I Hate you More Than Tacos on Thursday

4: Don't Get Your Hopes Up, Buddy

I walked into the Taco Bell, ready to get a job. If my father wasn't going to stock up the fridge, I was.

It was only last Thursday I had noticed the 'Help Wanted' sign on the door. I hadn't said anything about it, just silently noted that I would come back here to actually get up off my ass and do something useful.

Plus, it was Tuesday today so I thought it was fitting.

I walked up the the counter and faced the lady at the register. She had dull curly blonde hair and brown eyes. She had some weight on her, but she was still beautiful. Before she could say her opening line I interrupted her with, "I'm here for the job opening."

She paused and her eyes scanned over my body. Then she smiled. "Okay. My name is Marissa, by the way. Just follow me."

-

I couldn't believe I actually had a job now. This opened up so many opportunities for me. I didn't have to depend on my father for food or household supplies ever again. I smiled to myself as I walked down the hallway, ready to go to the cafeteria for lunch.

"What are you so smiley about?" Adam asks, leaning against one of the lockers. He pushes off them and walks towards me, taking his place at my side.

I try to tuck the smile away. "Nothiiiiing." I drawl, biting my lip. I feel almost giddy as I bounce on my feet.

"I've never seen you smile so much, so there must be something that's making you so happy. Honestly, you could blind me with that smile of yours." Adam says, chuckling a bit to himself.

For some reason a blush creeps it's way across my cheeks. I immediately try to suppress it but I can't. Being around Adam is doing bad things to my health, I decide. "I got a job." I say, smiling widely.

Adam raises his eyebrows incredulously. "Is that so?"

 I nod. "Can you guess where?" I ask, a sly smirk pulling at my lips. 

Realization dawns on him, and his face goes slack as he stares at me. "No." He says, voice coated in disbelief.

"Yes!" I say back, doing a mini happy dance. 

"How did you even nail a job there? Were they even hiring?" He looks as if he might hug me, but maybe that's just my imagination. 

"They had a help wanted sign and I strolled in and applied for the job. It was easier than expected, really."

"Any cute girls? Because for your information I think I'm ahead of you with this little bet of ours." He says smugly.

"The cashier I met is pretty, but I'm not really attracted to her. There was another girl there but I only got a quick glance at her." I pause. "What do you mean you're ahead of me?" I ask, eyes narrowing. 

Adam has a small smirk on his face. "Oh, nothing..." He says wistfully.

"Don't tell me you've already got a girlfriend."

"Heavens, no!" He exclaims a little too suddenly. He seems to realize this and dampers his mood, clearing his throat. "I just have a ton of girls numbers. How many do you have? I'll bet... zero." 

I groan. "I'm trying, unlike you I'm not upsettingly perfect." 

Shit. Did I just say that?

"Could you say that a little louder, please? I'm not sure my tape recorder caught that." Adam says.

I give him a light shove. "You're such an asshole. This is why I hate you." 

"Oh, you'll warm up to me soon, Nice Guy."