“You can’t kinda be a vegetarian, Rainier. Either you are, or youaren’t.”
“Well, my parents are, so I never ate meat growing up. For them, it’s a moral issue. They don’t agree with the conditions on most farms. They fight for the rights of the animals. Blah, blah, blah. I don’t have the samepassion.”
“So does that mean youeatmeat?”
“I’ve tried it a few times, but haven’t fallen inloveyet.”
“Have you tried the burgers at The Farmhouse? I bet they could convert even the most stubborn vegan.” She waggled her eyebrowsatme.
“Sarah works there and has been trying for months to get me toeatone.”
"Noluck?"
"Notyet."
Michelle burst out into a fit of laughter. “Your family is all over theplace.”
“It’s true, but I think it's mostly Sarah. We like to call her the rebel without a cause around our house. Everyone is a vegetarian; she works at a burger joint. My parents are huge advocates of homeschooling, she fought against it until they let her go to public highschool.”
“I knew she went to River Valley High, but I also knew you were the weird homeschool–” She stopped and gave me a look that wasn’t entirely guilt, but wasn’t unkindeither.
“I know I’m the weird homeschool kid. You didn't reveal some major secret oranything.”
"I didn't mean anythingbythat."
"Iknow."
We sat there in silence looking at each other. In what universe was Michelle making sure I wasn't upset by something she said? I didn't know what to saytothat.
“I'll be honest," she said eventually. "I almost envy your family. Its drama seemsmanageable.”
"Maybe."
"It's true. I feel like my life is all kinds of upside downrightnow.
“Which is why you're working in a lame bookstore all summer.” I teased. I didn't think it was badatall.
“At least the company isn’t as horrible as I expected it to be.” She smiled before going back to the front of thestore.
It was almost like she wanted to be friends. It would be so easy to think that, to encourage that. I knew Jenny had said she liked her now. She’d been decent tonight, even with the embarrassing stories about myfamily.
Our conversations were just pleasant enough to have me overthinking what they meant. I could overanalyze every word and still be confused about where the two of usstood.
Thankfully, there wasn’t much time left before closing to go down that path. I finished up the food my sister brought, put the rest of the books on the cart, and began the closing procedures for the store. I managed to do all this without saying anything beyond what wasnecessary.
I hoped it was the rightchoice.
ChapterEleven
Michelle
Another day,anotherdollar.
At least that’s what I kept telling myself with every new shift. Thankfully, I only had to work a couple of hours that night. The way the schedule was set up, I got quite a few closing shifts with Rainier. He typically worked a full shift, while I came in just for the last partofit.
He was reading a book when Iwalkedin.
“Hey,Rainier.”
