always (erik durm)

CHAPTER THREE

[PRESENT]

Working in a grocery store isn't easy. You have to deal with annoying teenagers trying to shoplift condoms and parents complaining about the way the food is packaged. I, for one, think that I do not deserve to be in this position. However, I am 25 and clearly an adult, that means I have to earn money for myself.

"Excuse me, how much is this?" A chubby kid asks me, holding a packet of mint bubblegums in front of his face. He moves the packet aside and gives me a big smile.

I lean on the counter and bend down a bit to look straight into the kid's eyes, "5 euros, sweetie." He gives me another smile and fishes 5 euros out of his pocket. I happily take the money and hand him his receipt.

"Nice boobs you got there, by the way." He remarks before leaving the store. I gasp slightly and look down at my obviously small boobs. I look around and grab my boobs, sighing a bit. I don't even have cleavage.

"Stop grabbing your boobs, it's not pleasing to look at." I hear someone remark from the side. I turn to my left and glare at Madeline.

"I thought the kid was all sunshine and rainbows, turns out he isn't." I untie my hideous apron (which serves as our uniform) and lay it down on the counter. My shift is almost over and I thank God for that, I honestly cannot stand another minute in this place.

Madie does this thing where she drops by the grocery store I work in to pick up icecream. She picks me up as well but she didn't like to think of it that way because she thinks it's weird for me to carpool with her. I don't know if it's because she was picky and all but she's my bestfriend and she has to stick with me.

Just like I said, Madie walks towards the icecream cart and picks her favourite icecream, a classic Ben and Jerry's cookie dough flavoured ice cream. I shake my head at her and open my palm, she sighs and puts 15 euros on top of my palm.

The bell on top of the entrance doors rings and I smile as I see Nate, he's the one who takes over my shift after mine's over. I greet him with a high five and tell him I'm heading out. He nods and dismisses me.

I drag her by the wrist and tell her to unlock her expensive car. As soon as her matte black car was unlocked, I jump right in. I am completely exhausted and I obviously cannot wait to get home. I really need a new job because I honestly cannot take working in that damn grocery store anymore.

"Mads, can you help me get a job?" Madie works at her Dad's company as a personal assistant. I actually wanted the same job as hers but since Dad was old and didn't want to work anymore, he quit his job.

Dad and I barely talk because he recently moved into a home for the elderly. It isn't far away from where Madie and I live but it's hard for me to find the time to visit him. I worked from 6 in the morning until 5 in the evening plus I did this 5 days a week. During Saturday and Sunday, they don't allow visitors because they think the elderlies need those days for recreation.

"I heard Dad complaining about lazy workers, I think I can get you a spot." I've been trying to ask help from Madie but she couldn't help me at first because there weren't any available jobs, but now since there were some job openings (I hope), I think she can get me a job.

"How did I end up here?" I sigh to myself. My life was once perfect, I didn't have to worry about the day ahead of me and I most certainly didn't have to worry about working my ass off. Now, it seems like all the tables have turned and the next thing I know, I'm at work trying to catch some shut-eye because I wasn't able to during the previous day.

I honestly feel like I am the one to blame for all of this. I didn't think about my future well enough and I ended up working my ass off. We had all the money when I needed it during college but I slacked off and merely graduated. I had to work for the points I missed and now that I think of it, I should've planned my life out first.

The only thing I have to worry about as of now is finding a stable job. It isn't easy getting a job when your college grades sucks ass. I don't know why my grades are that way. My parents have always told me that I am a smart girl and that I have the capability of running a business empire. However, my laziness always gets in the way plus procrastination was my college bestie.

"Oh, don't be upset Hads. My dad knows how smart you are, I'm positive he will give you a job." I turn my head to Madeline's direction and smile at her. I am so glad that Erik and I decided to befriend her. I honestly don't know where I'll be today if it wasn't for Madie.

We arrive at our apartment a couple of minutes after and as soon as I head home, I drop myself on the couch. I am obviously tired and I look like zombie. I don't put makeup on when I go to work because I rub my eyes alot (you know, to get ride of all the sleepiness) and the makeup will probably end up all over my face.

"Hads, we have no food left." I cook and that's probably the only contribution I can give. Madie does all the cleaning and house repairing because she was the one who bought the house and she is the one in charge of interior design or something. I don't clean because I'm (unfortunately) allergic to dust and all the other small particles that make the house dirty.

"Can't we just order pizza?" Madie groans and I immediately regret my suggestion. Madie is on this strict "no pizza" diet and I honestly think it's pathetic because pizza is everyone's cheat food and I just didn't see the point of her going on a diet, the girl was naturally thin plus she had crazy metabolism.

I stand up defeatedly and grab my coat, shrugging it on before muttering a grumpy goodbye to Madie. We just came back from a grocery store and now I have to walk back there all by myself. Fortunately, the grocery store I worked in was only a few streets away.

I shiver in my thick coat and mentally curse Dortmund for having crazy weather. It's especially cold tonight and I was stupid enough to wear my flip flops.

I take my phone out and decide to listen to music. Before I can even take my earphones out of my jean pocket, a piece of paper lands on my face. I groan and pry the paper off my face, I wanted to rip it into pieces but the bold large letters told me not to.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND
VS
FC KÖLN

- SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, THURSDAY, 4 PM