"Dude, you sure about this?" MRJ looked at AJ questioningly.
"Mmm…? You don't want?" AJ talked with his mouth full.
He reached for MRJ's tray.
"Hey!" MRJ pulled the tray away from AJ's reach. "I meant; can we afford it? I thought we were running low on funds this month."
"Oh, no worries," AJ flashed a thumbs-up. "We can still buy more… two more probably."
"Dude?!"
"Just kidding," AJ smirked. "Should have taken that part-time job, not gonna lie."
MRJ bit into his burger.
"This is good!" he exclaimed.
"Too bad you can't make something like this," AJ mumbled.
MRJ didn't reply. AJ caught him staring at a redhead waiting by the counter.
"Woah, a total babe!" AJ smirked. "I see you are into redheads."
"What?!" MRJ faced his friend. "No–I wasn't looking at her!"
"Really?" AJ tossed a fry into his mouth. "You are red as a tomato."
MRJ scowled at AJ. AJ appeared smug.
"Fine, I agree!" MRJ tried to shush AJ. "So what?"
"Looks like she's alone." AJ looked around. "You should go talk to her."
"What?" MRJ shook his head. "No!"
"Okay," AJ nodded. "That's understandable."
AJ cupped his hands like a megaphone.
"Hey, this guy thinks you are cu-" AJ shouted.
"AAAH!" MRJ yelled as he covered AJ's mouth.
The people at the burger joint stared at the duo. MRJ looked over his shoulder and found the redhead's eyes on him. She turned out to be prettier than he thought.
She looked around the same age as him. The flowing red hair and the pretty brown eyes had him captivated. She was wearing a red flannel shirt and a pair of blue stonewashed jeans. She had a couple of brown boots on her feet. Her fingernails were polished black.
MRJ turned back to AJ. He grabbed him by the collar and shook him violently.
"Why did you do that?!" MRJ gritted his teeth.
"Do what?" AJ pretended to be clueless.
AJ stared at the girl, making MRJ follow his gaze. MRJ found that she was still staring at them.
"Now listen to me-" MRJ turned back to find AJ missing from the chair.
"Hey, Miss!"
MRJ turned around in shock to find AJ with the girl.
"Yes?" the girl asked, looking confused.
"It's about my friend, actually. He-"
AJ felt a pull on his shoulder.
"Sorry for bothering you," MRJ looked sheepish. "He's a little… lost–in the head."
"Hey, that's not what insomniac means!" AJ frowned.
The girl burst into laughter. MRJ looked at AJ and received a smug look. They introduced themselves to her.
"I am Sherry," she smiled.
"Nice to meet you, Sherry," AJ glanced at his watch. "Oh no! I just remembered we were running low on food… stuff. I better make a visit to the grocery store since we're here!"
"Really?" MRJ looked puzzled.
"But I got no need for this guy," AJ pointed at MRJ. "It's nothing I can't handle on my own. So, I am asking you–Sherry,"
AJ paused for a moment. MRJ stared at him with wide eyes. Sherry remained silent.
"I know this sounds sudden and all but… will you babysit him while I'm gone shopping?"
Sherry burst into laughter once again. MRJ turned red as a beet.
"I'll take that a yes?" AJ smiled.
"Sure!" Sherry nodded enthusiastically.
"Well then, li'l dude, see ya soon. Behave while big brother is gone, okay? And don't cause any trouble for the nice lady!"
"You-" MRJ clenched his fist.
"Bye!" AJ took off toward the line of departmental stores.
MRJ sighed and turned back to the redhead.
"Are you guys really brothers?" she asked curiously.
"Well–not really," he smiled. "We've been together since childhood."
After finding a table for two, MRJ talked a bit about AJ and himself.
"Wow, that's so cool!" Sherry's eyes lit up. "It's like having a sleepover with your best friend but every night!"
MRJ laughed at Sherry's outlook on it.
"If you put it that way," MRJ nodded. "How about you–Friends? Family?"
"I've been with my grandparents since high school," Sherry said. "My dad, mom, and my little sister–all are away."
"You like it here?"
"I do!" Sherry quickly replied. "But I do miss them sometimes."
"I can relate to that," MRJ agreed. "Is your grandparents' place nearby?"
"Nah, a few hours of driving will get you there," Sherry said. "My pop owns a farm."
"Oh, interesting," MRJ grinned. "I'd bet life at a farm hits different from your average life in the city!"
"Oh, don't even start me on that," Sherry sighed. "He works me to the bone all weekend!"
"Surely you must get some sort of compensation?" MRJ smirked.
"Well, apparently this is!" she threw her hands up in the air. "Pop takes me for a long drive every month-end. He ditches me in town and leaves to hang out with his friends. And this time it happened to be here! And I know it's just an excuse for him to meet up with his pals!" she sighed.
"Oof!" MRJ nodded sympathetically. "That must suck!"
"But I do have a job that pays!" Sherry nodded proudly.
"Really?"
"I work at the local hospital."
"Huh, I see," MRJ nodded. "Wait, so you are a…?"
"Registered nurse," Sherry beamed.
"H-how old did you say you were again?" MRJ looked puzzled.
"Gonna turn nineteen next month," Sherry replied. "Why?"
"You are a nurse… at eighteen?!" MRJ scratched his head.
"Oh," Sherry nodded. "About that–there was this initiative in my high school to collaborate with community colleges and institutions. To combine degree courses with the school curriculum. I was among the few who chose to be a nurse."
"Wow," MRJ exclaimed. "That's awesome! So, a nurse, huh?!"
"Assistant nurse," Sherry sighed. "The senior staff at the hospital weren't too thrilled about some teenagers that got job security, earn the same wage as them. They can be a real pain in the ass sometimes. You can say it's a blessing and a curse."
"Tough luck, dude!" MRJ shook his head. "Your folks are away, you gotta work at the farm with no pay, and there is the constant pressure from the boomers at the hospital! Life turns out to be hard on you!"
"Well, when I glanced over my shoulder earlier," Sherry looked smug. "I noticed that life wasn't the only thing that turned hard on me."
MRJ almost spilled his drink. Sherry laughed.
"Sorry, dude," Sherry grinned. "Couldn't resist,"
"Huh–making that joke?" MRJ smirked. "Or me?"
"Not bad!" Sherry laughed heartily. "But speaking life, it's fine. I suppose you could say I inherited some modesty from my folks."
"Wow, nothing but respect for them," MRJ raised his drink. "I know a couple of people who've raised some really spoiled brats. I wish I could meet yours and tell them how much of an amazing job they had done with you."
"You are flattering me!" Sherry gushed. "Damn, I'm only meeting you for the first time, and you already wanna come over?"
"Um," MRJ turned red. "I did not mean it like that!"
"Chill, dude, just messing with ya!" Sherry laughed. "Woah!"