Stay With Me - Chapter 2
The dawn broke and for some reason, I was told to come to work at this ridiculous hour in the morning. I mean, who wakes up at 6 am to buy CDs right? But money talks and when Leigh dangled extra cash in front of my face, I couldn't refuse at all. The rest was still going up, and I still couldn't pay for it despite my job. And it's not that Leigh didn't pay me enough - because she did. But the thing was that the shop didn't attract many customers because with online stores like iTunes and amazon or spotify, who needs CDs anymore right?
The morning was hot, and I was starting to perspire by the time I reached the store. My bag was heavy with my books, which I intended to study while working because as I said, hardly anyone entered the store. University was starting soon, so I had to be prepared, because I had to be able to work even more just to pay off school fees.
As I neared the store, I could tell there was someone outside the store waiting. Thinking i was imagining it, i rubbed my eyes and squinted. Well, what do you know? People do come to the store early in the morning.
I jogged over in order to prevent the customer from getting too impatient and leaving. I mean, sales were excellent, because it meant that I'd get paid for another month. I unhitched one of my backpack's straps and dug through the front pocket or my bag to get the keys to open the shop. "I'm so sorry!" I apologized to the man outside the store. "I'll have to open th-"
I stopped short when I realised who it was. Riker Lynch. The guy from yesterday. The band member who was nice and talked to me. "Rhee!" He greeted.
"Ah, hey!" I said. "What brings you here?" I asked him, while unlocking the store at the same time.
"I was wondering if you wanted to hang out later? With the band too of course. We never really got a chance to thank you for being so nice to us yesterday."
"It was mostly Leigh though," I told him, confused as to why he would want me to hang out with them. Besides, I couldn't afford to. Rent was ever increasing and I still had to make sure I was able to pay for school. I mean, I loved my job and all (Leigh often allows us to listen to the new albums before they are set to be released), but I needed something more permanent that would give me a stable income.
"Yeah, but-" He stopped, probably realising that he had run out of excuses.
I gave him a look. "When do you get off on break?" He asked suddenly. I eyes him suspiciously.
"Noon," I told him.
"Great I'll see you then!"
With that he seemed to just disappear down the street. Strange.
I started the air conditioner, which was much cooler with the doors closed and the lack of people. I dug through my bag and pulled out one of my textbooks and started reading it, trying to understand it. Meanwhile, I had another tutorial book open and I was attempting to the questions on it. The lecturer had given us some early homework to help us catchup and understand the topics learnt. I twirled the pen in my hand, as I waited for someone to enter the store.
Before long, my eyelids started to droop. I regretted not getting a coffee along the way, until I remembered I didn't have the money for such luxuries. I pinched myself and then attempted more questions in my tutorial book.
Soon, I got bored of studying. I mean, I knew it was good for me, and I understood it, but I was just too tired. Instead, I settled on getting up from my seat and then arranging the CDs, which were still pretty messy from yesterday when the some of the fans decided mess them up just for fun.
It was annoying, but at that point, I didn't mind because it was pretty therapeutic. Besides, it gave me something to do while the emptiness of the store sucked the life out of me. I was wondering why the other employees were not around. Usually, Diane was here with Darren.
They were two others who worked with me. I didn't know them really well, because half the time they are either talking or sucking face in the employee lounge, I never really had a proper reason to talk to them. Was I a loner? Very much so.
My answer came at about eleven, when the both of them came running in. "Sorry we're late, Leigh," Diane apologized. "The car broke down!"
"She's not here," I called back, not really bothering to turn around.
I was ignored as soon as the double D's, as I'd dubbed them, ignored me. What was new?
Another hour of cleaning up the store and arranging the CDs just because I was bored went by before what was probably the first customer of the day came in. The bell by the door of the shop rang. I turned around. Seeing Darren by the counter, I assumed he'd be attending to the customer.
"Ready?" A blonde boy asked me.
Huh?
I turned around. It was Riker. Right.
"For what?" I asked, playing dumb.
"To ride the magical unicorn," he deadpanned.
I rolled my eyes.
"Come on, Rhee!! It's twelve you should be off on break!"
Oh, break. Not like I used it well.
"Umm-"
He grabbed my hand and headed for the exit of the shop. "Sorry I'm going to take her now," he said to Darren, who probably didn't notice him at all.
"Where are we going?" I asked him. "My wallet and phone are in my bag."
He grinned at me. Wow.
"It's fine I'll pay for you. Now stop making excuses and just come with me to meet the band."
"You can't do that!" I gasped. I didn't like it when people offered to pay for me. Even though I struggled with money, I strongly believed that I had to earn whatever I wanted.
He rolled his eyes and pushed me along.
"Come on. The band's waiting and when they're waiting, there won't be much food left for us!"
Apparently they were at a pizza place nearby.
"Finally," a brunette boy exclaimed. "We thought you lost your way here!"
Riker rolled his eyes. "Yeah, Rocky, sure. Is there still food?"
Another brunette grunted. "Unfortunately, the food hasn't even arrived."
Riker grinned. "Awesome! Guys, this is Rhiannon, and Rhee, this is R5!"
"Hi?" I greeted.
"I'm Rydel!" The only girl introduced.
"Ellington, but most people call me Ratliff here," said the brunette boy who complained about the slow pizza. I was confused. Ellington and Ratliff sounded nothing alike. Sensing the confusion on my face, he explained that Ratliff was his surname, but they called him that because it would fit the band's theme of R.
"Rocky," said the boy with the long brown hair.
"Ross," greeted the last in the group. I was almost about to blurt out Austin Moon from Austin and Ally, before I realised it would probably make me look stupid. I babysat occasionally for my neighbor whenever she went on dates, and boy did her daughter love Disney.
"Rhiannon," I said. Rocky rolled his eyes.
"Duh, that's what Riker said."
Right. Stupid me. My cheeks flamed. Riker flicked Rocky's forehead.
"He's being mean, ignore him," he told me. "Now move in we need to sit," he then ordered.
Everyone shuffled together and made space for the both of us. Riker ensured that I was in the middle so "I wouldn't run away".
Now whatever would give him that idea?
The pizza guy came over. "Sorry for the wait, here you go!"
Three large pizzas were placed on the table before he ran away. As soon as he went away, the entire table went into a mutiny as everyone all snatched a slice, some even arguing how much they wanted to take. I couldn't help but to laugh at everything. It was going to be an interesting hour.
