Times

Chapter 3

Grace's POV

"Next in line, please."

"Umm... 2 tickets for House at the End of the Street please?"

"Ok. Here you go, have a good evening."

"You too" The girl with the blonde hair said as she left with a guy who looked the same age, but slightly taller than her, to go see the movie. Sometimes, working here can be pretty annoying, but today was actually good. There were no annoying customers or people who just couldnt make up their mind. I wish every day was like this.

"Hey Grace." John smiles at me as he checks into work and stands in the booth next to me.

"Hey John. Pretty late today, huh?" He usually comes to work at 1pm, and hes always here before i come, which is right after school. Yet today, hes three hours late.

"I got held up at school, and then at home. No big deal." He scoffs.

"Oh, ok." It looks like nobody wants to go to the movies today. After all, it is Wednesday, one of our slowest days. I think the theater should just be closed on Mondays and Wednesdays. There's barely anybody here. Literally.

"So..... I was wondering if you had any plans on Friday. A few of my friends are going to play monster mini golf, and I'd love it if you came with me." John looks at me with those pleading eyes, waiting for an answer.

"Actually..... umm..... I have school. And then i have to go home to Maria. Friday's the last day of this One Direction contest that she entered, and she made me swear that I'd be home to find out if she won. She literally enters it every hour. She has alarms set up for every hour in the middle of the night, just so she can wake up and enter it." Its true, this time i dont have to make up some lame excuse for not wanting to hang out with John, or any of my other friends from school. Unless you're name is Rachel Gem or Maria Henshaw, i don't want to socialize with you more than i need to. I already have too much on my plate and i don't need any more.

"Oh ok, well it was worth a shot. And tell your sister i said good luck." Something in John's smile after he says that tells me that hes really not happy.

"Ok, thanks." Suddenly, a group of people come to my booth to pick out a movie, and I'm back at work, ignoring John and everybody else.

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John's POV

Of course, she said no again. At least this time, her excuse wasn't fake. I could tell when she lies, she's lied to me long enough for me to figure out thats she plays with her curly, dark brown hair and she avoids eye contact whenever she lies. I don't understand why she never wants to hang out with me. I could tell that she's not the social type, but can't she give me a chance?

I never thought that i would say this, but i might be starting to like Grace.

But, as always, she never notices me. So, i guess I'll just have to be cool with it. I can feel that there's a reason as to why she doesn't talk to people much, but i never ask her. That's too personal to share with your co-worker.

If only we could at least be good friends. Then, i promise i would be fine. Nothing more than that would make me the happiest man alive.

But when i look into Grace's brown eyes, i see a girl who just wants to be left alone. So that's exactly what i do.

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Grace's POV

I fumble with my keys in front of my apartment door, as usual. Finally, i turn the lock on the doorknob and twist it. As the door opens, my mouth drops. "Oh........my........gosh."

The place looks amazing. Everything is spotless, the dishes are clean and the carpet is vaccumed. I could even swear that the wall is sparkling!

I walk into the kitchen and see chairs that i never knew we had. I take my two pointer fingers and wipe them over the marble table. Not one spec of dirt.

"Amazing, right?" Maria is standing in front of the kitchen door, her back leaning against the wall. She has this huge smile on her face.

"I never thought that you would actually clean it!" i say in shock.

"I never thought that i would either. But, i had to. That was part of the deal. And i even cleaned your room. You're welcome." she whispered the last two words and gave me a wink as she left for her room.

I walk into mine, and it really does look outstanding. My bed is made, my clothes are all put away. It's a miracle! Even though this room is extremely cramped and small, it looks so much bigger now that its clean.

I change out of my plain work uniform and put on a comfortable hoodie and sweats. I then go to Maria's room, and its obviously clean.

"I see that you're in a lot of pain, so im deciding that you can talk about One Direction again." I felt like such a good sister after saying that.

Maria's eyes widened and her smile stretched from ear to ear. "OhMyGosh, thank you so much Grace! You have to stop being so nice to me."

"Eh, i like being nice to you. The feedback i get is amazing." I winked at her and made my way to the kitchen. "Dinner will be ready in 10 minutes!" I yelled as I decided to cook some pasta.

"Ok!"