Social Suicide

The Job

I was waiting outside April's Aunty's salon for the verdict. It had been a week since my three day trial period and April and Jennifer were having a heated discussion.

Jennifer was extremely sweet and caring. She reminded me a little of April.

Even though my trial period was only three days, April and I seemed to have gotten closer. She talked to me a lot more and I opened up to her about myself a little more too. When we weren't at school together, we were working or hanging out together, which i found pretty cool.

I hadn't invited April over to my house again because it wasn't as big and exciting as hers. Her house was more like a mansion than a house and she'd probably feel a little claustrophobic at my place. Plus, April didn't know much about the things going on in my life.

Yeah she knew about my dad and my mums relationship and how i used to be bullied at school, but that was the most she knew. Not so much about how my mum was broke and we were barely surviving. Some things needed to be kept to myself.

"Green eyes!" Jennifer summoned me. She called me green eyes and it reminded me of the receptionist at the last hotel calling me 'nice eyes'. I shuddered at the thought.

"So, it has come to my attention that you really want this job."

"Yes, I do."

"Where are you going with this?" April questioned her Aunty.

"Do not interrupt child. Anyway Rob, you have been great but..." I mentally prepared myself for the rejection and just looked at her blankly, void of all emotion. At least I had given it a shot.

"But... C'mon!" April was getting impatient and I laughed quietly.

"You've got the job!"

"Thanks for the opportunity, I really appreciate it. See y-- wait what?" It took me a while to comprehend what she had said.

"AAAAHHHHH YOU GOT THE JOB!" April screamed. She ran over to me and leapt into my arms. I hugged her, spinning her around.

I put her down and faced Jennifer.

"Thank you so much! I won't let you down, I promise."

"He's a cutie April. Thanks for bringing him down here. And as for you, i'd be crazy not to hire you!" I gave Jennifer a hug and thanked her once again.

__________________________

April never told me that the pay was fifteen dollars an hour. For me, that was fantastic.

I took half of the money from my first pay out of the bank and left it on the kitchen table. Mum had come home and burst into my room, smothering me with kisses and hugs.

The pay had come to over one and a half thousand dollars which would more than assist in making our lives easier. I could finally take April out on a date-- if need be-- and help mum out with the rent and bills.

"What exactly do you do for your job?" Mum asked me.

"I'm a receptionist at a salon."

"A solon?" She gave me a weird look.

"Yes. It was the only place that would hire me and the manager wanted to promote an all genders welcome sort of thing. Plus, it's pretty easy. I just key things into a computer and talk to people."

"Thank you Rob. I know i'm not the best mother in the world and that i barely support you. I'll try to do better around here." She gave me one last smouldering kiss and waltzed out of the room.

_____________________

"So, Jennifer tells me that she plans to keep you on the job for a long while. Congrats." April said, sliding into her usual seat for chem.

"Well she tells me that i'm hopeless and should get to work faster." I laughed as she gave me a withering glance.

"I''m just joking, i know she loves me, who wouldn't?" I said sarcastically, pretending to be modest. Today marks the fourth month i've been working with April. To say we're like two peas in a pod is an understatement. 

"Please, i cannot deal with another uptight person in my life. Between my parents, the cheer squad and the footy players, i think i've had enough. So please, do not add to my never-ending list." She said as she rolled her eyes. 

I laughed at her as the teacher began the lesson. In the last four months, i had learnt quite a lot about myself and April. For one, her favourite TV series was Pretty Little Liars, she's only ever had two boyfriends and her parents were rarely ever home. Although she loved them, they didn't support her decisions on her career. Her father was a director and her mother an actress.

What i had learnt about myself was that i had more than a little crush on April. She was beautiful-- inside and out and i knew that liking her was wrong on so many levels. If i did decide to act on my feelings, she'd probably reject me and i'd be left friendless once again. If she felt the same way... needless to say that i'd get too far ahead of myself and stuff things up. As usual.

Right now, i needed to get through this class and concentrate on other things; but April Lee was everywhere and she was the best and easiest distraction ever.