I focus on a few wildflowers and press the little button of my camera. I waited to hear the click go off notifying me that the picture had been taken, but it didn't happen. Looking at the screen of the camera Emmaline had boughten me for my 15th birthday, I saw that my SD card was now full.
With a frown, I sat down in the field of flowers. I had been taking photos all afternoon since I got out of school. Besides the fact that I enjoyed photography, I really didn't want to spend that much time at home. Just changing out of my school clothes into mom jeans and a t-shirt was too much time spent in the trailer.
Taking in a deep breathe, I allowed the fresh air to consume me. I watched as the leaves and flowers danced in the wind. The meadow just beyond the forest by the trailer park was beautiful. It was calm. It was safe. There was no lingering scent of drugs or alcohol. I could just sit in silence by myself without the fear of John finding me.
But soon my silence was interrupted by the sound of my alarm. An alarm that signaled I had to leave for work. Allowing a sigh to escape my lips, I slipped out of the meadow with ease. It wasn't that I minded work. I enjoyed working at the Thrift Shop. I was able to find some really cute clothes and I absolutely adored my co-workers. I just didn't want to leave the meadow.
As I kicked a few pebbles in the thrift store's parking lot, I could see Alex sitting behind the register through the window. Her rose gold hair covered her face with ease and I could already feel my blush rising. When I said I adored my coworkers, what I actually meant was I had major crushes on them. They were absolutely beautiful and Alex was no exception.
"Hey Lily," Alex greeted as I entered the store. She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and smiled at me. I, of course, smiled back and walked behind the counter to grab my name tag. As I put the small white pin with Lillian scribbled on it on my shirt, I noticed the floral skirt she was wearing.
"You didn't have class today?" Alex attended the community college and I remembered one of the first conversations I had with her was about the fact that she hated wearing skirts to school. Before she moved here, she used to live in California and went to a girl's Catholic school. I remember her telling me that she refused to wear skirts to school because her old uniform was a plaid skirt and she hated it.
"Oh, no. That's why I'm here early." I nodded. Without another word, I headed toward the back to find any boxes of things that needed to be put out.
Grabbing a box of records that had price tags tapped to them already, I turned to go to the music section. Instead of actually leaving the stock room, I was met by Jesse in all of his glory. Again, like Alex, he was absolutely gorgeous and totally out of my league, but a girl can dream. "Hey," He murmured as he grabbed the box of CDs.
"Hey, Jess." I tried to make my voice not sound so obviously excited to see him. I passed by him trying to get to the music section. I could hear him follow me and a part of me became giddy. I knew that there was no possible way that Jesse would ever like me, but still. He was the cute 18-year-old with the dark curly hair that fell perfectly across his forehead and green eyes that made me want to melt. His lips were the perfect shade of pink and when he played with the black lip ring on his bottom lip, I would instantly want to kiss him.
"Wasn't it your first day at Grant?" His voice was closer than I thought when I reached the shelves of vinyls, tapes, and CDs.
I tucked a strand of hair that had fallen out of my nub of a ponytail behind my ear as I turned to look at him. "Ugh, yeah. How was your first day of senior year?" My fingers grasped an old Pink Floyd album and set it on the shelf.
"It was fine. Just another first day I guess. But you started at Grant. Isn't that the least bit exciting?" My eyes met his gaze and my heart fluttered. He gave me his signature crooked smile and I wanted to confess my love right then and there.
Instead, I sighed. "I guess it is. I'm just stressed that I will lose my scholarship. But how can you just say that it was another first day? You're a senior Jess. You're almost done."
"Thankfully, but at the same time, I don't know what I'm going to do with my life. You already have that figured out my dear Lillian."
I rolled my eyes putting a few more records on the shelf.
"Speaking of your amazing talent, did you take any photos today?" Jesse whispered. I looked up at him confused. His green eyes traveled from me to his right. Catching a quick glance, I could see some girls obviously checking him out.
"I did take some photos, but I ran out of room on my SD card. I meant to ask, would you mind taking me to the store so I could get my photos developed? I've been too busy to go and get them printed and I need to get the photos off of my SD card."
"Yeah, we can go after work. And for a fair trade-off, could you finish these CDs? I have a feeling those two are going to try and talk to me and I rather not today."
Laughing a little at Jesse's situation, I agree to finish shelving the albums.
After everything was closed and we were clocked out, I headed to Jesse's truck. It was a red Ford and reminded me of Bella's from Twilight. And because of that, Jesse called her Bella. Well, it was sort of my idea.
As I took a seat in the passenger of his truck, Jess flung the butt of his cigarette out the window. "Ready?"
The two of us sat in silence as the sound of Nirvana's Come as You Are played. I watched as Jesse flipped through the prints that had just finished developing. We had been sitting in the parking lot for about 20 minutes. Emma had been blowing up my phone but I ignored it. Honestly, I was trying to focus on the boy I have had a crush on for the past year and a half. Even though she was my best friend, she would have to understand.
"These are really impressive Lily. You're really fucking talented." Jesse looked up at me with his gorgeous green eyes and a crooked smile.
"Thanks." Before I could completely hide the blush on my face, I could feel his body shift closer to me and his hand lift my face up so our eyes could meet. And at that moment, I thought that maybe, just maybe something was going to happen.
And then the most cliche thing happened. My phone went off. More specifically, my ringtone for Emmaline went off.
Clearing his throat, Jesse dropped his hand and I answered my call.
"What Emmaline?"
"Ew, why are you so grumpy?"
"I don't want to talk about it. Why are you calling me?" I muttered out the question.
"Because you weren't answering my texts and I need you to get your ass home now."
Rolling my eyes, I exhaled. "Fine, I'll be there in a few." Hanging up the phone, I turned to Jesse. "Sorry about that. But I guess I need to get home."
The boy nodded and his curls flopped.
We sat in silence the entire ride to my place and all I felt was disappointment. I really could have had my first kiss, but no. Emma just had to ruin it. I was definitely not going to let her get away with that.
When we finally arrived at the trailer, I stared at the limo sitting out front. Of course, she was waiting. Turning to look at Jesse, I sent him a soft smile.
"Thanks, Jess, I'll see you at work."
I slide out of his car and waved goodbye. I watched him as he pulled out of the trailer park. Once he was out of sight, I wasn't even given a chance to say anything before being pulled into the limo.
originally published May 24, 2017
edited November 15, 2019
