Hey hey, hello!
I snap out of my daydream, realizing I've been staring off into space. Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am, what would you like? I ask, plastering on a customer service smile.
Took you long enough, she mutters, her tone sharp, eyes rolling as if I've just committed some unforgivable crime. My patience thins, but I force a smile, reminding myself that I'm here to work, not argue.
I take her order slowly, almost deliberately. She's got that attitude that's impossible to ignore, and I can't help but drag my feet as I prepare her drink. As I hand it over, I watch her scoff under her breath, the disgust in her eyes like I've somehow ruined her day. She grabs the cup with an exaggerated huff, and stomps toward the door, and I feel a sharp sting of annoyance as it slams behind her.
I roll my eyes when no one's looking, but I'm not in the mood for this crap today.
The minutes drag by as I keep taking orders, my mind drifting between the constant stream of customers. Glancing at the clock when I can, I'm counting the seconds until I can leave this place behind. I don't even care about being polite anymore I just want to be out of here.
Finally, the end of my shift rolls around. I head to the back to clock out, feeling the tension ease a little as I grab my bag from the locker. Winter is always a pain, and I hate it with a passion. The cold air outside cuts through my clothes like a blade, and with the heat barely working inside, it's been a constant battle against the chill.
I zip up my big, bulky winter coat and step outside, grateful for the silence. At least there's no snow to deal with today, but the bitter cold still hits hard.
Just another day of being poor.
By the time I make it home, the sun's already dipped below the horizon. I push open the door to our apartment, but the place feels oddly quiet. The lights are off, as usual. I kick off my boots by the door, the cold still nipping at my toes.
I stumble my way through the darkness, feeling my way along the walls. The silence in the apartment is suffocating, like everything's been frozen in time. I don't mind the quiet, though. At least here, no one's ordering me around, and no one's rolling their eyes at me.
I make my way to my room, the one I share with Damian. The door creaks open, and I step in, The room is a mess, as always. Damian's clothes are scattered across the floor, The faint glow of his phone screen lights up the dark corner of the room, and I know he's probably still awake, scrolling through whatever nonsense he watches late at night.
Yo, you still up? I ask, my voice low and a little tired as I toss my bag onto the bed.
Damian's voice floats back from the shadows. Yeah, just scrolling through stuff. What's up?
I don't feel like talking much, so I just drop down onto my bed, the mattress creaking under my weight. I rub my eyes, wishing for a break from the constant cold and the stress of work.
Damian's a good guy, but sometimes I just need to be alone with my thoughts for a bit.
You got the heat on yet? I ask though I know the answer. We're too broke for that luxury.
Nah, still waiting for payday, Damian responds, a little too casually. I'll probably just grab some blankets in a bit.
I pull my jacket tighter around myself, sitting in the semi-darkness. The cold always seems worse at night. The walls are thin, and sometimes I can hear the neighbors arguing or blasting music through the thin plaster.
I close my eyes for a moment, wishing I could escape this and just disappear from all the frustration. But that's not really an option, is it? Reality always finds a way to pull you back in.
I just lay back on the bed and stare at the ceiling. For a moment, it's just the sound of Damian tapping away at his phone and the hum of the fridge in the kitchen.
I close my eyes and try to sleep we have school tomorrow after all.
I wake up before Damian, as usual, and quietly slip out of bed. I head toward the kitchen, where I find Lynn sitting on the counter, wrapped in a soft blanket, sipping from a water bottle. The early morning light spills in from the window, casting a gentle glow on her messy hair, which falls in soft waves around her shoulders.
I walk over, trying to act casual, but the sight of her makes my heart do something strange. You know, I've never met anyone who wakes up before me.
She just shrugs, letting her tangled hair fall over one shoulder, and I feel my face flush. Why does she do this to me? I've dated girls before, but I've never felt this flustered, confused, unsure of what to say. It's just Lynn, but every time I look at her, my mind goes blank.
So... um, you got plans after school? I ask, trying to sound casual. I grab a water bottle from the fridge, which is basically empty just water. I really need to go grocery shopping.
Lynn looks up at me, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. "Uh... yeah, I do, she says shyly, and I can't help but feel a sting in my chest. Is she meeting a boy? My stomach tightens at the thought.
Oh, okay... well, uh, have fun, I manage to say, my voice betraying a hint of disappointment I try to hide.
Just then, the bedroom door swings open, and Damian stumbles in, his hair messy and his eyes half-closed. He looks like a zombie, as usual, not a morning person in the slightest.
Do we got anything to eat?
he grumbles, dragging himself toward the fridge. Nope. Just water. I'll go grocery shopping later, I reply, tossing him a water bottle. He catches it and takes a long sip, clearly disappointed.
Go get ready, guys, I say, glancing at both of them as I head back to the room to do the same. I can't help but feel a little bitter, wondering if Lynn will be spending time with someone else after school.
We all walk out of the apartment together, heading to school. I'm okay at school, but I'll never be as smart as Damian. For an idiot, he's surprisingly sharp. Lynn's in the class below us, but she's at the top of her class. Teachers have even mentioned bumping her up to our level, which would be great. Because I'd get to hang out with her more.
But something's been off about her lately. I can't help but worry. She's been talking to other girls in her class, laughing and acting cheerful, but I see through it.
I know her too well. She's not as happy as she lets on. It's like she's hiding something.
I sit in class, my hands behind my head, pretending to pay attention as the teacher drones on about whatever math lesson we're supposed to be learning. But I can't focus. My mind keeps drifting back to Lynn. Who is she meeting after school? Why was she so nervous about it? Does she have a crush on someone? It's been bothering me all day.
A sharp pang of jealousy hits me, and I hate myself for it. I hate feeling this way, but it's the truth. I think I might have feelings for her. And the thought of someone else taking her away from me? It drives me crazy. I can't let that happen. I have to do something.
The bell rings, snapping me out of my thoughts, and everyone starts packing up to leave.
Dude, you were totally zoned out. Even more than me, and that's saying something, Damian says with a laugh, nudging my arm.
Yeah, I was just thinking about something, I mutter, trying to brush it off.
Damian raises an eyebrow but shrugs. I get it. Well, anyway, I won't be home for a bit. I've got something to do with... um, a friend.
Oh really? I say, trying to tease him. I didn't know you had friends.
He rolls his eyes at me before heading for the door.
Shut up, he says, his tone light, but I can tell he's got something going on. It's just like him to leave out details. I watch him leave, my thoughts turning back to Lynn and the lingering worry that's gnawing at me.
I go to Lynn's classroom hoping to catch her before she leaves but she's not three. My mind races. What if she's already gone? What if I'm overthinking everything? I have to talk to her.
Just when I'm about to give up and head home, something catches my eye. The door to the roof is cracked open. It's usually locked. Without thinking twice, I push it open and step into the stairwell. My heart beats faster as I climb the stairs.
When I reach the top, I can see them.
Lynn and Damian.
They're sitting together on the edge of the roof, looking out over the school grounds, the wind tousling their hair. At first, I don't know what to do. I freeze, not sure if I should interrupt or just turn around and leave. The sight of them together feels... different.
Lynn's laughter cuts through the silence, light and carefree, like I've never heard it before. Her smile is soft, genuine, and she's looking at Damian with a look I've never seen from her. It's not the usual fake smile. they're in their own world right now, and I'm standing outside of it. I don't know what to do. I freeze at the top of the stairs, unsure whether to interrupt or just turn around and leave. The sight of them sitting so close, so comfortable with each other, feels... different. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's as if this moment is something I wasn't meant to witness.
That feeling hits me again. It starts as a small pang, but it quickly sharpens, grows, and my chest tightens in response. Jealousy. It's so strong it makes my breath catch. I can feel the heat rush to my face, my pulse quickening. I watch as Lynn leans in a little closer to Damian, her body relaxed, her eyes bright with amusement. She's not faking anything. There's no pretension, no guardedness. Just her, completely at ease in a way I've never seen her before.
Why does it bother me so much?
I swallow the bitter knot in my throat. Every instinct tells me to leave, to turn around and disappear before they even notice me, but I can't something about this moment feels significant and important even though I'm not sure why.
Then, just as I think about what I should do, Damian pulls something out of his pocket. My heart skips again as I watch him hold it up to Lynn. It's a small, black box.
Lynn's eyes go wide when she sees it, her lips parting in surprise. I see her blink a few times like she's processing what she's looking at, and then a smile spreads across her face.
It's almost a shy smile, but there's something else there something warm and full of affection. She takes the box from him, her fingers brushing against his as she opens it.
Inside is a ring.
She picks it up, and for a moment, I just stand there, stunned. Her hand trembles slightly as she slips the ring onto her finger, a perfect fit. It sparkles in the fading light, catching the sun just enough to make it seem almost magical. I don't know what to do with the feeling swirling inside me now-this gnawing, twisting jealousy that's clawing at my chest, pulling tighter and tighter with every passing second.
I want to say something, do something, but I can't move. I just watch them as they continue talking, Damian seems a little embarrassed, his words coming out in a rush, his eyes avoiding hers. I can't hear exactly what he's saying, but from the way he shifts uncomfortably, it's clear he's telling her something important, something personal. And from the way Lynn's eyes soften as she listens, I know whatever he's saying means a lot to her.
My breath hitches as I watch them, a strange mix of emotions rising in my chest frustration, confusion, and that darn jealousy again. I can't deny it anymore. I hate this. I hate seeing them so close, so connected. I hate how it feels like I'm on the outside looking in, unable to bridge the gap between us.
The world stops and I feel an unbearable pain as I watch them move closer and kiss. I can't watch anymore I run faster than I even have out of the school and toward the apartment. I rush inside and to my room packing my bags I don't even think about what I'm doing I can't look at them right now or maybe even ever again.
