First Choice (Sam Wilkinson/Nash Grier)

Chapter 107

Sam's POV

I hate frozen yogurt. I hate the way it clumps up in the drains and I have to wash them out. I hate the way it dries on the floors and it takes ten minutes to mop it off. I hate the way it never quiet tastes like ice cream every time I try it no matter how much I wish it did.

"I have Jessica coming in after you so you can leave early if you'd like. Just finish mopping and wipe off the counters and you can clock out." Grace says, smiling before she disappears into the back storage room. I want to leave early but than again I don't.

I need this money.

I ring out the mop and hang it in the back where grace is grabbing more bowls and spoons to restock the front. I grab a cloth and wipe down all the front counters as well as the register before I join Grace in the back room again.

"Okay well I guess I'll see you," I say awkwardly. She flashes me a warm smile over her shoulder and continues to stack the bowls before turning and carrying the tower carefully towards the front of the store. I clock out hurriedly and grab my phone from the rack where we have to keep them while we are at work.

"Bye!" I shout one last time before I push open the back door and walk to my car parked along the back alleyway. It's barely 5:30, I had expected to get out later than this but I'm glad because than I'll have more time to do my homework or clean up my room. Mom has been putting in a lot of hours at work to make up for the lack of checks from my dad.

I haven't heard from him in months.

I debate whether I should stop for food, I've got a twenty in my wallet but I don't want to break it. I didn't make any tips today and it's all I've got until next week's payday anyways.

There's bound to be something to eat at home so I just decide I'll eat that. There's less traffic than I expected so I get home quick, barely a 3 minute drive.

"Mom I'm home!" I yell, slinging my backpack onto the floor beside the door and shutting it behind me. I sprint up the stairs to my room, desperate to get out of these work clothes.

I put on a pair of black sweatpants and leave my shirt off, it's hot today.

The floor is cold under my bare feet as I walk down the stairs and around the bend to the kitchen. I trip as I walk into the kitchen. I almost don't believe my eyes, almost.

Jasmine is sat at the breakfast table with my mom beside her. She stares at me with wide eyes, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Oh Sam, Jasmine stopped by to see me. Where have you been hiding her, I never see her anymore," My mom scolds as she reaches across the table and grabs Jasmines hand in hers. Jasmine tears her eyes away from mine and smiles at my mom sweetly.

"Um hey," I say, I am glad she's here but I'm so confused. Why would she come to see my mom but not me?

"Hi," she says quietly. My mom looks between us, her face hung down by confusion.

"You two alright?" She asks bluntly. Jasmine nods and I remain silent as I yank open the fridge and pull out a can of Arizona iced tea.

"Okay... Well I've got to go and clean up upstairs but you come see me before you leave buttercup," she tells Jasmine quietly. I hide like a coward behind the opened fridge door. Why is she here? I won't deny I'm scared by this surprise visit even though she didn't exactly come to see me.

The sound of my mom's house slippers padding across the floor as she exits the kitchen leaves us in an tense silence.

"I didn't know you would be here, she said you were working till 7:00," she mumbles, standing and smoothing her hands over the front of her shirt.