When Trouble Meets Trouble

[ C h a p t e r - F i v e ]

Chapter 5

I was sweeping the floor out of pure boredom. Saturdays are usually our busiest day here at Game Island yet we only had 2 customers so far, maybe it was the terrible weather. I hate to admit it but I’d rather be at school with Jonah. Although we had to dodge Shaw every day last week, it was still pretty fun. I heard the familiar dinging of the bell above the door but when I looked over the rack of games I was behind, my heart leaped in my chest and my hands became clammy.

“Mere, can you take this one? Please,” I whispered to the blonde who was sitting on the counter chewing gum and texting. She looked up and me and sighed before dropping onto the ground.

“Is there a Savannah here?” Shaw’s deep voice asked and I gave Mere a quick shake of my head.

“No, she doesn’t work here anymore. She quit yesterday," Mere lied, blinking up at Shaw.

“That’s a shame because I really need to talk to her; do you happen to have her number?” I shook my head again and her eyes traveled from me to Shaw quickly.

“No, she doesn’t have a cell phone,” she continued to lie.

“Well, I guess this was another dead end. If you happen to see her, tell her Jeff Shaw is looking for her, would you?” Shaw snapped before walking out of the store. I let out a sigh of relief before striding back over to Mere.

“What was that about?” she asked.

“Remember that Jonah kid I was telling you about? Well in the week and half he’s been here, I already have a few new enemies and they’re steroid obsessed idiots,” I sighed, leaning against the glass counter.

“Well, I have to go. I have class in an hour. You’re going to be alright here by yourself, right?” I simply nodded in response and she smiled before leaving the store.

I sat in the chair behind the desk doing absolutely nothing. Times like these, I wish I had more friends to actually hang out with at the store. My phone went off, making me jump. It’s most likely Jeremiah asking me where I put the ketchup.

Surprise coursed through me when I realized that it was Jonah instead of Jeremiah. I picked up the phone cautiously. “What?”

“What’s up?” he casually replied. We’d only known each other for eight days, nine if you count the situation at the library last Tuesday; he was already casually calling me.

“I’m at work,” I replied grumpily.

This didn’t bother him. That was the annoying thing about him; he never was annoyed by me! I rarely got a glare out of him. I only received jokes and sarcastic replies but never a serious insult.

“Oh, sorry,” he apologized and I sighed, resting my head in my hand.

“It’s nothing, the stores empty anyway,” I replied. “Guess who showed up about ten minutes ago?” 

“Jesus?” he suggested. I tossed a flat look at the wall I was staring at.

“No, the opposite; Jeffrey Shaw,” I stated. Silence came from the other end.

“What did he want?” he asked.

“I hid and had Meredith deal with him. He was looking for me; he heard that I worked here,” I replied, drumming my fingers along the glass. 

“Where do you work?” he questioned.

“At a game store called Game Island,” I replied casually as I watched the rain pour from the sky.

“Is that in Northvalley?” his voice was curious.

“Yes, way out on the edge, near the shops,” I replied.