Brand New

Chapter 4: So far so good (Hallie)

First week of school: done
Anxiety rising: check
I come home and lay on my bed and sigh. I hear my cat pawing at the door. I get up and let her in and she goes straight to watch my rats in their cage.
"Bella baby...leave them alone," I pick her up and lay her down with me. I grab my phone and pet her while I text my friends. I think over the week as been. How I met him. I think about how funny and cute he is. I look up at the Saturn drawing he gave me I taped to the wall. I smile at the first day I saw him. He's so cute and sweet. So shy. I like it. But there's something different about him but I can't place it. I then hear my mom yell down to me for dinner. I run downstairs and sit at the table.
"Hey what's for dinner?" I ask my mom.
"Hamburgers and fries." She hands me my plate and I put ketchup and pickles on the burger and get ranch for my fries. I take a big bite after everyone else is settled.
"Thanks," I say with a mouthful.
"Please don't talk with your mouth full honey," my mom says then looks at my brother and I both, "so how was the first week of school?"
"It was boring like usual," my brother says, "but easy so far."
"I agree but you find everything easy smartass," I roll my eyes and eat my food.
"Hey don't swear. You don't sound educated," my mother scolds me. I shrug it off and finish my food and head back upstairs after telling them goodnight and that I love them. I go into the bathroom and take a hot shower and do self care and I get an idea. I get ready for bed and I get my notebook out. I am gonna write to him. I am gonna write him a little letter to put in his locker on Monday. I start to write and get lost in writing to him. I get startled by my rats being noisy. I laugh and finish my writing. I put in an envelope and put it in my bag. I take out my rats to play with them before bed. I smile at them and love them to pieces.
"Oh boys, I hope he likes the letter I wrote because I really am starting to like him. Well it's time for bed," I give them kisses and put them back in their cage and they go lay down together. I smile at them and go lay in bed and send streaks on Snapchat. I put my phone on charge and lay down and just start to think about him. At point I slowly drift to sleep, dreaming about him.

The next morning roles around and I have to get up for work. I groan and shower again. I put my work clothes on and do my makeup and hair. I head downstairs and go to the kitchen.
"Hey dad which car can I use for work?" I ask my dad while he watching TV.
"Use the car. I'm gonna use the truck today. Have fun. Love you."
"Never and love you too," I head out the door and drive to work. I am not very fond of where I work but hey I make decent money. I turn my music on and blast it and jam to it until I get to Target. I groan at being there and go inside and out my things in my locker and go clock in. I see my favorite coworker and wave. I go up front and start my day.

Around noon, I go for my lunch. While I'm checking out I see him. I smile and wave at him. He sees me and blushes. I run over to him.
"Hey Alex." I smile.
"Hey Hallie," he says shyly, "so you have a job?"
"Yup. Been working here for about a year. Hey we are hiring if you wanna apply here. I could give you rides, if you need it," I smile at him.