Present. November 1st, 2018.
"Why don't you look ravishing!" Carson says as I walk into work. A snarky look is plastered on his face as I look down at myself in my new uniform. Which involved a hat. A. Hat.
"Shut it, Carl. I'm exhausted, and these new uniforms make me look like a failed comedian." I tried to beg my way out of wearing the hat but Lenny wasn't budging, and clearly, Carson had no success either.
As Carson slid the hat on and took his place in front of his beloved coffee machines, I took my own cracks at the way he looked even though he didn't look bad... at all.
"Why are you late?" He asks me, smirking as I roll my eyes.
"Why do you care?" I raised my eyebrow, grabbing a rag from the counter to wipe down the table.
"Stop acting like we aren't friends," Carson replies, frowning.
"Fine," I huffed, pulling a book out of my bag. "this book. It's addicting!" I handed it to him as a smile overtook his frown as he read the title.
He held my beloved copy of Wonder in his hands as I watched his reaction to it.
He smiled at me, "I read this about two years back. I know it's narrated by kids, but damn, I loved it so much."
"I know right! I love how it highlights multiple characters perspectives. Most books struggle with that, y'know?" He nods in agreement, handing my book back to me.
"You're a reader too? Damn, you're the perfect edgy nerd!" He exclaims, nudging my shoulder.
"Fu-Screw you, Carl." I laugh, holding in my cuss words for when I'm not in my Lenny's hearing range.
I shove my book back into my back and plop my back next to Carson's and heading to the front of the shop to scrub down dirty tables.
"Hey, scrubber!" Someone called from beside me, at one of the neighboring tables. I sighed before turning to face the music and shoving my rag into my waistband.
"Hey, how can I help you?" I said as I walked over to the booth, not bothering to look at them. Not to be rude, I just find eye contact a bit concerning for me. Once I finally did, I sighed as I watched Brooklyn whisper to her friend next to her. "Do you need something?" I ask, impatiently. Great! Brooklyn.
"Uh yeah, you're a coffee shop worker, get me some coffee." She rolled her eyes and continued her whisper.
I pulled out my notepad and made a loud choking sound, tapping my foot. "Well, hun, there are numerous coffee options on our menu so if you'd like some coffee you're going to have to tell me what kind. Not to mention there is this thing called food that we occasionally serve."
She looked up at me with a shocked expression. I just raised my brows, provoking an answer.
"Medium Latte, can you manage that?"
"If you can manage to keep your last brain cells alive, I can totally manage to get your coffee." I stormed off and gave Carson the order, cooling off as I fought looking at her.
Fuck, she makes me so mad.
"Are you okay, Lena?" Carson asks me, concern evident. He leans over the window connecting the dining area to the kitchen.
I just looked at him with a failed smile. "Yeah," I looked down and watched as my hands gripped tighter together. "I'm fine." I picked at my notepad.
I'm not sure what about Brooklyn got me so upset today. Maybe part of it was her annoying me at a place I work at. Perhaps it was just her natural existence bothering my natural existence.
Somewhere along the lines, she began to stress me out more, bug me more. After dealing with her snarky comments at school and then being able to escape at a place I've always considered a get-away, seeing her here and acting as though she's some higher power made my skin crawl.
I've always tried to fight the anger that rushes to the surface when people rile me up, but it hasn't been working much. Not with my mom, and especially not with Brooklyn.
————————
The rest of my shift was harmless. After my 5-hour shift ended, I grabbed my bag and flipped the sign before leaving, walking home in the dark. Lenny tossed me a sandwich before letting me go, he claimed he was worried I wouldn't have enough energy to make it home. He claimed I looked pale.
It was around 8 at night, and my headphones were irritating me for some reason. I sighed as I ripped them out in frustration and put my head in my hands as I sat down in the alley I occasionally find myself in.
I don't know why simple things like Brooklyn mouthing off got me in these moods, but once I'm in them, they don't go until I allow myself to take a minute and breathe.
Sitting in the alley with my bag filled with only a book, wallet, and earbuds probably weren't the smartest way to go about it, but lord knows I wouldn't receive any peace at home.
Since Halloween, my mother decided she wasn't going to be speaking to me. I'm not sure what about her ignoring me made me feel worse than when she's brutal. At least when she's brutal, she knows I exist.
"Please tell me you don't have this fantasy of getting mugged." A familiar voice said as he towered over me.
I jumped up quickly, clutching my bag to my side. "God, Carson! You scared the hell out of me." I slap his shoulder and begin walking away from him.
"I'm sorry, Bright Eyes. Hey, let me drive you home." He said, following me quickly. When I didn't answer, he just caught up and stood beside me.
"I don't need a ride, Carson."
"You may not need one, but the fact that you're sitting alone in alleys proves that you don't have the best midnight stroll precautions."
"Carl, it's 8:15." I grin and shake my head.
"Who cares? My point is still valid." He shrugs with a smirk. "C'mon, stop being stubborn for once and let me drive you home."
"Did Lenny tell you to drive me home? Because he seems to think I'm helpless." I roll my eyes and lean against the building behind me, staring up at him. He was easy to make eye contact with. Too easy...
Carson frowned. "Why does my old ass grandpa have to tell me to drive my friend home?"
I smile and stand up straight, looking up at him. "Fine," I scoff. "And you say I'm stubborn." I brush past his shoulder with a smirk on my face and walk the opposite direction to the car parking lot at Lenny's.
When I turn around, I see Carson looking at me with a matching smirk, eyes wide. "You comin' or not, Carl?" He just shakes his head and catches up with me.
"You're a piece of work you know that?" He looks down.
"Thanks," I wink. "I'll race you," I say, and we both run at the speed of light to the car. Carson slowed down a bit towards the end, probably to let me win, which I appreciated. My previous problems evaded my mind, and I relaxed in the comfortable seats of his car, my lips turned up slightly.
Carson didn't play loud rap music that I found obnoxious. Instead, he played soothing music. All genres. Alternative, EDM, Indie, rock, even a little bit of rap. He rambled to me about all the different playlists he had once, and I agreed with him. Lord knows I have far too many playlists.
I turned my head and leaned it on the window, closing my eyes for the short ride home. My nap was short-lived though. Carson woke me shortly after, only needing to gently shake my shoulder twice. A small smile tugs at his lips as he said, "time to get out, princess."
My groggy state didn't let me protest the new nickname. Princess. Usually, I'd hate it. The only person I let call me pet names like that was my Dad.
"Thanks, Carl," I responded. "I'll see you tomorrow." I patted his shoulder and hopped out of the car, heading into my house.
The rest of my night would include mind-numbing homework that didn't benefit me in any way. I left my balcony doors open to listen to the peaceful fall night wind and the leaves blowing along with it.
When the cold air became too much, I shoved on a hoodie and some fuzzy sweatpants and finished up, sighing as my head began to ache. I was finally though around 11 and had shrugged myself under the covers, leaving the balcony doors open and my books littering the floor.
My brain loved to work hard before I could fall asleep. Making me rethink every detail of the day I had, wondering if I said something wrong or anything like that. Over-analyzing every detail was practically my culture.
I found myself over-analyzing Carson the most. The way he looked at me today and the way we spoke. He's was becoming a more significant part of my day to day life, and I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I always end up pushing people away one way or another. Add that to the list of things I've got to improve on.
Long, long list.