Not the Only One

Part 3

"Emily. What is taking so long?" Alana then came to the door and snapped her fingers in my face.

"Oh... Sorry."

"Was the pizza guy cute or something?"

"How'd you know?" I smile and then she stares at me.

"Wow and I thought you could go no lower. A pizza guy. You're probably better off with a fictional character."

"Come on. Let's eat." We both then walk into the kitchen and I take out the pizza cutter and slice it up then putting two slices each on a paper plate.

"Could you get two sodas from the fridge?"

Alana and I then settle down in the living room and we begin to eat.

"Alana. I have a meeting tomorrow at 8 so that means I'll be leaving an hour earlier."

"First mom, now you." She then pulls the blanket that was wrapped around her tiny body closer to herself.

"I'm sorry Alana. I know it's hard, it has been ever since dad's death. Don't worry you know that mom and I are always here for you."

"It seems like you have been less and less. Mom always working, you with your job and then college."

I felt horrible. My father's death was hard on everyone and it forced me to get a job even though my father died in the U.S. Army. He was a kind man, loving husband and father. I remembered his warm smile and how he would always call me his little book worm. Everyday I would read to him before I went to bed instead of him reading to me. After I finished the book he would kiss my forehead and say, "Goodnight my little book worm. Sweet dreams." That was 10 years ago. I was now 19.

"Alana it's getting late. Why don't we both go to bed." I saythen glancing at the clock that read 9:45 pm.

"Okay. Goodnight Emily." She then hugged me and I returned the hug.

"Goodnight." I whisper back. Alana then goes to her room and I clean up the dishes then walked into my room and went to bed.

I was sure to get up at 7 o'clock. Enough time for me to get dressed, make some breakfast and then make the meeting at 8 and not loose my job for being late. I only ate a small bowl of Cheerios and then left a note for Alana before I headed off to work.

***

"Emily! You are actually on time today." Julie said jokingly as I walked in the door. I returned her joke with a roll of my eyes and then a laugh.

"Yeah. I didn't want to have my head for being late. So I made sure to get up extra early."

"Good. Mrs. Debolt probably would have fired you on the spot if you walked in late."

"I know." Soon Mrs. Debolt entered and everyone became silent.

"Take your seats." Once everyone did she continued on.

"Today's meeting is about using your time wisely and being swift in the tasks that are assigned to you," She then glanced at me and continued on.
"All of you are now going to have your breaks shortened by 15 minutes so they are now 45 minutes long instead of an hour and if necessary I will shorten them to 30 minutes if you all do not continue to work swiftly without hesitations. I don't think I need to cover the manner of coming in late. I have posted your assignment for today on the wall outside the break room. That is all. Now get to work!" She then walks back into her office slamming the door behind her. Everyone then walks over to the wall and I scan the list for my name.

Julie Allen.... Café
Jake Smith..... Register
Barbra Adkins.... Customer Service
Emily Jones..... Shelving
Caleb Krell.... Café

I make my way around the store, straightening out books on the shelf, arranging a set up, and more.
I was just about to stack another book on the shelf when someone said,
"Excuse me, ma'am where can I find," he looks at a piece of paper.
"The Fault in Our Stars?"

I look at him, he was the same guy that delivered my pizza. I tried not to stare but it was impossible not to. He was incredibly handsome.

"Um yes, it will be in the popular young adult section," I point over to a shelf that's labeled popular young adult.
"Thanks,"

As he walks away he gives me a smile and then knocks over the books I just set up on the stand.

"Oh I'm so sorry," his face turns all red as he begins rambling apologies.

"It's alright, I just spent about 20 minutes stacking them and now I have to re-do it all." I was hoping that Mrs. Debolt didn't see any of what just happened. I glanced towards her office and the shades were pulled down and I sighed with relief.

"Let me at least help you."

"Okay." We both stack them together and then at the exact same moment, our hands meet at the same book. I quickly pull away, blushing.
"I'm sorry," he says quickly.

"It's okay, I'm Emily by the way."

"I'm Christopher Thompson."

"Nice to meet you."

"You too."

After all the books are stacked back on the shelf I walk over to the shelf that said popular young adult and hand him the book he came in here for.

"Here, It's a good read, I've read it more than once-" I pause, then realizing how much of a nerd I sound.

"Well it was nice meeting you Emily."

"You too."

He walks away and I continue my work. The rest of the day I was in a perfectly good mood. Julie joined me during break.

"Hey!" I say as she takes a seat across from me.

"Someone is in a happy mood. What is it?" She stares at me and I stare at her back. It seemed like we were both trying to figure out what was making me so happy. Finally Julie said the answer.

"Emily! You're in love!"

"What? No I'm not."

"Yes! I can tell! What's his name?"

"His name is Christopher." I say trying to hide the fact that my face was becoming really red.

"Spill!" Julie squealed and rested her hands on her cheeks. I then began to tell her everything that just happened. Minus how Christopher delivered pizza to my house yesterday.

"Emily! That's fantastic! I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks Julie."

"Oh my god. You two need to go on a date!"

"What? No. We only just met."

"No. Not an excuse! Oh look... Our shifts are over. Let's go..." She gave me a mischievous smile and then took my hand and we clocked out and then I was dragged to Julie's car. It seemed that my plans after work were now to go dress shopping.

Thank you all for your comments and votes. Special thanks to Saiskittle's and KaliNap! Thank you for your votes and comments!
-Katrina :)