Teenage Fever

chapter 4'

I came out of Hollister carrying an application and had to wait for Landon to finish talking to a blondie and her short friend. And yeah it's complicated going around the mall with him he's what other girls would say "hot". He has dark brown some what curly hair, more wavy and he's 6'1 which makes most girls drool. He's tan which makes him look like a California typical boy. I listen to the sound of the ocean, only three blocks away, and took a deep breath of the salty air. Laguna Beach was only ten minutes from our house, but the air tasted different here, the feeling of the ocean gave me a feeling that nothing else could. 

"Did you come to help me or pick up some random girls?" after the way the lady behind the Hollister register looked at me, I was pretty sure I wouldn't be a future employee of theirs. Perfectly fine with me, whatever. There were so many sequins reflecting the fluorescent lighting in tat store, I was sure it would produce a massive headache after five minutes anyways. "I can do both at the same time," Landon assured me. "I'm talented like that" he shrugged at me. I just pushed him away laughing. 

The only reason I chose to work at a place by Laguna was because it was far enough where I knew no one would recognize or know me, which was the plan. And it was by the beach which was a plus. If you haven't noticed I love the beach. 

"never date a guy who wears his jeans above his ankles," Landon said while pointing to the guy twenty yards ahead of us. "But he'd be able to walk through puddles and stuff without even getting his jeans wet. He's a planner" I said while pointing to my head.

I often wonder why my brothers insisted on making these lists for me. It wasn't like I had been waiting anxiously on the sidelines for the dating buzzer to sound. 

He laughed then steered me to the right. "That looks like a good store." he pointed to a store to the left, so far Landon employment suggestions are crap. This store just happened to have an outdoor fountain where a girl and her sister (possibly) were throwing spare change into the fountain. 

"Do you think there's two-hundred and sixty-four dollars worth of change in there?" I watched the coins ripple the surface of the clear water. "I could just come here once a week and collect the money out of the water" doesn't that just sound nice, I mean then I don't have to work and actually put my time into something that I don't want to do. Oh god know I sound lazy. oh well

"Now you're thinking creatively," Landon said. "I could totally get behind that idea" Then he cleared his throat and spoke a little louder. "My sister" - he alway made sure hot girls knew our relationship- "and I were just trying to guess how much money is in this fountain" 

"A million dollars" the little girl said smiling 

"seem there you go" Landon said, looking at me. "problem solved.

The dark-haired girl in low-rise jeans playfully hit her sisters shoulder and batted her eyelashes at Landon with a giggle. Before I literally threw in my. mouth I stepped into the store behind her and looked around. A floor lamp draped with a scarf stood with a scarf stood unlit in the corner. 

"Hello?" I called out. No one answered. Just as I turned to leave, a middle aged women came out of the back room holding a coffee cup. Her brightly colored shirt looked straight out of India and her legs were clad in wide legged pair of dark jeans. 

"Oh. Hello there" she set her cup down on the counter, but her palms together, and bowed. "Welcome" 

"Okay, thanks"

She stepped forward and I could see that her feet were bare. "How can I serve you?"

Was this lady for real? I tried to remember the name of the store I was just in. Crazy Lady Central? Had I accidentally walked into a spiritual healing or massage therapy store? I helped up the paper in my hand. "I just wanted to pick up and application. Umm .... Laura Brown said you might be hiring" 

"Did she now? I don't have applications. It's just me. This is my store" 

"oh okay. Wll, thanks anyways" I started to leave. 

"But" she said as I was almost out the door, "I asked for a sign today ad here you are"

"A sign?" I glanced out the window, hoping Landon would come in and save me. He was leaning against the glass next door staring inside dreamily. No help whatsoever. "I ..." I took a step back. "Have a good day" I said to the lady

"Well you want a job, right" 

umm not really  "Yes"

"well, I've been contemplating expanding, bringing in new business. And if Laura vouched for you, maybe you're just the girl I've been waiting for" 

I didn't really tell her that Laura just met me. "I'm pretty sure I'm not the girl anyone has been waiting for. I have no experience, I've never used a register in my life. I really wouldn't be very good selling clothes either. I mean, look at me" I said signaling at what I'm wearing.

"So you're looking for a job, but hoped you wouldn't fine one? Let me guess. Parents forcing you to?"

"Yes. My dad." sadly 

"What's your name?"

"Samantha, or just Sam"

"Sam, I'm Linda. I think I can give you the best deal in all of Laguna Beach. For six to eight on Tuesdays and Thursdays and then four hours Saturday mornings. So what is that? Eight Horus a week? Your dad will be appeased and you'll hardly have to work at all"

I mean yeah I guess right, this is a pretty good deal, so I nodded slowly. That didn't sound too bad. Even if it meant working with crazy barefoot lady. 

"What's the pay?" In other words, how many weeks was it going to take me to pay off those tickets and get done with this?

"I can afford fourteen dollars and hour, is that okay?" pfft what is that okay? yes that's okay for me! So I nodded yes. 

"You would need to wear something more presentable. If you don't have anything, I will front you a paycheck to buy a few outfits, but then you'll be working those first two weeks for your clothes"

ugh stupid clothes. I looked at the mannequins who were showing more leg than I cared to see. "I don't do dresses"

"of course not. I wouldn't put you in a dress like that anyways. It's all wrong for your aura."

My aura? I didn't know my aura had an opinion on dresses. 

"What's today?" she asked

"Wednesday"

"Okay, why don't you come in tomorrow before your shift starts and you can fill out some paperwork? Don't forget to bring your driver's license... You are seventeen right?"

"Yes" I nodded

"Good. Then after that I'll help you pick out a few things that would suit you"

"This feels right" she sniffed the air and released

Tomorrow, I'll have to start work. "okay"

I nodded and backed my way out of the store. Was this what "right" felt like?

"How'd it go?" Landon asked me

"I got a job"

"Really?" He looked up at the name of the store. 

"Linda's Boutique"

"Yeah".