“You’re trying to get a job?” Simon asked, his eyes widening at me. “Haven’t you already tried that before and you’re still jobless right now?”
I stared at him flatly. “I don’t need you to remind me. At least you have a job.”
Simon rolled his eyes. “Yeah, with Henry, who sexually harasses me every single day.”
“He does that every single day anyway,” I teased, sticking my tongue out at my best friend now. It always amused me how disgusted he acted when Henry hit on him. You couldn’t blame me for being amused… “You should just get used to it and embrace it. Or embrace him, actually.”
Simon couldn’t help but make a face at me. “No, thank you.”
“But back to me getting a job,” I sighed, playing myself on his couch and resting my head on his lap like I usually did whenever we hung out at his house. “It’s really bad this time. If I can’t get a job, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
“Do you want to babysit my little siblings for some money?” Simon asked, a wide grin spreading across his face. “I usually do it, but I’d be really grateful if you took it off my hands for me. You know how much my parents love you.”
“I haven’t seen your little siblings since we were in sixth grade,” I blinked, not knowing how I would be able to handle two children. “That’s a really long time ago. Are you sure they’re going to want me to babysit them?”
Simon grinned. “Positive.”
“Aw, Ivy, you took my spot,” Henry whined as both he and Terra entered her living room from the kitchen. “You know that Simon’s lap is my favorite pillow.”
“Well, I’ve got to go look for another job,” I sighed, hopping up from the couch now and brushing myself off. “He’s all yours now. But Simon, no matter how much your family pays me, I’m pretty sure it won’t be enough to help my family. So I’ll go look for another job just to be safe.”
Simon nodded, jumping up off the couch before Henry could plop down and put his hand on his lap like I had. “Well, I wish you luck. I kind of hate to say that you’re going to need it.”
I rolled my eyes at him, heading toward the door. “Thanks a lot for that, best friend.”
I left the house with my three best friends laughing, but I was doing the same. I had missed spending time with them, even though I got to see Simon every single day. But it had been a while since I had been able to spend time with Henry and Terra…
I hated that I had to walk through town in search of a job. I was probably going to look like a poor loser if I looked through every window looking for a sign the told me that they needed workers… But most of the people around town thought they knew me… so they probably were going to think that I was looking through windows to see who I was going to steal from next.
I was lucky enough to see that there was a help wanted sign in the first shop in town’s square. I let out a sigh of relief and pushed the door open, hoping that this would be easy for me to do and not difficult like it had been so many other times.
“Hi, um, I’m Ivy Morgan,” I introduced myself to the woman behind the desk. “I saw the help wanted sign in the window, and I was just wondering if I could have a job application.”
The woman behind the counter’s face tightened when I introduced myself. My heart stopped beating for a second, and I was pretty sure I knew what was coming next.
“Sorry,” the woman began, her face still tight as she awkwardly tapped on her keyboard. “I… forgot to take the sign down. We don’t need any more help around here. I’m very sorry.”
I found that kind of hard to believe, considering the fact that I now eyed the big stack of job applications beside her computer. But I knew she was trying to be nice about it, but that just ticked me off even more. Couldn’t she just tell me that she didn’t want me working there because she had heard about me before?
I left the small shop in search of more help wanted signs. There had to be one place that hadn’t heard of how ridiculously bad I apparently was…
I couldn’t help but me more wrong. After going through six other stores, everyone told me that they didn’t need any more help once I told them what my name was. You had to be kidding me! I knew that our town was small, but pretty much everyone knew who I was without even meeting me before!
I was pretty much fuming after I had left the seventh store. If this kept going on, there was no way I was going to be able to save my family from losing our house! I was going to have to sleep on the streets if I didn’t get a job!
I was so angry that I didn’t even look where I was going. Before I even knew what I was doing, I rammed into someone and almost fell off the curb and into the street.
The person I had run into grabbed onto my arm before I could fall. I was grateful to them, but I was still angry over not able to get a job.
“Ivy?” the other person asked, and I turned with my eyes wide to see Jack holding onto my arms. I didn’t know what I was supposed to say, because I was practically hanging right in the street. “Are you alright?”
“I’m… I’m fine,” I nodded, pulling myself in so I was now standing normally on the sidewalk beside him. “Thanks for, um, saving me from being run over in the street.”
Jack grinned at me. “No problem. What are you doing out here all alone?”
“I’m looking for a job,” I informed him with a shrug, crossing my arms over my stomach. “My parents aren’t doing very well right now, so I thought that it would be a good idea for me to get a job, but it’s kind of hard for me…”
Jack blinked. “I’ve seen a bunch of help wanted signs in pretty much every other store I’ve passed…”
I scowled. “I know. So have I.”
Jack looked confused, and I quickly filled him in on what happened every time I tried to get a job. He looked almost angry as I told him, but I was a lot calmer now that he was with me. Even though I still didn’t have a job…
“I’m going to babysit Simon’s little siblings, but I highly doubt that that would be enough,” I sighed as I passed another help wanted sign. “I need to get another job so I can make more money…”
“You’re going to babysit at Simon’s house?” Jack asked, his eyebrows furrowing at me. “Is he… is he going to be there?”
I rolled my eyes and shrugged at the jealous boy. “I don’t know. He might be, he might not be. But I’m not there for him, I’m there for the kids. Just remember that before you get all jealous on me.”
I stuck my tongue out at him, and he stuck his tongue right back out at me. As we passed by a diner, a help wanted sign laughed right in my face. Maybe I should try getting a job there… I always loved to cook, but I was pretty sure I would have gotten a job as a waitress or something if I even got the job…
I entered the diner, grabbing Jack’s hand and leading him inside behind me. There was a man behind the counter, his name tag telling me that he was the manager, but there was no name in sight. Well, he was the person I had to go to…
“Hi,” I greeted, trying to be as bright and chipper as possible before I told this guy what my name was. “I saw the help wanted sign outside in the window, and I was just wondering if you had a job applications I could fill out?”
The man smiled at me. “Sure thing. We really need the help around here…” He looked under the counter for the form that I needed. “What’s your name?”
I let out a breath. “Ivy Morgan.”
The man froze almost immediately, and I knew that this wasn’t going to end well. He stood up from his crouching position, his face now serious and pale instead of happy like it had been moments before. Maybe I should have just made up a name and told him that it was mine…
“Sorry, but I’m afraid we don’t need any more help around here,” the manager informed me, a nervous look plastered on his face as he forced an awkward smile. “Very sorry. I hope you can find work somewhere else.”
But that wasn’t going to happen because everyone thought I was going to rob the place or start a fight with a customer! I felt myself fuming once again, and I had no idea what I was supposed to do anymore. I was going to have to live on the streets!
“Hey, so you’ve heard of the Ricketts family, right?” Jack asked, a suave smile plastered on his face as he leaned forward on the counter. The manager nodded, almost looking more afraid now. “Oh, well, that’s good. I’m Jack, the youngest son. I was actually thinking of buying a place across the street and making it a diner so Ivy could work there, but I think that’s just too much work for only one person to work there… Even though I could easily get your workers and customers to come on over and forget all about this little place…”
The manager gulped, obviously thinking it through for a moment. I stood there, holding my breath as I waited for what he was going to say. He finally turned toward me, his lips in a thin line. “You start on Monday.”
He ducked away into the kitchen, and all I could do was stand there in complete shock. I had a job! I actually had a job! And Jack helped me with it!
“Yes!” I squealed, jumping up and wrapping my arms around Jack’s neck. His arms wrapped around my waist, and I didn’t care who was there to see us. “Thank you so much! This means the world to me!”
Jack smirked, leaning down to press his lips on mine. My eyes widened, and I quickly dodged his lips so they landed on my cheek instead of my lips.
“Um… thanks, really,” I whispered, not removing my hands from around his neck. “But… you know how I feel about being in a relationship right now and everything…”
Jack’s face was almost completely blank, but his arms were still around me tight. Was I hurting him? I didn’t want to be. But I wanted him to tell me that he loved me before we did anything together… Because if we did start dating, I would get even more attached to him. And then it would have hurt even more if he rejected me for some other girl.
“What about that date we went on during Thanksgiving break?” Jack asked, his eyebrows furrowing at me. “You told me you’d decide if you wanted to date me or not after that date. You said that if you liked it, you would date me. So, what, Ivy? Did you like it or not?”
I liked it. Actually, I loved it more than anything. But he hadn’t told me he loved me yet… and I wasn’t about to be the first one to say it to him. I was pretty sure he had a bunch of other girls tell him that they loved him before, but look what was going on now. He was trying to get me to go out with him and everyone called him a player.
“I need a little more time,” I almost begged, slipping my arms away from his neck. He removed his from my waist, and I let out a sigh. “Just a little more time for me to decide, all right? I really… really like you, Jack, but… I just need a little more time. Please tell me you understand.”
Jack didn’t smile like I wanted him to. “I understand. For now.”
Before either of us could say anything else, the bell signaling someone had entered rung. Even though it shouldn’t have, it caught both of our attentions and I could see a very flustered Cassidy coming our way.
Ah, crap. What did I do now?
“Your boyfriend called the house,” she spat at me once she got close enough for me to hear. “He said that he needed you to babysit his siblings or whatever. Your dad made me go out and find you and I luckily saw you in here. I really hope you get a damn cell phone soon or I’m gonna be even more pissed.”
Before I could tell her that Simon wasn’t my boyfriend, she turned around and stormed out of the diner. I turned toward Jack, ready to explain that Simon was only my best friend and would always be my best friend, but he waved me away.
“I get it,” he said, not even looking at me. “She’s talking about Simon. I’m not going to get jealous or anything when you don’t even have any feelings for him. I just hope you can come to a decision soon about whether or not you want to date me.”
He left me without another word, and I stood there for only a minute before taking off toward Simon’s house. It had been a really long time since I had been there last, but I still remembered where it was… At least, I hoped I did.
When I got there fifteen minutes later, I was met by the smiling faces of Simon’s parents. They seemed to be the only adults that knew I wasn’t all bad news, and I was really grateful for them for that. “Ivy,” Mrs. Reynolds greeted before tightening me into a hug. “It’s so great to see you again! I’m so glad you can babysit Ebony and Charlie for us on such short notice.”
I was glad that I could, too. Every other adult in town probably wouldn’t trust me with their children…
After waving goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, I quickly headed toward the living room, where I knew the children and Simon would be. I wonder what he was going to do during the upcoming night, and I couldn’t help but feel a little jealous that he was going to go out without me.
“Ivy!” Charlie cried out when he saw that I had entered the living room. “It’s Ivy! Ivy!”
I smiled down at him, ruffling his hair. “Hey! You’ve grown up so much since I’ve seen you last! You’re so big now!”
“I know, I know!” he nodded, almost hopping up and down right in front of me. “Mommy and Daddy say I’m really big, too! I like being big! I’m the tallest kid in my class!”
I laughed, wanting to pinch his cheeks so badly that my fingers hurt. Charlie had always been such an adorable little kid…
“Hey, Ebony,” I smiled now, bending over so I would be her height as she continued to sit on the couch. “What grade are you in again? It’s been a long time since I’ve last seen you.”
“I’m in sixth grade,” Ebony informed me stubbornly, crossing her arms over her chest and looking away. “I don’t need a babysitter anymore!”
Oh, please don’t let her be super bratty… I had to deal with brats enough at my own house and at school…
The last time I had seen Ebony was when she was in second grade, and Charlie when he was only two. I rarely ever came over to Simon’s house because we always went over to Terra’s. But I couldn’t help but coo at Charlie because he looked like a tiny version of Simon, and I just wanted to reach out and pinch his cheeks because he was just so cute.
“Be nice, Ebony,” Simon sighed, standing up from his seat on the couch opposite from her. “She’s going to babysit you whether you like it or not. I wasn’t allowed to stay home alone until I was in seventh grade, and I highly doubt it’ll be any different for you. Especially since you’re a girl.”
Ebony stuck her tongue out at her older brother. “No fair.”
“Ivy’s gonna babysit us?” Charlie asked, his eyes widening up at me. “Cool! Ivy, Ivy, Ivy, Ivy!”
Ebony made a face. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
Simon sighed, turning toward me now. I could see that it was getting dark now outside, and I couldn’t help but wonder how long I was supposed to be with the kids for. Was I supposed to put them to bed? How was I supposed to do that? “Sorry to leave you here all alone with them. Terra and Henry want to hang out for the night. I really wish you could come, but…”
“Don’t worry,” I assured, pushing him toward the door. “You know I need the money.”
Simon still didn’t look sure. He glanced back at his little brother and sister, as if unsure how they were going to act toward me. Charlie looked super excited to spend time with me, but Ebony still looked upset over the fact that she had to have a babysitter.
“I’ll see you later,” he finally said, looking away from his siblings and turning toward the door. “My parents should be back before their bedtimes, so you shouldn’t worry about that. If they’re not here in time, I’ll probably be back.”
I nodded, walking him to the door. It was so weird, having him leave his house while I stayed there and everything… I could hardly even remember the last time I had been to Simon’s house since we always went over to Terra’s…
After I closed the front door behind Simon, I let out a breath. What was I supposed to do with Ebony and Charlie? I hadn’t ever babysat before… But I had to do the best job I possibly could have. I really needed the money to help my dad, since Claudia and Cassidy definitely weren’t going to do anything…
“So, how about we watch a movie?” I suggested after I had walked back into the living room. What else were we supposed to do? Had they eaten yet? I guess I could cook them something if they told me that they were hungry…
Charlie’s eyes went wide with excitement. “Yeah, yeah, yeah! A movie! I want to watch a movie!”
Ebony continued to sit on the couch, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared down at the coffee table. Though I wasn’t a very patient person, I wasn’t frustrated with her for some reason. In a way, she kind of reminded me of myself. After my mom died and before my dad married Claudia, I always had to be babysat, and I was always unhappy about it.
“What movie do you want to watch?” I now asked, slowly making my way over to the TV. I then turned toward Ebony. “Have you guys eaten yet? I can make you something if you haven’t.”
“I want to watch Aladdin!” Charlie informed me happily, bounding over to the TV and pulling out the movie from underneath. “It’s my favorite!”
I nodded at him, taking the DVD out of his hand. “Alright, then. Aladdin it is!”
“We haven’t eaten yet,” Ebony answered my other question after I had put the DVD in. “I’m guessing my parents and Simon assumed that you’re going to cook for us. Can you cook or am I going to have to make something?”
Wow, for a sixth grader, this girl was sure mature. Maybe she could have watched herself and Charlie and I didn’t have to even be here… But it wasn’t like I could just leave or anything.
“I can make you both something,” I nodded, not knowing what else I was supposed to say to them. After pushing play on the DVD menu, I started over toward the kitchen. “Is there anything you two want in particular?”
“Grilled cheese!” Charlie practically shouted, and I couldn’t help but laugh. That kid sure was hyper and excited all the time, but I liked it. “Grilled cheese is my favorite!”
I looked over at Ebony, about to ask her if that was what she wanted. Before I could even ask, she nodded and waved me away into the kitchen. Okay then…
Ten minutes later, I had two grilled cheese sandwiches for them. Charlie pretty much pounced on it when he saw me, but Ebony took her time and waited for me to place it down on the coffee table before she reached for it.
“I wish I had a genie!” Charlie announced, plopping down on the couch next to me and munching on his sandwich. “I don’t know what I’d wish for, but it’d still be really fun to have one!”
“It’d be stupid,” Ebony snapped, picking at her sandwich before placing the pieces into her mouth. “Usually genies aren’t as nice as the one in the movie. They’re pretty much always deceitful liars that trick you.”
Okay… it was kind of scary how mature she was.
“Um… is this your favorite movie?” I asked Charlie awkwardly now, not knowing what I was supposed to say to the eleven-year-old girl who sat across from me.
Charlie nodded excitedly. “One of them! I love all the Disney movies!”
We had something in common then. I had liked all the Disney movies ever since I was a little kid, and I was hoping he’d keep his love for them after he grew older. I didn’t think I knew any boy who loved Disney as much as I did…
“I want to be a Lost Boy!” Charlie announced suddenly, hopping up and down on the couch happily.
“What?” I asked, my eyes going wide at him. “You want to be a… Lost Boy?”
Charlie continued to hop up and down on the couch cushion, but I was too shocked to tell him to stop. “Yep, that’s right! I want to fight Captain Hook and his pirates with Peter Pan and Tinkerbell!”
I let out a sigh of relief, holding a hand to my chest. “Oh… that kind of Lost Boy. Thank goodness…”
It made me wonder what would happen to Neverland Academy after the Lost Boys graduated. That wasn’t going to be for two years, since we were all sophomores, but I just couldn’t help but wonder. Were there going to be new boys recruited or something? Had there been Lost Boys before Eli, Jack, Chris, and Tyler?
I guess it didn’t really matter to me, since I was going to graduate the same time as the Lost Boys. But if there was going to be new boys that took their place, I already felt badly for the students that were going to have to attend the school. If I was correct, everyone who would be a freshman after we graduated would be in sixth grade… Which was the grade that Ebony was in. I couldn’t help but wonder if she had to deal with anyone like the Lost Boys…
“This is really good,” Ebony muttered, snapping me out of my trance. She looked up at me, a different look in her eye. She didn’t look like she absolutely hated the idea of me being her babysitter… “Can you teach me how to cook as well as you do?”
I stared at her for a moment, surprised that she had asked me this. I nodded, not knowing if my voice would betray me or not. Maybe we could start out as friends after I taught her how to cook… I could hope, at least.
“Simon says how you know the Lost Boys!” Charlie informed me just as I stood up to make my way into the kitchen with Ebony. “Is that true? Do you really know the Lost Boys?”
I really wished that I could have told him that I knew the Lost Boys that he wanted to be a part of, and not the elite group that ran my school. I quickly shook my head nervously, hoping that I wouldn’t upset him by saying no. “Simon must be joking around with you.”
Charlie’s face fell. “Oh…”
Ebony tugged on my shirt, gaining my attention and reminded me that I was supposed to teach her how to cook. I smiled at her, and much to my surprise, she smiled right back at me.
Hopefully this was going to be the start of a good friendship.
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Stay tuned for the next chapter! ;D
I went back to school today... ejghohfoiwef >.<
I. Hate. It.
We got new classes, and I'm pretty much alone in two out of the four of them. And, like, hot guys are pretty much nonexistant at my school. I'm very upset and disappointed at that. I WANT THE LOST BOYS.
Please COMMENT, VOTE, and FAN! <3