Home is where the heart is at ~ Zachary Merrick (book 2)

~8~

~Alyssa~
In the middle of physics, my phone started ringing. Shit, I thought I silenced it! I reached for it into my bag as my teacher peered at me.

"I thought I said no cell phones?" I checked the caller ID. "Oh, it's my mom. I'm sure it's an emergency." He sighed and let me go out to answer it.

I put it up to my ear. "Kathy, what do you need?" Kathy was the manager of the small boutique Zack took me to for my birthday.

And she was also my boss.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt you, but can you work this afternoon for a few hours. Penny went home sick and we're short people from three to seven."

I sighed. "Fine, I can come in then. You really couldn't just text me?" She gasped. "You're in school! I'm so sorry, I completely forgot!"

I smiled slightly. "It's fine. I just said you were my mom. Yes, I'll come in. See you then." I ended the call and shoved the phone into my pocket.

I slipped back into class and continued writing notes while the teacher spoke.

~

I was restocking the shelves while everyone else was helping customers. Sam helped me get the job. I needed a job and she referred me.

As soon as Kathy met me, she knew I was right for the job. And although I probably dress the darkest out of all the employees, I still love the style the boutique sells and wear their clothes pretty often.

I picked up another shirt to fold when it got ripped out of my hands. "This is so cute! Totally not your style." I put on a polite smile and looked at the girl.

"Max." Her fake smile turned into a glare. "Alyssa. How's the boyfriend you stole from me?" I rolled my eyes again.

"Again, I didn't steal him from you. He didn't even like you!" She put her hands on her hips. "Not in high school, but he had the biggest crush on me in middle school."

What was she trying to do here?

"Listen, unless you're here to buy something, please leave or at least leave me alone." She threw the shirt back at me.

"Fine. But, I must know how you got this job. I saw the other employees and they're way prettier than you. I mean, if I didn't know you and I saw you working in a store like this, I'd be so disgusted."

I bit my lip. "Please leave." She turned around and began to walk off but stopped. "You're still a criminal's daughter and that's all you'll ever be."

She walked out of the store and I took a deep breath to compose myself. I went back to restocking and helped customers with dressing rooms.