Long Beach Aquarium the big blue sign read with bubbles around it. I walked in and went to the front desk, "Hi! Welcome to Long Beach Aquarium! How can I help you?" Said the overly peppy receptionist. She kept smiling brightly at me after a while I started to wonder if her face was going to get stuck that way, but it was almost a forced smile. Creepy.
"Uh, yeah. I am the new work person..." I said fumbling on my words not quite sure what to say. Her peppiness did not seem to fade when I said this, still smiling she said, "Oh, yes. Here lets bring you to the manager." She got up and started walking through the tank areas. I fllowed her and while I was walking I noticed her odd outfit. It looked like a bad Hawaiian costume. Oh no. Please do not tell me I hace to wear something like that! she had khaki shorts with sandals with bright pink socks that went with her bright pink floral shirt and flower in her hair.
"I am Megan by the way." She said her head slightly turned back at me.
"Rose." I replied.
"That's a pretty name. Unique too." I could hear her still smiling! Creepy!
"Thanks..." I said trailing off not quite sure what else to say. I looked at all the fish. So pretty with all their colors. I had loved fish ever since I was little and I also loved the ocean. So big and blue, stretching out for miles. I could smell the ocean just thinking about it. Or maybe that was just the fish tanks.
"And this is our manager, Heather." Bringing me to reality I saw the tall woman with short pin curly hair and a similar uniform that looked two sizes too big on her slender body. She squinted at me.
"Who is she." Heather said not directing the conversation at me like I was incompetent. Before Megan could respond I stuck out my hand.
"My name is Rose. Rose Hawthorne, and I am the new worker here." I said firmly. Heather studied me for a moment before she grabbed my hand and shook it.
"Megan go grab Jeremy to show Miss Hawthorne to ropes around here. Nice to meet you Rose, if you have any questions just have Megan here come find me. Although I think your little minds can handle all of this, hopefully." She turned and stalked off. Megan fled and I followed.
"Jesus christ. What is up her ass?" I muttered, but Megan seemed to hear me.
"She has always been like that. All I can tell you is to not get on her bad side. Although she seemed to respect your boldness." Megan was not smiling anymore and her voice had turned snappy. Look like work was going to be interesting. Megan finally got to the guy called Jeremy. And boy was he something to look at. He was Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome. He was about 5 inches taller than my short 5'5 height. He had jet black hair, a thin sculpted face, with piercing blue eyes. He smiled as Megan and I walked over. A beautiful smile. Megan smiled brightly at him and it was not that hard to tell that she saw the same thing I did.
"Hi, Jeremy." She said batting her eyelashes at him.
Seeming to ignore her gesture he said, "Who is this?" He was looking straight at me. She seemed annoyed by where his attention lyed. Her eyes got narrow and she looked back and forth between us.
"I'm Rose." I said sticking out my hand for the second time today, he took it and shook it. His hand engulfing mine, but it was a warm, gentle, soft hand. What was I doing? Drooling over some guy on my first day of work plus he probably had a girlfriend. Although the way he was looking at me said otherwise. Megan had walked off by now leaving just him and I. He cleared his throat and I realized I still had a hold of his hand. I quickly let go, turning bright red I'm sure. He just smiled.
"Alright, Rose. As you know I am Jeremy, lets show you around a little bit shall we?" He led me through many tanks naming them off by salt water fish; big or small tank; and fresh water tanks. There weren't as many obviously because salt water fish were more exciting. He showed me the certain kinds of food I had to put in each tank and how to do it. You would think just throwing it in there. Nope. You have to walk by the top of each tank and put certain amounts and certain kinds in spots.
We finally got done with that when he told me that I would have to put on a wet suit, goggles, and a breathing mask to clean the tanks. I was suspecting something like this, but it scared me to death being that close to a shark. Or in my case sharks.
"You wont have to do this for a little while, since you are just starting, but in about a month or so we'll teach ya how. Nothing to be afraid of." We got back to the front desk where Megan was sitting.
"Megan. be a doll and find a couple of shirts for Rose here." He said flirting with her, but I could tell he really had to try and had no interest. Apparently she did not have a clue because she got up giggling and walked away somewhere. I just looked at him.
"You shouldn't play wither her feelings like that." He turned to me in surprise.
"She speaks!" He said holding his arms up for some dramatic gesture. I folded my arms across my chest still looking at him. "Oh come on, you know she would not have done it if I hadn't."
"Eh, I think she might have, she seems to like you a bit."
"Jealous?" He said smirking at me.
"Pfft. In your dreams." I said rolling my eyes at him.
"I guess you are right.." He said giving up.
"Although she is kind of a bitch so maybe you can just a little." He laughed throwing his arm around my shoulders.
"Rose. I see us becoming great friends." I looked up at him and smiled.