The Hunters of Artemis: A Siren's Call

6)There's a Monster in the Lake.

A/N
Dedicated to ForeveIsland for the AMAZING cover below!!!
I know, long time no update! Work has kept me insanely busy. I hit a bit of a depression when all of my files for my books were lost on my busted laptop. I didn't have them saved on a flash drive. Basically, with the exception of my Wattpad drafts, everything I had written for 2+ years was lost. I'm currently rewriting but it's taking longer than I want it to.
Happy reading!!
"Poor Unfortunate Souls" by Jonas Brothers
***

The next few days passed by at a fast pace. There was never a moment to think about the beautiful actor somewhere gracing the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin. When I wasn't absorbed in assisting my grandmother with her annoying hobbies like gardening or crafting, I was busy realizing how much I despised customers while being in the food service industry.

"Why is this place called Beagles Bagels when there aren't bagels in stock?" The stocky man in front of the counter complained.

My orientation for Beagles Bagels was near useless in preparing me for my first real job. Tanner's father, David, was a small and hyper man who seemed to always be smiling no matter the situation. The cheery man's version of "orientation" had included a brief walk throughout his small shop as well as a tiny tutorial of how to handle the coffee machines and the cash register. After that, I was put to work with no prior training beforehand. I received no real preparation minus a pat on the shoulder and a too cheery smile assuring me this job was rather simple. Three days after first starting I still wasn't any better dealing with the stupidity of customers.

"Sir," I begin with a polite smile that David suggested I wear, "we have a lot of different flavors in stock-"

"But not blueberry," interrupted the man rudely. His face was pinched in annoyance, a small bulge of a vein was above his Adam's apple. His beady blue eyes watched me with as much intensity as a snake would watch a mouse. "How does a bagel place not have blueberry bagels in stock??"

I stuck my tongue in my cheek as my eyes narrowed. Any form of patience I had went out with the window that morning when an elderly woman had requested I "hand pick" the cranberry's out of her cranberry scone. My sarcasm could not be tamed. "I'm going to go out on a limb and guess it was because a bunch of people ordered blueberry before you did and now we're out. So now, unfortunately, I'm stuck having to explain why our bagels are blueberry-less. Happy?"

"Gabriiiellllleee," said Tanner with a cheery laugh as he made his way over to me. He was using a synthetic laugh that seemed as fake as his father's hair piece. "It's okay, I'll handle this." I stepped away from the counter as he suddenly manned the register with the professionalism that I lacked. "Sir, would you like one of our coupons for a buy one get one free deal as a token of our apologies?" It was after Tanner finished helping the customer with his blue-berry-less bagels that he came to talk to me. "I don't want to correct you or anything, but you probably shouldn't glare at the customers." He smiled apologetically.

"I wasn't glaring. I just have a very talented resting bitch face," I defended stupidly.

Tanner was unamused by my comeback. "And no swearing where customers could possibly see you." Upon seeing my dejected expression, he soon adopted a sympathetic look as he used a freckled hand to run through his own hair. "Don't worry Gabi, you'll soon get the hang of this no problem. In the meantime..." I watched as Tanners eyes scanned around the not-quite-busy store front. Beagle's Bagels was slowly dwindling in customers as nigh approached. The young man ran a hand through his messy hair as his eyes raked everything from the barista's sink to the backdoor of the store. I held my breath as he last eyeballed the tedious chore I hated more than anything working at Beagle's Bagels. I said a silent prayer to anything that would listen that I wouldn't be made to do the task that Tanner's eyes finally landed on. "Can you take the trash out?"