The Perfect Balance

Chapter 6

When lunch is over, I head to my locker to retrieve my homework for study hall. A familiar face walks by and approaches the exit until I call out for him. "Diego!" I repeat for what seems to be the millionth time today. For two people who barely know each other, we seem to interact a lot.

"Yes?" he asks as he turns around, looking at me as if he'd been caught.

"Where are you going?" I ask and he only provides a grin in response. "What class are you trying to skip?"

"I went to three of my classes today. I can't skip my last one?" he complains. "They don't even count attendance. It's not even a real class."

"What class?" I ask him.

"Study hall," he responds. They don't count attendance? I have that class every day; it's my last period, too.

"You're in luck," I tell him. "I have that class, too."

"So you're going to skip with me?" he asks with that same grin on his face and I shake my head.

"No, you're coming to class with me," I reply.

He looks at me as if unimpressed by my words. "Look..." he starts. "I know you love school and everything but I don't. All I want right now is a cup of coffee."

"You can always get coffee and then come to class a few minutes late," I suggest and he scoffs dryly.

"I think I'm just going to get my coffee and walk around a bit," he tells me. "See you at dismissal." I sigh as he slips outside. Well, I think, at least he went to three of his four classes. As I walk down the hallway, the same thought plagues my mind. They don't count attendance in study hall?

The day plays on and before I know it, it's time for me to go to work. My dad's bringing me and rather than studying the flashcards I have stowed away in my pocket, I'm forced to have a conversation. "So your brothers told me you and Diego have become friends?" he asks and I shrug.

"I wouldn't go as far as to call us friends," I answer as I aimlessly flip through my note cards, not reading a single word I wrote on them. "But we've talked, I guess." On the way home from school, I asked him how he knows they don't count attendance and we talked about that for the short car ride. Apparently, my brothers saw that as a major sign of friendship and felt the need to report that information to my dad when he got home.

"That's a start," my dad smiles. "You got him to go to his classes today, right?"

"Three of them. He skipped the last one," I explain. "And please don't ask how many classes he was going to before because I don't know."

"Well, I had a talk with him and I think it's best we get him a job. Maybe if he has something to do, he won't have time to get into trouble," my dad explains and I sigh.

"Why are you telling me this, dad?" I ask.

"Is the bookstore hiring?" he questions.

"No," I answer almost immediately.

"Think you can ask your boss?" he proceeds to inquire. "Or maybe ask around a few places near the plaza."

"I can check with the nail salon if that's what you want," I tell him sarcastically and he sighs.

"I guess I'll have to check a few places. I'll talk to some friends- see if they know anyone that's hiring," my father replies, effectively giving up on me as a source of help.

The conversation comes to an end shortly after that. As we pull up to the bookstore, I get out of the car, thank him for the ride, and tell him I'll see him later. I enter the store and allow the warmth of the heaters to embrace me. I pull my hoodie from over my head and shove it under the register.

"So..." Diana starts as she grins at me. I look at her and roll my eyes, already having an idea as to what she's planning on talking about. "Diego."

"What about him?" I ask her, trying to busy myself with other things. A cute boy is in my house. We've talked a couple of times. I don't see what the big deal about it is.

"Did you talk to him? Kiss him?" she asks me and I turn to her with an annoyed look on my face.

"He's been in my house for three days," I remind her. "I'm obviously pregnant."

She rolls her eyes at me. "I'm serious, Orion. Get on that."

"What's there to get on?" I ask before sighing as her face contorts to one of perversion. "Don't answer that."

"He seems interested in you," she replies.

"How do you figure? He actually talked to me in the hallway?" I ask.

"Yeah! He doesn't talk to many people," she replies. "He has like three friends."

"And how many do I have?" I ask her with narrowed eyes. The answer to that is one.

"Exactly! You actually talk to him! That has to say something," she explains and I roll my eyes at her.

"I talk to people who talk to me. I'm just not a fan of starting conversations," I reply.

"You started that conversation with him today," she presses.

"Yeah, to get you to believe me," I answer. "Had you not doubted me, I wouldn't have even acknowledged him and vice versa."

"Just talk to him and maybe you'll find out that he's your dream guy," she replies, wiggling her eyebrows. I scoff and tap the counter.

"My dream guy has to care about school, have dreams and aspirations, know what he wants in life, be respectful and stay out of trouble, and he should also be just a little cute," I explain to Diana. "Oh, and it's a plus if he likes reading!"

"Well...Diego is a lot cute. That must count for something!" she grins and I roll my eyes.

"I'm on shelf duty. Have fun working the register," I tell her before turning away.

As my break comes around the corner, I keep my promise to myself and disregard the romance novels and head straight for the coffee shop. Upon entering the small restaurant, I inhale the scent of coffee and think of Diego. I approach the counter and smile at Sue, the owner of the place. She's a nice lady. She even remembers my name. And she gives me a large hot cocoa even though I only order a medium ever since the time I helped her with a large crowd.

"Medium hot cocoa?" she asks knowingly and I nod as I stare at the marble counter-top.

"Hey, Sue?" I speak after a few seconds

"Yeah, hon?" she replies and I look at her with furrowed brows.

"Are you hiring, by any chance?" I ask.

"Is the bookstore not working out?" she inquires with a smile and I shake my head, chuckling.

"No, I just have a, uh... friend who's looking for a job," I tell her.

"Well, I could use another hand around here. My nephews aren't available as much anymore because of college," she responds. "Is your friend a hard worker?"

From what I can tell, no. "Yeah," I lie for whatever reason. "He's a hard worker."

"Well, tell him to swing by sometime and I'll see about maybe giving him a job," she winks at me and I nod before returning to my seat. I just lied to Sue to get a boy I barely know a job. Diego so owes me.