Back in the Saddle

First Day on the New Job

Karl's POV:

I'm anxious, to say the least. I wasn't before they told me that the person who I'm going to be working with isn't Hannah. I have no idea who this Felix guy is, but the others made somewhat of a big deal out of him not being the best to work with.

Nick, who's walking beside me, senses how uneasy I am and grabs my hand, giving me a reassuring nod. It definitely helps, but I'm still not sure. I try to think about how easy the job must be: it's as simple as distributing food to paying customers in an airconditioned concession stand. That also helps.

More than anything, what's bothering me is who I'm working with. I don't like to meet new people at all, really, so having to spend the day working with someone I only just met for the first time sounds like torture. What if he doesn't like me? What if we're polar opposites and we don't get along? What if I do something wrong and he blames it on me and I get fired on my first day?

"Karl, everything's gonna be just fine," Alex says. "Relax, okay? Felix honestly isn't a bad guy, he can just be grouchy at times. But anyone I know who's usually grouchy never seems to be that way with you."

"Vouch," Clay and Nick say at the same time and I laugh.

"Thanks guys. That's really helpful."

Once we reach the counter, Clay tells us he has to go because Sam wants to see him about something. So then, the three of us are left alone. This Felix guy isn't here yet, so we have to wait outside the door to the concession stand because none of us have a key. The sun, still only a few inches above the horizon, is hitting us perfectly right here and I can feel the sweat building on my forehead.

"It's so hot here," I complain.

"Do you not like the heat?" Nick asks.

"No. I hate it. I would much rather be somewhere cold like Minnesota, where I'm from."

"You're from Minnesota?" Alex says in a horrible Minnesota accent. "I thought you were from North Carolina."

"No, dummy, that's just where I went to school. I grew up in Minnesota, just like George did before he moved to Britain and then here. The winters were brutal but I loved them so much. Cold time activities are so much more fun than hot."

"I actually agree," Nick says. Alex scoffs, so Nick replies, "No really, it's true. I pretend like I love it here for my moms' sakes, but really I'd love to live somewhere up North. Like Oregon or Washington maybe... I don't really know if I'm being honest, just less humid and less republican."

"Does that mean you're liberal," Alex gasps, pretending like he's disgusted. "I'm really sorry Nick but I don't think we can be friends anymore."

"Shut up; I'm not either one. I am a registered independent."

"Really? I never would have guessed," I say and he nods.

"Hey, you must be the new guy," a boy who looks maybe a year older than me with light brown hair and green eyes says, walking up to where the three of us are waiting. "Nick, Alex, good to see you. What's your name?" he says to me.

"I'm, um, I'm Karl. Karl Jacobs."

"Good to meet you, I'm Felix," Felix says, extending his hand to me. "First days can be rough, but I'll get you through it. You don't have anything to worry about as long as you listen to me. Do a good job and I'll give Sam a good report; I am his brother, after all."

"Oh, uh, okay," I say with a smile while I shake his hand.

He flashes a big smile that reveals all of his perfect teeth. Then he turns around and begins to unlock the door, giving me the perfect opportunity to turn to Alex and Nick with a questioning expression: this guy is not what I had envisioned at all. Both of them seem just as confused as I feel but I don't get the chance to ask them about anything before Felix is calling on me from inside.