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The ice cream shop has a little inside area with a few tables that allow it to be open year-round, but there is also a window that people can walk up to from outside. This window tends to be much busier at this time of year when it’s still nice outside. I always feel bad for the people who get stuck working over there.
“Eli is over there by himself right now. Payton should be joining him soon.”
Eli Dubs is a year behind me in school and mostly sticks to himself at work, so I don’t know too much about him. Payton Benner is also somewhat of a mystery since she goes to a different school than the rest of us. Her school is fifteen minutes from ours and one of our biggest rivals in most sports, but since she doesn’t play any sports, all I know about her is what I’ve learned from working with her. That isn’t much since she’s pretty shy most of the time. In fact, the only person she really seems to open up to ever is Eli.
Between working with Delilah and visits from other classmates, the next three hours seem to fly by. I remember to take my visor off and put it into my work locker before leaving this time. Thank God. I hate taking that thing to school because my friends make such fun of it.
The drive back to my house is less than ten minutes, and as soon as I walk through the front door, I’m greeted by my little sister, Morgan, and her best friend, Jocelyn Raemer. Little is a bit of an exaggeration though, given that my sister is just slightly more than a year younger than me and only a grade below me in school. That still doesn’t stop me from seeing her as my annoying little sister though, so I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes when they run to the door as soon as I walk in.
“Want to go for ice cream?” she asks as she bounces from foot to foot. I know that’s actually code for do you want to take us for ice cream since they don’t have their licenses yet. “Both JV and varsity girls won tonight and Joc scored three goals, so we want to celebrate.”
“You want me to take you to get ice cream…” I draw out my words for dramatic effect. “From the place I work… that I literally just left.”
Jocelyn shakes her head. “You really don’t have to.” Jocelyn is a year younger than my sister, which makes her just two years younger than me, but that age difference is glaringly obvious. This is probably because Jocelyn is still so shy around me even though we have known each other most of our lives. I have no idea why that is since I’ve always tried my best to make her feel comfortable and wanted, even when my sister is on my last nerve.
“Three goals though?” I sigh because I know I’m about to give in.
Jocelyn’s face turns red as she looks toward the ground and shrugs. “Yeah, but just for JV.”
I reach out and squeeze Jocelyn’s shoulder. “Still amazing. Plus, it won’t be JV for long with the way you’re killing it.” I’m not just saying that. I’ve seen Jocelyn play and if I had to guess, I’d say she’ll see some time in a varsity game by the end of the season. “I’m going over to Jazmin’s house soon, but we can go.” I hitched my thumb toward the stairs. “Just let me ask Marcus if he wants anything.”
“Yes!” Morgan puts her hand up to high five Jocelyn then looks back at me. “Fair warning. Abby is here. Make sure you knock first.”
Abby is my brother’s girlfriend. They’ve been dating since their freshman year and are now seniors. Even after three years together, they still act like a new couple. I love the two of them together, but it’s a little much how they can’t seem to ever be apart. I never want to be like that with someone, but I guess I can’t blame them since Abby doesn’t have the best home life. I don’t know the extent of it. I just know my brother said that’s why she likes spending so much time with our family.
Taking my sister’s advice, I knock on Marcus’s door. It’s not like I wouldn’t have done it anyway, though. It only takes walking in on one steamy makeout session to never make that mistake again.
“What?” Marcus yells at the same time Abby’s sweet voice tells me to come in.
“Is it safe?” I ask as I slowly open the door, making sure to keep my eyes closed as I do.
“It’s safe,” Abby says with a giggle.
When I open my eyes, I find the two of them sitting on Marcus’s bed fully clothed, thank God. “I just wanted to see if you two want to come for ice cream with me, Morgan, and Jocelyn.”
Marcus lifts an inquisitive eyebrow at me. “Didn’t you just get home from working at The Fairfield Family Freeze?”
“Yes, but instead of texting and asking me to bring stuff home, Morgan decided to wait until I got here to tell me she wants ice cream.” This time, I don’t suppress my eye roll.
Marcus laughs and shakes his head. “Typical. We’re good though.”
“Speak for yourself,” Abby says as she stands from the bed. “I’m always down for ice cream.”
Marcus groans but stands from the bed as well. “Looks like we’re all going.”
When we get to the ice cream shop, I’m surprised to find that Payton is still working. “What are you still doing here?” I ask when it’s my turn to order.
Payton readjusts her visor, which somehow looks natural over top of her long brown hair that is currently pulled back into a ponytail. “I convinced Mrs. Fairfield to let me work longer since I finished all of my homework during my free period.”
“I’m jealous. I could use that extra cash.”
Payton laughs and adjusts her visor once again. “Tell me about it.”
I order a milkshake then say goodbye to Payton and join the rest of my group at a picnic table. I’m about to tell them we need to make it quick when a text comes through from Jazmin.
Don’t kill me, but Samara is here.
Samara Lynn. She’s a shooting guard just like me and seems to think there isn’t room for both of us as starters, therefore apparently making us mortal enemies. My only problem with her is the problem she seems to have with me, which she makes very obvious.
