"Suspended?!" Scott thundered and Brittany flinched. "Mr. Copper, calm down" Lisa said but Scott continued yelling, "This can affect you getting into college" "I know, I told her but she didn't list----" Brittany was saying but Scott glared at her, "If you knew that, why did you pull that stunt?" "I was not the one that did it!" "Oh yeah? Then why is there an eighty thousand dollars bill on my credit card?" he asked.
Brittany had asked Lisa to make more chocolate but she had said no and her no's were always no. So Brittany had gone to buy enough chocolate to fill one of the tanks at school. She had also bought the black spandex jumpsuits for her and Maddie. Since she bought the things at a high-class store, they were expensive.
"Well, I..." she could not say the reason, afterall, she had done the whole chocolate thing in another school, so it was kinda the same thing. "What happened? Cat's got your tongue?" Scott said and she looked away. He sighed and rested his fingers on the bridge of his nose, "This is what I get for raising a child all by myself. You're a spoilt brat!" he shouted.
Brittany could not take it anymore. Why could he not believe her? He was believing a total stranger over her. She stood up and yelled, "You did not raise me! Even before mom died, you were not always around. It was always work and after mom died, instead of you to be there, you decided to drink". Scott just stared at her. It was all true. Everything she was saying was true. Brittany continued, "Lisa was the one that raised me! Lisa and mom! You were only a little part of my childhood, so obviously you won't believe me because we are basically strangers who just bear the same name and live under the same roof!" she spun on her heel and ran upstairs to her room.
Scott was still in a daze. He was an awful father. Was this what his wife would have wanted? For him and their daughter to grow apart? He composed himself and shouted, "You are grounded!" then he walked away. Lisa watched him as he walked to his room. Just when everything was going great, this had to happen, she thought and went to the kitchen.
~~~~~~~
"Shit!" Seth cussed as a branch bruised his injured palm. He broke it and continued walking to the lake. After his mom had found out about the suspension, she had thrown her half-drunk bottle of whiskey at his head but he had protected his head with his hand, so it had grazed his palm. His younger brother, Horus had just stared at the blood gushing out of his hand. His mom called him a good-for-nothing which he retorted back that she was also a good-for-nothing because instead of her to be earning money for the family, she was spend the little money they had on drinks. Of course, she had slapped him then his brother started crying. Seth had carried his brother upstairs and put him to bed. That scene was not good for his lung.
"Oh Brittany, just wait till I get my hands on you!" he growled then he heard whimpering, followed by sniffles. Is that Hope? he thought and walked faster to the lake. Too fast that he tripped over a rock and rolled down the little hill.
"Ow!" he said as he rubbed the back of his head. "Michael?" a soft voice asked and he looked up and saw Hope, well not really see her, more like he saw her silhouette. Damn moon! he thought and he saw a silhouette of her hand stretched out to him, "Are you okay?" she asked and he took her hand and stood up, then he remembered that that was the injured hand.
Hope smelt her hand, "Is this blood? Where you hurt?" she asked and he rubbed his nape nervously, "It doesn't hurt" "I never asked if it hurts or not. Sit!" she ordered and he sat meekly on a rock then she scooped some water in her hands and poured it on his palm, to which he flinched. "Baby! I thought you said it didn't hurt" she teased and he cleared his throat, "It doesn't. I just flinched because...I thought you'll be scared of blood" "You know that doesn't relate at all" "Whatever!" he said and looked away then he felt something warm covering his palm and he turned. "You can keep the handkerchief as a souvenir" she smiled and he brought his palm close to his nose and smelt it. It had a faint smell of blood and lavender.
He was thankful that she could not see his face because he was blushing. He could not remember when last he had blushed because of a girl. "Thanks!" he said and they sat there in silence before Seth broke the ice, "Why were you crying earlier?" Hope stiffened then she relaxed and drew her knees to her chest, "You heard that huh?" "If you don't want to tell me, it's fine" he said and she looked at him then she looked at the lake.
"I was suspended from school" she said and he looked at her. She continued, "My dad got mad at me. He did not even believe me when I told him my own side of the story. It's like he doesn't know me!" she said and rested her chin on her knees, "Well I suppose he doesn't know me. We have been distant since my mom passed away----I guess we were distant before then" she said and realized that she had said too much. "I'm sorry if i bored you with my story" she said as she looked at him.
"I was suspended from school too. Some annoying chick from your school filled out school water system with chocolate and the principal thinks it's me because there was chocolate on my hand" he said. Brittany looked away. She was that annoying chick. Ugh! She had not meant to get Michael suspended. She wanted Seth to be chocolated. "Well, my mom threw a bottle at me and slapped me then she backed it up with her insults. I'm used to it already. It has been like this since my dad left" he said and she looked at his hand, "Is that how you got that injury?" she asked and he nodded.
Brittany looked at the lake, "I guess we are just two broken people looking for some closure" she chuckled and he looked at her, "Maybe that's why the lake brought us together" "Huh?" "That was cheesy, I'm sorry" he said and she smiled, "Yeah it was cheesy but it was...I don't know". "You're blushing" he said and she hit his head, "Way to go ruining the mood!" she said and got up and started walking away. "Where are you going?" he asked and she looked at him, "I got grounded. I'll be in big trouble if my dad checks my room and does not see me" "Will I see you again?" he said with a British accent. "Quit it Prince Charming! This ain't no Cinderella story!" she smiled "But it made you smile" he said and her cheeks heated up, "No it didn't and stop making me blush!" she realized what she had said and slapped a hand over her mouth. "What was that Plurpue?" he teased "Goodnight!" she said and walked away.
He smiled, "Goodnight...Hope" he said and looked at the handkerchief wrapped around his palm then he walked away.
~~~~~~~
"Good morning everyone" Brittany greeted as she came down for breakfast. "Good morning Brittany, how was your night?" Lisa asked and Brittany cringed, "Why are you being nice to me?" "What do you mean? I'm always nice!" Lisa smiled and Brittany shuddered, "Scary" she said and sat down then Lisa placed a plate of bacon and eggs in front of her.
Brittany looked at Scott who was busy using his phone. He raised his eyes from his phone and found her staring, "Is there something you want?" he asked and she quickly looked at her food and started eating. Scott sighed, "So I was thinking that you could get a job for this suspension" "A job?" Lisa and Brittany asked and he nodded, "Yes, a job". "But dad, I've never worked for anything in my life" Brittany said and Scott sipped his coffee, "Exactly why you need a job. You need to learn that life is harder than it looks" he said and she rolled her eyes.
"Also, I don't want you lazying around for a month" he said and Lisa looked at him, "But Mr. Copper, Brittany is----" "You spoil her too much Lisa!" he said and Brittany gritted her teeth. "And you also have to pay your debt" "My debt?" "The eighty thousand dollars you used to pull your little stunt" "Huh? Since when did you start crediting me?" "Since now. It's your punishment" "I hate you!" she muttered and he smiled, "But I love you" he said and Lisa and Brittany cringed. Scott cleared his throat, "Anyway, I heard there's an opening at Max's Pizzeria" "Who's Max?" Brittany asked "The owner of the pizzeria. You'll go there for the interview today" "Interview? Could you not just call and tell them that I'm looking for a job, which I'm not" "I could, but I won't!" Scott said and stood up, "I'm off!" he said.
"I'm not going for the interview!" Brittany said as she shoved bacon into her mouth. Scott chuckled, "Do as you wish and I'll do as I wish...and I think I'll not give you allowance for this month" "What?!" "Yes! You are under suspension afterall" he said and left. Brittany clenched her fists on the table and Lisa looked at her, "What're you gonna do?"
~~~~~~~
"I think I'll not give you allowance for this month" Brittany mimicked Scott "You are on suspension afterall" she rolled her eyes. "He better get me a dinner with Phormeus!" she said then the GPS in her car said, "Nearing destination. Turn left gently, turn left gently, turn left gently" "I got it!" she said and took a left turn then she saw it. Max's Pizzeria.
It was a large bungalow with fading cream paint. There was an almost falling large pizza on top of the building that said'Max's Pizzeria'Brittany parked her car in the parking lot and got out. "I can't believe dad would do this to me!" she grunted and went in.
The interior was better than the exterior. I guess that saying,'Never judge a book by its cover'was right. There were white circular tables with chairs. The walls were cream too and there was a little jukebox at a corner, playing soft music. A group of girls and boys left their table with remnants of pizza and garlic bread. Disgusting, Brittany thought and someone wearing a green cap that had'Max's Pizzeria'written on it and a green apron with the same writing on it, went over to clear the table.
Brittany rolled her eyes then she heard a cocky voice, "What's the princess doing here?" she turned and saw Seth wearing the same thing the other guy was wearing but he made it look like a model was wearing it on the runway. "You work here?" she asked and he smirked, "Not everyone is born into royalty princess. Anyway, what do you want to order?" he asked. There was no way in hell she was going to work in the same place as Seth. "I think I'll not give you allowance for this month" she remembered what her dad had said. Life's just cruel! she thought and swallowed her pride.
"Where's the manager?" she asked "Huh? What do you need him for?" Seth asked "I just need to see him" she said and he shrugged then he walked to the back with her trailing behind him. "Hey Max! Someone's here to see you!" he shouted and pointed to a door, "He's there" he said and left.
Brittany adjusted her short black skirt and her white turtleneck sweater. First impressions matters! she thought and knocked on the door. "Come in!" then she opened the door.
The office was large with a bunch of books taking up half of the room. There was a large mahogany table in the middle of the room with a swivel chair. The chair spun around and she was shocked. When she first heard about Max's Pizzeria, she had been expecting a short and chubby man in an apron with a curvy moustache but staring at her was a young dark blue-haired guy with grey eyes. He was wearing a clipped earring on his left ear and he had a lion tattoo along his neckline. He looked like someone who was supposed to be in college.
"Wow, a total babe!" he said and got up. He was also tall and lanky. "What can I do for you sweetheart?" he asked as he rested his hip on his desk. "Oh right! I'm Max!" he said but she still stood in shock. This was the first time she was finding a guy attractive without glasses. "Hello!" he waved his hand in front of her face and she snapped out of whatever she was in, "Hi" she managed to say and he smiled. His smile was cute.
"I said I'm Max" he said and she nodded, "This is the part you tell me your name" "Oh! I'm Brittany!" she said "So what can I do for you...Brittany, or do you prefer sweetheart?" he asked with a lazy smile. Be still my heart, she sang to herself and was about to say that she liked Brittany but she heard herself saying, "Whichever one you like" "Sweet! Sweetheart it is then!" he grinned.
"So what do you want?" he asked and she fumbled with her turtleneck sweater, "I... I heard there was an opening for a job" "Yeah! Bailey just got a baby! She's on maternity leave" "It's fine! I just want the job for a month" "Then you got it!" "Just like that?" she asked and he nodded, "Yeah!" "How? I have no experience but you just gave me the job" "I think this is the part you say thank you". "Thank you...but why did you hire me?" "Well, you're pretty, hot and you got nice boobs" he said and she crossed her hands on her chest, "Relax sweetheart, my perverted side only comes once in a blue moon so you're safe...but not for now. Right now, I'm a full fledged pervert".
"Seth!" Max shouted and Seth came in, "Yes?" "We have a new worker. Can you show her the ropes?" Max said as he put his arm around Brittany and Seth burst out laughing, "You're working? Did daddy stop giving his little princess allowance?" "Shut up!" Brittany gritted and Max removed his arm from her shoulders, "You guys know each other?" he asked as he put his hands into his pockets. "She painted my bike pink!" Seth said "Well you dyed my hair purple!" Brittany retorted "You were the one that pinked Seth's motorcycle? Dude that's sick!" Max said and Seth rolled his eyes, "I don't see why you're happy about it. Caroline had to be scrubbed at least ten times" "Caroline?" Brittany asked "His motorcycle!" Max answered.
"Anyways, take your bickering outside. Sweetheart, Seth will give you your uniform and you can start training" Max said "Wait, I'm starting today?" Brittany asked and Seth removed his cap and wore it on her head, "Sure thing rookie! Now let's go!" he said and left then Max smiled at her and she followed Seth out.
Seth glanced back at her then she looked away. "Why are you not at school Britz?" he asked "Why are you not at school?" "I got suspended... because of your dumb prank!" "My dumb prank? I got suspended for your own dumb prank! How did you even know I was going to chocolate you?" "That was my own prank. I just wanted to see you covered in chocolate but now I'm suspended because of you". "Well I'm suspended because of you!"
"You're fucking annoying!" he said and she glared at him, "Well back at you!" she yelled and he smirked, "That's no way to talk to your senior" "Senior my foot!" "You're really rude" he said and she flicked her hair across her shoulder, "You still have not dyed it blonde?" "I'll do that!" she snapped and he raised his hands in surrender, "Just wondering" he said and led her into a room.
He handed her a green apron and a green cap, "Er... green's not really my colour" Brittany said and he looked at her, "So what? You don't have a choice" he said and she groaned and took the apron then she wore it and wore the cap. "You were right! Green's not your colour" he said and she rolled her eyes and rolled up her sleeves, "I don't think you should wear white in here or short skirts" he said and she folded her arms, "And why not?" "Well, kids come here for birthday parties and the white could get stained and as for the skirt..." he drawled as he checked her out, "It's distracting!" he said and walked out.
Brittany hmphed and took off the cap, "It's distracting" she mimicked him "What does he know?" she said and looked her feet. Unfortunately, she had worn boots and her feet were killing her. Then it hit her. Seth had said her short skirt was distracting. Did that mean he was always looking at her? Or that he found her attractive? Her cheeks heated up at the realization.