When Devils Smile

Eight

I hop over the counter and throw my jacket on a chair, I glance around the shop just making sure I'm not trapping anyone in and when I'm happy I turn the 'open' sign to 'closed'. As I'm about to head out someone stops me, my boss.

"May I have a word with you?" His serious tone says and I raise a brow, turning around to face him.

"I don't know," I cross my arms, "may you?" I say with a gasp and furrowed brows. Putting on a show, whilst confused as to why he is acting so mysterious. He never wants a 'chat', he sighs but continues.

"You've been showing up late to work quite a lot lately," I go to interrupt but he puts a hand up, "and you've been leaving early too. You're not quite in it" it's a little corner shop people rarely visit. Why would I put my heart and soul to work for this shitty little place?

"If this continues I'm going to have to fire you" I feel my face turn to stone but only for a spilt second, before I'm smiling sweetly at him putting on my charm. I walk towards the counter slowly and he watches me with a calculated look.

I tilt my head at him and he squints his eyes, "you wouldn't really do that to me, would you?" I say with a kind tone- sweet like syrup. "I mean, I've worked here for how long?" Since I was 15, "you can't just kick me out for a few mistakes" I soften my eyes. To make him feel bad, I can tell it works slightly. Only slightly though- he's grown used to me.

He sighs and looks down, he then shakes his head as if he is making himself not back down and I almost admire him. Until I remember he wants to fire me. I bite my lip and watch him, awaiting.

"Look Levi, it's not that I want to. Of course I don't!" He throws his hands up in exhaustion, he looks to me in a doleful way. Like he's mourning the loss of me already, "I'm not saying I'm going to let you go, but if you don't start showing up on time then-" he cuts himself off and I half squint my eyes at him.

"Then I will have to fire you, I'm sorry but you brought this on yourself" he sighs. And I smile. Yeah, no way he's getting rid of me, he needs me. I step closer to the counter again and I nod, an understanding nod.

"Yeah, I get that" I tell him and his shoulders sag in relief, "I know I've been a bad worker lately but I promise I'll do better. I've just had a lot on my mind lately, you know, with my dad getting out of jail and all" I say and avoid his eyes. As if I'm thinking about something in my life I'm struggling with at the moment, anything to get him to pity me.

"Hey no, it's fine. We all go through things, I'm sure this week is just a one off. I'll let it go for now okay? But if this continues" I put my hands up in surrender and step back.

"Yup, I'm gone. Understood, I won't let you down" I tell him and salute to him as I head for the door. He points at me.

"Yes, you remember that yeah?" I nod at him and give him a smile, when I leave the said smile drops and I roll my eyes.

That was close. Too close.

I walk quick to get back to the house feeling irritated from today already. And it's not even late, I still have my shift later on at the club. Fuck life.

When I get home I see Emmet in the kitchen reading a book like a loser he is, I go to the stairs but halt. Turning to look at him, I tilt my head watching him as he carries on reading and doesn't acknowledge my existence. Of course he's ignoring me, why wouldn't he? Why wouldn't anyone.

I head into the kitchen and I stare at him for a moment before grabbing his book, he sighs and stands up. "Give it back Levi" I look down at the book in hand 'The secret history' blah blah blah and I close it, he groans- annoyed that I lost his page.