In the Darkness

1.

The door bounced open, causing a light ding to sound over the speakers. A few people, no more than 15 years old, filtered through as they spoke amongst themselves. They rattled off orders to Joe, the new hire, who looked almost completely helpless trying to write everything down. Eventually they had sat down, I, making the overly caffeinated and sugar filled drinks, and Joe, tending to the drive through. It was usually busy this time of day on a Friday so there was almost no shock when once again, the door completely opened and the ding that sounded made us aware of the new customers.

"Order for.. Katelin?" I sat the drinks down on the counter, waiting for someone to grab them. It was only a few moments before they were accounted for, Joe now taking the orders of 3 men.

I looked at the clock hanging on the wall perfectly, the time being 7:00 PM which meant technically, we were closed. I sighed in relief, feeling the day's end actually in sight.

"You look hopeful," Joe chuckled in my direction. "Could it be.. That time again?" Since meeting her, Joe had actually been a pretty good friend. I trained her on most of what she knows, since I've worked here since I was 16, and she respected her job more than some of the others. Which of course, I respected.

"The time to start kicking people out..?" I whispered in her direction, holding eye contact as I swiftly moved past her, watching the slight wind catch her strawberry blond hair.

"Only your favorite time of day.."

I winked, "You know me too well."

---

I walked into my shared dorm though Beck was nowhere insight, her definite fashion choices laid dormant on the floor, some on her bed, and even some creeping onto mine. "Beck?" I shouted and waited patiently for a response, though one didn't come.

I grabbed the sweater I left on my bed hours before, hoisting around my head, and pulling it down to wrap my body in a more comfortable temperature. As I grabbed the book from my nightstand, Beck walked out of the now open bathroom door, "oh hey, didn't know you were back already."

"Came in a few minutes ago, you going to a party or something?" I spoke, sitting on my bed. Beck walked over to the mirror, grabbing some pair of flashy heels that matched her top almost exactly as if she had planned it, which she probably did. "You look nice."

"Thanks babe, yeah I've just got this like.. Birthday thing to go too? I don't really know, Marcus asked me to come a few days ago. I don't even think I know the birthday person."

"How magical," I laughed, watching Beck fix her makeup before checking the time.

"Hey, you know what, I would feel so much better if you came with me."

"Um.. I don't know, beck. I have work tomorrow."

"Please? You don't have to drink, I don't know if I will either-"

"Yeah right, you are like the opposite of a designated driver. Oh my god, you're the designated drinker, always." my eyes shifted back to the book i had been trying to read, even though I knew there was no point as I wasn't paying enough attention to retain anything.