Chapter II

   My head pulsed in pain as the sound of the people in Starbucks began to finally overstimulate me.
   I made a tower of whip cream for a waiting customer and quickly handed it to Greg who was waiting for it, he gave it to the customer and then I sat down on a chair and rubbed my head.
   "You are really not feeling good are you?" Greg looked at me with pity.
   "Stop it, I'm fine... I'm just over working that's all. Its the holidays and I'm really trying to keep food in my stomach. Now I know what my mother met when she said 'Enjoy childhood while you have it Jazmine...'" I sighed, completely exhausted. And the holidays weren't over yet...
   "You NEED to take the day off Jazz," He grabbed a chair and sat down next to me.
   I looked at him skeptically. "Are you crazy? I NEED the money..." I snapped.
   "Ok, you know what... I'm making you take the day off. I'll work your shift and mine." My eyes widened and I looked nervously at my co-workers.
   "Greg... I still have to work for 3 more hours." I hissed.
   "Yeah so? I have to work for 5 more hours, I just started my shift... no biggy." He shrugged, and smiled.
   "I'm not making you suffer for my sake," I growled.
   "Yes, you ARE." He pointed to my apron.
   "Your going back to your dorm to hang out with Abby, its perfectly fine with me. I've got nothing else to do all day... I promise I'll work for the next 7 hours Jazz." He smiled reassuringly, I groaned and reluctantly took off my apron.
   "Your digging yourself a hole..." I muttered.
   "Doesn't matter to me, you need the break Jazz... you've been working for the past couple months almost every day of the week." Greg took my apron from me and folded it up and tossed it into my hands.
   "Now I want you, to walk out that door and think of nothing but something fun to occupy yourself for the rest of the day. I don't want you even thinking about work or how you will do tomorrow... got it?" He gently pushed me towards the door.
   "Sure, got it..." I rolled my eyes.
   "Good, now go!" He waved me away, I smiled and waved and sauntered out the door.
   I spun my key ring on my finger and listened to them jingle as I walked to my old silver dodge truck.
   As soon as I got home I found Abby "studying" with her iPod in her ears; I rolled my eyes and grabbed a tin foil ball off the kitchen table and threw it at her. It hit her head and she nearly fell off the couch!
   "Hey, your home early..." She stared at me with confusion.
   "Yeah," I dropped my purse onto the table. "Greg practically shoved me out the door forcing me to take the rest of the day off, he's working my shift plus his." I let my head droop in her direction to watch her reaction.
   She snickered. "Awe, what a sweetheart!" She grinned mischievously. "I think he has a crush on YOU Jazzy..." She giggled.
   "Shut up!" I gasped, bolting to her and punching her arm. She laughed and shielded herself with her history textbook from another one of my blows.
   I play fought with her for a few minutes and then laughed; I decided it was about time to cook something for dinner so I started searching for something to cook.
   "Oh, Jazz... there's a message on the phone for you from your mom." Abby told me as she went into our bedroom.
   I stopped what I was doing and stared at my hand reaching for the package of spaghetti and let what she just said register... my mom called? I shut the cupboard and went over to the dorm phone and clicked play on the messages.
   "One new message Friday 1:46PM..." The automated message machine spoke robotically. It beeped and sure enough, my mom's voice filled my ears.
   "Hey Jazz!" I smirked at her enthusiasm. "Well, I just hoped you were home or something but I guess your not... I wanted to just talk to you to hear your voice but anyways, the reason why I'm calling is because I was wondering if you were going to drive on back down here for Thanksgiving." I immediately froze as her voice kept on chattering.
   "I know your probably not going to from what I've heard, so I've decided to make the descision for you. I know this sounds really bossy, but I REALLY want you to come down here for Thanksgiving. I miss you SO much Jazmine, and so does your brothers and father..." She sighed. "You'll probably say no, but I am going to pay for your trip down here anyway. There should be a check in the mail in the next day or so for you and Abby to get yourselves back home, I'm praying that Abby will somehow manage to drag your stubborn behind back to Humboldt. Anyway, you don't have to call back I guess... but at least have Abby call back. Hope I'll see you soon sweetheart... bye..." It beeped and I felt my face heat up.
   "It's not what you think Jazmine! I know your about to blow up at me!" Abby defended herself from the other room.
   I banged my forehead against the cupboard and moaned.
   "Abigail Hailey, I said I can't!!!" I screamed, I kicked a chair... which I regretted because it brought pulsing pain to my foot.
   "Jazz, come on!" She came into the kitchen and had that pleading innocent look on her face. "You know you want to," She gave me a critizising glare.
   I looked at her pleadingly, but there was definitely a sign that she was not going to be persuaded otherwise not to pursue this.
   "I honestly miss my family Abby! But I can't afford it, and just like my mom said I'm not accepting that money. I'm 19 for- geezes!!!" I groaned in frustration.
   I looked at Abby's face and she was smiling of all things!
   "What's so funny?" I snapped.
   "Nothing... just that you have no choice in whether or not your going." She inspected her finger nails casually as I gaped at her.
   "Since when do you have a say in what I do?" I stared at her, utterly shocked.
   She grinned proudly. "I already talked to our boss, and Greg I might add, your going to Humboldt whether you want to or not. Either that or you sit around here with nothing to do but homework until January..." She sat in a chair and smiled.
   I stared at her silently, that is the most conniving trick I've ever heard of...
   "Your not mad are you?" She asked, sounding a little worried.
   I shook my head and sighed. "I guess I can't be," I turned my back to her.
   "Jazz, are you ok?" Abby talked slowly, and cautiously.
   I chuckled and turned around to face her. "How can I be mad? I'm going back to the Redwoods!" I grinned, even though on the inside I was really kind of angry that they did this....
   Abby grinned back. "Woohoo!" She pumped her fist and then hopped down off the chair to stand in front of me. We did our special handshake we made up in Junior high and laughed. "Redwoods here we come!" We hugged and I guess you could say that I'm still kind of ticked... but not really... alls well that ends well...
   All I have to say is: "Look out Humboldt! CAUSE JAZZ IS IN DA HOUSE!"