Kiss and Tease [GirlXGirl]

Chapter 3: Under the Surface?

BAILEY

    “Dad, I’m going out now!” I shouted from outside, whirling around to look up to our rundown house. I released a weary breath, twisting my shoes about to start my day. I tightened my hand around the strap of my shoulder bag, walking forward to find what I should look for.

    It was a beautiful unclouded day, the summer breeze was tenderly brushing away my smooth hair – a perfect time of a day to find an essential job. Even though the school gave me a scholarship for being one of the topmost students and one of the members of the student council, I required extra money to help my Dad from supporting our family. Since my mother died of cancer, my father went into depression and almost broke what left in us. He became an alcoholic and hardly at home, leaving me alone with my three-year-old little brother.

    We were loaded before and I could wish for anything I wanted but my father made one of the biggest mistakes in his life by selling his own company. I didn’t blame him for the reason that I didn’t understand what he felt when my Mom died. It must be so painful to see half of your life, slowly dying in a hospital. My Mom didn’t want me to stay, she didn’t want me to see her getting weaker by the minute.

    I wished I wouldn’t experience that horrible moment with someone I would be willing to spend the rest of my life with.

    Soon my father realized his great mistake and decided to have a fresh life by moving to this town when I was in my 8th grade. And I was glad that we did even though it was hard sometimes for me. You know, working part-time and upholding my grades at the same time, including being a part of the cheerleading team and constructing my own reputation in the school. I had to because I didn’t want to experience bullying again. Afore, I was a big nerd with thick glasses on my face. They were always calling me four eyes, and usually, the popular crowds were the one who was constantly making fun of me and it got shoddier when my family was crumbling down.

    However, when we decided to move out of our previous lives, I changed myself, and beginning a new life gave me a boost of confidence. I could pretend as someone that isn’t weak and dumb but sometimes it was taking a toll on me. I wouldn’t be here starting to find a new job because my previous boss almost harassed me so I quit on my own accord. Everything had its own consequences, indeed, but it was so much better than being a nobody.

    I watched the car passed by the road as I grimaced at myself. I missed the second-hand car that my Dad bought for me and it was now in a junk shop probably been crushed flat. Thinking of that made me snicker in annoyance because I didn’t know how I could get to school if I don’t have a car. And that means I must prepare a valid reason for my friends. My life outside the school was a huge secret and I managed to keep the fact that I was a poor girl attending an elite school, full of rich students.

    Of course, I knew it was overdramatic but I wanted it to stay that way. I was enjoying being a part of the higher student society and I wouldn’t risk myself to fall down from the stairs I built with so much effort for years. Nonetheless, I remained under my captain’s throne, which was not a problem for me because she really deserved it.  Well, almost.

    I took a cab and headed to a part of town where I could find a decent job and also miles away from our school and from the main city. I knew it was going to be hard but still, I wanted to try my luck.

    Getting off to the park, I looked around, raising my hand over my eyes to cover the bright rays from the sun. Kids were playing around in the green field while I found some ice cream booth at the corner, beside an old tree. I walked across the road, seeing a coffee shop full of customers that were talking among themselves.

    No! It was too crowded, I wouldn’t risk being caught by some student. I could imagine them spreading rumors about me which would give them a reason to blackmail me. And so, I continued to stroll around the place, finding few clothes boutiques lining up but they were not hiring, unfortunately. There was this gaming center but I was not into this stuff and the owner was staring creepily at me.

    I was starting to feel frustrated so I just stormed back to the park and decided to treat myself a cone of ice cream. “Ummm, one cone of strawberry, please?”

    The guy inside the booth smirked and began to prepare my ice cream. His brows were so thick and he was probably twice my age by the way his wrinkles exposed in his face when he smiled at me while giving me ice cream.

    “So tell me the reason why a beautiful girl like you is strolling around here alone?”

    I raised my brow at his question. “Well, maybe because this is a public park and everybody is allowed to go in here, whether they are alone or not.”

    He chuckled at my sarcastic answer and lifted his palm up.

    Rolling my eyes, I paid for my ice cream and started to eat but he seemed to enjoy nagging me rather than getting his work done when he spoke again. “Usually, a girl like you would go here with their date.”

    “I am too hot not to date myself, that’s why I am here, Mister.”

    A burst of laughter came from his whole presence while shaking his head in disbelief. “You remind me of someone. A pretty girl who never ceases to be amazed at herself.”

    “Whoever she is, I’m not even half-interested.”

    He shrugged at my response. “Say that when you get to meet her and by the way, there’s a pet shop around the corner, looking for some people to hire. Just go back to the coffee shop and turn left. Maybe you can find something you need there.”

    I hung my mouth slightly open, wondering how did he know that I was looking for a job, but I just closed my mouth, my cold ice cream was slowly melting in my hand. He handed me a tissue and I wiped it clean before I looked up at him again. “Thanks, I guess.”

    He playfully saluted me. “No problem, Miss Too-Hot-Not-To-Date-Herself.”

    I blushed from embarrassment and then smiled shyly at him. The weak nerd part of me resurfacing again so I snapped out of it. “I guess I need to go now.”

    He just nodded and I sauntered away while I continued to r****h my ice cream. I followed his instruction and stopped at the shop before me with a big “Woodley Pet Shop” name on it.

    Okay, Bailey. This is better than nothing.

    I released a huge air of hope, looking at myself in the glass window. I trampled my Giordano white chiffon blouse with my palm and tugged my newly bought Forever21 black cardigan. My russet hair was draped all over my chest, fixing it neatly to look like I was decent to hire. And hell, I knew I was decent to hire because the truth was, I was too overdressed not to be hired.

    I just disregarded my outfit and skipped to the door. I slowly halted when I saw a cute rabbit, munching a tiny carrot inside a cage. I bent down a little and watched it closely and a smile emanated from my lips when I remembered someone who really loved to have a cottontail rabbit.

    My friend, Tiana, loved to have a rabbit so much but she was allergic to it. She mentioned she had dogs, cats, and a turtle but she wanted to have a rabbit the most. To make her happy, I bought her a stuffed toy one for her birthday. Even though I wanted to give it to her personally, I decided to just leave it in her bed because I didn’t want to ruin her night sucking a girl’s face.

    I knew all along that Tiana was into girls because it was just too obvious. She always flirts with every person with p*****s and that means, including me. However, it was my first time seeing her being so close to someone like that. Someone like the blonde girl she was making out with at the beach. And I had to admit that it hurts a little when someone you were close with was not keen to share anything with you personally. Or I must say, emotionally.

    We had an argument that night because she thought I was the one who invited those football jocks. Okay, not only that night. Every time we were together, we just couldn’t seem to stop quarreling with each other. I just didn’t know why she was annoying sometimes. She’s really a likable person and almost everybody adores her.

    Who wouldn’t be? She was practically the sunshine in our school and everybody knows how friendly she is. She was literally the outgoing version of Arisa Gail Valentine, the most popular girl in our school.

    “Rabbits can hear up to a mile away,” a confident voice said that made my head snapped to their direction. A pretty girl with jet black hair smiled softly at me. She was wearing a black apron around her waist with the shop name on it. She stepped forward to me and turned her head sideways at the rabbit and then she went on, “They are a territorial being like wolves. They throw punches when they are being protective of themselves. Just feed her twice, once in the morning, once in the evening and she’ll be alright but make sure that you always give her attention or she would be lonely and sad.”

    “Oh, I am not planning to take one,” I responded, gesturing my hands awkwardly.

    “So are you looking for dogs, cats, fish,” she offered, beaming at me. “Or maybe a parrot? I think you need a parrot because I really want it out of this shop. They talk too much!”

    I chuckled, shaking my head ‘no’. “Actually, I’m looking for a part-time job.”

    “Ohhh,” she responded, opening her mouth too wide before she slowly closed it, scrutinizing me from head to toe. “You don’t look like a job hunter. You look like a hot boy hunter.”

    I rolled my eyes at her taunt. “Believe me, I always get that.”

    She shrugged her shoulder and paced away to open the door for me. I entered the shop and observed around. Even though it looked like it was small from outside, the interior was spacious enough to hold a huge wall aquarium full of different fish at the far left side. The wall was painted in a deep shade of blue with glittering tiny lights. There were circled Dalmatian patterned loungers at the center that could accommodate customers and modern lighting hanging on the ceiling. There were also wooden cabinets at the far end that were full of pet supplies.

    “Mom, someone’s here looking for a part-time job,” the girl, almost my age, called out.

    A woman in her fifties suddenly went out from the counter on the right side of the shop. She narrowed her eyes at me before pushing the glass she was wearing in the bridge of her nose. Somehow, she managed to approach me without me realizing it. I was too concerned about how could I land a job with her daunting my entire existence.

    With the way she stood before me, I knew that she was not just a woman who owned a pet shop. Her full presence was yelling the familiarity of being one of the superiors. You should know these fetching feelings if you were once part of the utmost society and surrounded by rich pupils.

    But in a way, a part of her made me feel at ease so I whacked my head in my mind and stretched my arms. “Hi, I’m Bailey Collins. Nice to meet you...”

    “Barbara. My name is Barbara Ashworth,” she introduced herself, shaking my hand in return. Even her voice was laced of poise.

    “Nice to meet you, Miss Ashworth,” I said, smiling nervously. And then, I awkwardly handed my resume to her, which she took immediately and then scanned it thoroughly. Normally, I would be confident how much I experienced I got but there was something bad about the way she raised her brow. For heaven’s sake, this is just a pet shop, not a multi-national corporation!

    Finally, after a moment of irksome silence, she closed my folder and gave it back to me. “Let’s talk about the terms and conditions, shall we?” she said before getting back behind the counter.

    I’m hired?! I’m f*****g hired!

    A heavy burden slowly dwindled out of me as I smiled in triumph. Her daughter that I totally forgot whirled in front of me, giving me a grin and tapped my shoulder lightly. “Congratulations, Bailey. I’m Zoey, by the way, and welcome to pet society.”

    Seriously?

    ********

    “I’m home!” I announced happily before shutting the door close. No one responded so I assumed my Dad already went out with my little brother to play soccer in the park. He made my Dad promised by giving him a pouty face that I always find so adorable.

    Still smiling, I headed straight to my room, throwing my bag on the bed before taking my clothes off. My phone abruptly buzzed which made me stop from pulling my short on. I looked at the screen to see Timothy messaged me. After I put on the last piece of my clothing around my body, I read the message blandly.

    ‘Hey, babe. How are you doing? Want to sleepover in here tonight? I’m all alone and ready to get wild for my sexy girlfriend.’

    I rolled my eyes. What a douche bag! We only made out and now, he was thinking I’m his girlfriend, ready to spread my legs for him.

    Ignoring his message, a message from Hilary came out so I quickly opened it.

    ‘Ready for a shopping spree for senior year? Meet us at the usual mall at 6. See you in a bit. :x ’

    I smiled and remembered that I have to shop before school starts. I saved enough money from my last job so it wouldn’t be a problem to buy an outfit that I want. I also recalled that we had to be at our best on the first day of school. It was a cheerleading tradition, so I must wear something extravagant— something that would put a b***h to shame and a loser to stoop down more, worshipping every move we take.

    Now, this was more interesting

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