Those In The Forest

Part 1: Reagan

How is it that everyone is hiring, yet no one wants to hire you? How can that be possible? I would also like to know, if you are short of staff, why the fuck would you fire people?! Especially your most hard-working employee.

          I would love to ask my previous boss, but they didn't give me a chance. A fucking retail job laid me off over text while I was getting ready to walk out of the door to head to work.

          I banged my head on my cheap dining room table, my computer and glass of soda rattling on the table.

          This was my choice. I dropped out of college because I couldn't afford it, and applying for scholarships was hell. None of my previous foster care families had my school records, and the foster care system deemed my vital life records unimportant because they were lost.

          Applying to college was hard enough. Trying to pay for it, work, and have good grades was damn near impossible. So dropping out wasn't entirely my choice. It was ford upon me.

          If I don't find another job in the next two weeks, I will be evicted, and staying in my car as I did after dropping out of college isn't ideal. Paying for the cheapest gym membership I could find so I could bathe wasn't perfect.

          Using the most random places to use the bathroom wasn't ideal. Just being fucking homeless wasn't ideal. How I've managed to survive in Seattle with everything being expensive as shit is beyond me.

          I can't find a single place that will hire me, which is embarrassing, to say the least. I'm close to just buying a tent and living in the woods. At least I can live rent-free. There's also the thought that I won't have to deal with people.

          One thing about working in retail is that you have to be okay with talking with people, and I'm not great at that. I've managed to make one friend. And she was my roommate for the first semester of college.

          Bryce Leighton. A wealthy white girl who loves everyone. She's kind and intelligent. But she can be very dense sometimes. I can't for the life of me figure out how we managed to be friends, but we are.

          I can't say we're close because I never told her about the fact that I was living in my car. Ir that I had to drop out. I kind of just said college wasn't for me and that I would start traveling. I lied, basically. And she believed me.

          When I got this cheap little apartment, I started inviting her over, and even then, she only stayed for a little while because she always wanted to go out. The best part of having a wealthy friend is that she happily pays for anything she takes me to. If she didn't, I wouldn't be able to go.

          I lifted my head, rubbing my forehead. My computer blacked out, and I saw that as a sign just to take a break. If I can't find anything right now, I won't find something today. I reached over, closing it. I'll try again tomorrow.

          My phone rang from the corner of the table. The cracked screen shone bright, showcasing Bryce's name. I groaned to myself. If I answer that, she'll want to hang out, but I don't even know if I'm in the mood.

          I picked it up, watching it ring. I also know that if I don't answer, she'll keep calling and calling and calling, and I can't take that headache right now.

          I sighed and swiped, answering it. When I put the phone to my ear, she squealed. I cringed and pulled it back, deciding to put it on speakerphone.

          "What can I do for you, Bryce?" I asked, trying to keep the attitude out of my tone. I set my phone on the table in front of me.

          "Okay, one, you let your phone ring more than three times. You know how I feel about that." I rolled my eyes. "Two, you know why I'm calling. It's Saturday night, and I know you're just sitting at home doing nothing."