Good Boy // Badboyhalo

Chapter 11

I came into my apartment, setting down Bad.

There were some envelopes and mail in my hand, and I stood at the table and opened it.

I bit my bottom lip, opening the envelop that seems to be from work.

The paper was not good news.

"What the fuck?"

In the nighttime, it was kind of dark.

I walked down the hallway and into John's office, pretty pissed off. And Bad was walking at my side.

"Two hundred and fifty dollars!?" I said, when I got to John's desk.

He straightened himself in his chair. "Hm?"

"I'm sorry, John, is this with or without my bonus?" I held the paper, which probably was a check.

"Hey Zak, I was using a figure of speech." John told me. "That's not the-"

He stopped, then noticed Bad. "Oh! Who's the little guy?"

I assumed he tried to change the subject there.

"Did you get one?" He asked me.

I gave him a humorless face. "Someone really earned a bonus is a figure of speech? You're a fucking editor, John!"

"I need that money!" I practically yelled. The stress was showing in my voice and expression.

"Okay!" John responded. "Take a deep breath. It's not that I don't want to up your pay." He put his hands up, palms facing me.

"You're doing great reporting, but take a look around." He stood up from his chair. "Did you see anyone in the newsroom when you came up?"

"Yeah, you!" I said. "This is still your office, isn't it?

"I'm being serious now, you lost the attitude!" John got serious, pointing a finger at me. "It's not like I'm making a windfall here either. And in case your forgot, I got a wife, and two kids that I provide for."

"Who's to say I wouldn't like that too!?" I raised my voice over him. I felt uncontrolled, with my tone of voice.

"Obviously that's not what I meant!" John responded.

"You just said it was great reporting!" I repeated the words from him.

"For the valley yeller, Zak." John said. "Look, for a bigger paper, maybe you'd get bigger checks. I don't know, couldn't hurt to look."

"Do you hear that, Bad? Now he's trying to get rid of me." I glanced at Bad, then glared at the man.

Bad growled under his mask.

"That's not what I said, it's obvious they don't work after all." John said.

"I- Excuse me?" I tilted my head, honestly offended.

"You're bring a little hysterical, Zak." John said.

"And you're being a little drunk!" I snapped at him. "Does Techno know what you put in your coffee all day, every day, John?"