Vivienne

2

✧ Vivienne ✧

It's been two days since I've been to the mechanic and seen that brooding wall of a man. He got under my skin so easily, and it looked to cause him no effort. I'm not one to get hung up on anyone. I just roll my eyes and move on. Sometimes I yell and move on. And sometimes a break things and move on.

Now that the semester was over, I had 3 months of summer to spend working at the book store. The library was an old little building until it got renovated. Nothing too drastic just fresh coats of paint and a little re-building to bring the shop a little more life.

Though it was a beach town, some of the buildings held some history, and you could see it if you looked at the details. The trim of the store held a fancy 1800s feel while the edges had stone flowers that looked soft enough to be real.

I sat at the front desk, kicked back reading my book. It was early in the morning meaning the only people up were surfers trying to catch some calm morning waves and store owners opening up shop.

An hour later I decide to get up and walk around the shop, maybe put a few things back. I do a few laps when something near the window catches my eye.

A classic grass green Cadillac Eldorado sits prettily along the sidewalk. It glimmers perfectly in the sun.

I'm about to cum

I'm utterly mesmerised by it till I see its owner walk right up to it.

Ugh him.

I roll my eyes turning away to walk back to my counter.

The moment I sit my ass down, the door chimes.

He moves fast.

Without looking up I know it's him standing in front of me. I choose not to be the one to acknowledge it. I try but fail to focus on the words written on the page in front of me, his presence is almost palpable.

He doesn't say a word either.

Stubborn.

Seconds start to feel like minutes as I can feel his eyes piercing me. I can feel them run over my blue plaid skirt, my white tank top, all the way up to my demure dangly earrings.

I see his fingers inching closer to my face. He holds a piece of paper between long thick fingers.

The paper drops in between the pages I'm holding open. Before I even have the chance to read what's written on it, he's gone.

Pick-up time: June 10th

11 AM

My eyes flit down to the price and I suddenly flee the country. Fuck.

He's right. This car is a piece of junk and the cost to fix it surpasses its worth. The fact that I'm a regular at Tony's further proves his point.

✧༺♡༻✧

By the time the sun had set, most local shops had closed, including the book store. Nightlife had begun to light up the town as hoards go young people started to flood the streets. Within the past 10 years, clubs, bars, and restaurants had started to populate the area. Contractors and business owners had realised the number of young people that populate the beach and knew it would be easy money.

I'm sure there was a fair amount of illegal activities taking place. It's not like I need to speculate. I've seen it with my own eyes.

Shady exchanges behind bars, cocaine being snorted at clubs, and I've even seen a fair amount of cash being handed in bulk. Very sketchy stuff.

After deciding it was probably best for me to leave before it gets too dark, I lock the door to the entrance and twist the handle just to make sure.

My apartment wasn't far from the store, only about a fifteen-minute walk right above a local bakery. It was probably the only thing I liked about the place. Although I put work into making myself look presentable, it wasn't money that made it possible. I had to be resourceful.

I unlock my door before gently laying my bag onto the small stool next to it. My apartment was bare for the most part, the only furniture I had was found at thrift stores. And being realistic, finding nice furniture was a challenge. Especially pieces that fit my taste and calibre.

My shoes were lined neatly at the door, and if they weren't all perfectly straight, I would grow angry and frustrated until they were.

A small ball of black fur brushes up against my leg. A kitten I had found about a week ago sunbathing next to my bike.

"Hi, Pluto baby" I coo, picking him up, and taking him with me.

With every step I take to my bedroom, I start to feel my feet saying me down. But my brain refuses to let me sleep in my clothes and makeup. My night-time routine is to be done no matter how tired I feel at the end of the day.

After I'm satisfied and feel clean enough in my neglige, I drag my ass to bed and go out like a light.