Playing With Wolves

Three: The Interview

And that's how Tima, Ric, and I ended up standing in the alley across the street from The V in the dressiest clothes we owned, which weren't very dressy anyway, with Charles and Alo.

"I still don't think this makes any sense or is even going to work." I said as I felt a headache coming. I don't know if it's from how Tima twisted my locs back or Alo's inability to listen to anyone that isn't him.

"This is just phase one." Alo responded. "We need a way inside. We can't afford our way in, but we can work our way in."

"None of us have experience working in a place this fancy." Ric said as he fiddled with his tie. "Ain't no way any of us are getting hired."

"Don't worry. I got that covered." Alo pulled some folders form his backpack and gave them to us. "I know a tech guy that owed me some favors. Made up some fake resumes."

"And what happens if they call these restaurants and find out we've never worked there?"

"I still don't see why you and Charles can't do this shit." Tima mumbled.

"Because we have records. Our asses would barely be through the doors before they kick us back out, especially with Charles' sticky fingers."

"Hey!" Charles said. "All those pockets these sticky fingers picked paid for that day at the water park for all of us. You weren't complaining then."

"Whatever, man." Alo sucked his teeth and pushed us forward. "Just go before y'all late! You need to get through these interviews and get these jobs otherwise we're back to square one."

We crossed the street and stopped in front of the doors. There were two big ass, bald dudes manning the doors and a skinny, white, blonde girl standing between them with a clipboard.

"Name?" She sounded so... lifeless.

"Uh..." And she looked at us like we weren't even worthy enough to step on. "Tobias, Fatima, and Rico."

"Last names."

"Right." I told her our last names. She marked something on that clipboard, then nodded. The two guys opened the doors. The hallway looked dark and its only noon. Me, Tima, and Ric looked at each other and walked in. The front doors shut as soon as we got in.

"Yo," Ric whispered. "This is some freaky shit. I don't like this, Toby." I couldn't see an inch of his tanned skin or any of his sharp features. It was so dark in there that if I couldn't hear his voice, I wouldn't have known it was him.

"It's too late to back out now."

"No, it's not!" Tima whispered. "All we have to do is turn back around and walk right out that door."

"And hear Alo's mouth? Y'all feel like going through that? Because I sure as hell don't. Besides, there's no way we'll get past these interviews, and once we get rejected, Alo will forget his stupid plan. Now, let's go so I can get back home and catch up on The Chi."

I walked ahead of them, and they followed me. It felt like the longer we walked, the darker the hallway got. We stopped in front of two large black doors that would've blended in with the darkness if it weren't for a single light shining from the ceiling.

I looked back at Tima and Ric. Just from their faces I knew they weren't going to do anything, so I went ahead and knocked twice. The doors burst open to a fancy looking bar and lounge area. Everything was in brown and white tones. Another skinny white girl with blonde hair and a clipboard in her hand walked up to us.

"Mitchell, Sonders, and Cortez?"

Me, Tima, and Ric looked at each other and I nodded.

"Resumes?" We held the folders out to her, and she took them. "Have a seat. Someone will be with you shortly."