Finding Amity

Chapter 26

Three weeks passed of me simply going to class, doing my homework, and working. No parties, no drinking, and absolutely no Isaac. I was settling in pretty well, except for the exhausting boredom that comes with such a lacklustre existence. My social life was dwindling and I was not going to stand by and let it.

When I moved in, I took a picture of a poster advertising a school camping trip, and the more time I spent sitting in my dorm alone, the more intrigued I was by this trip. I'd never been camping before, but now is as good a time to start than ever.

"Hey, Pippa?" I called out from my bed on Wednesday night. She sat up to face me from her bed. "Do you know the camping trip?"

"The Armitage Park one? The one that's this weekend?" She followed up.

"Yeah, would you ever consider going? I'm thinking it might be fun."

"Camping?" She whined. "I don't think so. We've evolved well beyond sleeping on dirt."

"Come on! It might be fun. Plus, how many parties did I attend solely because you wanted to."

"Oh, you're pulling out that card!" She laughed.

"Its a student body thing, so you can get wasted if you want and I could invite Hadiya and Birdie and Marley; we could make it a girls trip!"

Pippa thought it over for a second, then came back with, "Do I have to shit in a hole in the ground?".

"I looked it up, there's public toilets and showers, we can set up near there. Also, Cruise told me once he used to go camping a lot growing up, he might have a nice tent we can borrow."

"Ugh!" Pippa groaned as she grabbed her phone from her bedside table. "Fine! I'll text Cruise now. But just know I'm only doing this because I know how bummed out you've been lately."

"Thank you!" I smiled.

I pulled out my phone and made a group chat with all the girls in it and sent the photo I took that first day and a rundown of what was happening. Almost immediately Hadiya and Birdie sent back a yes, and later Marley said she had to check in with her boss, but that it sounded like fun.

It was nice to have friends I don't have to worry about falling in love with.

***

Thursday was my off day college-wise, which meant I was always scheduled in the work. Today was my longest shift yet- 9 hours, 9am to 6pm- so I got up early and stopped by a small cafe just outside of campus for a hot cinnamon latte and a blueberry muffin. It was okay, not as good as the croissant from Bluebird Cafe, but I had been avoiding that place in my anti-Isaac efforts.

Work was the same every shift. I start out on register, serving people, and once it gets to about midday and the toys have been messed with quite a bit, Todd takes over the counter and sends me to tidy up the aisles.

Todd was quiet, but I liked working for him. He made my job a bit easier. I even got to know the boy I met when I handed in my CV. His name was Lyle and he did not like me, but I didn't mind. Not a lot of the job entailed teamwork.

Most days of work were kind of eh, that is until Dustin stops by. I found that Dustin had quite a lot of "toy-needs". He dropped in, we chatted for a little, and he ended up picking out a toy for his nephew, who seemed to be interested in trucks, dinosaurs and princesses, and managed to fit into the age ranges 5 months to a year, 2 to 4 years, 3 to 5, and 12 plus.

Needless to say, I felt like his trips to Toy-Land were a bit of a ploy to come see me, but I didn't mind. He was cute, funny, and when I talked to him here I didn't feel rebellious. I was not a student crushing on her TA, but rather an employee helping out a customer.

Today, Dustin was interested in the action figures.

"Hey, stranger." I greeted as I walked up next to him. I pointed to the figure of Batman and asked, "Are you a big DC fan?"

He smiled at me, then shook his head as he placed the figure back on the shelf. "No, I'm more of a Marvel fan. What about you, DC or Marvel?"

"I'm not too big on superheroes." I admitted. "Archie Comic's is where its at. Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Josie and the Pussycats, my Mum collected them when she was younger. She made me read them as a kid."

"She sounds like a fun Mum." He noted. She was a fun Mum. "The only thing my Mum made me read was the bible."

"Oof!" I exclaimed. "Was it at least a kids version with pictures?"

"Nope." He sighed. "Just a plain old bible."

I nodded, feeling a little bit sad for him. I can't imagine growing up having my parents beliefs forced upon me. My parents were atheists, but they always told me my beliefs should be based on what ideology makes me happy.

"So, I didn't come here for a reason, other than toy shopping." He started. "I found out yesterday that I am being let go from my TA position to focus on my current exams."

"Oh, that's too bad. You were a really good teachers assistant."

"Well, I think it's good news." He grinned.

"Why is that?"

"You see, there was this girl in my class that I liked."

"Oh, really?" I questioned sarcastically.

"Yes. But because I was her TA, I couldn't ask her out. It'd be a conflict of interest."

"I guess this is good news, then." I smiled.

"So, Amity. What'd'ya say?" He smirked.

"This a tough one." I pondered jokingly, stroking my imaginary beard. "I might have to sleep on it." Dustin crossed his arms and nodded, pretending to agree. "Yes, I will go out with you."

"Great! Are you free tonight?"

"Eager are we?" I giggled. "I'm looking forward to it."

"I'll text you the details." He added, heading for the door. "See you then."

I smiled to myself as he walked out. 

Isaac is going to regret letting me slip through his fingers.