The Switching Arrangement

Chapter 7

I have a problem guys. I can't stop writing long ass chapters :'D I'm so sorry. Btw, that's a picture of Penelope Wyatt, AKA Poppy (It's Elle Fanning. Isn't she a cutie!?)

I have been pacing back and forth in front of the Art Club for approximately 5 minutes now. My eyes keep darting from the door and the floor to the notification board and the beautifully-painted murals on the wall.

I can feel myself starting to get confused as how I ended up in this situation. I'm even starting to question myself.

How could I have let my guard down so easily?

Just yesterday, my best friend, Cameron, persuaded me to go here, to forget the past and to try doing something I used to love doing.

But I turned him down without a second thought, presumably because I was so sure that what he had asked me to do was impossible; because I can never forget and because I'm not easily persuaded at the thought of a thousand dollars in cash—no matter how broke I am.

However, now I'm standing here-- weighing the logistics of my decision. And it's all because of a girl.

It all started when I was working my usual shift at BD, waiting tables and rearranging the spices on the cupboard that Katie kept bitching about.

I was losing my mind because she kept yelling that 'THE SPICES ARE NOT EVENLY SPACED!" every five freaking minutes.

I can guarantee you that the reason people don't come back to BD is because of her constant yelling and not because of their OCD getting triggered by the slightly uneven decorative spice bottles.

So I was wasting my energy placing the cayenne pepper next to the coriander for the hundredth time when: she came through the door -- the girl I've had a crush on for three years.

Penelope Wyatt.

There was a little boy by her side, who I assumed to be her younger brother since he has the same light blond hair as her.

Penelope was holding his hand when she decided to sit at the table right next to the rack of spices I'm working on.

I look at my other co-workers who - of course - were currently busy. "Hunt," I turn to one of my co-worker, Vivi,  and her head nodded in Penelope's direction. "Give em' the menu,"

Reluctantly, I stepped down from the small step I was using to reach the tallest part of the spice shelf and grabbed two red menu cards from the counter.

I walked to her table with the most emotionless face I could put on. "Hey, welcome to Bambi's Dinnerplace," I place the menu cards on their table.

Without looking up, she muttered a thanks and went through the menu.

I tried not to, but I ended up staring at her.

Up close, her face looked a lot different. Usually, when I see her walking at school with her two best friends, she seemed bubbly and childish - never without a smile on her face.