untouchable

My place or yours?

The next day of work is less explosive for me, but my stomach still twists into knots when I'm called into the managers office,I just know it won't be good.

I tap on the door as I enter,causing Mr Charles to look up,

"HI Cassandra,come in"

I come in and sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk,tense,waiting to be fired.

He looks at some paperwork before saying anything,then giving me his full attention asks,

"how are you liking it here? ".

I squeeze my hands in my lap, "well, I'm learning alot that's for sure".

He nods,"well, there's always more to be learned,...like customer service for example".

I stiffen.

"But your learning, that's a good start, I expect next you will know". He gives me a pointed look so I know that he's referring to the incident.

I knod, "that's the plan sir".

He knods,and then takes a deep breath letting me know there's more he's about to say,I stiffen again, waiting.

He leans forward with a thoughtful look on his face,deciding what he's about to say I guess.

"I've liked your work cassandra,your focused,fast,and accurate...,and in the little time that you've been here at that. It's a good sign,..I think your management material".

I stare at him not sure what to say,well this is all surprising,I expected to be fired right now.

"um,thank you sir,I give my best."

He knods," It shows,and I'll be seeing you in here again,real soon",he gives me a wink.

Now I'm really stumped,so I say nothing.

"that'll be all cassandra,have a good day",he goes back to his computer and I exit quickly.

Though I stand in the hall thinking,what just happened?

______

As I'm clocking out from work for the day,I run into marcus,

"hey,we're all headed to chili's, would you like to join us?".

I sigh before forcing myself to look at him,now there's nothing wrong with marcus in the looks department,he's handsome,and that's enough for most women, but I don't care,I'm just not interested,I've got too much going on in my life to be dealing with any drama,and getting involved with him and his friends can lead to that,I know because I've seen the swooning of  the girls that work here, over him,and I don't plan to be another one.

"Hi,um...,thanks but I have plans",I say as politely as I can.

He smiles knowingly,"right...,look cassie-,

"cassandra",I say, correcting him  sharply.

He knods,"uh..sorry, cassandra,I'm buying for everyone and I don't know anyone who passes up free food".

That's definetly one of the worst things he could have said to try and convince me,I stare back at him blankly,"well now you do,.. thank you for the offer,have a good night".

I leave heading to the nearest bus  stop,but I didn't miss the dumbfounded look on his face.

As I wait at the bus stop a horn honks,I turn in it's direction to see a girl from work in the drivers seat,

"Hey!,need a ride?",she yells through the window.

I stare at her,"no,thank you!",I yell back,I turn back to the schedule in my hand wondering where this bus is,it's frequently late and is today once again.

I hear a car door close,causing me to look in the girls direction,She walks towards me, her car in park,

"HI,I'm beth,we haven't met officially",she holds out her hand.

I shake it,"hi",I glance around for the bus again.

"so,..I heard your soon to be a manager".

What did she say?, Is she kidding?

She goes on without a response from me,"I would like to give you some of the manager info and share some inside knowledge, if you have no plans tonight".

I shake my head,preparing to say no,but she cuts me off,"I'm pretty sure monday morning your gonna be made manager and there's some things to know before you accept, if you know what I'm saying".

I squint at her contemplating,"how long does it take ?",I ask.

She shrugs,"I dont know".

I frown,sighing, I glance around for the bus again but there's none in sight,"well, let's make it quick",I say walking to her car.

She knods,"sure,so my place or yours?".

-----

Well we certainly weren't going to my place,so we drove to hers and now here we sit at her kitchen table,drinking tea,as she rambles on,while I eye the clock,watching the time anxious to get to the shelter on time.

"So I feel you should know, marcus may be cute but he definitely comes with drama,like alot,he has caused quite a few squabbles,but really they do it to themselves wanting things they can't have", she shakes her head in pity.

I stare at her then, because It hits me how much of a waste me coming here is,

I sigh," look beth,I need to go is this all you needed to say?".

She shakes her head flustered," oh no, I just felt that you should know,is all....,in case you were interested in marcus".

And there it is again, his name,that's all she's been talking about this whole time, so it's clear what the problem is here.

I stand up from the table,"So you like marcus,I get it,just tell him that instead of me because honestly... I don't care", I grab my bag and leave.

Shaking my head I mutter in frustration to myself as I walk down a sidewalk,people can be so shallow,there are real problems that people are facing in the world,like homelessness for one.

I pause on the sidewalk sighing,I glance at my watch, it's pass check in time,great,now what do I do?

Well standing here's not an option so I go in search of a bus stop,that's a good place to start at least,I find one a few blocks away and sit down,I don't know if I will get on the bus if it comes around though or if I should make myself comfortable here for the night.

I sigh scratching my head,I jump when my phone goes off suddenly, I dig through my bag trying to find it before it stops ringing,finding it I answer the call,

"Hello?".

"Where are you?,you didn't check in tonight".

I smile, "Hi,Tasha".

"Hi,where are you? Is everything okay?".

I sigh,looking around the unfamiliar neighborhood, "yeah,...everythings just fine".

She doesn't say anything for a moment making me wonder if the call was interrupted,but then she speaks,

"That was so not believable you know,...where are you?, I can come pick you up and you can crash here".

I look around for a bus but see none,so even though I don't like being a burden,I don't have any other options for the night so I agree.

"Okay Tash,and ...thank you".