California and You

Chapter Three

It's Friday night and although all my roommates are going to one of Shawn's gigs at a rooftop party, I am going to work. I'm not upset that I'm missing out on a fun night with my friends though. I actually really like my new job as a waitress at the Sandbar, Mexican restaurant and tequila bar. It's not far from campus being only on State Street. My first day there was Tuesday, which will be the day I won't have classes this semester. I've been working all morning shifts since then, so tonight will be my first night shift and I'm equally excited and nervous, especially it being the kick off to the weekend.

"Are you sure you can't come?" Shawn whines. "I really want to impress you some more with my musical talents."

I roll my eyes as I secure a hair band around my long ponytail. "Yes, I'm sure I have a job."

He smiles at my sarcasm and pushes himself off my bed. I watch him walk out the door in the attached mirror on my dresser.

I don't have an exact uniform that I have to wear at the Sandbar, just a pair of jeans without holes in them and the black T-shirt the main manager gave me with the Sandbar logo in small white print across my left boob. And my shoes have to be black and nonslip. I asked them if I can wear my black and white converse and they said that was fine and a lot of employees also wear them. But I don't even think they're nonslip- I didn't ask.

"Have fun," Cameron calls out to me from his resting place on the couch as I am heading out the door.

I can hear a smirk in his voice and I don't turn back around to see it on his lips. I instead flip him the bird and shut the door on his throaty laughter.

_____________

I'm five hours into my shift when my manager tells me I can go on break. I mentally sigh in relief before I go to the man and woman I just sat down, and put their drinks on the table.

"I'm sorry, but I am going on break and my co-worker, Nick, will be taking care of you." I smile and gesture over at Nick who is flipping his order pad open and making his way over here now.

"Hello, I'm Nick. How are-" I walk away from his energized attitude.

I go into the break room and take a seat on one of the chairs at the small wooden table.I pull my phone out and open the snapchats of the wild party, from Kat. In one of them, Shawn is on stage singing and playing his acoustic guitar, though I can't hear him well because of Taylor's screaming into the microphone on her phone. I let a small laugh escape past my lips.

"Funny, huh?" Someone says and I jump. I thought I was in here alone.

I look up from the small screen and see a guy, not much older than me, smirking from the corner of the room in one of the lounge chairs. I just stare at him.

"I'm Damon," he gets up and comes over to me with his right hand out.

I take it slowly and give him a half smile. "Callie."

"I know," he breaks into a full grin and I lean away from him, but he still has my hand. "Your name tag." He points to the shiny silver pin on the right side of my shirt.

"Oh," I laugh, feeling more at ease. That makes sense.

"You're the new girl," he takes an uninvited seat at the table beside me, and only then lets my hand free.

"I guess so," I say lamely.

He continues to smile at me and I notice dimples by his mouth and eyes. I've never been one of those girls that have a dimple fetish. I actually find them off putting on most people, like Damon, for example.

"You know what," he says as though he's been trying to answer a question is his head. "Why don't I buy you a drink after your shift ends."

Because I don't want you to, I think.