Chapter 15: Sonic the Hedgehog on a keyboard

"Mum. Its fine, really, I don't need any new stuff!" I hand the money back to her but she pushes it away, back to me.

"Hun, you don't understand how difficult it is to buy clothes for you! You have around five shirts and jeans that you wear everyday! You need a range of clothes. I'm not buying it for you anymore, since you never wear the clothes I get anyway. Take Bubbles or Meghan or someone!" she says, placing the money in my hands.

"Ok, I'll think about it," I say, walking off with the two thousand dollars my mum has generously let me borrow. I walk into the garage, strapping my helmet on and plugging in my earphones as I remove my bike.

I start riding down the street, Beyonce's single ladies beating in my ears. I made a playlist on Spotify of this same song 60 times (BEYONCE, BABY!) so I could play it on repeat without clicking anything. Aren't I smart?

This week has been pretty uneventful, apart from the studying, classes and sleeping, I haven't been doing much. And, lucky me, I haven't spoken to Alex too many times, he's hanging around with Amanda - oh, pardon me, I mean swapping saliva with Amanda. Its disgusting! Noah and I changed our date day to next Thursday, he didn't give me a reason why, but I decided to go with it, we'd only exchanged a quick sentence about it at the party, so I'm fine with that. Noah and I have been getting pretty close lately. I went to another football match of his yesterday, they won and apparently Noah scored the winning try, even though the only try he scored was at the very start. The others were scored by another kid called Sam and Alex also scored a couple. Actually, now that I think about it, Alex scored most. Noah brought me down onto the field to celebrate and kissed me in front of everyone. It was disgusting. I see Noah as a friend, not a boyfriend, which didn't help with what happened next...

"So, are you guys a couple now?" Sam asked Noah. Noah turned to me and smiled, asking with his eyes if that was ok. I nodded, even though I didn't really want to be a couple.

"I guess so," Noah said to his team. They all cheered. Noah dropped me off at my house after the game and I got some serious questioning from my mum, but I can deal with that. I'm now Noah's girlfriend. I should've said no! I just didn't want to hurt his feelings... whoops. I don't even know if his feeling would've been hurt though. Oh, well.

I didn't see Alex after the game, though he was there before the whole "Natalie is now Noah's girlfriend" thing. He must've gone home or gone to see Amanda, the cow.

So now I ride down along the beach of California, the palm trees waving around me, the wind pushing my dutch braids behind me, the loose strands dangling around my helmet.

When I was young, and we lived in America, the place we lived in was a town called Paige, still in California, but not in the center. It wasn't the most well known place. Some people that attend Lakewater high went to my primary school, as there were no high schools in the area, people like Amanda. I'm not sure if she moved or stayed in Paige, but I for sure wouldn't like to visit her and her family, regardless of where they live (*shiver*).

A/N: You can skip this if you want, unless you wanna here about strawberries and needles that clearly shouldn't have been placed inside the fruit. Hey! Sorry if any of you readers live in Paige. I could be totally wrong, and it'll be a REALLY well known place with heaps of high schools. I just searched up America on google maps and looked at the little words of places in California. Is California a state or a country? I dunno. I'm stupid. I don't really wanna ask google either, I'm to lazy. Wow, that's rich, coming from someone who is FULL ON TYPING. Ha. I just don't wanna open a new tab and use my mouse. I'll do it later. Anyway. Tell me stuff about Paige you Americans, in the comments! Is it popular and well known? I love Australia, you should come visit. Don't buy the strawberries though. Some lunatic put needles in them now I don't get my strawberries (*sad face*). Anyway, if the strawberry-needle physco is reading this PLEASE STOP PUTTING NEEDLES IN MY FRUIT. Well, this has gone totally off topic. Soooooo byeeeeee. Peace out ma friends. (I want my strawberries back please, ya maniac) PS: sorry is I said anyway too much. PPS: sorry if you read this, I just had to ask about Paige and clear things up. I didn't mean to go off topic and talk about strawberries. But, I mean, needles are for sewing (To put things TOGETHER), and, unless you cut them, the strawberries ARE IN ONE PIECE. Get over yourself idiot, I like my strawberries - my STITCHED strawberries - I'm sorry if you're depressed about your unemployment, but I need my nourishment, lunatic. You are a farting nugget-weeble. You people in other countries, only my friends will understand. I am SO sorry! I'll stop now.

BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE sorry for being so immature. You can't expect maturity from a young teenage girl. Yeah you know my age now. Don't stalk me, especially you, strawberry man. bye. once and for all (I hope).

I hop off my bike, crossing at the pedestrian crossing. Across from me I see a large building. It's pastel brick walls are painted beige, with a brown-almost-black metal over hang. There's a sign that says:

"Cafe Extra"

I guess it must be a cafe (oh, really Natalie? I didn't know?). There are many people sitting in booths outside and delicious looking food and drinks are being served on the tables and chairs outside. I see another sign on a movable chalkboard, "Waiters and Waitresses needed!"

I look back inside the cafe and see the number of workers there. People are sitting and chatting at the tables while others wait to be served. Obviously this is a popular place. I decide to call my friends to ask if they're interested, clearly this cafe needs some help.

First I call Bubbles, her answer is an immediate yes. Although I know she can be a bit hyper at times, she won't be as silly as to drop or smash plates, unless on accident.

I then call Kate, who sadly says she needs to get her grades up, or her parents will pull her out of her volleyball team, which I assume she really enjoys, she is the captain, after all.

I call Chloe, who says she'd love to help, but has other requirements. I call Meghan next, who replies straight away, saying she'd love to. They all sound like they know the resturant, so that's pretty good.

I walk into the cafe and step up to the counter, skipping the long line waiting outside. I wait for five minutes before dining the bell once. I see someone behind a small rectangular glass window huff and pull off their little headdress thingo that looks like a fishing net. She quickly jogs around the wall, out the door and to the counter.

"Hi," she says breathlessly. "How can I help you?"

She seems in a hurry. The woman looks around her forties, with caramel brown hair, pale skin and dark eyes.

"Um, I saw your sign out the front," I begin, before I see her face, a smile warming up her distressed features. "Me and a couple of my friends would be willing to help out."

"Oh, sweetie! You are my savior! Thank the heavens!" she clasps her hands around mine before quickly walking into what I assume is the kitchen, gesturing me to wait a few moments. She returns with her fishnet hat thingo on, walking with her is a young boy, possibly 14, with headphones around his neck and dark, emo features.

"This is Jeff! He's going to tell you what to do while I work back there," she jabs a finger behind her at the kitchen. "How many people have you asked, darling?"

"Oh, my two friends and I. Would you like me to ask them to come here?"

"Aren't you a gem! That won't be necessary!" she gushes. "What is your name, hun?"

"Natalie. And my friend's are Meghan and Bu- Claudia." Gosh, it sounds real weird calling Bubbles by her actual name.

"Well, Jeff here will show you the ropes, give you my number and a couple of forms and BAM! My life will be complete!" she claps her hands and quickly jogs back to the kitchen. I smile. I like this woman! I turn to - what I think is - her son.

"Hi. I'm Jeff!" he says sarcastically, waving around his Nintendo.

"I'm Nat, nice to meet you," I say.

"Okay, well, I wanna get back to my Pokemon, but I'll show you a few things before I go," he says, gesturing for me lazily to follow him. I trail after Jeff, walking through the kitchen, the sound of coffee machines and juice mixers whirring away in my ears. He leads me up the steps into what looks like an apartment.

"So," he plops down on his bed in a room we walk into. Its full of Mario cart, Pokemon and Fortnite pictures. There is a nintendo charger lying on his drawers and a large Apple Mac sits open on his desk, I think he's just been browsing the web for hot, young, fictional women on nintendo. Like a hobbo, I think he sits down here stalking video game warrior women, instead of helping his mum (and possibly his dad) run a business. What's next for him? Hitting on Baby Peach?

"Here's the details," he hands me a few pieces of paper stapled together, not too many, though. "And here is your contract," he hands me another page and i put that behind the first one. I look at the details booklet and when I get to the salary an hour, I'm certain my eyes bulge out of my head.

"Wait! Is this for real? We get $12 an hour?" I say, flabbergasted. He laughs at me. "What?"

"What do you mean, what? How much did you expect to be paid?"

"Well, the average amount an hour for people with this job get around $3 or something!"

"Really?" he hops off his bed, plops onto a rolly chair, and spins to face his computer. He types on his keyboard at supernatural speed. What is he, Sonic the Hedgehog on a keyboard? "Oh, you are right," he says, turning to me before pouting and shrugging. He waves me off, lying down on his bed and plugging in his headphones. I turn and walk out the door, down the stairs and into the kitchen.

The woman, who I assume runs the place, Jeff's mother, waits for me when I emerge from the kitchen.

"Thank you so much! It really means alot to us that you're volunteering!" she hugs me, I smell lavender and honeysuckle on her clothes, even though she must work non-stop with dishes and bins. "If you could fill out the contract and your details on the sheet, that would be appreciated."

"Ok! Sounds good," I say, turning and stopping behind the counter.

"My name's Rosemary Extra, B T dubs," she tells me. I smile at the abbreviation.

"Thanks Rosemary! I'll get the forms back to you as soon as possible! I can start next Saturday," I say. She smiles and waves at me as I walk out the door.

"Bless your soul Natalie! Thank the heavens you were born!" she hollers as I leave the cafe.

***

"I'm home!" I call into the house, dropping my keys on the kitchen room table and walking upstairs. I'm about to open the door to my room when Mum calls me into the boy's games room.

I cross over the hallway and open the door, keeping my hand on the knob and swinging in and out of the room with the door. "Yeah?" I say.

Mum gestures to Felecia, who is sitting on a bean bag watching Paul and Lucas play Fortnite. She looks really bored. "Jackson and the boys are at a kindergarten interview, Michelle's at a meeting, so she had to come here."

"Ha! Alex is applying for kindergarten? Finally!" I say, overjoyed. Mum rolls her eyes and Felecia smiles.

"Despite all my efforts, these boys will not get off their stupid Xbox," she throws indignant glances at my brothers. "I'll be dealing with them later, but maybe if you and Felecia wanted to hang out, you could?"

I nod and pull Felecia out of the room. "My brothers are such idiots," I roll my eyes.

"Yup," she says. I grin, leading her down the hallway and into my room. We take a seat on the bed and talk for a little while about school. I get up to fetch some food from the kitchen and when I get back I see her looking at my photos stuck up on my desk. There's some of me and Adele, me as a young girl, me dressing up, me on my first days of school, me running, me reading. They were all taken by dad, except the ones of me and Adele, which mainly consists of selfies.

"I didn't know you could sing!" she say, pointing to a picture of me strumming my guitar and singing on the streets of Paris, Adele throwing 5 cents into my case.

"Oh well..." I blush, trailing off and looking down. I hand her the bowl of chips and she walks back over to my bed and plops down. "Alex can sing too. And play the guitar."

I laugh. I laugh so much I almost fall off my bed. I'm surprised I don't have abs by the time we stop. "Wait. Really?" I ask when I see her puzzled face.

"Not many people know. Actually, a lot of people know," she rolls her eyes. "Its one of the reasons why girls find him so 'attractive'. My friends MY TWELVE YEAR OLD FRIENDS have been asking for his number."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it gets annoying."

"I think he'd like singing with you," she smiles evilly at me and puts a chip in her mouth, crunching it.

"Ew, no," I roll my eyes and fall onto my pillows.

"Does he know you can sing?"

"I don't think so...?"

"Well, he's never sung with anyone else, other girls would be dying to. But," she shrugs. "There's only one girl for him!" she raises her eyebrows at me.

"Can Amanda sing?"

"What the hell Natalie? Amanda is not 'the one' for Alex!" she rolls her eyes again.

"Oh, phew. I don't like either of them, but she's a tiny bit dumber than him."

She sighs. "You are actually legit clueless."

"About what?"

"Exactly."

"Do you wanna do something? I don't wanna sit here talking about your idiotic brother everyday. No offence," I add, even though I know it won't offend her.

"Sure! Do you have any ideas?" she smiles brightly.

An idea comes to my mind and my face lights up. "I think I do."

***

"Purple, definitely purple," I tell Felecia.

"Yeah, I agree," she says, turning on her heel and stepping back into the change room, the orange dress swishing around her knees. We came to H&M to find her some, everyday clothes, but we got a bit sidetracked and started looking at dresses. They aren't the best quality, but the purple one looks really good on Felecia.

When she's finished, Felecia hops out of the change room and we stack the clothes back onto the rack before going to pay.

"Are you sure?" Felecia says as I get out my wallet to pay for the dress, jeans and blouse. "I don't want you to waste you money."

"Nah, mate. Its all good, I'm probably not going to use it anyway," I say, handing the money to the cash lady. I don't understand why my mum gave me actual money instead of just transferring some onto my credit card.

"Isn't that what Alex calls you?" she raises her eyebrows. "I love it how you have nicknames for each other."

"Pssh. We don't have nicknames for each other. I call Patricia by her name and sometimes I call her some other girly names."

She laughs. "Why do you think she's a girl."

I take the bag and we begin walking out of the shop. "Well, she called me a boy when I bumped into her."

"You bumped it to him. As in, you banged into him?"

"Yeah, he needs some ray bans with prescriptions," I say. Felecia laughs.

"That's so cliche. You met bumping into each other."

"Not really, we met before that. For some horrible reason I don't want to know about."

"Still. You had both changed and definitely didn't recognize each other."

"I really wish he got those prescriptions, things would be so different," I mumble. I wouldn't have banged into him and wouldn't have had to interact with him. No modelling contract, no watching him kiss girls, no getting locked in the gym with him, no knocking him out, no tennis. HE SHOULD'VE GOT THOSE PRESCRIPTIONS.

"Where are we going next?" Felecia says, bringing me out of my AMAZING daydream about Alex and his prescriptions.

"Kmart? Do you want stuff for your room or something? I know there are all these randos on YouTube doing room decor stuff from Kmart and cheap places," I say as we walk out of the store.

"Yeah! All my friends all have cool rooms. All I have is purple walls and a white bed and blue bed," she scrunches up her face and I laugh.

"Kmart it is," I say and we turn down a corridor.

As we step into Kmart I see someone I really don't want to. I don't have time for her! Why the hell is she even in Kmart?

"Argh, why is she here?" Felecia voices my exact thoughts.

"I don't know. Let's go find some curtains," I pull her hand and we run off before Amanda notices us.

***

We arrive at the checkout with an overflowing basket of lights, rugs, objects and shelves. We carry stools and pillows in our hands and we dump them onto the counter, shaking our arms when the load is piled off. We pay a total of only $204. Wow, at other fancy places it'd probably be around $500.

"Well, well, well. Look who's arrived at Kmart," Amanda drawls. Damnit. We thought we could escape the devil. We were wrong.

"We're just leaving actually," I take the bag and Felecia carries the stools.

"Felecia? Honey, what're you doing here?"

"Oh, I just with Nat, she took me shopping with her," she jerks her head towards me, smiling sweetly at Amanda.

"Why didn't you go shopping with me?" Amanda pouts.

"Um, I didn't want to?" Felecia says slowly.

"Why not?"

"Because my brother is an idiot and he shouldn't have chosen to date you. Bye Amanda, I hope Alex comes to his senses and dumps you."

And with that, we walk away. I smile proudly at Felecia as we ride back to her place.

"That was amazing!" I fist pump when we stop at the lights.

"Someone needs to tell her the truth," she rolls her eyes.

"That's for sure," I snort.

We continue driving and talking for ten minutes before we pull up at the Collins' residence.

"Thanks for coming Felecia! Is your mum home?"

"Yeah. Thank you so much for buying all these things for me! I'm gonna decorate my room as soon as I get inside!"

"Hope you like it! Get Alex to send me a picture."

Felecia hope out of the car, taking her things. "I can't wait to be your sister in law!" and with that she races inside the house, throwing me a cheeky grin as she closes the door. I don't understand how she can run so fast with a load like that!

I drive off INTO THE SUNSET AND LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

Amen.

__________________________________________________

Hey everyone! Hope you enjoyed. Might've been a few mistakes, sorry! I'm realy rushed. Its holidays here in Australia and I'm leaving tomorrow. Don't expect a chapter for a week. Sorry!

Strawberry update:

They found some needles in bananas and apples! I MEAN WHO DOES THIS! WHAT IS THE POINT! When I find you I will personally inject you with sewing needles, because, apparently, you need you BRAIN STITCHED BACK TOGETHER!

I want my fruit back! Today I tried to eat my strawberries. I had to eat them very slowly and I didn't find any needles in them (LUCKY! STOP IT YOU PSYCHO), we got them from somewhere that actually sells them because My family needs their fruit!

Anyway, my dad is shouting at me to "Stop writting emails and go to bed!"

He doesn't know I'm writing a book. Ha.

Anyway! Good nugget everybody., I'll be back in a week with some new stuff! I only just fit this chapter in. I would've gone to bed and not finished writting it bfore I left for a week, then you'd have to wait a week for this chaoter. You're welcome.

Sorry this chapter was pretty uneventful! And sorry about the horrible editing (ha, I mean no editing) in the authors note.

Remember to comment about Paige you Americans and Vote by clicking the star in the corner.

BYEEEEEEEEEEEE see you next week.