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Chapter Three --> Hoodie Return

The sound of her phone ringing woke Alexis up. Grumbling, she reached out to grab her phone from the white bedside table. Clutching the phone in her hand she blinked sleepily at the screen. The number was not one that she recognized off the top of her head. Without really caring who was on the other side of the line she pressed the answer button.

            “Hello?” she asked, letting her eyes close. Just because her eyes were not open did not mean she could not listen.

            “Alexis, it’s me, Ashton. I am calling because I want my hoodie back.”

            “Your hoodie…oh yeah that.”

            Sitting up, Alexis looked over to where her desk was. There right on top of her laptop, was the hoodie. It was dark in her room so all she could see was the outline of the piece of clothing.  Even so, she knew that it was his hoodie and nothing else. Alexis had never been one to just pile her clothes wherever she felt like putting them. Since she was little she had put them back in the closet or dresser.

            “You want it now?” Alexis glanced over at the digital clock on her wall. The green illuminated numbers told her that it was just a little past six in the morning. This was the time when her aunt and uncle got up to get ready for work. It would not surprise her if they were in the kitchen right now making coffee.

            “No.” There was a slight pause before Ashton spoke again. “Of course could you even bring it over now if I said yes?” His voice sounded hopeful, as if she really was going to drag herself out of bed to return the hoodie right that minute.

            “No.” Her answer was short and to the point. There was no way that she was going to jump out of bed, get ready and drive to where he lived to just return a hoodie. Just because he was some popular guy with girls all over the world did not mean that he got some sort of special treatment from her. “You can expect your hoodie around lunchtime.”

            Yawning, Alexis put her head back down her pillow. “Just text me your addresses and I will be there no later than noon,” she said softly. Not waiting from him to reply she pulled the phone away from her ear and ended the call. Setting her phone back down on the bedside table she went back to sleep for a few more hours.

            That few more hours only turned out to be a few more minutes. Aunt Bea came into Alexis’ room and flipped on the light switch. Light flooded the room and made Alexis pull the covers over her head to block out the light. It did not work since Aunt Bea just marched over and ripped the covers off Alexis.

            “Time for you to get up sleepy head,” cooed Aunt Bea. “You need to look for a summer job. We are not going to just hand you everything that you need and want.”

            “It’s only six in the morning. I usually sleep until eight,” wined Alexis, rubbing her eyes. Adjusting to the light in the room did take some time, but now she could see Aunt Bea frowning at her.

            “Work does not wait; get up right now because you are going to find a job by the end of today.” Aunt Bea then turned on her heel and walked out of Alexis’ room.

            Groaning, Alexis flopped back down on her back. There was no way that she would be able to get a job by the end of today. You just did not waltz up to a place; announce that you were going to be working there and then get the job. There was a process. Fill out an application, and then come in for an interview and then training. It was the same process that was used decades ago.

            Rolling out of bed, Alexis took a quick shower. With her hair a messy heap on top of her head, she searched her closet for something to wear. Alexis ended up pulling on acid wash jean shorts, a black racerback tank top and some black ballet flats. Applying some light makeup, she reached for her shoulder bag. On the way out of her bedroom door she paused. There was something that she was forgetting. Quickly, Alexis went back and picked up her fully charged phone.