Celebrity Undercover

12. Help Needed

"Those who dance are considered insane by those who cannot hear the music." -George Carlin.

"Aw come on!" Alec groans when the part where William decides to die reaches. Alexis sniffs, rubbing tears under her eyes and I try really hard not to cry. It's not fair! Was she not enough happiness for him to live?

"You're being heartless! How can you not feel like crying?" I ask him, my eyes on the screen.

"Ugh come on! It's not like there are no any other guys in the world! She can easily move on with someone else."

I turn to look at him this time, giving him a frown.

When you really love someone, you love everything about them. Their good parts and bad parts. There could be other guys out there but it's just not him. Not the one you love.

I might have never been in love before, but I've seen it. My mum and dad loved each other to the very end, I clearly remember those words when my father told me, looking at my mum adoringly as she tries to wipe off the chocolate milk that had spilled on the kitchen floor.

"It won't be easy. There are other guys but they just won't be him," I repeat what my father told me years ago before turning my attention back to the screen. I feel someone's eyes on me and I knew it was Alec. I turn to face him, "what?"

He shakes his head, a small smile on his face, before turning his attention back to the screen. When I turn to face the screen again, the credits were rolling in. I sigh before standing up, stretching myself.

When the lights come on, I grab the soda that I didn't manage to finish and walk out of the theatre.

"I have to go to the restroom," I inform them once we were out of the theatre, handing my soda bottle to Alec. "I'll come with you," Alexis immediately announces.

"Five minutes," He informs us, walking over to one of the seats. We walk towards the girl's restroom, talking amiably about the movie.

After I'm done using the toilet, I walk up to the mirror, washing my hands at the sink. As I look up at the mirror, I make a face when I notice how oily my nose had become. My high ponytail was now messy and the hairpin had become loose.

I splash water on my face, making it appear less oily at the same time as Alexis comes out of the toilet.

"I have foundation powder, we're almost the same skin tone," she offers, washing her hands. I look at her tanned skin before glancing at my pale one. Same skin tone? Was she serious?

"Um no, I don't apply makeup. Thanks though," I reply, removing my hairpin so I can tighten my ponytail again. She shrugs in reply before applying red lipstick on her lips. When she was done touching up her makeup, we both walk out of the restroom to find an impatient Alec staring at his watch.

"What took you guys so long?" He grumbles, standing up. I notice my soda bottle was not in his hands again.

"Where's my soda?"

"I drank it, you guys took too long. I'm thirsty and more importantly, hungry," he complains, already making his way to the mall map. After finding the place he wanted to go, he makes his way to the left with us following him not too far behind.

We reach the food court, people strolling around, teenagers, kids, adults and couples everywhere. McDonald's was at our left, the big M sign on top of the fast food restaurant. To our right was Pizza Hut, a few tables were outside with people enjoying their meal as they talk and laugh with each other.

Alec turns left heading towards McDonald's and we follow him quickly, trying to match his fast strides. When we reach the small line of people waiting to get their orders done. I gaze up towards the menu, trying to make a decision before it was our turn. I finally decide on a big Mac and fries because of how my stomach was rumbling.

After getting our food we make our way outside the restaurant to one of the seats outside. A small girl was grinning widely at her ice cream before she licks on it. I smile watching her, before taking a sip of my coke.

I take a huge bite from my burger, turning my attention to my friends in front of me. They were awfully quiet, which was weird, especially for Alec.

"So what did you guys do at school today? Do we have any homework?" I ask them, trying to break the silence. Alexis nods with a frown, making her perfectly drawn eyebrows meet.

"We have to answer some stupid questions from the textbook. I think it was page twenty-eight," Alexis answers my question before she takes a bite from her salad. Sometimes I think salad is all she eats.

"Eating salad every day isn't healthy," I inform her, eyeing her salad worriedly. She sighs before she drops her fork, "I know, I'm getting so tired of eating this."

"If you want to maintain your body, you can start by eating healthy," I tell her, taking a bite from the fry in my hand. "There's eggs, whole wheat bread, chicken. Try eating proteins, run every morning and you'll be good."

"She's right. You shouldn't starve yourself," Alec finally speaks up. He stretched as he rubs his belly,"boy, am I full or what?"

I played with my half-eaten burger, I was already full by then. Oh, what stupid part of my brain decided that I should take a big mac? I know I can never actually finish it, then again, I never actually finish my food.

"Are you done with that?" Alec asks me, eyeing my burger hungrily. I quirk an eyebrow at him,"you just said you were full."

"Hey don't look at me, blame my demanding tummy!"

I roll my eyes playfully at him but gave him my tray. He eyes the food hungrily before he takes a huge bite from it, letting out a content sigh. Another bite later, the burger was finished and we were done. We walked out of the food court and as we passed through the shops, I spot a 'help needed' sign on a shoe shop which caught my attention.

Although I had good marks, I wasn't completely sure I would get a scholarship, and my mum alone won't be able to pay for my college tuition. I've been meaning to look around for any available jobs but it usually just slips my mind whenever I am free.

I make a mental note to come back during the weekend to apply, silently praying no one would get the job before me.

Alec drops us back home before he drives back to his hotel. I take a glimpse of my home from the sidewalk, shivering when a cold breeze passed by. The lights were off, letting me know my mum was not back home from work yet. I sigh, taking out my keys from my pocket, I opened the door and enter the empty house.

I switch on the lights walking over to the kitchen to look for something to eat. I remove my hairpin, letting my hair down as I made my way to the kitchen. My head was aching because of putting it up in a high ponytail for the whole day. Just as I open the fridge my phone makes a ping noise, letting me know that someone sent a text. I unlock my phone and saw a message from my mum.

Queen: I'll be coming home late tonight. Got a late shift. Order a takeout for dinner. Love you.

I sigh, putting my phone inside my back pocket. I walk up the stairs two at a time, going to my room. My eyes scan my dark room searching for my jacket, the temperature had decreased and it was starting to get colder. Finding the jacket on top of my study table, I quickly shrugged it on top of my hoodie and run downstairs. I was craving a cup of hot chocolate.

I walk out of the house, locking the door behind me. I let out a breath, wrapping my arms around me, trying to warm myself. The full moon was casting a small light on the empty street. A young woman who looked in her mid-thirties was walking her dog. She smiles at me when we pass each other, making me smile back.

A small smile makes its way to my face when I catch a glimpse of my favorite café. The lights blinking brightly, welcoming me to it. I walk through the door, as it made the usual jingling sound when the door meets the bell on top.

"It's been a long time Summer," I hear Josh's voice, I glance up to see him grinning at me, his blue eyes wide. I smile at him, making my way over to the counter. "Hey, Josh."

My eyes catch the little sign on the counter saying "help needed" making my heart flutter with excitement.

"You guys are hiring?" I ask him, although I already knew the answer to that. He nods his head making his chestnut colored hair reach his eyes. He pushes them back before he answers me, "yeah, we thought we'd need a waiter or a waitress. The place has been really busy lately and it's hard to manage taking orders, making the drinks and serving the customers at the same time."

I thank the lord for making it easy for me. I knew almost every worker here and it was a good environment for me to work on, everyone was friendly and not to mention, I'll be spending more time with Josh. Although the crush I had on him is almost gone, he's still a good conversationalist. I just hope they would actually accept me.

"Um, I want the job, where do I apply?" I ask him. His eyes light up with happiness, his lips twitching upwards as he smiles at me. "You want to work here?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"Great. You're hired. You'll be working every day from 4 pm to 8 pm on weekdays and from 11 pm to 1 pm on Saturdays. We close on Sunday so you'll have your day off then."

I gape at him in shock. Did I get the job that easily? Am I not supposed to speak to the human resource manager or something?

"That's it? I'm hired?" I ask him.

"Yup, the place is usually packed around those times. A lot of people come back from work and school at that time," he informs me, taking out the help needed sign away from the counter.

"Am I not supposed to talk to your dad or something?" I ask him, still shocked about the whole thing.

"Nah, I'm the one who suggested the whole waiter thing so my dad put me in charge." He says, hanging up a red balloon on the wall. I observe the room and notice all the decorations. The whole place was filled with red and white balloons, on the wall behind the counter, a big poster was written 'happy valentines' reminding me that the holiday was coming soon. I never spend my valentines doing anything, I usually just sit in my room and watch movies and series with a big ice cream cup. Sometimes with my mum, and sometimes alone because she sometimes goes out with her friends for dinner. It's never a big deal for me.

"So what would you like to order?" Josh's voice brings me out of my thoughts. I blink, trying to bring my brain back to the current world. "Oh um, hot chocolate and a sandwich."

He looks up at me from the notebook with a smile, "chicken?"

I nod my head with a smile of my own, "chicken."