The Games

[ONE] Montenegro

Montenegro

"Also, on an unrelated note. Wars are not that bad you know. Like if wars would not happen, we would have way too many people on this planet. In a way, a war is the earth's way of population control. So, technically anyone that ever started a war, was not so bad after all. They were just doing Mother Nature a favour", Lexy said.

"Uh huh", I mumbled, not really paying attention to her.

You see, Alexandra is a weird person, she always talks about her newest conspiracy theories and how "the world will end tomorrow". Yeah, you could say that Lexy is very curious and a bit crazy.

"So, on that note. What do you think?", she asked, standing at the register, counting the money.

"Wait what? I couldn't hear you. The machines were too loud", I said, trying to talk myself out of this situation.

But, before she could answer our next customer walked in, this meant I had been saved. We work at a grocery store called 'Cheap Check' and, as every other small store, we had our fair share of regulars. So, it was no surprise when Martin showed up to buy his usual box of cigarettes.

"Hey Lex!", he shouted when he entered the store "how is my favorite cashier doing today? I think, you already know what I want today"

"Well hello Martin", I sighed, refilling an empty isle.

"Hi Martin", she said, handing him a packet of our self-made 'Happy-go-lucky' cigarettes "you really should stop smoking, I heard it's bad for you. I apparently gives you lung cancer. No girl wants to be with a guy who smokes as much as you do"

"Who said that I want to be with a girl?", Martin said, but immediately saw that Lexy was getting uncomfortable and let out a chuckle "I'm joking"

"That would be 28 pounds", she said, glaring at him.

Usually no-one would buy these cigarettes because they were way too overpriced, but Martin did not care about the price. He said that they were the best cigarettes that he ever had. Martin handed Lexy the money and left.

"Well he is in a bad mood today, isn't he", I said, not noticing that Lexy had gone to the back "well then I guess it's my turn to be the cashier" I walked to the register and swiped my card to make sure I get paid extra.

Just to clarify, my name is Ray Sutton, I am a 20-year-old orphan living in Bristol and except for working at an 24hr grocery store I do not really do anything else. I have been working here since I was 18. That is the age when all the kinds in the foster home must get a job. Me and my best friend Maya chose to work here. Maya is an orphan as well; I know her since we were toddlers. That is when we were put into the foster home. I hear footsteps behind me and see Maya walking towards me.

"Hey, your shift is over", she said, stepping to the register and swiping her card "you can go to the back"

I nodded and then made my way to the back to check on Lexy. She left without saying a word, which was very unusual behaviour for her. I walk into the room and look around. The back room is a rather dark and gloomy place. There are two doors in this room, one of which is locked. The other door leads to the bathroom, this is where I suspected Lexy to be. When she gets overwhelmed or sad, she tends to go to the bathroom and cry. I opened the door, and just as I expected she was there. Lexy was sitting in a corner, her head on her knees and she was shaking. I quickly walked over to her and put my arm around her.

"It's ok, tell me what happened", I whispered, whilst Lexy started sobbing in my arms. I was not sure why she was crying, but no matter why I would comfort her.

"Do you think he was actually joking?", she asked my, looking up at me.

"What are you talking about?", I asked her, not sure what she was referring to. I stroked a strand of hair out of her face before she replied.