Drive

Chapter 3

I fell asleep as soon as I hit my sleeping bag only to wake up 2 hours later.

"Jenna wake up." Vanessa and I had to leave for work at the dress boutique. "Hurry or mark is gonna eat all our breakfast." Mark was Vanessa's older brother. A huge yawn escaped my mouth as I was stretching and I was finally awake. My hand reached out to Vanessa so she could help me up. My black soffe shorts hugged my hips at just the right spot and my old school t-shirt hung low with a v cut at the neck.

"Hey Jenna." Mark said smirking at me when I opened the door.

"Ew creep. Get out."

"Feisty. I like it." Her brother had hit on me for the past 2 and a half years and it was literally the grossest thing ever.

"Mark stoppppp. You're so disgusting she's 3 years younger than you." Vanessa complained. I helped my self to a pile of bacon and 3 silver dollar pancakes. Eventually Mark left and I didn't feel totally uncomfortable anymore. Vanessa locked her phone and told me we needed to start getting dressed. My Abercrombie skinnies fit perfectly. I chose a Brandy crop top and threw a chunky créme cardigan on top. Ugh, I loved my style I thought as I checked myself I the mirror. Vanessa looked very polished as always. The car beeped twice and then the trunk popped open. I tossed my bags in the back and got in the passenger seat. Work was only 15 minutes away but I plugged in my phone to play music anyways. BOOP. A text from Vanessa's friend from the other day popped up on her phone.

"Read it?" she asked.

"Ryan says, hey you wanna hang out with me and Anthony later."

"Uh...you down to meet some new people?" she asked.

"Sure why not?"

"Then say, yes meet me at the Dunkin across from the boutique at 4 and Jenna's coming."

"Kk." I sent the text and turned the music back up. When we arrived at the shop there was so much to be done. A whole group of a bride and her bridesmaids came in for dresses and a family came in to get the 5 girls in the family sized for bat mitzvah dresses. Of course Vanessa and I did all the fittings while the other 2 workers did nothing. One of them was at the register and the other was redecorating for the next month. They were so annoying. Finally the bridesmaids picked out their dresses and the Jew family was just placing their order. 3:49 only 10 minutes left 'til we got off. The bell on the door jingled. Vanessa and I looked at each other and groaned.

"I'll take it," I volunteered

"No let me,"

"You had to deal with 4 kids and a crazy mom. I can deal with one more."

"Alright" she sighed. I made my way to the front of the store and said our friendly greeting like a robot. The boy looked confused.

"Are you lost?" I asked trying not to sound rude.

"Um no...it's Ryan."

"Oh, oh my gosh I'm so sorry. I'm just really tired and I've been working all day and I just-"

"It's fine." He laughed, "where's Vanessa?"

"Oh she's back there. NESS!" I shouted.

"COMING!" Her ballet flats clicked against the hard wood floors. She gave Ryan half of a hug and checked her phone. "We're off in like 3 minutes."

"Okay Anthony is outside with Tyler." My face must have shown that I was confused 'cause they told me who Anthony and Tyler were. Vanessa said she didn't really like Tyler but I would get along with him. Our boss yelled from the store room that we could all leave.

"Finallyyyyy." I grabbed my phone and purse. Ryan walked out first followed by me and then Vanessa. Tyler and Anthony were introduced to me and we walked across the street to Dunkin.

"Medium iced coffee light and sweet." I said.

"Same for me." Vanessa added. I went into my purse and rustled around a little before I realized I'd left my wallet at Vanessa's house.

"Shit."

"What?" she asked.

"I left my wallet at your place."

"I don't have any extra cash either. Sorry."

"Don't worry I'll get it." Ryan slid between us and handed the short woman at the register a $5 bill. Behind his back I gave Vanessa my shocked happy face. 'I know!' she mouthed back to me.

"Wow this could be the start to a really good friendship." I joked, "paying for my coffee, I like that."

"I'm a pretty good guy I guess." He brushed the imaginary dust of his shoulders. I laughed and started to blush, I couldn't help it no guy has treated me so normal before. He wasn't hitting on me, trying to hook up with me OR calling me a slut. That was a first. Anthony jumped in,

"Ok you're not that good of a guy."

"2 medium iced coffees light and sweet." The cashier said. Finally we left and piled into the two cars. We went to Anthony's house. It was really weird 'cause I barely knew him.

By the end of the night I got really close with all of Vanessa's friends and told them about what happened with Chris. Speaking of Chris I just got a text from him asking me to come over.