by Jordan Lynde
I turned around and nearly had a heart attack – Zak was staring at me in surprise, his jaw slightly open. Immediately I began to think of excuses to make if he questioned me about anything. I wasn’t dressed any different than I dressed on casual Friday at school, so that wouldn’t be a problem.
‘Ms Allen,’ Zak said in surprise.
‘Hello, Zak,’ I responded awkwardly, brushing a stray piece of hair behind my ear. ‘You work here?’
Zak grinned and nodded. ‘Yeah, obviously. What are you doing in here?’
‘I’m making a pig for Pig!’ Elliot told Zak eagerly before I could respond.
‘Pig?’ Zak repeated, looking at me.
I blushed, shooting a glare at Elliot. ‘Sorry, that’s the nickname he has for me.’
‘Is he your son?’
‘What?’
‘This boy, is he your son?’ Zak asked, glancing at Elliot. ‘He sure looks like you . . .’ He squatted down to Elliot’s level to examine him closer. ‘Aw, so cute!’
‘No, no,’ I told Zak, shaking my head. ‘This is my brother, Elliot.’
‘Hello, Elliot,’ Zak greeted Elliot, holding out his hand. ‘I’m your sister’s friend, Zak.’
It made me happy that Zak introduced me as his friend instead of teacher. Part of me knew he probably shouldn’t, but I didn’t really care. Teachers could be friends too.
‘Hi,’ Elliot responded, suddenly shy. He hid behind my leg and I couldn’t help but to laugh.
Zak laughed. ‘C’mon, Elliot, let’s go stuff that pig.’ He started marching further into the store and Elliot and I quickly followed him. Zak stopped in front of a large machine full of fluff and gestured for Elliot to give him the pig; Elliot did so and Zak began to fill the pig with fluff.
‘Hey, Elliot, why don’t you choose a heart from that bin over there while I finish filling this guy up?’ Zak suggested to Elliot, nodding his head to a bin full of small, stuffed, felt hearts.
‘OK! Pig, what color heart?’ Elliot asked, turning towards me.
‘How about red?’
‘OK!’
Elliot ran and got the heart and gave it to Zak.
‘OK, now you have to do some jumping jacks for good health,’ Zak told him.
Elliot looked up at me. I mimicked the motion of a jumping jack and he grinned and started copying me.
‘Good job!’ Zak encouraged. ‘Now you have to spin in a circle for good luck.’
‘Good luck!’ Elliot cried, putting out his arms and spinning. ‘You give him some good luck too!’
Zak laughed and stood up, spinning around with Elliot. The whole scene was endearing and I found myself grinning like a maniac.
When both boys were dizzy, Zak held out a bucket of felt hearts to Elliot. ‘Now give it a kiss, and stick it in your stuffed animal.’
Elliot gave the heart a shy kiss before placing it in his animal. Then Zak filled the rest of it with stuffing and sewed it up before handing Elliot the finished product.
‘Can I get an outfit, Pig?’ Elliot asked excitedly.
I nodded. ‘Yup.’
‘Thanks!’ he said before going to the wall of clothing.
‘So, what’s up?’ Zak asked, leaning against the counter where the cash register was. ‘School seem any better?’
‘When everyone isn’t fighting,’ I responded wearily, shaking my head. ‘I wish you all just got along. Obviously it’s because of Oliver and Arden. I just wish I knew why they hated each other.’
Zak frowned slightly. ‘There’s a lot to it . . .’
‘You know?’
‘Only a little.’
I sighed. ‘Well, whatever. A little bit for now is OK until I can convince Arden to tell me.’
‘Why not Oliver?’
‘Oliver hates me,’ I admitted. ‘I can just tell.’
Zak chuckled. ‘I’m sure he doesn’t hate you – Oliver is just a very anti-social guy.’
‘I wouldn’t have guessed.’
Zak grinned. ‘Thanks!’
‘Were Oliver and Arden ever friends?’
He nodded. ‘Yep. Tucker, Oliver, Arden and I were best buds in high school.’
‘You were friends? That’s hard to imagine.’
Zak nodded again. ‘From fourth grade until eighth.’
‘What exactly happened?’
‘Well, when we were entering high school, Oliver and Tucker both left our school because they moved. Then things just began to fall apart between us,’ he told me, his eyebrows furrowing. ‘What happened between Oliver and Arden, it’s hard to say. Neither of them really talk about it.’
‘That . . . wasn’t helpful at all,’ I responded with a sigh.
‘Sorry. Let me try to think of anything else . . .’
‘Don’t apologize, I’m just prodding into something I probably shouldn’t be,’ I muttered.
Zak gave me a half-smile. ‘I’m sure you just want to help, Ms Al—Harley,’ Zak corrected himself. ‘But really, if you want to know about those two, I’d just ask Oliver or something.’
‘I’ll ask Arden,’ I told Zak. ‘Eventually . . .’
‘Why Arden?’
‘Hmm?’
Zak was looking at me suspiciously. ‘Why do you always turn to Arden?’
‘He’s just . . . um, Arden is . . .’ I hesitated, trying to figure out what to say. Why did I always turn to Arden? ‘Arden’s easier to get along with than Oliver,’ I finally said.
Zak squinted at me for another moment before shrugging. ‘Yeah, I guess you’re right.’
‘Pig! Pig, look!’
I turned around to see Elliot rushing up to me, holding out an outfit for his stuffed pig – a pink flowered shirt and a white skirt. I laughed, shaking my head. ‘That outfit looks great. You got all you need, El? I’d better go pay.’
Zak slid over the counter and rung us up, kindly giving us his discount, and we took our leave. On the way out of the mall my cell phone went off. I quickly reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. It was a number I didn’t recognize. ‘Hello?’ I answered.
‘Be ready at seven o’clock tonight,’ a familiar voice demanded, sounding bored.
‘Oliver?’ I responded, confused.
‘Great deduction, detective,’ he responded sarcastically.
I scowled at the insult. ‘How did you get my number? And what do you mean by “be ready at seven o’clock tonight”?’
‘I mean you have to be ready to leave your house at seven tonight.’
‘For what? Don’t ignore my other question either!’
‘Job training,’ Oliver told me. ‘You’re starting next week so you need to come in tonight for training.’
‘What if I have plans?’
‘Cancel them,’ he said simply. ‘I’ll pick you up at seven sharp. Give me your address.’
‘I can drive myself—’
‘Just give me your address. I’m picking you up.’
I sighed lightly, but gave Oliver my address anyway. ‘Where do you work?’
‘You’ll see,’ Oliver responded, before I heard a click.
I stared at the phone in my hand, not sure what kind of expression to make. I was going in for training tonight? What was Oliver’s job? And why did I tell him where I lived so easily? I didn’t want him stalking me . . .
The time on my phone read two o’clock. I frowned slightly. Only five hours until I was supposed to go to Oliver’s workplace . . . Curiosity was killing me. What did he do? Would I be able to handle it? Butterflies appeared in my stomach – I wasn’t sure I’d be able to wait until seven o’clock to find out.
Chapter Thirteen
‘So tell me again why you’re going out tonight?’ Will asked, crossing his arms, and frowning at me.
‘I’m just going somewhere with a friend,’ I lied, unable to stop my anxious pacing near the door. ‘Just for some fun.’
‘Uh-huh,’ Will responded in a tone that led me to think he didn’t believe me. ‘Is that why you’re p
acing in front of the door? Because you’re excited?’
‘Yep.’
Will rolled his eyes. ‘Harley, I’ve known you for a long time, and I know you have a habit of pacing only when you’re really nervous about something.’
Of course. Leave it to Will to keep an eye on the most random habits I have. ‘I’m just nervous because it’s my first time going out with actual friends in almost a year.’
‘You go out with me all the time!’
‘You don’t count.’
‘Why not?’
I sighed. ‘Go play video games with Elliot, Will. I swear sometimes you act like you’re five, not twenty-seven.’
‘I’m just worried, Harley,’ Will pointed out, frowning again. ‘Why won’t you tell me where you’re going?’
‘Because I don’t actually know,’ I admitted truthfully. ‘It’s going to be a . . . surprise.’
Will didn’t seem to like that idea. ‘Tell me again, who are you going with? Do you have your cell phone? When will you be back?’
‘Friends, yes, I don’t know.’
‘Thanks for not being vague, Harley.’
I pursed my lips at him. ‘Listen, I’ll call you when I know where I’m going. Is that good enough for you, Dad?’
‘You called me Dad!’ Will cried over-dramatically.
Before I could respond to his stupidity, there were three, consecutive, brief knocks on my door. Will sobered up immediately, going forward to open the door before I even had a chance to move towards it. He opened it up and there stood Oliver, a blank expression on his face. When he realized it was Will at the door and not me, he narrowed his eyes slightly.
‘Who are you?’
‘Will. Who are you?’
Oliver ignored his question. ‘Does Harley Allen live here?’
‘Why do you want to know?’ Will responded, crossing his arms again.
Oliver rolled his eyes. ‘I’m here to pick her up. Does she live here or not?’
‘I do,’ I interjected before Will could speak up again. ‘This is Will,’ I added for good measure.
‘Pleasure to meet you,’ Oliver said in a bored tone, his eyes giving Will a once-over.
I gave Oliver a flat look before turning to Will. ‘This is Oliver. He’s a . . . friend.’
Will’s expression showed he didn’t seem happy with Oliver’s first impression, but he kept his comments to himself. Oliver gave me an impatient look and I scowled at him before stepping around Will and out into the hallway.
‘What time will she be back?’ Will asked Oliver.
Oliver shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’
‘I’ll call you when I know for sure,’ I assured Will before he could respond to Oliver. ‘We’re going to leave now . . .’
‘Have fun,’ Will told me, but the feeling his words gave us felt more like he was saying, ‘Be careful.’
‘I’ll try,’ I muttered, glancing at Oliver, who looked bored again. ‘Keep Elliot busy. He’s had a lot of sugar today and I’m afraid of what he might do . . .’
Will grinned. ‘Gotcha.’
‘Let’s go or we’ll be late,’ Oliver snapped, sounding irritated.
Will’s eyes narrowed at him, and I sighed. ‘Right. Talk to you soon, Will.’
‘Bye, Harley.’
Abruptly, Oliver started walking down the hall that led to the outside. Will shot me a worried look, but I held up my hand and half smiled at him before hurrying to catch up with Oliver.
The chilly October air bit at my cheeks as I followed him through the dark apartment parking lot. He stopped at a very fancy-looking car and gestured for me to go around to the other side. I did as he indicated and opened the passenger door, surprised to find it unlocked.
‘You should really lock your doors around here,’ I warned Oliver when we were both seated in the car.
‘I was only going in to get you; there was no need.’ He started the car and slammed it into reverse, peeling out of the parking lot.
My eyes flew wide in surprise, and I quickly gripped onto the dashboard for safety. ‘Oliver! What the heck?’
‘What?’
‘Slow down!’ I commanded, glancing at his speedometer. ‘Did you even look before you pulled out?’
Oliver rolled his eyes at me. ‘We’re fine.’
‘You’re going twenty over the speed limit! It’s not fine!’
‘Why are you such a stickler for driving?’
‘Because! This is dangerous! I don’t want to die like—’ I cut myself off there, clasping a hand over my mouth.
Oliver glanced at me, an eyebrow raised. ‘Like?’
‘Keep your eyes on the road,’ I snapped, admonishing myself silently for almost slipping up.
‘What were you going to say?’
‘Nothing, Oliver.’
He didn’t respond, but did slow down a little bit. ‘Do you have any experience of being a waitress?’ he asked.
‘What?’
‘A waitress,’ Oliver reiterated. ‘You know, someone who—’
‘I know what they are,’ I interrupted. ‘Why do you want to know?’
Oliver shrugged. ‘I’m curious.’
Yeah, I’m sure that was the only reason. Not. After a moment of debating whether to ignore his question or not, I finally sighed and gave in. ‘Sort of. I used to work in a bakery and I’d take orders sometimes.’
Oliver nodded. ‘Good.’
I wanted to ask him why he wanted to know, but I knew he wouldn’t tell me, so I didn’t bother. Silence fell between us, so I turned my attention to out my window. Darkness filled my vision as blurred, dark shapes whizzed by. A little while later, I began to see buildings I recognized, and I realized we were heading towards the downtown area. My thoughts were proven right when Oliver pulled onto the street that led to the main road in the downtown area.
‘Where are we going?’ I asked curiously, still staring out the window.
‘You’ll see in about five seconds.’
A frown made its way onto my face as I turned to look at Oliver. He was smirking, looking straight ahead. I followed his gaze and saw a large sign that read: McDonald’s.
‘You’ve got to be kidding me . . .’
Oliver suddenly took a sharp left, making me smack my face against the window. Darkness consumed the car as he drove through a dark alleyway, going away from the McDonald’s. It made me feel better to know I wouldn’t be helping him at a fast-food restaurant – I hated those places.
However, what Oliver drove up to next made me have second thoughts about working at McDonald’s. At first I thought it was a joke, but when Oliver cut the engine I knew it wasn’t. He caught me gawking and smiled smugly. ‘Think this will be more to your liking?’
I stared at him, startled. ‘You seriously work here?’
‘No, I just park here and walk over to Subway every day,’ Oliver responded sarcastically.
‘You can’t work here! You’re too young!’
‘You’re too young to be a teacher,’ Oliver mentioned. ‘And yet you still are.’
‘But this is a bar, Oliver!’
‘It’s a tavern,’ he corrected me. ‘And you can serve alcohol when you’re eighteen, Harley.’
I shook my head in disbelief. Oliver had to be kidding me! He worked at a bar? And he wanted me to help him work here? I was too young to serve alcohol.
‘Get out of the car,’ Oliver ordered, opening his door. ‘If we don’t hurry we’ll be late.’
‘But you can’t—’
‘Shut up and just get out of the car.’
Biting back any retorts, I unsnapped my seatbelt before climbing out of the car. I slammed the door with more force than necessary, making Oliver scowl at me. A click sounded as he remote-locked the doors. He then started making his way towards the entrance of the tavern. After a moment of hesitation, I scurried after him. Being out here alone was definitely not smart, or safe.
When I entered through the tavern’s doors, a delicious scen
t enveloped my nose. I couldn’t quite place what it was, but the smell was pleasant and it made my stomach growl. Oliver led me through the crowded bar where men and woman sat around drinking, eating, and laughing. As we walked by, some of them greeted Oliver. Mostly the women.
‘You working tonight, darling?’ one of the women cooed, a bright smile on her face.
Oliver smiled at her politely, making me do a double take. Since when did Oliver smile? ‘Not tonight. I have to train the dog.’
Dog? I scowled at him.
The woman’s eyes slid over to me and she smirked slightly. ‘Is she even old enough to work here?’
Oliver shrugged. ‘Whether she is or not doesn’t matter. She’s here to help me.’
‘Ah,’ the woman responded, looking me over once again. ‘Have fun.’
‘Let’s go,’ Oliver ordered before I could respond to her.
He started walking around the bar to a large, oak door and went through it. I followed cautiously, feeling a few people from the bar still staring at me. How young did they think I was? Behind the oak door was a small hallway that had four different doors in it. Oliver took the furthest one on the left, and I followed him through it. My guess was that the room we entered was some sort of workers’ lounge, because there were lockers, a large table with chairs surrounding it, a few vending machines, a television and two leather couches.
A man who looked strikingly like Oliver, but a little older, raised an eyebrow at us when we entered. ‘Oliver, you brought a friend?’ For a second I stared at him in shock – his accent was even heavier than Oliver’s!
‘She’s our new help,’ Oliver responded.
The Oliver look-alike appraised me with eyes for a moment. I smiled at him to be polite. Finally he smiled back, putting out a hand for me to shake. ‘Hello, I’m Anthony.’
‘Nice to meet you,’ I responded, placing my hand in his. ‘I’m Harley.’
‘Good to meet you too, Harley!’
Anthony gripped my hand firmly and shook it up and down. It felt like he was crushing my fingers and I pressed my lips together tightly, trying not to show any sign of pain. Finally he let go and my hand dropped to my side, throbbing.
Talk about a firm grip.
‘Are you Oliver’s brother?’ I asked curiously.