Shawn and I spend the next two hours walking around town, going from store to store looking for places that are hiring. Shawn picks up a mere two resumes from the around fifty stores we went in, while I pocket about ten. As we walk back to campus, me holding onto Shawn for support as my feet throb in my heels, he continues to tease me about the places we went in.
"The only reason you got so many applications and yes's was because they were mostly guys in high school or college who obviously thought you were hot." Shawn says, the bitterness clear in his tone.
"That's not true." I say. "They gave me the application because I better fit the job."
"Oh come on, that's bullshit and you know it. Just admit it, baby. They were hitting on you and you enjoyed it." he says, and we stop at the crosswalk as the light turns red.
"Okay, so maybe some of them were hitting on me." I finally give in. "But I definitely didn't enjoy it."
Shawn shoots me a look, raising one eyebrow. I giggle and shake my head.
"Okay, maybe a little."
The light turns green, signaling for us to start walking. We head across the street, and as we make it onto the next block, I feel my stomach grumble and frown. I look at the stores we pass, seeing restaurant after restaurant. I groan, pulling on Shawn's arm and pointing at the restaurants.
"I'm hungry." I complain. "Can we stop and eat?"
"Sure, but you can pay." he says, and my jaw drops.
"What? Why?" I yell.
"You're clearly the one who's going to be getting a job sometime soon. I think you're about to be my sugar mama, Helaina." Shawn says, and I burst out laughing.
"You're so weird." I say, pulling him inside a Mexican restaurant. We walk up to the hostess, who smiles at us.
"Hi, just two?" she asks, and I nod. "Okay, you can follow me."
The hostess leads Shawn and I over to a table right next to the window. I sit with my back to the wall, Shawn sliding into the seat opposite of me. She hands us both a menu, and I thank her.
"Your server will be over in a minute to take your drink orders." she says, and walks away.
"Are you really making me pay?" I ask Shawn once the hostess walks away.
"Why? I didn't think you were one of those people who were hell-bent on the man always paying." Shawn says, and I shrug.
"I mean, I'm not, but if I can get a free meal, I will." I say, and he laughs. "Also, I left my wallet back in the dorms because I wasn't thinking straight and forgot to grab it."
"Well then get the hell up and leave, Helaina." Shawn jokes. "But really, I don't care. I was going to pay for you regardless."
I smile, silently thanking him. I open my menu and begin to look through the items, even though I already know what I want. I always order the same thing, after all. I close the menu and put it down, looking out the window. I see Shawn staring me, so I look back over at him.
"What?"
"You already know what you what?"
I nod.
"Yeah, I always get the same thing whenever I go to a Mexican restaurant."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"Because you should try something new when you go to new places."
"Well if I already know what I like, why should I risk getting something else just because I want to expand my array of choices?"
"Helaina, do you know how ridiculous that sounds?" he laughs. "That's like saying you should only ever wear the same seven shirts and pants every week because you know you like them, so you shouldn't wear anything else."
"Okay, that's entirely different. Besides, who are you to talk about clothes? That's basically what you do." I shoot back, smirking at him.
Before Shawn has the chance to respond, the waiter- a tall, fit boy with curly brown hair- walks up to us and starts talking.
"Hey Shawn." he says, and Shawn smiles.
"Hey Kyle."
I stare at the two of them, trying to figure out how they know each other. Shawn turns to me and begins to explain their relationship.
"Kyle's in the same frat as me." Shawn explains, and I nod.
"Oh, so you must know Sebastian." I say, looking up at him.
"Yeah, we pledged the same year." he says. I nod. "So, what can I get you guys to drink?"
"I'll have a coke." Shawn says.
"Can I have one too, please?" I ask.
"Yeah, sure thing." Kyle says, walking away to go get us our sodas.
"Are you guys friends?" I ask as soon as he's gone. Shawn shrugs.
"I guess. I'm not really quote-on-quote friends with any of the guys yet in my frat, but Kyle's probably the closest." he explains.
"Hey, I have an idea!" I yell a little too loudly. Shawn laughs, and I lower my voice back to a normal volume. "Why don't you ask Kyle to get you a job here?"
"I don't know..." he says.
"Why not? You need one, and you said so yourself that he's the closest to a friend that you have in the frat. Maybe if you guys work together he'll be your best friend, like Isaac was back home."
"Okay, fine, I'll ask him." Shawn gives in, and I smile. Kyle walks back over with our drinks, sliding a cup in front of each of us.
"Do you already know what you want to order or do need a few more minutes?" he asks.
"Yeah we know. I'll have a steak burrito with everything inside."
"That comes with rice and beans too, is that fine?"
Shawn nods.
"Can I have the hard tacos with chicken and cheese?" I ask.
"Okay, I'll go put the order in and it should be ready shortly." Kyle says, grabbing our menus and walking away.
"That's all you get?" Shawn asks, and I shrug.
"Yeah, it may be a little plain but I like the way it tastes." I say.
"I almost forgot to give you guys these." Kyle says, suddenly reappearing at the table. He slides a basket of tortilla chips onto the table and walks away. I immediately grab a chip and start chewing.
"Are you going to apply at any of the places?" Shawn asks me, grabbing a chip as well.
"Yeah, duh." I say, reaching for another. "I'll probably apply at a few and see which ones call me back."
"That's smart." Shawn agrees.
We sit in silence for a few moments, both of us eating the chips, before I look away from the window and turn back to Shawn.
"I'm kind of dreading tomorrow." I admit.
"Why?"
"Psychology."
"What's so bad about it? I thought you liked that class." he says.
"I do like it; the actual subject, that is. Our classmates, however..." I trail off.
"Our classmates? What do you-" Shawn begins, but as the words come out, the door to the restaurant opens and I curse, cutting him off.
"Shit!" I yell, quickly looking down. Shawn looks at me in confusion.
"What? What's wrong?" he asks.
"Just turn around and see for yourself." I mumble, sinking lower in my chair.
Shawn turns around, before quickly whipping his neck back around and looking at me with wild eyes.
"Shit! What is Xavier doing here?"
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AN: next chapter is up!! sorry i feel like this one was kind of boring, but don't worry there's multiple reasons why this chapter is significant in its own way that will later make sense so yeah lmao.
as always, don't forget to comment/vote/follow me! hope you enjoyed