2 heartbroken teens

22

The next day I go back to work at the skate shop. And this time I ain't late.

Last night I slept only four hours. I couldn't get my brother and Riley out of my head. On the one hand I was in the need to think a way of seeing my brother again and ask him about his intentions. But of course I'll have to soothe my rage when talking to him, and that's the hardest part. Being betrayed by a brother, who in my case I was so close with, hurts the most. I know I will never get back the relationship I had with him. On the other hand, I was repeating to myself how stupid I was yesterday getting carried away from the past and calling my ex. If I had known I was gonna break up with Riley, I wouldn't have tell her my family issues. What if now she spreads the word to everybody? Shit, better she doesn't go off the deep end.

Lucky for me I found xannys in my bathroom and I took a pill this morning to carry the day.

Nolan asks me to help him hanging some clothes, but first I want to make a new skate as I broke the one I had. Actually the board wasn't too damaged, just the wheels and some screws, but anyways I wanted to change the skate, so I was gonna do a new one sooner or later. I put my black bandana around the forehead so that my curly hair doesn't bother me and I get on it.

I love the procedure of doing a skate; so relaxing. Mostly is so satisfying cutting the excess sandpaper around the board. I put some cool stickers on the bottom and finally I screw the wheels.

We have some finished skateboards in the shop, but if I take one of those it'll be deducted from my earnings.

"So cool, dude." Nolan comments about the result.

"Thanks." I spin the board a couple of times and then I leave it on the floor. Later I'll try it.

"Now you can come and hang this hoodies." He trows three of them at me. "Pick the rest after." I nod and I do my job.

Like a half an hour later or so, a guy and a girl enters in. He's way taller than the girl, maybe around my height; both dark hair, the girl wearing a beanie. They strangely look familiar to me. If I'm not wrong, I think they're apart of Summer's group of friends. Gosh, literally Summer is anywhere I go since I met her even if she's not physically there.

I don't know their names, but anyways I'm not interested. I just hope they don't recognize me, I rather avoid the awkwardness. But what I can't avoid is to ask them if they want help as I'm an employee. And when they turn their heads, they realize.

"Oh, shit, is it you?" The guy asks. "Sorry, maybe I just confused you with some else."

"Umm, yeah, maybe." I lie. The girl examines me with her eyes half closed.

"Or maybe not, right Vinnie?"

Fuck.

"Imma leave." I say, and I turn around. Nolan can attend to them.

"Wait, did Summer told you about this Friday?" Again the girl speaks friendly. I furrow my brows.

"No..., why?" I look at them over my shoulder.

"Well, we're planning a big hangout at the skatepark—"

"Like a party." The guy points out.

"Not a party... well, kinda. Anyways, I thought she wanted you to come..., or maybe she will ask you later."

"Lately I'm not in the mood for parties." I face them again. Sounds like an excuse, but it's not, for obvious reasons.

Nolan walks by.

"You know them, Vinnie?"

"No." I answer fast. "They're looking for people to go to their big hangout." I quote with the fingers.

"A party? When?" It doesn't surprise me his enthusiasm.

"This Friday, at the skatepark." The guy answers.

"Maybe I can go for a while. What about you?" Nolan hits me with his elbow on my arm.

"Pass."

"So fun as always." He comments sarcastically.

"Maybe Summer can convince you." The girl says. Nolan frowns, confused.

"Summer...? Oh, wait, is she that girl you told me?"

"Nolan, shut up." I don't like where this conversation is going. "Fine, I'll go. Now let me be on my own." And I go to the back of the store, where more clothes are kept. I just said that so that they end talking. Obviously I'm not going.

"Forgive him, he gets upset easily." I hear Nolan's muffled voice through the door. "Are you guys interested in buying something?"

They end up buying some tees, and when they leave Nolan comes where I am.

"C'mon, end of the break."

I walk back to the store with a groan.

"Maybe we could get some tattoos after work. You like that." He winks, and I chuckle. He knows how to cheer me up.

"Deal."