Chapter One

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I turned my head towards my bedside cabinet and picked up my phone. The time shows 8:28 am. As usual I didn't sleep well. I hate insomnia. I can’t remember the last time I had a decent night sleep. But thanks to Instagram, good music and YouTube, it weren’t that bad, although I am tired.

 I lay there, in my nice warm bed, contemplating whether I should get up or not. I love my room. It’s like my own little paradise... my escape. In the end, I finally move.

I walk towards my wardrobe, passing my 5 Seconds of Summer posters, and kiss Michael Clifford’s face. 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS) are a pop/rock band from Australia, and they’re my favourite! I turn on my stereo and put in there self-titled album.

As I finally get dressed, do my hair and finish off my makeup, Mum starts calling me down for breakfast.

“Oliviah, breakfast is ready!” She hollows.

“I’m not hungry,” I answer, as I apply mascara to my lashes.

Mum knows I use that as an excuse to not eat, but this time it’s true, yet she keeps making me eat. Just leave me alone, woman!

I look at the time, and it’s now 9:06 am. “Shit!” I exclaim. “I’m going to be late for work!”

Even though it is a Saturday and I don’t have to be there today, I still rush so I can buy some stuff (and it's a another way of mum getting out of my hair).

And with that, I grab my bag, jacket and purse, and run out the door nearly tripping up on the curb.

And for those who don’t know what my job is, I work at a band merchandise shop called Hot Topic. I’ve worked in a few band merch shops before like Grind store and Dead Goat, but that didn’t last long. Oh well. But I really hope I can keep this one, because it isn’t a bad job, to be honest.

It earns good money, and because there’s not a lot going on in there, I don’t really have that much to do except wander around from aisle to aisle.

The walk from my house to Hot Topic is about fifteen minutes, so to stop the boredom; I put my earphones in and play ‘Not The American Average’ by Asking Alexandria.

It’s a shame Danny Worsnop (lead vocalist) left the band. I know he went to “focus on his other musical interests” (as it said in Kerrang! Magazine and on his twitter), it’s just a huge shock. But, of course, I respect any decision he chooses to make.

I look up from shuffling music on my phone, to see that I have arrived at my destination and, for once, its jam packed!

-

After sorting out rush-hour in the shop, it’s finally 12:42 pm, my lunch break. So I just sit at the till and eat a few nachos that were made in the back.

When I finished them, there were still a few minutes of break left, so I decided to have a look at what I could buy.

I sifted through aisle by aisle by aisle and right there, on the bottom shelf, I saw a 1975 album. And yes, admittedly, I do already have a load of their albums, but I didn’t have this one.

I walked towards the till, where one of the cashiers were, and went to pay.

“Hey, I’d like to buy this, please.” I said, handing her the CD.

“You keep it,” she offers.

“Consider that a thank you gift for helping out earlier, you weren’t even supposed to be here today, and I couldn’t have done that by myself. So thank you.” She smiles and hands me back the CD.

“Oh, thank you so much!” I say, in a slightly more chirpy tone then I’d hoped.

“It’s okay,” she smiled.

I smiled back, and squinted at her name badge, which said ‘Anna’ on it.

I looked left and looked at the clock on the wall opposite. It is now quarter past one, so I got back to my station and waited ‘til there was a customer.

It seemed like ages that I was sitting there. Not a lot of people come into Hot Topic. Maybe it’s because it’s located in a crappy, run down area.

But it’s a decent store, and I still get paid in full even when no one comes in. But today was busy, so I might get paid extra. Doubtful.

I look at the clock and it’s now finishing time, so I grab my stuff, say goodbye to Anna and head home.

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