Invisible String

Chapter 2

"So Dawsons friend is throwing a party tomorrow, Dawson is hosting it at his house so you know I have to be there. I know it's kind of last minute, but you have to come!"

I take a second to respond to go over my schedule before I answer,

"I don't know Nev, I have a shift tomorrow night and I haven't worked the past few nights already.."

"Oh come on, get it covered by someone. You need a pick-me-up and this is perfect for that!"

"I'll think about it, but no promises!" I say

She smiles with approval and we reach her car.

While she navigates through even worse traffic than before, I look at my contacts to see if anyone can cover my shift. She's right, yet again, it would probably help me out to dress up and mingle with people. I text a few people and ask them if they would mind, before locking my phone and looking over to Nev. She's always been so pretty, her long, wavy, bright blonde hair against her glowy tan skin. Her eyes are like mine, green with hints of brown. Natural long dark eyelashes with perfect eyebrows. Her skin flawless and a resemblance of glass, no acne, no scars and with this time of day the sun hitting her makes her look unreal. I've never been envious of this though, her looks give a good representation of her heart and spirit, she's pure inside and out and I've always loved watching her in the spotlight, it's meant for her.

I sit back into my seat when I feel my phone vibrate against my thigh. I check it and see a response from a coworker,

"Sorry, I can't cover you I have an event I requested off for."

"That's okay, thank you anyway" I text back

I sigh of disappointment.

"What's the matter?" She asks with concern in her voice, "you better not be texting Bryce" she also says while giving me the side eye.

I let out a slight giggle.

"Definitely not Bryce, he's probably too busy fucking his best friends girlfriend right now." I joke before adding, "I'm trying to get this shift covered so I can go to that party with you, but so far no luck."

"God, he's so gross. So is she." She pauses, "can't you just call out sick?" she asks

"Probably not, I already used that as an excuse three times this week and I'm pretty sure they knew I was lying."

We sit in silence for a moment. Together we brainstorm, a few seconds later another vibration from my phone.

"Sorry El, im pushing over time so they won't let me." the text reads

"No worries, thanks!" I reply

"Any luck?" Neveah asks

"Nope, just another person saying no. There's only one other person that would be able to work for me, but Im not counting on it."

"That's so annoying, im so thankful my parents don't make me work. I don't know how you do it."

"It's definitely not for the weak, but the bills have to get paid for somehow."

I honestly don't mind working, even if I had money I think I would still work. It helps me escape the issues of my life at home. Not saying my home life is the worst. My dad died when I was 9 so it's just been my mother and I. A few years ago she got really sick and she hasn't been able to work since. The government only helps so much, but it's not nearly enough. She tries to do some side hustles from home, but they don't bring home enough money to support us. I started working a week after I turned 16. Ever since then I've worked as much as they'd let me. I would be lying to say that it hasn't been stressful and challenging at times, but I quickly adapted and accepted this is how life is—unfair.

My phone vibrated again and snapped me back to reality. Slight disappointment sets in when I see it's just my mom.

"Honey can you bring home some dinner? I'll pay you back." She asks

"Don't worry about it, what do you want?"

I set my phone down and wait for her to respond.

"Well, tell me who that was!" Neveah commands from eagerness hoping as much as I was that it was a text of freedom from tomorrow nights shift.

"It was just my mom, she wants me to bring her dinner." I say

"Want me to pay for it?" She asks

"No it's okay"

She frowns, but continues to drive. We arrive back at the bookstore parking lot and i start to get out of her car.

"Text me if you get an answer from your coworker! Love you El!" She shouts

"I will I will, love you too." I smile and close her door. She waits for me to crank my car before she drives off. She's always done this, she claims it's out of manners, but im convinced she's waiting for the day my dying car gives out. I don't blame her.

Later that night I help my mom clean up the kitchen, we had just eaten and we normally follow a routine of silently helping each other clean.

"How've you been doing? I feel like I haven't seen you in days." She asks me as we split the dishes. She rinses, I load into the dishwasher.

"I'm okay, I think I got tired of being bound to my bed. No boy is worth that." I say

"That boy was bad news El, you deserve too much to be with someone who treats you like a chore."

"I know, mom. We don't have to talk about it."

"Well you know I'm always here for you if you want to talk. There's no need to go through everything alone. You've always been too stubborn to ask for help." She teases

"I'll keep that in mind" I tease back.

I go into my room and get ready to take a shower. I remove my layers of jewelry, grab my robe and head towards the shared bathroom. I look at myself in the mirror as I remove my clothes. I'm not sure if this is a weird habit, or if I'm just overly critical of myself. I take in my body and frown with disapproval. My rib cage slightly showing through my pale flesh. My muscles deflated. My hipbones poking out under my laced underwear. I hadn't been eating much this past month, the lead up to the breakup robbed me of an appetite. I turn on a playlist of some of my current favorite songs and take my shower.

I'm back in my room applying lotion to my freshly shaved legs when I hear my phone vibrate. Anxiety sets in now that I'm convinced it's going to be another reason I have to work tomorrow. I walk over to my bed and pick up my phone.

"Hey El, sorry for the late response. I'll work for you if you take my weekend shift"

My heart races with excitement.

"Perfect! Thank you" I quickly text back.

I send a text to Neveah, "Guess who you get to drag to a party tomorrow?"

I put on an oversized t-shirt and finish doing skin care before climbing into bed.

Neveah calls me, it's expected considering she hates texting.

"Hey" I answer

"Yay!" She shrieks

I laugh and say "you're happier than I am"

"Of course I am! You never come to parties, I was expecting you to give me any excuse in the book not to come, this is awesome!"

"What do I even wear?" I ask coming to the realization that she's once again right, I never go to parties. What do I wear to these things?

"Wear the dress I bought you, it's casual enough, but hot enough for boys to drool over you" she suggests

"I doubt any boy will even notice me, but I'll wear it"

"I'll wear a sundress too so you don't feel like the odd man out. Goodnight El, I'll pick you up at 4:30 and we can get dressed together at my place" she proposes.

"Sounds good, goodnight Nev"

I hang up and feel accomplished. My mission of the day beyond successful.

I read a few chapters of my new book before dozing off.