Here goes nothing

I’m driving to the interview at the dog training place, located downtown, next to Ace tattoo shop. I’ve always driven past that place and say to myself, one day I’ll get a tattoo. Dad will never find out.

It will be small and be my mother’s name, but I always talk myself out of it. I don’t mean to sound like a chicken, but I’m terrified of needles. Whoever that Ace guy is, he must be a great tattoo artist since that shop always has a long line outside of it. Mostly hot chicks and buff guys.

I park upfront and realize Clara’s car is already there but I don’t see her outside. I pull my phone out and send her a text, suddenly getting the nervous shits.

Heather: [Hey Clara, I’m parked outside where are you?]

Clara: [I’m cuming... I mean coming. Lmao.]

Heather: [Very funny, however Telling sex jokes to a virgin, doesn’t usually work.]

Clara: [Oh please, we’ve watched porn together, it’s not like you don’t know.]

I gasp as I type my response.

Heather: [That was one time, and we only watched it to make fun of the terrible acting!]

I see Clara leaving the tattoo shop, hiding a laugh in her palm. She is dressed similar to me, in dress pants, and a black blazer. She taps my car window and motions me out. I step out and she hugs me.

“By the way Heather, you are the coolest virgin I have ever met.”

I smile at her as she pulls away.

“You flatter me too much Clara, also what were you doing in that tattoo shop, are you getting a new tattoo?”

She grins and nods.

“I’ve been thinking about it, but we can talk about that later, let’s rock this interview, and get this job.” She struts to the front door, and I follow her inside, and the place is empty, but looks very nice. I thought it would smell like an animal shelter but it smells clean, and it looks even cleaner.

There are about six dog training stations, and a grooming station as well.

“Hello, I’m Clara, and this is Heather. We have an interview today with Mr. Price.” She tells the lady at the front desk.

“Oh that’s right, Mr. Price is in his office right now I’ll let him know you two are here.”

“Thank you ma’am,” I say and she nods at us as she walks to a back room, and knocks on the door. The door opens and she motions us inside.

The office is small but neat.

“Hello Clara, and Heather, I’m Matthew Price.” He extends his hand to us and gives us a firm shake. He is probably 45, with gray hair, dressed elegantly.

“It’s nice to meet you Mr. Price.” Clara and I both say at the same time, and we giggle.

“You two are like sisters I see. I’m glad to know you two will at least get along here. I had to fire my last two employees for getting into a fight in front of customers. Please take a seat.”

He motions to the two chairs in front of his desk, and we sit down. I see Clara nervously fidgeting with the hem of her blazer, as I nervously pick at my nail polish, not knowing what to say or do.

“So you two have brought your resumes I presume?”

“Yes sir, we have,” I say as I pull mine out, and Clara does the same.

“Wonderful, let’s get this interview started.”

***

The interview went perfectly, and we got the job! He did mention that we were to work as helpers until we got dog training certifications, so we won’t be making much at first but soon we will be making a lot more.

Once we’re outside, Clara does her victory dance and pulls me in for a hug. I start dancing with her, with a grin on my face.

“Yes! We did it! I can’t wait to celebrate tomorrow!” She sequels, then we hear knock in the window of the place. We see the receptionist laughing and waving at us.

“Oh shoot she totally saw our embarrassing Victory dance,” I say as I let out a laugh.

Clara just waves back to her and pulls me by the hand.

***

I’m at home now listening to music in my earbuds and dancing around my room. It’s the first time this week that I actually don’t feel gloomy, and I don’t wanna waste it.

I blast a journey song and let go.

***

The next day:

I’m getting ready to go to this party Clara invited me to, and I start to feel the anxiety creeping in. The last time I went to a party was in college, and I was humiliated by a jock named Chris.

He pretty much told everyone I was a virgin while standing on a table, he made himself look worse then I did, but I still felt embarrassed. I hope there will be no Chris’s at this party.

I get a bunch of texts from Clara.

Clara: [ Hey babes, are you ready? I’ll pick you up when you are.]

Clara: [Oh my gosh, on second thought I need some time to change my dress. My ass looks like it just got flattened by a roller!]

I laugh at my phone screen.

Clara: [ You’re lucky you have those hot Colombian jeans that make your butt look nice.]

Heather: [lmao, I’m definitely not wearing those.]

Clara: [Why not?! You gotta stop hiding those curves girl! You might meet someone cute!]

I can’t think about dating anyone right now, not with my recent breakup, but I will humor her.

Heather: [Fine Clara, I’ll be ready in ten.]

Clara: [Woooo! On my way!]

Clara is the older sister I’ve always wanted. She is only three years older than me, but she is so fun, outgoing, and adventurous. She is way different than the girls my dad nearly forced me to be friends with at church.

15 minutes later I’m all dressed in a nice crop top and those Colombian jeans. I look myself in the mirror and dang... I actually look hot!

I don’t normally dress like this since my father would throw a fit, but luckily he is asleep right now, and won’t be able to question me. My phone pings.

Clara: [I’m here!]

I tiptoe to Rami’s room, and I see her playing Minecraft, while her head hangs upside down over her bed.

“Hey Remi, I’m going out, if dad wakes up, tell him at sleeping over Clara’s house or something.”

Remi sits up quickly and faces me, dropping her Xbox controller on the ground. Her mouth pops open.

“Oh my gosh! You’re going to a party aren’t you?” She says loudly and I run to her and cover her mouth.

“Shhh, yes, I am, don’t tell dad, you got that?”

She nods.

“Your secret is safe with me, sis.”

“Thank you. Be good, Remi.”

She giggles.

“You too, Heather.”

I slip out of her room and tiptoe to the front door, opening and closing it softly.

As soon as I see Clara’s car I excitedly run towards it, laughing the whole way, and climb in.

“Step on it, step on it, Clara!”

She laughs and peels off in her small car down the road.

“You know what Heather, driving with you in my car is like driving with pounds of cocaine in my car. I have to look around everywhere to make sure your dad is not following us, it’s kind of accelerating!”

“You’re comparing me to cocaine?” I laugh as she nods.

“We're almost there.” She says excited.

“Clara you should never say those three words to someone with social anxiety. Now I’ve got the nervous shits.”

I sigh and hold my tummy.

“You always have the nervous shits Heather, but hold it in girl because we’re here!”

She pulls into the driveway of a large, gray, modern-looking house. She parks next to a custom painted sports bike. It’s midnight blue with a very nice dragon design running along the sides of it.

“You like it? It’s my brothers, he designed it himself.” Clara says catching my gaze.

“It’s really nice, I didn’t know your brother was an artist,” I say still looking at the bike.

“Yeah, and I know how much you love art. You two would have a lot to talk About.”