Naomi's Savior

XI.

Naomi

A week later

"Beep!" The sound of the dismissal bell rang, and everyone in my class simultaneously rose from their seats and headed towards the classroom door.

I walked to my locker, as usual, to drop off my textbooks. I closed my locker and behind it Key was standing next to me.

"Hey girl, you got time to hang out?" She asked excitedly.

"Nah, I'm working now, Key. I won't really be able to hang anymore. I gotta start saving so I can get an apartment after high school." I said. I was glad that Ray had spoke to me because he made me realize that I was changing from hanging out with Key all the time.

"Oh okay, where do you work?" She asked.

"Harry's Chicken Shack." I replied.

"Okay sis, get your coin." She smiled before walking away.

I headed toward the front door of the school. For the first time, I seen Anthony leaning against a wall with a few other guys.

I walked up to him. "Wow, so you really do go here? Surprise, surprise." I smiled.

He opened his arms for a hug. "What can I say, I'm Mr. Houdini." I embraced him, breathing in his cologne again. I accepted the butterflies this time.

"Ha ha very funny." I stale faced him.

"Where you headed?"

"Work...at the chicken shack." I replied.

"For real, I never been in there. Is the food good?"

"Yeah it's decent."

"I might have to come visit. To try the food and to come see you." Anthony looked me in my eyes and smirked.

I looked down at my feet to hide my smile. "Well, I gotta get going...See you later, maybe?" I gave him a small smile before walking away.

At Harry's

"Okay, so the register is old fashioned, but that means it's pretty easy..." Stephanie explained. She was teaching me how to operate the register.

I nodded in agreement as I listened to her.

"At about 9 we start cleaning unless it's busy...but it's usually not. Just wipe the counters and tables, flip the chairs on top of the table, and sweep the floors. We never mop until after closing, and make sure to lock the door before starting to count the register."

I nodded.

"I know it's a lot, but I promise you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly."

"I hope so." I laughed. I was a bit nervous since it's my first job, but I knew my nerves would subside.

Since it's my first day, Stephanie had me shadowing another cashier on register. She told me we would switch once the after school rush was over.

"So how long have you been working here?" I asked the cashier working. He was a Hispanic man who looked to be in his late 20s.