The Last Summer

Chapter 11

When I get to work the next day, my boss is already waiting for me when I walk in.

Oh no.

This can't be good.

"Um, hi," I walk in slowly.

"Macy," my boss starts. "I need you to train a new employee."

I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding. "Ok." Thats when I notice the boy next to him. He has red hair and he's tall.

"Great," my boss says. "This is Tanner."

"Hi," I wave.

He waves back, but doesn't say anything.

This is going great (note the sarcasm).

"Um, so, I'll show you the kitchen first," I say to Tanner.

"Ok," he says.

He sounds nervous, but I don't know why. It's just a diner. Other than that, he could....

No. I forbid it.

He follows me into the kitchen. "So this is where you pick up the food, and right next to it," I point to a small closet, "is where we leave our jackets and get our apron. Not saying you'd bring a jacket in the summer."

Tanner just nods. "You ok?" I ask. I don't know why I ask, but I have to be nice. I guess.

"Nothing," he looks away.

"Ok," I say. I give him his apron just as the first customers walk through the door. "So I guess you will be observing today," I tell him. I grab a notepad and a pen. I start taking the first order.

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After a long day, I've finally gotten Tanner to speak about 10 times. Usually it was a casual nod. I hope he knows that to have this job, he has to talk.

I put my apron back up. When I turn around, Tanner is standing right in front of me.

"Sorry, I was just getting..... um..."

"It's ok," I say.

I walk around him and walk out to my car.

The whole ride home, all I can think about is what would Jason do if he say that and man I hope Tanner doesn't like me that way.

Eww.

I turn my radio up to try to get my mind off today when I get a call. I can't take my eyes off the road, so I fumble around, reaching for it. Eventually I grab it and answer. "Hello?" I say to whoever is on the other line.

"Macy?" It's Hannah.

"Yeah Hannah?"

"Um, can you just come over?" She pleads. She sounds on the verge of tears.

"Yeah, definitely," I assure her. "What's going on?"

"Just.... get here as soon as you can."

"Ok," I say. "I will."

I hang up and turn on the way to Hannah's house.

I really hope everything's ok. When Hannah gets upset, it's not over nothing.

I pull into her driveway and walk up to the door. I knock and her mom answers.

"Hi, um, Hannah wanted me to come over," I explain.

"Yeah, she's in her room." Her mom sounds like she's holding back tears too.

"Ok, thanks."

"I walk up and open her bedroom door. She's sitting on her windowsill with her legs folded so her face is hidden in them.

"Hey, Hannah," I say.

She looks up. She tries to say something, but ends up choking back a sob.

I walk over to her. "Is everything ok?"

She shakes her head. "Well, if you tell me, maybe I can help," I suggest.

She sniffles and picks up her head. I now see that her makeup is smeared and she has tear stains on her face.

"It's....." she begins. "It's...... Jenna."

"What's wrong with her?" I ask.

"Sh....she was o.....on the way to s....s.....soccer practice w....with a friend when a d.....drunk driver h.....hit......" she can't even finish, and she doesn't need to.

I put a hand on my mouth. "Oh my God..... oh my God....." I walk over and sit down next to her. "Is she ok?"

"We don't kn.....know," she manages. "They told us b....but said that w......we can't go and s.....see her because sh......she's on extreme w.....watch and has to h......have surgery."

Oh my God. I take this in, and now I'm almost on the verge of tears myself. Jenna's like the little sister that I never had. I hope more than ever that she's ok. She's only 10!

"When will you be able to see her?" I ask.

"I don't know..... maybe in a few days?" she sniffles again.

"That's ridiculous," I say to her. "You guys should be able to see her now!"

Hannah tries to say something, but is stopped by more tears. I hug her tight and feel a few tears escape my own eyes. "It'll be ok," I tell her, even though I'm not certain about this myself.

I don't know if cheering her up will help. I try anyway. "Um, so, today at work, I had to train a new employee," I begin. "His name's Tanner and he never talks."

She laughs a little. "There we go, see?" I tell her. "There's the Hannah I know and love."

She smiles. "Um, but what if she isn't ok?"

She breaks down into sobs again and this time, I know there's nothing I can do to help right now, so I just hold on to her as she cries and cries.