burnt - k. smith (the rewrite)

o n e

Kai Smith considered himself to be a nice guy. You see, normal exes would do everything in their power to forget their past lovers. He at least took the time to write their names down and send them texts at three in the morning, to which they responded to by arriving always under fifteen minutes to his house and spending the night. 

They usually woke up in a cold bed with a cold, badly made breakfast sitting on the nightstand. Kai couldn't cook. But he tried, right? The exes left and were never invited back, and it was some never-ending cycle of girls he would go through every so often. 

This new interviewer looked especially sweet, frantic and worried and troubled and so naive. 

-

You had fallen asleep at your desk once again. Your alarm had been blaring, your neighbors banging on the walls to get you to turn it off. The time read ten after you had set it to ring. Had you slept through ten minutes of that? 

Your eyes snapped open. Ten minutes. You slept through ten minutes of your alarm. Shock plummeted into your body. You'd set your alarm extra early. The studio wanted everyone there two hours early for the interview. Ten minutes of extra sleep practically meant ten minutes late already. 

Rush hour was just around the corner. Nine in the morning was possibly the busiest hour of the day, along with 12 and 3 in the afternoon.  

Hurriedly, you dressed yourself, sloppily styling yourself so you looked the least bit presentable. Whatever would look professional would have to do at this point. 

A knock sounded at the door. Your head whipped around. "Who is it?" You called. 

"Me!" 

Anezka. You prayed she wouldn't talk for too long. Her tendency to do that and your tendency to not want to say no has made you late on multiple occasions. But you opened up anyway. 

"Anezka, do you need something? Now isn't the greatest time." 

She welcomed herself inside, sitting on the edge of your bed. "Did you think about it?" 

"About what?" 

"You know...what I suggested. Talking about doubting the ninja, how they're not doing a good job and their only job..." she snickered to herself. 

"Hm?" You payed little mind to what she was saying in your rush to pack your lunch. "Oh, yeah. No, I did," you lied.

"Are you going to think about it?" 

"Yes, of course. I have to go, Nez. I hope you understand." 

Anezka shot up from her seat and followed you out the door. "No, of course! I understand." 

You shot her a smile. "Thanks." 

"Oh, um, Y/n?" 

You stifled a groan, pressing the down button on the elevator. "Yes?" 

"You think that you could give me a shout out to Charlie? How the interview thingy was my idea?" 

Your gaze softened as the elevator opened up for you. A feeling of guilt prodded at your stomach. "Yes, Nez. Of course I can do that." 

She offered you a sweet, yearning smile. She really needed the money, you knew that. So you made a mental note to do this small favor for her. "Thanks, Y/n. It means a lot." 

You waved goodbye and stepped inside the elevator, descending to the lobby and calling for a taxi as soon as you hobbled outside, still frantic from your lack of sleep. The streets were already so alive. People pushing one another on the sidewalk, cars buzzing from one end of the street to another.