My manager and I aren't talking, not sure if I'll be fired

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This is one of my first posts here because I haven't gotten advice anywhere else, no one seems to understand. Tldr: I met my new manager in college and started working for her part time in fast food but I'm not sure where I stand right now. I'm not getting consistent hours and her and I are barely talking. I have a feeling she has the wrong impression about me and just wants me to quit. I'm kind of freaking out, I'm not sure if I'm obsessing over her or if this is a "normal" concern either.


So I'm 22, my boss is 24. I met her in a college class and and eventually asked if I could work at her fast food place. I got a job and things were fine at first, she was really friendly and personable (in class too). Now the past few weeks or so things have really declined between us. She started showing me less and less acknowledgment in class/at work. At work we basically are not talking at all aside from her giving me tasks or me asking work related questions! She doesn't say hi or ask me any personal questions, nothing, there's no effort to try to converse with me, I swear I rarely even get a "hey how are you doing x" unless I ask first. I legitimately pulled out every stop trying to relate to her and get to know her (As best I could at least, of course I really struggle at communicating/expressing myself..). She is friendly/playful with coworkers right in front of me, this isn't just how she acts towards everyone. Obviously it has to be because I'm "me". I'm just having a hard time relating to her personally; this is the first time I've had a manager that's close in age to me while also being someone I could be friends with.

Work wise I think things have been going fine, I do everything I'm asked of (maybe to a fault?). I think as a relatively new employee I've done well. I feel like she/the managers are mad I ask questions about everything.. I just don't want to do things the wrong way.. I've been given many of the "bad" jobs such as changing all the trash cans, picking up trash in parking lot, even scrubbing the parking lot to get rid of grease stains, she sent me out in the rain clean the lot a few weeks ago. My shifts started out between 4-6 hours but now I seem to just be getting 4 hours or less each shift. Today I was scheduled for a 3 hour shift and they told me they didn't need me to come in because it was slow.. My confidence has plummeted, I feel worthless when asked to pick up trash or something. I'm so ready to work and show them what I'm made of but I'm not even getting a chance..

I think a few things could be going on - maybe I've given my manager the wrong impression by seeming to only talk to her about college or work (I did it in an effort to relate to her, and the thing is - I totally want to be friends with her, I wasn't just trying to use her to get a job, if that's how she sees this) and/or perhaps some awkward comments I've made have changed how she looks at me. I'm often sarcastic (in a friendly way..) but sometimes I think I may come off as a dick. I've also said a few things that may have come out the wrong way and probably did not make myself look too favorable in her eyes. She's the general manager of the store, I feel like there has to be a correlation between her, my hours, why we aren't talking etc..

I just want to ask her what's been going on, if my job is safe, if I can get more consistent hours etc. but I'm really nervous/hesitant to do this. I'm shutting down around her now, I'm getting nervous to speak to her. Like I said, we basically aren't talking at this point. There are about 40 employees here, I can't act like everything she does it based on me, but there has to be some explanation to what's been going on. I don't know why this is happening, is it even something I should actually confront her about? I'm about a month and a half into this job and it's been a shaky start, certainly not what I was planning on. This is driving me nuts, I can't get it out of my mind. She's my new boss! I want to get along with her, or of course be friends with her.

Looking for advice/opinions on how to handle this. Thank you all

This might sound a bit presumptuous or jumping the gun, per se, but, from what you've described/your description of the chain of events and your boss's behaviors (particularly, what stands out to me, is her positive interactions with other employees, in front of you, while giving you the cold shoulder (not that you used those words)), I think you might do best turning your thoughts around/ease up on introspecting and blaming yourself for the way things have transpired, and, instead, think about how your boss's behavior/changes in behavior towards you, has contributed to the situation and, in turn, your nervousness and doubt, etcetera. I, too often, blame myself for the outcomes of situations, and, then, down the road, I become aware of things that had happened, that had nothing to do with me, or anything I had personally, done, but, rather the other person who had been causing unnecessary drama and purposefully manipulating situation(s), people, etcetera. I was once hired (as a scapegoat), to do a job that I was highly experienced at, for a company who, unbeknownst to me, was about to be audited, and they tried to systematically, break me down, make me question myself, etcetera, in an attempt to use me to blame, for their own wrongdoing. Not that I am thinking this is what is going on at your job, but, rather, an example of how things can transpire in the work place (and other environments. But, not in every workplace, of course, so don't worry).

Keep to yourself and do your best work, and start looking for a different job, so you don't have to go through the mental gymnastics that you are experiencing at this juncture. Just my 2 cents. Best wishes to you!

^Hi Sweetleaf. He put "bad" (jobs) in quotes, so, in essence, he was putting across, that those jobs are generally, perceived as 'bad', but, it doesn't appear that he complained, or had a bad attitude about handling those tasks. In fact, it seems quite the contrary. To me, anyway.

I'm not sure if you inadvertently quoted my comment, or, if there was a reason, but, I will just say that I recognize some of frostkitten's manager's behaviors that he's mentioned, as behaviors that can exist in covertly manipulative people. I've also learned that some people can think in quite opportunistic terms, and perhaps, upon inquiring about a job, frostkitten's classmate/manager had some opportunistic thoughts go through her head. He hadn't asked to be treated like he is invisible or unworthy and he certainly doesn't deserve to be. Whatever the reason is, for her change in behavior, it doesn't seem worth enduring her unkindness towards him. From my perspective, life is too short to endure being shunned, or mistreatment of any kind. Onward...