Teen Idols And Happy Meals

Apple Juice And Feminism

Nikki's POV

"That'll be eleven seventy five," I chirped, trying to sound perky for the nice old man who had taken fifteen minutes to decide that he wanted chicken nuggets, not chicken strips.

"Sure thing doll," he drawled out slowly, reaching into his pocket at a pace that made me feel like I was watching a tape in slow motion. I held back a sigh and kept the smile on my face. He finally retrieved the wallet and then began counting out the bills, one single at a time. It took a lot of effort on my part to keep from screaming in frustration. I could hear Sylvia giggling at my expense from behind me as the man finally doled out twelve dollars.

"Keep the change," he said, picking up his tray.  

"Thank you sir," I said, chipper as ever.

He smiled before slinking away, off to go enjoy his chicken nuggets with his grandchildren, who were building a tower out of ketchup containers in the table in the back. All I knew was that I was not cleaning that up when it inevitably toppled.

I placed the money in the register as a laughing Sylvia appeared at my side, materializing like a redheaded genie. "I think I would've smashed the cash register over his head if I were you," she said.

"The man's like eighty," I said, "Leave him alone." 

"It took him like a good twenty minutes to order," she disagreed.

"Well at least I got this," I said, pulling a quarter out of register and moving it in front of her eyes like it was something she should covet.

"Wow," she said sarcastically, "You're rich." 

"I know," I said, drawing out the word with fake excitement, "I'm going to go out and buy myself a nice gumball with this. Or maybe one of those little temporary tattoos. I'm thinking either Powerpuff girls or SpongeBob. And I'm gonna put it on the small of my back."

"A Powerpuff girls tramp stamp," she said, nodding slowly, "Sexy." 

"I know," I said, putting the quarter in my pocket, "It'll bring all the boys to the yard. And speaking of things that bring the boys to the yard, the pleasantly plump woman at the booth in the corner is waiting for a milkshake."

"Waiting?" Sylvia repeated.  

I lifted my hands in the universal sign of innocence. "Don’t ask me. She said something about not wanting the temptation of junk food present at her table until after she finished her big mac.”

Sylvia rolled her eyes. "The weirdest people come in here," she mumbled, going to prepare the milkshake.

I nodded in agreement, leaning on the counter. I let my eyes scan over the room. The place was relatively busy. It was a little too late for dinner and too early for our big druggies-with-the-munchies rush that took place around midnight. But seeing as this was McDonald's, the place was always relatively busy.

But for the time being, everyone seemed content, which meant I had a few minutes to myself. I knew it wouldn't last. It wasn't only a matter of minutes before some kid spilled their soda, or a frazzled mother barged in here demanding chicken nuggets for her fussy children.

The sound of the door opening and closing was a sign that my break was over. I sighed and looked up to see a hallucination walking through the door. Well, I assumed it was a hallucination. Because what the hell would Jacen Sage be doing here?

He was only the biggest celebrity on the face of the Earth. One of those people who was so insanely famous that you could live under a rock, and still know his entire film history and what his favorite flavor of ice cream was. Cookie dough, by the way.