Finding My Way

First Day

Being my first application, I didn't think I'd get the job right away. I'd imagine some form of interview along with a list of all the reasons I wasn't qualified for the job. But really, who wouldn't be qualified enough to work a concession stand? I guess that shows what little faith I have in myself.
It's Monday, and as soon as my last period class ends, I book it to the bathroom to change into my work uniform, which loosely translated to a teal polo shirt and khaki shorts.

In the school bathroom mirror, I pull the matching teal scrunchie off of my wrist and fix my hair into a high ponytail.
With one last glance in the mirror, I accept that no amount of nervous fidgeting was going to make my appearance any better and leave the bathroom to find Chase leaning against the lockers next to the door, waiting for me.
He looks up from his phone as I exit and takes in my appearance, the corners of lips quirking up into a smile.
"You look great," he says once I reach him, intertwining our fingers as we head towards the parking lot.
With every step I take, I can feel the middle of my shorts start to ride up. I quickly pull them down, but it just happens again. Maybe I can get away with wearing longer shorts on my second day. Wishful thinking, I know.
"Relax, you're gonna do great," Chase says, resting his hand on my bouncing knee as he turns out of the school parking lot.
"This is my first job," I say, as if it explains everything. Which, maybe it does.
"And it's only a two hour shift, I'll be there the whole time waiting for you," he smiles reassuringly.
"I don't know if they'll allow that," what I don't add is that I don't entirely need a babysitter, but I don't want to hurt his feelings, and it might help, knowing he's there for me.
"Well, not at the stand, obviously," he says in a duh tone. "But I'll be around, on the beach, waiting for you."
I nod, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves.

***

Chase parks the car right outside of the white building that holds the concession stand. There isn't many people in line to get food, but there is a teenage boy sitting on the bench on the side of the building. The sun shines off of his bleached blond hair as he looks down at the phone in his hand.
"Hey, you got this," Chase says as he puts his hand on mine.
I look over and easily smile at him, "hopefully."
After a few seconds, I place my hand on the door and say "here goes nothing" before exiting his car.
At the sound of the car door opening, the boy on the bench looks up and meets my gaze, "are you y/n?"
I falter at his words, "uh, yes?" How does he know my name??
"Okay, they're waiting on us," he nods back towards the building.
"O-kay," I follow him to the back of the building to the door that lets us in. Before turning the corner of the building, I send a quick wave over my shoulder at Chase.
The warmth inside the building completely envelopes me as the screen door swings shut behind me. There's one girl at the ordering window, one at the food section, and an older lady sitting in an office in the right corner of the room.
The woman in the office looks up at our entrance, "looks like you found her," she smiles at the boy next to me.
He merely nods at her observation.
She walks out of the office and motions for us to follow her, "I'm going to have you two start on the ice cream. All you have to do is get the cone or bowl the customer requested and scoop the ice cream into it. Smalls are one scoop, mediums are two, and larges are three."
"Sounds easy enough," the guy laughs.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Jaden. I can't tell you how many trainers I've had think the same and have a hard time." The woman shakes her head. "Well, I'll leave you two to it, if you need help don't be afraid to ask."
Without another word, she walks away and returns to her office.
Jaden and I give each other skeptical looks.
"How hard can ice cream be?" I whisper to him.
"Right?" He chuckles.
We put on a pair of gloves each that were laying on top of the freezer before waiting for our first order to come.