"Um, hi, um, Mr. Hayes?"
There's a pause and a little sigh. "Yes?"
I bite my lip. Crap, is he irritated? Maybe I should hang up!
"Who am I speaking to?"
"Um, this is Taryn. You know, from English Lit? Like Karen, but with a T?"
"Oh, yes. What can I do for you?"
I don't think he has a clue who I am, but I carry on, explaining that I'm the editor of the school paper and that we should meet up sometime to discuss things.
"Right, the school paper." He seems to be moving around, I can hear a shuffling sound and a tap tap on a keyboard. "Hang on, Karen, I'm just bringing my calendar up on my laptop here."
"It's Taryn. With a T." I say, lamely.
"Right." More tapping. "Would tomorrow after school work for you? We can meet in the library."
"Sure, Mr. Hayes, that would be perfect." Who cares if he thinks my name is Karen? He can call me whatever he likes!
"Alright then, Karen, I've got you in my calendar. Looking forward to it."
I wonder if he's smiling or rolling his eyes? I hope he can hear me smiling over the phone.
"Me too, Sir. I'll see you tomorrow!"
After hanging up, I toss out the rest of my mac and cheese and run up to my room to get ready for work.
◆◆◆
I've been working at Taco, Taco, Taco for about six months now. It's an okay job and gets me spending money for clothes and stuff. The place is owned by the Ortez family and most of the people who work there, like my jerk boss, Manny, are family members. It's a pretty successful business though so they've had to hire outside the family this year. The restaurant is in the mall, upstairs in the food court and my friends are always coming in. I try to slip them free stuff when Manny isn't looking, but lately he's been watching me like a hawk. I think he's just looking for an excuse to fire me. He really hates my guts for some reason.
I had to take the bus to work which sucks. I've been begging my parents for a car but Mom says not till after graduation. So, it's either rides with friends or public transportation for now.
"You were supposed to be here at four, Bishop!" Manny snaps. We're standing in the back room, where the lockers are and I'm trying to get my long hair under my hair net while Manny glares at me.
"I'm sorry, I'm just really bad with time." I give him a sheepish smile but he looks even more annoyed.
"You're bad with time?!" Manny shakes his head and crosses his arms over his muscled chest. He is pretty cute, in an angry, dangerous looking way. He has black hair and dark brown eyes, a tanned complexion and a smoking bod. But his personality is shit. "You do know I can fire you, right?"
"Oh, but you wouldn't, would you?" I try flirting a little which gets me nowhere, fast.
"Get to work!" he hisses. "And don't be late again or you're outta here!
I give him a smart salute. "Yes, Sir, Herr Commandant!"
He shoots me a threatening look and I scoot out to the front counter, waving at Manny's brother Hector, who's making tortillas.
Manny stomps out and I can feel his eyes on my back as I start taking orders. I keep trying to think of what I have done to the guy to make him so hostile? Maybe it's because the two of us hang out with different crowds at school. Manny's friends are scary, they wear leather with chains hanging out of their pockets and can usually be found outside smoking cigarettes at lunch time. I try to avoid them but here at work I can't escape their leader.
"Fix your uniform."
Manny glides past me and starts yelling at Hector to speed up the tortillas.
I glance down and the only thing wrong with my uniform, aside from the extremely ugly brown, yellow and green colors, is that I've left the top button undone. Technically, all the buttons are supposed to be done up, but I wanted my new silver heart pendant necklace to be seen. It's so pretty and it does jazz the outfit up.
I primly button up and Manny glides by again giving me a curt nod.
Sheesh!
Kim and Ryan come in and up to the counter.
"You never answered my texts!" Kim complains.
"Oh, sorry, I read them, I just didn't have time to answer." I tell her, smiling at Ryan.
"Hey, Taryn." Ryan smiles back and turns to Kim. "I'll get us a table, babe. You know what I want."
"Oh, I do!" Kim quips. He grins and tickles her side then goes over to a table in the corner and sits down.
Cute. Barf. I force a bright smile onto my face. "So, what do you guys want?"
Kim quickly gives me the order then tells me about the party that weekend, at our friend Kyle's house.
"So, you're coming, right? You and Patrick?"
"I'm assuming so." I don't think I've ever missed a party. Not that I really like going, it's just when you hang out with the type of crowd that I do, it's sort of mandatory.
"Bishop! Order, now!"
I roll my eyes at Manny's command, but grab the tray with Kim's order and slide it across the counte. She looks at me expectantly but I shrug. I can't give her free stuff with jerk face standing behind me.
"Later!" Kim takes the tray and goes over to Ryan. I sigh and look away. It must be so much fun to eat taco's with Ryan.
"Bishop!"
Jesus, what now???
I raise an eyebrow at my boss. "Yes?"
Manny motions me to the back of the kitchen. "Hector can't make tortillas to save his life and you spend too much time talking to your friends. I want you back here now, in prep. Grab some gloves and get to work."
"But what about the register?"
"I'll take care of it for now. Just get going on the tortillas. And when that's
