Chapter 4
1269 Words
Tears fall onto my desk as I glance down at the application form for college. It a week had passed. I still have not talked to Michael. I refused his calls or his visits. I knew he was in college now.
Before long he would find someone just as smart as he was to be with. The right girl for him. I sigh. I did know I did not want to be working at a gas station my entire life.
So, I had been out job hunting around town. No calls for an interview yet. I was hoping for one. Someone comes in my room. Paulette was there.
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"Hi Steph, how are you holding up these days? You have been ya know keeping to yourself lately" points out Paulette.
"I have been trying to figure out my life. I know I am not going to go to a fancy college. But I am going to get a better job. That is a start. Then once I save some money, I want to get my own place. Maybe an apartment in the next town over ya know?" I ask her. She nods as she sits down on my bed. She looks deep in thought. Close to tears. "What is it?"
"Steph, you are like a sister to me. What I say has to stay in this room. Between us please" she says softly.
I get up sitting next to her on the bed. "Alright. Go for it"
"I am having Johnny's baby. That was why he asked me to marry him. I did not want to tell everyone. I feel so ashamed. We fight a lot. I know he means well. But I worry that he only wants to marry me for the baby not for me. And if I do not marry him my folks, they will kick me out of the house" she sniffs. I place my arm around her shoulders and hug her.
"Damn Paulette. I am so sorry. Johnny came to me telling me he was going to ask you to marry him he seemed so happy. Really in love. Not a care in the world" I tell her.
She sniffs then looks up at me. "Really?" she asks me.
"He looked so happy. I never seen him this happy. Not since our break up. I think you two are perfect together. I am sure he wants to marry you for you. Not just for the baby. At least he will marry you" I add.
"Steph have you talked with Michael these days?" asks Paulette.
I shake my head no. "I have not. He has tried calling. Tried coming to see me but I want nothing more to do with him. I am done"
"Okay then maybe I should tell you. Frenchy and the others said not to utter a word to you" she sighs.
"About what?" I ask curiously.
She glances away then looks at me sadly. "We have seen Michael around town with a college girl these past two weeks. I am sorry Steph. I thought you should know"
I blink back tears. "I figured that was going to happen. I can tell the future! Who knew?" I c***k a joke.
"Steph...."
"No, it is fine. I broke things off with him. He is free to do as he pleases" I scoff.
"If you want to talk, I am here you know?" she asks me.
"I will be just fine" I lie. She hugs me before she leaves.
Later on, during the week I get a new job over at the Piggly Wiggly. I was working at the cash register. It was ten times better than working at the gas station. I was happy with it for now. My friends would stop in to see me here.
And that always put a smile on my face. I soon had found out later that week Rhonda and Goose were going to get married as well. Many of my friends were pairing off in the group. I stood alone. It was just as well.
"Steph, we have a new guy to train here. His name is Michael. He is a bag boy. Can you show him the ropes? You are catching on real quick?" asks my manager Jared Marx.
"Sure, thing boss. No problem" I say.
"Also are you able to work on Sunday?" he wonders. "Susan can not find a babysitter to cover her shift" he says to me.
"What time?" I ask as I check someone out. I had not even looked over at him yet.
"Around four to seven. Alright?" he asks.
"Alright" I add as I c***k my gum in my mouth as I work.
"Steph this is Michael Carrington. All the way from England. He is a college student over here" my boss says. I drop the dish soap on the floor. I get up and put it back on the tray.
Our eyes meet.
"Steph, I had no idea you were working here?" Michael says softly.
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My heart hammers in my chest.
"I have for a few weeks now" I stammer.
"You two know each other? Oh yes it says here you went to the same high school. Small world" Jared says before wandering away whistling.
Michael stands over where he was going to bag. "That will be four dollars and fifty cents miss" I tell the old lady who was buying things.
"Hang on a moment I have coupons do you double them here?" she wants to know.
I nod. "Yes miss"
She hands me her coupons then the total was three dollars and thirteen cents. She has to dig through her little change purse. So annoying. Why were old people like that?? I sigh as Michael bags the items up.
"Do not put the soap with food or it can damage it on the way home" I tell Michael.
"Thanks for coming to Piggly Wiggly. We hope to see you again soon" I tell the old lady.
We keep working that night together. I try hard not to look over at Michael unless I have to. I can tell it bugs him a little. But I did not have anything left to say to him. Suddenly a pretty girl comes over just buying a pack of gum and Michael's favorite kind of candy bar. Baby Ruth.
"Dotty what are you doing here?" Michael talks to the girl who was our age. She had long curly black hair. Perfect pale skin. Wore a fancy little dress. With a college jacket on her shoulders. She rushes over and hugs him.
"I had to come see you at work" she giggles. "I bought you a candy bar. Your favorite" she adds.
She hands him the candy. He blushes then looks at me.
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"I can't eat it now" he whispers.
"I know silly for on your break" she adds.
"Oh thanks. I better get back to work Dotty" he tells her. "Thanks for stopping by"
She kisses his cheek. "Have a wonderful day Mikey" she giggles before leaving.
I roll my eyes then get back to work. Later when I was on my break Michael was working. I head in the bathroom. I hid away in the stall. Tears fall. This was so unfair. I knew better then to fall for a guy like him.
This was all my own fault. It did not work out. And it was never working out. To make matters worse I was going to have to work with the man. God. Why me? I grab a tissue and blow my nose into it.
"Pull yourself together Steph. You got over Johnny. You out grew him now you can do this same thing with Michael" I pep talk myself.
Easier said than done.
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- Writer
