chapter 2 - intrigued

"Woah." That's all Jennifer could say as she entered The 'Straunt. Not only was there a very good-looking guy around her age standing there taking people's orders, there was also a very good smell coming from the kitchen. She couldn't place the type or origin of the smell, but it appealed to her nose. She practically fluttered her way into the room next to where Orbea was standing.

"Hey girl!" Orbea squealed as she noticed Jennifer coming towards her. The two exchanged a quick hug before looking each other over, as they normally do. "Lookin' good, there, Jenni!"

"Thanks, Bea. You look pretty great, too!" Jenni looked again over at the register, catching the hot employee's eye before looking back quickly.

Bea seemed to notice her onlooking. "He's cute, isn't he," She winked at Jenni. "You should go talk to him."

Jenni was baffled. "No way! I can't compete with that! Look at him, he's tall, muscular, and he's got perfect skin! I'm none of those things." She pouted a little.

Bea waved her hand in dismissal. "Oh, you have no idea, he could really like chicks like you."

"Well, er... I guess," Jenni leaned back and forth anxiously. "I do need to order my food anyways."

"There you go, girl! Now go get that man." She went and sat down at a two-person table and at her small lunch. "I've already got my food, now go order yours. And maybe pick up a snack on your way!" She winked.

Nervously, Jenni waited in line for her turn to order. The people in front of her took a while to order. When it finally came time to order her food, the only thing that came out of her mouth were unintelligible gibberish that made the hot cashier give her a perplexed look.

"Uh, erm... Hi, Imma Jennerfi. Jeffiner. Jennifer." She laughed awkwardly.

The guy looked at her for a couple seconds longer and finally asked, "Hey, Jennifer. Is there anything that you would like to order?" If he was annoyed or thrown off by her clumsiness, he didn't show it in his voice or posture.

"Oh, right. Food." She laughed and ordered two BLT burger specials, a medium fry, and a large cola. She waited in the small waiting area before he name was called again.

"Jennifer!" The cashier yelled into the 'Straunt before noticing she was right there looking at him. "Oh, there you are."

"Yep, I'm right here." She said as she got up and picked up her food tray. As she was about to walk to Orbea's table, the guy tapped her shoulder.

"Hey, I'm about to go on break, I was wondering if I could sit with you while we eat? Only if you're okay with that, obviously." He smiled the cutest smile Jennifer had ever seen. She had almost already fallen in love with him.

"O-of course! I'd love that! You can find me..." She looked over at Orbea, who saw that she was talking with the guy. She pointed enthusiastically at an empty table across from theirs, in a corner with no one around. "Over there!" Jenni pointed at the table.

"Yea, that looks great," He said as he turned around and went to get his own lunch. "I'll meet you in five."

"Okay." On the outside, Jenni tried to keep herself looking cool and collected, while on the inside, she was partying like there was no tomorrow.

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The good-looking cashier sat down across from where Jennifer was sitting when she was about half way through her first burger. She looked up at him and gave him her best smile, one she didn't really know was her "best". He simply smiled back, looking like he just saw a thousand dollars sitting on her head.

"Hey. I should probably introduce myself to you, I don't think you know my name," He looked a little embarrassed. "I forgot to put on my tag today. Name's Chris. I already know your name, Jennifer."

Jennifer felt her face warming up, and she already knew she was blushing. "I... uh, just wanted to, um, say that... I think you're cute and I really like being close to you." She said the second part of that sentence to fast she could barely understand even herself.

Chris only smiled. "Hey I heard you need a summer job." He looked over at the counter. "We have an open position that I think would be great for you."

Jennifer thought about it. She really did need a summer job. Wait, how did he know that? She'd never met him before. She wasn't even sure if he lived here before now. But it could mean she could work alongside him, and possible warm him up to her...

"I'll take it"