CHAPTER 4:
Where She Lets Him in on a Secret
~~**~~
|Fallon|
"So, how'd it go with that dude you've been stalking?" Peyton asked as she took a sip of her chocolate shake.
"I'm not stalking him!" I snap before I let out a sigh. "And it's not going so great. He still refuses to help me."
We were at 'Antonio's Sweet Haven' a chic dessert café I'd been working part-time at for the past six months.
Peyton studied me for a while. "You know, you could-" she started but I cut her off before she even got a chance to finish that sentence.
"Absolutely not Peyton."
She scoffed. "You didn't even hear what I had to say!"
"I'm not taking money from you," I told her pointedly.
"I could lend it to you." She tried again.
Peyton was a friend in the truest sense. I knew that she would give me all of her savings in a heartbeat and not ask for anything in return if I asked her to.
"You've been saving up for college for years. I know how hard you've worked for it, that money is countless days of pizza deliveries and night shifts at gas stations. I can't possibly take it from you." I told her gently.
I knew her life wasn't easy, her dad had passed away when she was a baby and her mother was a housekeeper. She lived with her mother and younger sister in a small two-bedroom apartment. I knew how badly Peyton wanted to turn their life around. She dreamed of going to college and becoming an aeronautical engineer.
She opened her mouth, trying to argue again but I made a show of looking at my wristwatch and letting out an exaggerated sigh.
"Oh, look at that, my break is over." I stood up and blew her a kiss.
The truth was, I still had fifteen minutes till my break ended but I didn't want to argue with her over this again.
She gave me a look that said 'I know exactly what you're doing but she gave me a little wave. "See you later Fal." Before she turned to leave.
"You know I love you, right?" I called out.
She turned around and gave me a wink. "Not as much as I love you."
I laughed as I went back to put my apron on and pick up the small notebook I used to take orders.
"Hey, Fallon." My manager Sofia called out. "Diane called in sick today, would you be a darling and cover her tables for today?"
"Sure," I answered, giving her a bright smile.
"Great. Customers are waiting at table six, take their order first."
I gave her a nod before heading towards the table she mentioned.
I recognized the two girls immediately. Caroline Williams and Bianca Harris from school. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't hear me approach.
I was suddenly reminded of the last time I'd run into Caroline, I had been with Archer at that time. His reaction to Caroline's sweet greeting had been interesting, to say the least. I smiled when I recalled how the tips of his ears had turned red and how his body language had suddenly changed from cold and closed-off to almost shy. It had been endearing to witness. It seemed like Archer Hastings was harboring a huge crush on Avalon High's golden girl/head cheerleader.
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How to Stay Afloat
Teen FictionFallon's sole ambition in life is to escape her miserable hometown once and for all. She dreams of driving away in her convertible and leaving her painful past behind. Just one problem, her beloved convertible needs a serious overhaul before she can...