Vivian wanted-"
"You mean 'Vivian and I'" Vivian corrected.
"Yeah, what she said. Anyway, we are interested in working here." Maura said in her most pleasant voice.
Ashley laughed. "You girls want to WORK here? I don't think so." She said.
"Excuse me?" Vivian said, offended.
"This is a FAMILY business, girls. And unless you are part of the Rosenberg family household, you are not invited." Ashely replied, and fake smiled.
"Well, you didn't have to be so rude about Miss Prissy. C'mon Viv, let's get out of here." Maura said.
"Wait! Before you go, would you like to try our new Spring perfumes?" Ashley said, calling after them.
"Oh! Of course!" Maura said sarcastically. Maura grabbed the bottle labeled "Dandelion Wishes", and sprayed it on her arm.
"Oh! It smells good. Maybe you want to try some." Maura said, and sprayed the perfume in Ashley's eyes. Ashley yelped, and screamed.
Vivian grabbed Maura's hand and raced out Pearl's Perfumes.
"Dude, that perfume is strong. I can still smell it." Vivian said once the girls were far away from Pearl's Perfume.
"It actually smells pretty good." Maura said. The girls kept walking and looking at stores that may be cool places to work at.
"What about The Candy Shop?" Maura suggested.
"I don't know-"Vivian began to say.
"Do you have any other ideas?" Maura said. Vivian looked around the mall. None of the stores seemed appealing.
"Well I guess not." Vivian said.
"Then Candy Shop it is!" Maura said, and grabbed Vivian by her shirt. The girls passed the water fountain and made a left past Italian Oven. At the end of the hallway stood a giant neon sign saying "The Candy Shop". The sign hovered over the rainbow colored store filled with all different kinds of candy.
"Ugh. This place looks too happy." Vivian said. Maura smiled in return and walked into the shop. "Don't' Worry, Be Happy" was playing on the radio, and Maura began to dance and sing along. Vivian crossed her arms and sighed.
"Maura, you look ridiculous." Vivian said, watching her friend dancing.
"I love this place! Viv, we HAVE to work here!" Maura said, still singing along. Maura grabbed Vivian and walked toward the front desk. They passed rows of jelly beans and chocolate bunnies. An old man sat behind it, staring at the computer. Wrinkles formed under his eyes as he squinted, trying to read something. Maura coughed to get his attention. He slowly turned around and frowned.
"What." He said in a raspy voice.
"Ok..." Maura said and nudged Vivian. Vivian elbowed her in the ribs back, silently telling her to do the talking.
"Hi. Um, we wanted to work here." Maura said nervously. The man kept staring at the girls, not saying a word. They began to feel uneasy.
"I like you hair." Maura said, but it sounded more like a question. There was an awkward silence until the man spoke.
"Here is an application." The man finally said, and handed the girls a packet.
"Uh-thanks. So, is there gonna be like an interview or something?" Maura asked. The man shook his head "yes".
"Are you just gonna nod your head or are you actually going to talk?" Vivian said, annoyed.
"Yes, missy, I can talk. We can interview you young ladies tomorrow. Fill out the application and bring it here at 3:00 sharp." The man finally said. "What are your names?"
"I'm Maura and this is Vivian." Maura said, smiling.
"Nice to meet you Laura and Vivian. I'm Ed." The man said in a droning voice. Vivian looked at the man peculiarly. Clearly, he had hearing problems.
"Thanks...Ed. Uh, see you tomorrow, then. By the way, my name is MAURA!" She said and quickly turned around to leave. Vivian followed her out candy shop.
"I can't believe we are going to work at a stupid Candy Shop." Vivian said, and pushed her application into her purse.
"I can.  It's going to be so much fun.  Just imagine it-" Maura said, gesturing with her hands, "We'll eat so much chocolate!  And I bet there will be some hot boys." Maura said, and winked.

"Boys?" Vivian thought.

Gross.