❝Maybe there's a whole bunch of impossible people waiting for me out there. Waiting to make me feel that same uncertainty again and again.❞
Allison Romero has never had any luck when it comes to finding love, or maintaining friends...or just about...
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23: CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
A WEEK has gone by since my return at Pinewood Academy and not much has changed. I've been going to rehearsals and having the unfortunate pleasure of watching Annalise and Ethan interact with each other as Romeo and Juliet. There's also the fact that I've been talking to Josh a lot more. Ethan has also forced me to hang out with him and his friends, something about not wanting me to be alone.
I set my bike down against the side of the wall and then enter the bakery. The aroma of freshly baked goods overwhelms me as I head up to the front counter. Here goes nothing. "Hello," I say to the old lady behind the counter.
She raises one of her thin brows. "Can I help you, dear?" Her voice is brittle.
"Actually, I was just wondering if you are hiring at the moment," I say and slide my resume over to her.
Her blue eyes skim over the paper and she frowns. "I don't think we are," she answers.
I feel my smile fading. "That's fine," I say as I rock back and forth on the heels of my feet. "Just let me know when you are."
"Is that all?" she asks me. There is a ghost of a smile on her face.
I nod and wipe my palms on my pants. Just then, an old man emerges from behind the counter. "Sandra, where'd you put the flour?" he grumbles. He's heading slowly for the counter and then notices me from behind his glasses. "Oh, sorry. Would you like to order anything?"
"You know what, I'll have a croissant," I reply with a small smile. Sandra is watching me closely, also with a grin to her face. She wraps up a croissant for me and I slap a few bills on the counter.
"Thank you, have a marvellous day!" After waving at the both of them, I walk outside and climb onto my bike. I quickly gobble up the croissant, before peddling away from the bakery. Seems like a long shot at getting a job there, but for now I'll stay hopeful. Plus, those two seem absolutely lovely.
I'm peddling away, on my way to Pinewood Academy, when I feel my bike tire give out. The bike staggers and I hurriedly slam my feet down on the ground. I hop off the seat and begin inspecting the bike tires. There's a nail punctured on the front tire. I tug at it, and only realise what I've done until I hear a 'hissing' sound. What have I done? I bury my face in my palms.
I sit down on the sidewalk and blow out an aggravated breath. What now? There's no way I'm walking back in this wind. The clouds are gathering in the sky and it seems as if it will rain very soon. I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial a number.
"Alli—?"
"Come pick me up."
"Well, hello to you too," Ethan replies on the other end of the line.
