Evening Rush

By Kristina Smith

Is having someone to love you really too much to ask? For Andie, it feels like it is.
Andie’s life started out perfect. She had a perfect mother, a perfect father, a perfect family. But when her mother is murdered, her life is turned upside down. Her father takes up drinking, her friends ignore her, and love becomes unattainable. Or so she thinks.
Still haunted by the murder ten years later, Andie gets a job at a movie theater where nobody knows about her past. Her life seems to be falling into place with new friends and a guy who might actually like her, until her nightmares come to life. One person knows about her past, her mother’s killer, and he’s back to make sure she never forgets it. The good news: she’s not alone anymore. She’s found the love of her life. The bad news: he’s not who he says he is. Will love be enough to save her or is she destined to be alone?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kristina Smith
• Release date: Nov 27, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465945198

Kristina Smith

Kristina Smith is an educator and former clinical therapist with more than 15 years of experience teaching and tutoring children with learning challenges. Trained in the Orton-Gillingham method and having developed educational materials that support it, she coauthored two books, Teach Reading with Orton-Gillingham and Teach Reading with Orton-Gillingham: Early Reading Skills, and continues to explore and develop new teaching methods in a variety of study areas. Kristina is originally from the Washington, DC, area, but moved to Florida to earn her bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of South Florida and, later, her master’s degree in social work from Florida State University. Currently, Kristina resides in Panama City Beach, Florida, with her husband. To learn more about Kristina and fellow coauthor Heather MacLeod-Vidal’s resources for struggling readers, please visit their website TreetopsEducation.com or search Treetops Educational Interventions on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Book preview

EVENING RUSH

Kristina Smith

Copyright 2010 by Kristina Smith

Smashwords Edition

CHAPTER ONE

Ow.

Andie, are you alright?

I rub my head and look over at Maria. They really shouldn’t clean these glass doors so well. There’s no telling how many people have already done that.

I agree, says a voice behind me.

I turn around and see Jason, this really great guy in his mid-twenties who makes my heart flutter every time I see him. He’s tall and lanky with bushy brown hair. His eyes are penetrating, and whenever he smiles, I can’t help but smile too. Too bad he’s my boss.

At least, it’s not clean anymore. He smirks.

Don’t laugh. It could have very easily been you, I say giving him my shoulder as I walk into the movie theater.

Right, cause I walk into glass doors all the time.

Are you suggesting that I do?

Yes. He chuckles. I am.

That was my first time thank you very much.

What about last Wednesday?

That wasn’t a glass door, I say avoiding his eyes. It was wooden.

It was a door.

It was wooden, I repeat with more emphasis.

He leans in close, grinning. It was a door.

I mutter under my breath, It was a wooden door, as he unlocks Maria’s register and then mine.

I heard that.

And? I ask, getting peeved. He always knows how to get under my skin.

Cool it, Maria moans and leans over the counter in the concession stand. You're both driving me insane.

Jason laughs, squeezes her shoulders, and then pokes me in the side. So, how was the movie yesterday? He asks me.

It was all right, I say, pushing the stack of cups by my register into a straight line.

I don’t think you ever told me what you were seeing. He eyes me curiously.

It was the movie that was showing at two o’clock, I say, not quite meeting his eye. I brush a stray popcorn kernel into my palm. I really went to see the new Disney movie about talking dogs. I love kiddie flicks, but I’m not quite ready to tell him that, or anyone for that matter.

That narrows it down. He laughs. What was it about?

Oh, you know, the usual, I answer. He’s staring at me as if he wants more. There was a guy and a girl.

Uh-huh and…

And they fell in love and… I’m searching for more ordinary facts, when I see a smirk coming across his face. What difference does it make anyhow? We’ve got work to do. He thinks this is so funny.

Hey Jason, man, I need a register. Mitch is standing near by and so are several others, all waiting for Jason to unlock their registers.

He grins at me, taps the counter, and finishes his job.

Sometimes I really can’t stand the guy. He couldn’t have stopped after the whole door thing. He had to keep going. He had to keep pushing just to see me squirm. I cross my arms and look at Maria, who’s still leaning on the counter and staring at me with both eyebrows raised.

What? I ask, a little more harshly than necessary.

Nothing, she says, raising her hands.

I narrow my eyes, about to pull her ‘nothing’ out of her, when a familiar voice echoes across the lobby.

The doors are closed, but not for long. The rain is gone, and God only knows why I came to work at eleven o’clock as people line up on the sidewalk to see a movie about a pirate who can’t talk. Chris bangs his dark, black hair to his own drum while he beats the countertops with his fingers. The conclusion grows louder as he makes his way towards us. His pressed and wrinkle-free uniform is tucked to perfection into his khaki slacks. Are we going to open, or what?

Chris, you’re back! I throw my arms around him, and envelope him in a tight hug. How was your trip?

Not bad.

Did they like your work? Are you getting a record deal?

Chris laughs. I don’t know yet. They're going to let me know.

The first time I met Chris he was rapping to the popcorn maker. Four weeks later, he’s rapping to a crowd of thousands at an open mic competition in New York.

I wish you could have been there. The place was huge.

Really? How huge? Any talk of New York sends my mind whirling with adrenaline. Was it overwhelmingly exciting?

Florida was overwhelmingly exciting. Maria sighs. I hate when vacations are over.

Didn't you spend it all in bed? I smirk, looking over at her.

Yea. That guy was amazing. Maria leans across the counter. Maybe I should call him.

I shake my head, grinning, and then turn back to Chris. You have to tell me as soon as you hear something, I order.

Andie. Jason brushes my back with the top of his fingers.

Yea? I turn around, my eyes still bright with the thought of the City.

He doesn’t answer and pushes past me to unlock Chris’ register.

What’s the matter? I ask, when he continues to avoid my gaze.

Nothing, he mumbles.

Something is. You’ve got that sulking look on your face like last time.

What last time? Jason snaps, looking up.

When you had to work all last week to cover Chris’ shift?

I was not sulking.

You didn’t speak for three days. I hold up three fingers to show my point.

Hey, if my leaving… Chris starts, breaking into the conversation.

You weren’t here for two of them. Jason’s voice rises above Chris’.

Maria told me, smart ass.

Smart ass? Now I’m a smart ass?

Smart ass. Jack ass. It varies.

Hey, Chris yells.

What? Both Jason and I shout at the same time.

We’re opening.

Last time I checked Chris, you weren’t the manager. I was, Jason snarls.

Yeah, well act like it.

Jason growls. Get some hot dogs on the burner. It’s empty, he says, storming past Chris and me.

I turn to the front and fight back a smile. Something about the two of them fighting makes me want to cry with hysterics. I think it has something to do with the idea of Chris being in a scuffle. I just can’t see it. Him rolling around in the dirt…Ok, stop it. I have a job to do. I straighten my own shirt and try to compose myself. I feel my cheeks burning, though, and I know I’m smiling.

Chris ducks under the counter, reaching into the small freezer, and mumbles under his breath. I’m gone for five days and this is what I come back to. It’s like stepping into a damn circus act.

Beside me, Maria laughs, but quickly turns it into a cough.

The first rush of the day hits us hard. The three of us—Maria, Chris, and I—are working in the middle, the busiest of the three concession stands, and we barely have time to catch our breath. Being the smallest theater within the Birmingham metropolitan area, the Pinnacle 8 does fairly well, especially on a Saturday like today. I pile drink after drink onto the counter and sweep endless amounts of popcorn into bags.

A fallen popcorn bud crunches under my feet, and I skid to a stop in front of a pair of bright, powdered purple eyes.

Give me your kiddie packs, she says as she wrestles with her two young sons. Her grip tightens on their relentless arms as they flail for the arcade games. Stop it. Both of you, she hisses in their ear. You can have a quarter later. Their red heads shake vigorously.

Anything for you?

She scans the prices on the wall, her eyes weeping with exhaustion. An unfinished eyelash sulks awkwardly next to a dark clump of mascara.

We have a special. I point to the ceiling tiles where a cardboard drink and popcorn dangle. One medium popcorn and drink, seven dollars.

Yeah sure. Just make it snappy.

I pop open a bag and then slide as my feet hit the tile. Not good. I reach for the counter but my fingertips graze the edge. There’s nothing to grab as I crash to the floor, landing in the smear of butter left by my shoe. The popcorn kernel pierces my left bottom cheek. Ow.

I hear a snort, and a freckled hand reaches down to pull me up. I look up at Jason, my cheeks flaming. I really should be used to it by now, but why does he always have to find it so amusing?

Thanks, I mumble.

Maybe I should do the walking back here. I don’t want you to end up in the hospital. We’re short staffed as it is. He grabs the bag out of my hand and pulls me up.

That was one time, not even that big of a deal. I broke one measly finger. And he won’t let me live it down. I whine as I stand up. But he’s probably right about the walking part.

Jason continues to hold my hand even after I'm on my feet. He pulls me close and whispers in my ear, Please try to be more careful.

His scent is enough to send my knees shivering, but my heart about gives out when his words hit me. When I realize they were meant for me alone.

He releases me too soon for me to know his reasoning behind it. I look up at him hoping to find an answer, but he pushes me forward, not meeting my gaze.

I scowl and wipe the remains off the back of my pants. I reach for a cup to fill the lady's drink order, but a jelly-bellied man in spectacles stares back at me.

Once the crowd dies away, I look around at the mess. Popcorn thrown across the floor, candy shelves bare, hardly any cups and bags left.

What a disaster area? Maria groans.

Jason brings out more cups and bags and sets them on the counter.

I rub my left cheek as I reach for a rag under the counter.

How’s your bottom? Jason asks, still smirking.

I glare at him, but don’t say anything. It really does hurt.

Come on. I need you’re help, he says, grinning. He wheels out a cart full of candy. If you don’t mind?

Fine. I throw the rag back into the bucket before going to stand in front of him behind the candy display. Like I could tell him no.

He places a selection on top of the glass. The opening is behind the counter, so as we go around the three concession areas, I stack them neatly inside, and he dumps the candy in front of me.

I think I’m in love. But, I hate the guy. The way his lips twist in a lopsided smirk. And the crinkle around his eyes as he grins. Like now, as he peeks glances at me, but doesn’t say anything. Is it really necessary to make my heart skip erratically and leave me to suffer, blushing in mortification, not knowing what he really thinks of me? The answer is obviously yes.

When I close the last of the candy displays, he gazes at me, blushes, smiling just a bit, and runs his hand through his hair. Then, leaves.

Aagh, this is so frustrating. Why does he have to do that? One minute I think he might like me too. The next, I think I’m a total nutcase for even thinking it.

A brush of wind tickles my neck, and I'm about to get out of the draft when I get the odd sensation that someone is watching me. My heart stops as I turn around. Charlie Smith is inches from me, a wide grin on his face.

Charlie, I gasp and grab my chest. You scared me. What are you doing back here? Charlie works in the back as part of the cleaning crew. He rarely comes up front and, then, only to talk with Mitch, who works in the concession stand on the side.

I sometimes wonder why Mitch doesn't ask to move to the back as well. Mitch and Chris are cousins, though. Maybe that bond is deeper than I thought. I look over at the side and Mitch is gone, no doubt already in the back with the rest of his buddies.

I wanted to talk to you, Charlie says, flashing another grin. I notice his teeth are very white. It's blinding.

It takes me a minute to realize I'm staring at him rather than answering.

Why? I ask.

He laughs a soft, gentle laugh. Not the deep chuckle Jason does, but a pleasant one. It makes me nervous. Andie, I was hoping we could go out sometime. Surely you've noticed me watching you.

I shake my head, stunned. Why would he want to go out with me? My thoughts turn to Jason, and my stomach churns. Jason even knows me, well at least the parts I'm willing to share, and he won't even ask me out, so why would Charlie, who knows nothing about me?

I wonder. If they knew about my mother, would either one of them stay? I know the answer and push the thought away.

Charlie laughs again. Well, what do you say? Can I take you out sometime?

How do I get out of this one? Of all the times I've wished for someone to ask me out, I'm suddenly wishing it hadn't just happened. He's not exactly my dream guy. Um, thanks, but I'm going to be kind of busy, I say and trail off.

Smith, what do you think you're doing back here? Jason walks up and squeezes himself in between the two of us.

Charlie flashes another grin. I was just asking Andie out. Do you have a problem with that?

Yea...well... Jason stumbles on his response. Get back to work. This area is for concession stand employees only.

Charlie shrugs, winks at me and leaves. When he's gone, Jason pulls me by the elbow into the back room.

Ow, I whine, yanking my elbow back. What was that for?

What were you doing hanging around Charlie?

I wasn't hanging around anybody. He approached me. And so what if I was? It's a free country, I say, rubbing my arm.

I don't trust him. He looks at you like you're a trophy to put on his wall.

And what's wrong with that? I demand, staring him in the eye.

For a moment, he looks at me and then shakes his head. Did you say yes? He asks.

That's none of your business.

I head for the door, but Jason steps in front of me. Did you?

Why do you care?

Because...because I don't like it.

I laugh, once. Since when does being my boss entitle you to like who I may or may not go out with?

Your boss? I think I'm more than that. Don't you? He leans in close, demanding an answer.

His cologne washes