Pieces Part 1

Departure

"Agh," I groaned as I squeezed out of the cash register. Hours had passed since my sleeping-on-the-job fiasco, and it was time to clock out. I wove through the supermarket's messy aisles to the window-walled corridor that wound to our break room. Orange rays from the burnished sky spilled onto the hallway, making my steps feel lighter as I got closer to finally returning home.

The breakroom smelled of microwaved lunches and old compost like usual. I hurried towards my locker and set to loosen its dial before I started whiffing boiled eggs and onion everywhere I turned. Once I hooked my backpack over my shoulder, a loud female voice entered the room.

"What do you mean you can't pick me up? Do you expect me to walk home alone? Seriously... Come on.... fine... I understand. Bye." I peeked around the corner—flaming red locks whipped across the room like a crimson tornado.

Amber, I recalled quickly. She was the only person I knew with such bright red hair.

Venting aloud, she grumbled, "What am I going to do..." Her work apron was wrinkled, and she looked distressed by more than the room's awful smell.

I pursed my lips. It's too bad I can't help her, I thought.

Out of the blue, Tina crept into sight and threw an arm around Amber's shoulders, chirping, "Hey, if you need a walking buddy, Maurice and I will walk you home!"

I tried to catch Tina's gaze and send her the "what the hell?" look, but she beamed as if nothing was awry about this offer.

Amber muttered, "Uh, who is Maurice?" Ouch. Well, I didn't particularly stand out at work, and it wasn't like I waltzed the halls in a wackily-colored fringe as if I were the protagonist of an anime.

Tina pointed at me crap. A glint of recognition flashed across Amber's face.

"You mean 'Moe?'" She said rather disappointedly.

"Is there something wrong?" Tina asked tone still as cheery as ever. I couldn't grasp why she was over the moon about inviting this woman on our walk home or how they even winded up friends.

Glancing between Tina and me, Amber mumbled, "Well, I appreciate the offer, but Moe doesn't look like he can protect anyone."

Tina blasted with laughter.

Okay, that was enough. I slid off the pillar I leaned on and scowled, "Hey, I'm in the same room; stop acting like I can't hear you."

As Tina tried to contain herself, she chuckled, "Moe might not look it, but he can pack a punch. Trust me, I can vouch for that. I taught him everything he knows." Unlike Tina, I didn't care about balancing hardcore athletics and a mellow lifestyle. She was a fashionista who could kick off her heels after work and hike for an hour. I was okay in the gym, but mostly because I could last. Not because I'd perform the best.

Amber sighed, "So, you are saying that he is no stronger than you... oh lord, I'm doomed. Sadly, I have no other choice."

Tina wore her signature Cheshire grin and took Amber by her two shoulders, pushing her ahead as she swayed to the cha-cha line. I sighed and receded to the coat racks for my jacket. As Tina was dancing out, she yelled, "Hey Maurice, hurry up!"

"I didn't sign up for this!!" I shouted back. I quickly flattened my jacket under my backpack and followed the two girls.

As we walked, I noticed Amber giving me a piercing stare.

Puzzled, I asked, "What's up?"

She glanced at me, then glanced at Tina, and then glanced back at me.

"I don't understand this..." She trailed off.

I cocked an eyebrow. "Understand what?"

"How is someone as cool as Tina, is friends with someone as 2D as you..." She said while making a sweep from head to toe of me. I scrunched my nose in bewilderment.

"2D? What do you mean by 2D?" I countered. "That sounds like what you got on your chest!"

Amber's cheeks glowed as hotly as her scarlet mane. I watched her pull her shawl tighter over her body.

Not done with my diss, I added, "And do you always have colored hair? What are you? ...an E-Girl?"

Amber shook her head as if that was the most absurd question ever. "Shut up, I just don't see how an Amazon with no heels, who can fight with literal men and still wear her skirt on the same day, would want to hang out with someone who's raggedy and 5'4 like you."

"Wha—you're just as tall as me!"

Amber ignored my rebuttal and locked in on Tina. "Tina, why do you hang out with this paper character!?"

Tina chuckled, "You know that's my brother, right?"

Amber's eyes shot wide open. "Wait, he's your brother? Really?" She contorted her face as if Tina had suggested I were the secret child of an overseas king. That would have been more believable to her than me being raised in the same residence as her uber-cool friend.

I averted Amber's gaze as she scrutinized my figure. "Oh, I get it; what you are saying is that it's more of an obligation." She murmured while tapping her chin.

Tina winked at her. "Ha-ha, you got it!"

"Hey!" I yelled as the arrow of Cupid's step-cousin's betrayal shot me down. "I didn't come to be roasted."

"Sorry! But Amber, you know Maurice isn't that bad. He gets caught up in his head sometimes, but he has become more than just a brother to me."

Amber glanced up at her in curiosity. "Hmm? What does that mean?"

A mischievous smile quirked the corner of Tina's lips. "Wouldn't you like to know?" My skin heated at her coy stance, and I could see Amber was also flustered. What did Tina mean by seeing me as "more than just a brother?"

Amber and I looked at Tina with high expectations for her to elaborate. We practically tailed her on our tiptoes when she parted her lips to break the silence.

"So, Amber!" She piped up. "Since you want to dig into our business, why don't you tell us what's happening with you?"

Amber and I sagged in disappointment.

Since we had no chance of being invited into Tina's inner thoughts, Amber feasted us on the scoop of her life battles. Because of her curvaceous appearance, she'd attract much unwanted attention in public. Guys ogling her from afar, and delinquents leering too close on occasion to 'cop a feel.' The harassment had escalated so much when she entered puberty that she'd arranged for her brother to pick her up wherever she went.

Tina tilted her head in sympathy. "Gosh, that sounds rough. I'm happy we could help out today."

Amber beamed up at her. "Yes, so am I, thank you!"

A few moments later, a buzz vibrated from Tina's purse. She unearthed her phone from one of its zippered pockets and glanced at the screen. Amber and I had walked a few steps forward before I noticed she was still glued to the same spot on the sidewalk.

"Everything okay, Tina?" I called back.

She gingerly tucked her phone away, replying, "Yeah, everything's good—hey, do you mind walking Amber home the rest of the way?"

"Sure, but is everything okay?" I said to her as her voice sounded weaker than usual.

"I told you, everything's fine! I gotta stop; I'll meet you back at home." She nodded eagerly.

Something felt vacant about her promises, but I decided to overlook it. "Okay, call me if you need anything," I said.

She smiled, "Okay, later!" She waved to me and Amber as she headed in the opposite direction.

"Wait! You are leaving me with HIM??? Do you want me to die?" She cried. Amber's eyes darted between both of us in shock.

"You'll be okay, stop being so dramatic!" Tina shouted while jogging the other way,

Defeated, Amber, moped by my side as she guided me to her home. When we reached the peak of an uphill path, rain began to trickle from the sky.