Raya's Secrets (Under Editing)

.6.

I drive down to the elementary and hop off my bike before running over to the office.
Please, don't be in a lot of trouble...
"James?"
I ask as I open the office door to reveal James and two young boys both probably about seven years old. One boy was covered in mud while the other has covered in sand.
The one with sand looks quite familiar with his dark eyes and light brown hair.
"What happened?"
I ask looking down at James as I await his answer.
"That depends on who you ask."
"What's the truth, James?"
I ask raising an eyebrow.
"Nick threw sand at my friend Jake so I pushed him down and he fell into a mud puddle."
Okay, we'll be having a talk about this later...
"What's your story Nick?"
  I asked the young boy covered in mud and he frowns looking down at his hands.
I walk over and kneel in front of him knowing how kids usually act.
"Do you have any friends?"
I ask causing Nick to shake his head 'no'.
"Hmm...well maybe if you played games with the other kids instead of starting fights, then they'll want to be your friend."
I suggest causing him to look up and meet my gaze.
"They wouldn't want to be my friend." Nick murmurs as he glances at my brother and his friend Jake.
"Well, maybe if you apologized and told them how you felt, then they would want to play with you."
  I state in a motherly voice.
Nick nods before standing up and walking over to the other boys.
"I'm sorry for throwing sand at you Jake and I'm sorry James for yelling at you, it was my fault."
Jake and James glance at each other before smiling.
"It's okay. You wanna hang out with us tomorrow?"
James asks and I smile in pride.
My little brother is growing up! I'm so proud of him!
"Yes, please."
Nick says just as a man and woman walk into the office.
The man walks over to Jake and the woman walks over to Nick.
"What's happened?"
The woman-probably Nick's mother asks in concern.
"I made a few new friends."
Nick says smiling and she frowns looking down at her son in confusion.
Don't worry.
Some people just become friends in the most unlikely ways...
"Why are you covered in mud?"
The woman asks at the same time as the man asks Jake.
"Why are you covered in sand?"
."Uh...we had a few hiccups along the way."
Jake says with a reassuring smile.
Awe...
"Dragons!"
  James exclaims smiling up at me and I laugh in response.
  He's talking about Hiccup from How To Train Your Dragon....
  I smile shaking my head and I notice James's pants are covered in both wet sand and mud.
"Well, let's go pick up your brother Tyson."
The man says causing my eyes to widen in realization.
Oh! That's why Jake looked so familiar...
"Come on, let's get you washed and changed."
I say grabbing hold of James's hand.
"Are they suspended?"
  I ask hoping that they aren't.
Please don't suspend them!
Please, please, please!
"I was going to because we don't want kids getting into fights here at school, but since they apologized I'll let them have an excused absence for their clothes."
Oh, thank goodness!
"Thank you."
  I smile before James and I make our way outside. The two of us hop onto the motorcycle before driving back to the house.
... .... ...
"You okay?"
I ask my little brother as I grab him a different change of clothes.
"Yeah, I made two new friends today! How many do you have?"
James asks tilting his head to the side and I frown.
Is this a contest?
"I have maybe two or three?"
I don't really know if Tyson is my friend or not...
"So, are you going to hang out with Nick and Jake tomorrow?"
I ask causing James to smile in agreement.
"Definitely!"
"Good. So. how was your first half a day at school?"
I ask turning on the water for the shower.
"It was good, I really like school."
James says happily and I smile.
I'm glad.
"Good, I'm proud of you. Do you want to go get groceries after your shower?"
I ask and James nods.
"Yeah, that sounds good!"
He agrees and I smile as I walk out of the bathroom. However, I do leave the door open in case he needs me.
I plop down on the kitchen chair before making a small list of what we will need.

List.
1. Drinks: Water, milk, tea, coffee and Juice.
2. Food: Eggs, bacon, microwave dinners, sandwiches, fruit, pancake mix, yogurt, cereal and jelly.
3. Other: pencils, sketch books and James can pick out a few things.

"Hey, I'm ready."
James says as he dries his hair before throwing the towel in my face with a smile.
I glance at the clock to see it is about the time school got and I have to go to Jean's Diner.
"Okay, we're going to go to the diner and then go shopping and if you're good you can pick something out, okay?"
"Yay!"
He yells in excitement before running out the door as I follow after him.
We quickly climb onto the motorcycle before driving down the road towards the diner.

I park the bike just as Jo walks up to me with a bright smile.
"Hey I was worried about you, you ran off at lunch. Everything okay?"
She asks in concern and I nod.
"Yeah, everything's fine, thank you."
"Good, because you are grounded!"
Jo exclaims causing me to I frown in confusion.
What?
"What did I do?"
"You left me with Nathan and Tyson!"
She exclaims looking rather annoyed.
"Hmm...well it couldn't have been that bad considering you have a crush on Nathan."
I state causing her face to flush red from embarrassment.
"W-what? No! Nonononono."
  Jo says waving her hands in an effort to convince me.
Yeah, like I'll believe that...
"Mmhmm..."
"I'm serious!"
"Mmhmm..."
"I am..."
"Sure."
"Raya!"
Jo warns as her ocean blue eyes narrow in annoyance.
"Yes?"
"I'm serious."
"You wouldn't be making a big deal about it if you were."
  I state nonchalantly before walking into the diner.
  Jo leads me to the back room while muttering under her breath about how she doesn't like Nathan.
"Will you watch James while I talk to Mrs. Jean?"
I ask Jo and she nods in agreement before opening the office door.
"Hey momma, this is my friend, Raya. The one I told you about."
Jo says and the young woman nods in greeting with a large smile on her face as Jo walks out with James.
Mrs. Jean looks quite a lot like Jo. However, her hair is a raven black with familiar red ends.
Reminds me of an old friend...
"Hello Raya, it's nice to finally meet you."
Mrs. Jean says before holding out her hand and I quickly take it in a firm handshake.
"It's nice to meet you to Mrs. Jean."
"Please, call me Elena."
"Elena."
I nod as I take a seat in the chair across from her.
"So, I heard you would like to work here?"
"Yes, I do."
"How old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"Where did you work before here?"
Well, I can't exactly tell her that...
"I helped my family with whatever they needed."
I answer half the truth.
"Do you have any experience with cooking?"
"Yes, I do. I'm also a fast learner at cooking new or unusual meals."
"How do you work with others?"
"I work fine."
"Do you take instructions well?"
"Yes."
"Do you have a reliable source of transportation?"
"Yes, and I don't live far just about a quarter of a mile."
"Are you detail oriented?"
"Yes."
"Are you conscious about personal hygiene?"
"Yes."
"Are you dependable?"
"I am."
"Can you work odd shifts?"
"During or after school?"
"After of course! Education is important."
"Between three thirty and nine? Yes."
"Have you ever had drugs?"
"No, I've only ever taken prescription when it was absolutely necessary."
I answer causing Mrs. Jean to nod in understanding.
"Good, now have you ever been to jail?"
Well, if I had been caught I would be, but technically no...
"No, I haven't."
"What are you expecting as your salary?"
"It's negotiable."
And that's how it went for awhile and then I ask.
"Is there a daycare near here that I can go by and check out so my brother won't be at home alone?"
"Actually yes. There is a small daycare a block or two from here."
"Okay, I'll go talk to them today."
"Good. Well, Raya I gotta say you've got yourself a job."
Elena says with a smile and I smile back.
"Thank you Miss Jean-I mean Elena, you won't regret it."
  I say with a bright smile as I get to my feet.
"I'm sure I won't."
She says with a kind smile and I wave as I walk out.
"Did you get the job?"
Jo asks walking up to me and I smile before giving her a small nod.
"YES! YES! YES!"
  Jo yells jumping up and down I'm excitement.
"Uh...Jo?"
"Huh?"
"Chill."
She grins as we walk back into the main room.
"So, what are you doing now?"
  Jo asks and I let out a small sigh.
"Well, I'm going to let James go get an ice cream, th-"
"Yay!"
James yells having heard about ice cream.
Sometimes it's like he only hears what he wants to when he wants to...
"Then I'm going to go talk to the daycare and finally go get groceries."
"Cool, I guess I'll see you tomorrow at school?"
  Jo asks and I nod in agreement.
"Yeah, thanks Jo!"
I call as I'm dragged out the door by a hungry little James.
"We gotta hurry and get the ice cream before it melts."
James says putting on his helmet and sitting down on the seat of the motorcycle.
"I don't think it works like that."
I chuckle in amusement.
However, I do drive off in the direction of the ice cream parlor.
Ice cream here we come!