Circles - Post Malone

One

"Dahlia! I have great news!" Gina squeals jumping and clapping her hands while giggling. Her curly blond hair coiled like little springs around her shoulders. Dahlia wants to slap her but she can't - she has been working on herself and violence may be the logical answer to most things but her self-help book says it's never the answer.

"I am working, Gina," she says in a bored tone and continues to pack cans of baked beans onto the shelf. Clearly, her life is invigorating enough without Gina squealing in her ear. Miss fucking perfect. "Well, this has everything to do with your job, Dahlia. You don't honestly want to be a happy little packer at this stupid convenience store for the rest of your life do you?" Gina asks scrunching her nose as she looks around. "I will have you know I took a math test that will help me carve my pathway to check out girl soon," Dahlia defends herself and then open a box of canned peas.

"Then what?" Gina asks. Dahlia lets out an exaggerated sigh and throws her hands up in the air. Gina pisses her off - she is constantly smiling. It's fucking annoying. "I don't fucking know, Gina! What do you want? My whole life plan?" Dahlia asks in a raised voice. "Hey," her manager pops his head around the corner, "keep your voice down. You don't want to upset any customers," he says. Dahlia snaps her head in his direction and glares at him. He immediately puts his hands up in defense and backs off. He may or may not be part of the reason she took that self-help book out from the town library.

"Yes. Tell me your whole life plan," Gina says handing her a can of peas. Dahlia rolls her eyes and takes the can. "Packer, check out girl, marry someone, birth a couple of kids then get my tits done with the money from the inevitable divorce...eventually, I will die in a trailer park. Hopefully pissed on cheap beer," Dahlia says, resuming her packing duties. "You hate kids," Gina points out. "Never said I would keep them, did I?" Dahlia sighs out and turns to face Gina, "why are you here, Gina? Why do you insist on finding me and acting like we are even friends?"

"Dahlia, we are the only ones left from high school in this hell hole of a town. All my school friends have moved away and you are all I have left."

"We are not friends, Gina."

"But all we have is each other!"

"Gina! Why are you here?"

"Ok, ok. Do you remember Austin Post?" Gina asks her voice rising in an excitable tone again. Does Dahlia remember Austin Post? What a stupid fucking question. She had only been pining after him from the first day of high school. She had been captivated by him. Completely gone for him. But he never paid her any attention. He never acknowledged or even spoke to her once in high school. But he did pay a lot of attention to Gina. They had never dated but Dahlia is sure he would have if Gina had given him half a chance.

High school had been fine but that's because she slipped under the radar and remained pretty forgettable. Dahlia had no friends but that's because she hates people. Gina and Austin had been popular, cool, and going places in high school. Austin may have had a thing for Gina in high school but he was never single either, there had always been a girl hanging off his arm.

"I am not sure...was he your prom date?" Dahlia asks as if she did not cry over the fact in high school. Gina jumps up and down again clapping her hands, "yes! Yes! He was so cute and cuddly with his fluffy brown hair," Gina sing songs out. She is not wrong, Austin had been in all of her fantasies and she had gotten off to the thought of him way too many times. Maybe she should get a self-help book on how to have a normal sex life. Add 25-year-old virgin to the list of things that suck in her pathetic life.

She had tried once at a party in high school. She had gotten drunk enough to get a little flirty but then her nerves had gotten the better of her so she drank a little more and ended up passed out. She woke up the next morning on a pool lounger tucked under a blanket that she still does not even know how she had gotten onto. That was her first and last party she had ever been to. She shakes her head and snaps her thoughts away. Why is she even thinking about this shit? "What the fuck do I care, Gina? Just get to your point," Dahlia barks out. "Well, he and I made a promise to keep in touch. A pinky promise. I was telling him how I was ready to leave this deadbeat town and he said I could come and stay with him in New York," she says her voice now high-pitched in glee.

"Well isn't that just fan-fucking-tastic. I am so happy for you, Gina. May all your dreams become reality," Delilah says laying the sarcasm on as thick as she can. But it is wasted on Gina. "For us, Delly! For us! I asked him if my friend could come to stay too and he said yes. We are going to New York!" she squeals and jumps up and down again. "Like fuck we are. And don't call me Delly. I have warned you before about that shit, Gina," Dahlia growls. "Oops sorry. I forget. You are just so small - you should really have a cute nickname. I could give you one if you like," Gina says sweetly.

"Just go home, Gina. Have a good life in New York," Dahlia says picking up the now empty boxes and walking to the back of the store to throw them out. Gina, much to her delight, follows her. She is quiet and gets all serious once they are out back by the bins. "Dahlia, you kept your promise to your mom. You gave your Gran a good life...now it's your turn to live the life you deserve," Gina says, her voice full of concern. "I am happy here -" Dahlia starts but cuts herself off when Gina holds out a bus ticket.

"He bought us each a bus ticket. It leaves tomorrow at 6 am. Think about it tonight. I really hope you come, Dahlia." Gina presses the ticket into Dahlia's hand and then walks away without waiting for a reply.