Getting myself back

My first day at Cache Corporations

Arianna sighed deeply, checking to make sure her hair was in place. When she was sure it was, she tapped on the wall of Zach's office. He opened it with a wide grin on his face and welcomed her in the office.

"You're on time."

"I told you I would be," she looked at him. She will prove it to him that she wouldn't take this job as a joke, that she had truly grown up.

"Oh, I forgot to ask this yesterday; Is it okay for me to wear my school uniform while I work, or would you rather me change into something else?" Asked Arianna.

"Oh, that's fine," Zach averted his eyes quickly. Her skirt was still so short. As soon as this thought came in his mind, he discarded it.

"It's up to you, I know it can be a hassle to change quickly, so whatever suits you the best."

"Okay!" Arianna nodded, satisfied.

As Zach started walking to his desk, he turned to look at her. "A badge is in the making for you so you can enter through the front door. Entering from this emergency passage, I know. Also, you'll be working for me only."

Arianna knitted her eyebrows together as he sat down in his seat. Carefully, she followed him, leaning against the back of the chair in front of his desk. Did Zach not trust her enough to work for others, or was he just being protective of her? She would never know.

"If anyone asks you to do something, don't do it without asking me first, okay?" Zach continued his talk from earlier. When Arianna didn't answer him right away, he looked at her.

She blushed lightly. "Yeah, I understand," she nodded.

"Good," he sighed. "There's a lot of bad people out there, people who would get you to do bad things just because you don't know..."Zach trailed of, not wanting to explain any further.

"Good thing I'm only working for you then," Arianna mused. "But, I have a question."

"Sure," Zach grinned. "What?"

"I know you're my boss and all, but please don't make me call you Mr. Anderson," she said dully. "I'll call you Coach or something, but not that."

Zach grimaced, not liking the idea of her calling him Mr. either. It just seemed weird, especially since she was Arianna. "Yeah, call me Zach Coach, or whatever- something, master, not that."

"Did you say master?" She asked, clearly amused.

He laughed, "I knew you would catch that."

She continued to stare at him, "What's first?"

Zach looked at her closely, watching her expression. "Heh, you get to organize my desk."

Arianna looked at him dully, "You did that on purpose, didn't you?" She said pointing at his unorganised desk.

Zach chuckled. "I might have. Payback for all those chores you made me do on that Trekking trip," he smirked.

"Boo," Arianna stuck her tongue out at him, teasingly. "You just liked to whine," she told him smugly, grabbing a stack of papers off his desk.

Zach watched her, amused as she looked through the stacks of paper, mumbling about him being lazy. It would definitely be entertaining to work with her...

"Wow..." Zach awed, four hours later. "You actually done it..."

Arianna smirked, "did you doubt I wouldn't?"

"No," he said truthfully. "I just didn't expect you to have it done so, what should I say, yeah, fast."

Arianna laughed lightly, "Well, it's in the description of my job, right? Is there anything else that needs to be done?"

Zach chuckled. "Nah, not today. You can head home, I know you must be starving."

The corners of Arianna's mouth twitched upward, but her mouth was tight. "Starving," she said, her voice flat. "Anyways, thanks again for letting me work here," she smiled, her voice warm again.

"No problem," Zach propped his elbow on the table and placed his chin in his hand. "Hey Arianna, are you okay?"

"What? I'm fine," she said quickly. "Just fine," she assured, walking towards the emergency exit.

"Okay..." He didn't push it. "Tell your parents I said hello."

Arianna grimaced, thankful that her back was turned towards Zach, so he didn't see her face. "Yeah, sure. See you tomorrow."

Zach let out a sigh once she was gone. He was surprised by how well she worked... He almost expected her to whine like she would have years ago, but she had changed. And, in more ways than one. He wasn't a pervert, really, he wasn't- or at least, that's what he kept telling himself. It was just that he was observing how much Arianna matured, that's all. She was still short and petite, but she now had the curves of a young woman. Her breasts were modest too, and her legs looked smooth. Her dark hair came down to her shoulder blades, not a hair seemed out of place.

Arianna was still Arianna, yet Zach knew something was wrong. It seemed as if she had almost grown cold over the years. He figured she would be smiling the whole time, but she barely did. She looked extremely thin, too. He was a bit worried for her, maybe she was going through a tough time? But, where was his place to put in his opinion? He hadn't talked to her in two years before she showed up at his office the other day.

Zach shook his head, turning his attention back to the computer screen beside him. Maybe Arianna was only going through a phase, how would he know, but kids did that all the time now, right?

"Does she ever talk to anyone?" A female voice whispered.

"Are you kidding?" A second voice whispered back. "Of course, she doesn't talk to anyone. She's a freak."

Arianna rolled her eyes, not bothering to lift her head from her seat. Well f**k you, too, she thought. I don't want to talk to you either. But, they were right, she was a freak. No matter how hard she tried to fit in her last year of middle school, she couldn't. After the mess that happened in trekking trip, and with her grandfather she decided to just stop. There was no point in trying to fit in somewhere when she obviously didn't. She was stronger and faster than the rest, so they wanted nothing to do with her.

"Hey!" Justin ran into the classroom, startling some of the kids. "Who's working at Cache Corp?!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" drawled out another man's voice.

"My dad works at Cache Corporations, and I was supposed to work there, but Mr. Anderson already hired someone! And, since we're the only class doing this bullshit it has to be one of you!"

All the teenagers shared a look. No one seemed to have the job. "Maybe Arianna has it," the second girl from earlier announced.

"Don't be ridiculous," someone scoffed. "As if she could ever get a job there. She's probably working for one of her dear parents."

"Good morning class!" Melissa beamed as the bell chimed. "Everyone please take your seat! And get your job application slips out!"

There was a groan as Arianna sat up, taking her slip of paper out of the binder in her desk. It was still in perfect condition, Zach' signature at the bottom. She looked at it closely, a hidden smile on her face.

Melissa started on the other side of the classroom, walking down the aisle and reading everyone's job. Arianna would be third last, she counted down the seconds until Melissa finally reached her.

"Cache Corp," Melissa said in shock, grasping everyone's attention. "And, you're working for Zach Anderson himself. Good job, Arianna! I'm glad you branched out a little."

The gratitude didn't last long, of course, how could this class digest it, if she get any sort of success in her life.

"She only got that job because of her parents," someone muttered.

"Actually, the Anderson’s have been friends with my family for years," Arianna said dully. "And, it's not because of my parents. Elisa Anderson was a long-time friend of my Grandpa Darren."

The students sat in silence for a few seconds. They were all smart enough not to bad mouth Mr.Darren, not that anyone with a brain would want to. He was a celebrated hero! Everyone looked up to him! But, there were a few... A few who were too dumb to measure. They had all met the wrath of Arianna's fist.

"Arianna," Melissa walked up to the girl's desk, midday. "I need you to go give this to your uncle."

"Why me?" Arianna moaned.

"Because, if I don't send you, he'll whine to me later in the break room asking why not."

"Fine," Arianna huffed, grabbing the papers. "That man is such a baby!" She hissed, making her way down the hall.

Why her uncle ever became a teacher was still beyond her? He had never liked school or studying... Yet, after what happened, he got serious about his life. Being a teacher is what he decided he wanted to do. Sometimes though, Arianna was certain he just did it to keep up with her, of course she would never know.

She opened his door, not bothering to knock. He stopped right in the middle of his teaching, his eyes wide as he smiled enthusiastically.

"Arianna, my sis! You've come to visit me!"

She looked at him dully as she walked to his desk and placed the papers on it. "Missy wanted me to hand that to you. I'm leaving."

"Wait a minute!" He stopped her.

"Shouldn't you be teaching, Uncle?"

He grimaced. "Don't call me that. But, do you know who called me the other day?"

"No clue," Arianna leaned against the door-frame.

"Zach!" Blake shouted dramatically, scaring half his class.

"Careful there, Blake" Arianna laughed softly. "What's the big deal? Did Zach tease you again?"

Blake pouted, crossing his arms and walking over to his niece. "He told me you were working for him. And he was bragging about it! Bragging!"

"I am," Arianna nodded. "What's up with you and him wearing glasses?" She asked, poking the bridge of his.

"Don't change the subject! Why didn't you want to work with me?!" Blake pouted dramatically.

"Because, I'm at school long enough," with that she turned to leave.

"Wait!" Blake called, following her into the hallway. He lowered his voice and continued, "does Zach know about your weekend job?"

"Nope," she said simply. "Don't worry though, he's not making me work past midday, or anything like that."

He smiled, shaking his head lightly. Softly, he patted his nieces head. "You work too hard Arianna, and you're stubborn, too. Get back to class," he ruffled her hair.

"Uncle!" She whined, calling him by the name just to make him grimace.

"Get to class!" He called after her as she started walking back to her room.

Arianna rolled her eyes, a soft smile on her face. Even if Blake took the job to watch over her, she was thankful for it.