Elkwood High School; home of the raging bears and the drugs the private school kids couldn't get from their local drug dealers. In other words it might as well be named Satan lives here. Don't get me wrong, it was a nice school. I just never fit in. Which made me hate that hell hole. Most senior girls have boyfriends and go out and party with their best friends, but not me. Oh no sir re. I wasn't into all that. I had two friends, Madeline and Chandler, and that was all I needed. My weekends consisted of watching YouTube videos of Tyler Oakley and working at the candy shop, Marnie's, around the corner. The pay was good and Miss Marnie was really nice, but to be honest I only liked working there because of the boy who always came on Saturday: Miles. He wasn't too popular but he had more than two friends which categorized him as popular in my head. He was a senior at Elkwood too and we had pre-calc and history together. I tutor his friend Fletcher, who is a senior as well, in Spanish on Wednesdays and Fridays and sometimes Miles picks him up. To be honest he has only talked to me once and that was when he dropped his pencil and he asked me to get it for him. But c'mon. He was literal eye candy. Almost every girl in Jacksonville, Florida wanted to date him. I had never had a boyfriend before so I don't even know what I would do with him. How often does he eat? Do I need to walk him periodically? But I knew I wanted him to be mine. Anyway. This Saturday was the same as the others. I called Madeline right when I woke up which was around 11:00.
"Hey Mad, do you want to come over today? I have to work but you can always come. I know that guy Ashton will be working."
Madeline had the biggest crush on Miles's friend Ashton. He worked at Marnie's too, so it's fun for her to go to the candy shop too. Him and I were friends, but besides working together we never hung around each other.
"Oh uh, hey. I can't today. I'm busy. I have a lot of homework and stuff. I'll text you later. Bye Josephine."
Hm. That was weird. She almost never reject the whole "attempt to flirt with Josephine's co-worker while she works all day" plan.I didn't take it the wrong way though. I decided to call Chandler after. After fifteen rings it went to his voicemail.
"Hey there! It's Chandler. I can't get to the phone right now buuuuuut leave a message and I'll get back to you soon!"
I waited till the beep to talk.
"Chan man! Hey dude. Just wondering if you wanted to hang out for a while before I go to work. okay ummmm well that's it! bye loser!"
I clicked my phone shut and got out of bed. Walking into my bathroom I caught a glimpse of what could've been the ugliest thing in the world. Oh wait it was just me. Oops. After taking a shower and belting out "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5 I decided I would just go to the shop by myself. I slipped into a pair of khaki shorts and a blue t-shirt with "Marnie's Candy Shop" written in white. I checked myself out in the mirror.
"Yep, this is as good as it's gunna get."
I wasn't necessarily skinny and I wasn't fat either, right in the middle my mom would say. Yelling goodbyes to my little brothers, Scotty and Jason, and my mom I got in my car and drove to the candy shop.
________________________
After getting to Marnie's I decided to text Madeline again.
hey girly. what's up? xox
I got a response almost immediately.
Hi. I was thinking about going
to a party at Kai Jackson's house
tonight. I would invite you but I
think it's invite only. srry Joey. xox
Since when did Madeline get invited to parties? Especially by Kai Jackson! He was the most popular guy at EHS. Whatever. I was kinda bummed that she didn't come with me but it wasn't a big deal. I shut my car door and put my phone in my back pocket. I walked into the store and immediately saw Ashton...and Miles. I waved to Ashton and then walked behind the counter. He smiled and then went back to helping an elderly woman chose a candy for her granddaughter. Miles was sitting at the counter siping on a Root Beer Float. C'mon Josephine. Talk to him already. I slid my hand across the tile counter and made my way to him.
