I walked into work with a sluggish pace. Upon waking up this morning I had another headache, which made me contemplate the idea of calling in sick. However, I was too upset with my parents to ask such a favor, thus resulting in me taking advil to cease the throbbing ache in my skull. I walked in to find Charlie working with a customer, so I tossed her a small wave before heading to the back room to stow away my bag filled with text books. I walked out, checking the store before going to the cash register, waiting for someone to help so my time at Urban Wreck can go by quickly. I groaned silently because I couldn’t even contact Callie.

“What’s up, V?” Charlie asked as she leaned against the front counter. She had just finished ringing up a customer and probably noticed the look of boredom coating my features.

“I’m grounded.” I replied blandly.

Charlie chuckled. “Really? What’d you do, bring home an A minus essay?”

I rolled my eyes at her, offering a small laugh. “I sorta stayed out past curfew without contacting them and I might’ve skipped school.”

Charlie guffawed at me; her mouth agape. “You ditched school?” She asked incredulously.

I laughed before sarcastically saying “I know it’s totally unlike me.”

“Why’d you skip school?” Charlie asked.

I bit my lip, debating whether I was gonna give a filtered version of the story since I wasn’t really up to discussing Ronnie’s condition. Charlie and I weren’t really that close, so I decided to spare her the details of my sister.

“Uh—well, this guy Tony was trying to cheer me up.” I stammered out.

“Tony?” Charlie questioned teasingly with an eyebrow cocked at me. “Who’s Tony?”

“He’s kinda my—“ I began but got cut off.

“I’m her boyfriend.” Tony’s voice said from behind the both of us.

I jumped; shocked to see him here since I don’t recall saying where I worked. Charlie smiled at Tony before saying “Boyfriend, eh?”

I rolled my eyes. “No, we’re just dating I guess.”

Tony smiled. “She’s my girlfriend.” He teased.

“What are you doing here, and why are you here?” I asked, changing the subject. Moments like these—when Tony pops up out of nowhere—makes me question if he truly was stalking me.

“I have work, remember? Wednesdays are my IGD’s too.” He explained.

“I figured that much out, but what I meant to ask was how you would know where I work.” I clarified.

“Well, Callie told me that day you were sick.” He blushed.

“She told you?”

“Yeah, we were talking about you and I asked what your schedule was like—but in a way more discreet way—and she told me it. I hope you’re not mad.” He explained with hunched shoulders.

“I’m not mad.” I commented. “I might be a little weirded out because you could’ve asked me personally, but no, I’m not mad.”

Tony sighed in relief. “Sorry for stalking you.”

“Well for a stalker, you’re not doing a great job.” I commented sarcastically.

Charlie smirked at me before walking out to the floor to help with someone that had come walking in. I gave her a thankful nod then turned my attention back to Tony.

“I tried calling you but you weren’t picking up.” Tony commented.

“Yeah, about that…see my parents grounded me because I ditched school yesterday, so I don’t have my phone at the moment.” I explained.

Tony frowned. “How long are you grounded for?”

“A week, maybe two. When you’re a good child—like myself—then any form of rebellion must be nipped in the bud.” I joked.

“Two weeks because you ditched once?” Tony asked incredulously.

“Yeah, my parents are strict believers on the no ditching rule.” I nodded along to my words.

“Aren’t you supposed to receive a warning first? Ya know, like how a first demeanor is never taken seriously.” Tony remarked.

“Yeah, that would be in a liberal land. My parents didn’t go blue in the last election. They’re the dictators in my life.” I stated.

“There goes my first date plans.” He grumbled silently.

I smiled. “It’s fine, I mean yesterday made one helluva first-date-first-impression.”

Tony flashed me a wicked grin. “Well for my actual first date plans, it’ll blow yesterday outta the park.”

“Oh really?” I asked skeptically.

“Really.” He affirmed.

“Well Mr. Romance, if you want to continue having a conversation with me, then meet me on my lunch break at the library because as of right now I am supposed to be working, but you’re distracting me.” I smirked.

“Right, see you around noon.” Tony flushed before leaning in and pecking me chastely on the lips.

I blushed as Charlie nearly hooted loud enough for me to hear. Tony gave me a quick wave before walking out of Urban Wreck.

“You’ve got it bad.” Charlie smirked.

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t even know how to respond to that.” I admitted.

“That’s because you’ve got it bad.” Charlie teased.

“Shut up.” I muttered.

---

Lunch was just around the corner when the store got a call—it was my mother, explaining to me that she’ll be dropping off my car at the store because her and my father had an appointment in the city to go to and that they might not make it back before my shift ended.

“We’re trusting that you follow our rules.” My mother added with a knowing voice.

“Okay.” I sighed before hanging up on her.

I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of appointment that both my mother and father had to go to. I thought of their argument last night and wondered if they were meeting with a lawyer for a divorce. The optimistic side of me—which was rather a small portion of me—hoped that they were doing something to salvage their marriage, like getting professional help or some form of guidance.

I glanced at the store’s clock, noting that I had another thirty minutes until my break. I waited by the cash register since the store had already been tidied up and I had already gone through the cycle of restocking the racks and shelves. Drumming my fingers to the rhythm of My Chemical Romance’s Teenagers, I heard the store’s bell ringing, signaling that customers had walked in. I looked up to find the familiar faces of Gielle and Carmen walking in. I knew I wasn’t their favorite person, but I put a pleasant smile on my face when they looked in my direction. In return, Carmen cocked her eyebrow at me while letting out a small scoff. Gielle on the other hand glanced at me with an impassive expression before looking away.

Great. I thought blandly to myself as Charlie approached them. I was thankful to work with Charlie because she was more of the friendly person while I would work the back room. I wasn’t paying attention to the floor grounds when Carmen approached me, clearing her throat just to capture my attention. I looked up from the inventory sheet to find narrowed brown eyes peering at me.

“It’s Verity, right?” She asked with a condescending voice.

“Right.” I replied blandly.

“Gielle tells me that you and Tony are dating, but I find it hard to believe.” She commented.

I blinked slowly at Carmen, unsure if I was upset with her for saying that or with the fact that she was wearing a bright pink top while chewing on a wad of bubble gum—it seemed too valley girls for my liking.

I shrugged. “We’ve gone out a few times.” I kept my demeanor cool and collected while addressing her, trying my best not to sneer at her since she was technically a customer of this store.

“It won’t last long.” She smirked; her perfectly penciled eyebrow was inclined for effect.

I don’t know why this too bothered me. Whatever happened to girls having hair for eyebrows? Since when did they decide to do away with that and fill it in with makeup?

“And why’s that?” I asked insipidly.

She scoffed. “Because he always comes back to me.”

“Cool.” I said blankly; my voice remained its monotonic charm.

“I’m serious. Tony won’t last long with you.” She jeered. “I mean, look at you. You’re like a secondhand salvation store.” She scoffed.

I chuckled. “Is this the part where I burst into tears or back off from Tony?” I asked sarcastically.

To be honest, everything she said did sting a little but it was just words. I did my best to shrug them off because for all I know she was just trying to make me feel insecure. Besides I can’t snap at someone at my job—my ass would definitely get fired.

Carmen gave me a rancorous smile before saying “I’m just warning you that at any moment Tony will come crawling back to me once he realizes you’re a mistake. So, don’t be surprised honey.”

Imitating my mother’s southern drawl, I said with a saccharine smile “Well sugar, thanks for the warning.”

Gielle came walking up to me, looking down her nose at me before saying “Nothing here is nice or worth my time, let’s go.”

Carmen smirked after shooting me a glare. “Yeah, let’s.”

I smiled mockingly at them as they left the store.

“Geez, what’s up their asses?” Charlie asked in a low voice.

I rolled my eyes. “Just spitefulness.”

She laughed, leaving the conversation at that, but I couldn’t help but hear Carmen’s words run through my head. It made me wonder what hers and Tony’s connection was like. Was she an ex of his, a past fling gone astray, or just one of the many girls pining after him? Whatever the reason for her malice, I didn’t know how to bring it up to Tony without sounding like a cliché, nagging girl.

Notes

Kinda late on my update, but I did it! :D

So Gielle and Carmen are kinda mean, huh?

Thanks for reading and let me know what you think <3