"What do you think qualifies you for this job?" The lady in the overly tight black suit sits behind the desk. She peers through her glasses looking at the sheet of paper in front of me. My hands are shaking under the table, as I try my best to hide my nerves from everyone. I felt a lump forming in my throat, I wasn't very good at things like this.

"Well, I guess I could have to say I'm loyal, I'm a hard worker, and I work really well under pressure." The words come out of my mouth quicker than I meant them too. My throat felt like it was closing in. This felt like it was going as horribly as it could possibly go. How did people do this to stay on unemployment?

"I see you didn't bring in a resume, would this be your first job or do you have other experience?" I mentally face palmed myself. How could I have not brought in a resume? There wasn't much to put on one, so it really would just be a waste of paper and the printer ink used to make it. But what made me mad about it was I didn't even think to make one. There was no way I was getting this job.

I turned to look out at the cashiers down below, this was a small-town grocery store with a sign placed outside that they needed help. It was my first interview of the day as well. My heart was racing in my chest.

"No, I don't have any previous work experience, I'm really just trying to step out of my parent's shadow and start a life of my own." I tried to smile, but it felt forced and I could tell the lady behind the counter thought so too.

"Well Maple, you are in luck that we are pretty desperate for some help in the back. So if you are willing to start soon, then we can get you taken care of and hire you today." My heart felt like it was leaping out of my chest. Did she really just say I got the job!

"I can start as soon as you need me, you don't know how much I need this. Thank you so much." If I wasn't in front of her I swear I would have started crying. Even if it was just a store clerk job, it felt like a new life.

** Staton's POV**

"Can you lift a tire?" The man shouts from across the shop. I looked around, the work booths were crowded, cars on lifts with their tires removed covered every open space possible. I nod my head before realizing I should probably answer him with words.

"Yes sir," I try my best to sound confident. I mean who couldn't lift up a tire, that wasn't what I was worried about, but there was this need to provide for Maple. I felt like I had to protect her, and part of that was making sure I kept a roof over her tiny little head.

"Good, now do you know how to use one of these thingies?" The man talked like he had a piece of straw hanging out of his mouth, or like his lip was four times too big for his mouth. I had never heard someone talk like that before in Washington, and now that I was in California I never expected it.

The man holds up a power tool, pressing the button until it makes a loud whirring noise, the bit on the end spinning at a rapid speed.

"Yes, I've used one of those before," I lied. I'd never used a tool like that in my life. I figured it couldn't be too hard, but there was no way my parents would have let me touch something like this. I was too busy with football practice, and school to even think about using a power tool.

A few people were buzzing around like bees, working on tires, and trying their best to get the job done as quickly as possible.

"Good on yah, now do you work well on a team? Because I could really use someone else around here, but you look a little like a pretty boy to me," I took in the attire of others in the area, their white shirts were covered in black soot, and their pants - though they were black looked the same. Everyone's hands were a different tone of dark colors smeared across their skin.

"I did sports all through high school, teamwork is my second name." I wanted to facepalm myself as soon as the words came out of my mouth.

"Football?" The man asks. I nod my head. He looks over me one last time before turning to the table where he placed the power tool.

"You start tomorrow."

** Breygan's POV**

The sun was wafting through my hair, and as I walked down the boardwalk I couldn't help but notice the ladies walking past me. Each of them having their own assets better than the last. I loved everything about California, the weather was perfect enough that ladies walked around half-naked all year round. I could really get used to this.

I grabbed a cigarette out of my pocket, lighting it before taking a long slow drag. I needed something to ease my nerves and honestly, I could use an excuse to stand out here a little longer just to stare. The sun bounces off my skin, warming me from the inside out.

"How's it going?" I mutter to a few girls as they walk past, squinting from the blinding rays of the sun. The girls look at each other before giving me the middle finger and walking away. "Their loss," I gripe, taking another drag off the cigarette.

I did my best to keep the smoke away from my clothes, I didn't want the others to know that I had used some of the money to buy myself a few packs. They wouldn't understand that this was something that I needed, something that I craved since the first time Aria and I had snuck out of class to smoke under the bleachers of the football field.

When we first got to know each other. Those days felt so long ago. Now every time I looked at her I saw the girl I used to know. The young one in high school that was broken, and because she was so broken she was easily kept. All I had to do was call her pretty every once in a while and she was all mine.

I wasn't sure I wanted her to be mine though. The longer we knew each other the closer I felt we got but the more wrong for each other I thought we were. I couldn't help myself though, there was something about her that was so enticing. The way her blonde hair would flow around her face, especially when she curled it just right. Her red lips would pucker whenever I said something she didn't really like. Sometimes I wanted to rip them off, and sometimes I couldn't help but dream about how they feel against my lips.

I was bi-polar and I knew it.

I took another drag off the cigarette, looked at the help wanted sign, and decided to head home.

**Aria's POV**

"Where is this damn place?" I looked down at my phone, trying to follow directions to the art studio that had posted an ad looking for help. I needed something, anything that would help the rest of the group get by. Glancing at my watch, I realized it didn't matter if I knew where the place was or not, I was going to be late. The ad said interviews started at three and it was already ten to the hour. I shook my head, trying once again to take a right.

I didn't understand anything about California, the way the buildings were numbered didn't make sense. Sure Washington would sometimes have a building hidden here or there that was hard to find, but unless you were in Seattle you didn't really have buildings stacked on top of each other.

I let out another sigh before starting all over. Canceling out of google directions I opened them back up and typed in the address. The blue arrow moves around the screen for a moment before landing right in the spot I was already at. I rolled my eyes, taking a look around trying to find any number I could.

Maybe this job wasn't worth it.

If I had to deal with this almost every day just to get to work then maybe I should look for other options. A smaller Asian lady opened a door, heading out of the building closest to me.

"Excuse me, ma'am, do you know where Dancing Brush studios is?" I hoped she would answer me, as I hadn't had any luck with the rest of the people I've asked today. She looks at me for a moment before pointing at the door she had just left. She threw her hand upholding four fingers for me to see, and without muttering a word she walked away.

"So is it on the fourth floor?" I questioned, shouting after her hoping she would answer me. But she didn't even turn around. I couldn't help but feel defeated as I walked through the doors. I found the elevator, reading the list next to it. Finally, I was able to pinpoint where I was supposed to be. Jumping on the elevator I selected the fourth-floor button. As the doors slowly closed, my nerves started exploding. Would I really be able to get a job today?

**Julia's POV**

The lush green plants covered the walls, the smell of dirt filled the entire room as I walked around aimlessly trying to find out who the manager was. This store was massive, filled with different aromas of plants of all different sorts. A small little waterfall trickles into a large black wading pool. Orange koi fish swim around waiting for someone to come pick them up and take them to their new homes.

"Are you Julia?" A short blonde girl questions. I turn and smile, nodding my head.

She reaches her hands out to shake mine. I place my hand in hers, making sure to shake her hand with confidence. She gives me a side glance, her large brown eyes filling half her face.

"Awesome, I'm Becky, I'm the manager I was told you would be coming in today for an interview, that's exciting now isn't it?" She waved her hand directing me to follow her.

"It is, yes." I felt so nervous, it was like my body was going to explode.

Becky takes me through the store, showing me around and explaining to me what they do and how it works around here. I follow along as best as I can trying to not miss any important details.

"Have you had any experience working with plants before?" Becky's voice was soft and sweet, but sometimes the smile plastered on her face matched with her tone of voice would sound condescending. I shook my head, realizing that I should have come up with something better to say here, or anything to say here.

"Well, we welcome people with little to no experience, we just need to make sure you are a quick learner. I've gone through lots of stuff with you today, can you tell me which one of these three plants gets watered only once a week?" She points towards a small shelf that was next to the desk at the end of the tour. I froze for a moment taking a look at the leaves. I couldn't quite remember what she had told me about how you can tell, but my gut told me to go with the third plant.

"This one," I pointed, trying to sound confident but as soon as the words left my mouth I felt like I was drowning in embarrassment.

"That's right? When can you start?"