BLACK STAR [Landoscar]

- 2 -

Oscar's POV:

The deafening ringing of my alarm bounced off the walls of my bedroom. I reached my hand out, moving it sporadically before pressing down on the alarm, causing the blaring noise to stop. I placed my hands on my eyes, rubbing them vigorously, letting out a loud groaning noise. I gazed up at the plain white ceiling, my eyelids fighting their own will to stay open. I sat up slowly, reaching over for my phone, and gazing at the bright white text. I had slept in super late.

3:32 pm

I let out another groan-like yawn, stretching my arms above my head, and hearing a faint crack come from my back. I stood up, pacing over to my closet, opening it to reveal multiple worn jackets, sweaters, jeans and pants. Today was my first day working at the local ice rink's cafe. They were desperate for hire, and I desperately needed a job. 

My mother had also been nagging me for the past three months to find somewhere to work, so she was enthralled to hear that I applied, and got accepted almost instantly. I decided to pick the coziest sweater I had in my closet, it was colored a dark mocha, covered in beige horizontal stripes. I assumed the interior of the rink, and the building as a whole would be freezing.

I heard shuffling outside my bedroom door, before hearing a rapid knocking.

"Oscar! You're gonna be late for your shift! Hurry the fuck up and get downstairs! Your bus arrives at the stop in like ten minutes!" My mom called through, her tone consumed with anger and annoyance.

"Yeah, I'm just picking clothes out!" I replied, quickly slipping the sweater over the Radiohead t-shirt I had worn to bed. I quickly undressed out of my pajama pants, sliding into a pair of gray cargo pants. I quickly grabbed my backpack, before slamming the door open, rushing down the staircase and into the kitchen. My brown high-top Converse lay there, shoelaces tangled and scattered. I quickly picked them up, sliding them over my bed socks. I would worry about the laces on the bus.

I swiftly waved goodbye to my mom, before hurrying along the concrete path. I felt the cold wind blow against my face, dancing across my cheeks, along my ears, and between the strands of hair that lay on my head. I had sprinted all the way to the bus stop, with almost three minutes to spare. Pressing my hands against my knees leaning over, I tried my best to catch my breath.

The bus soon arrived, pulling into the small indent into the path, before the sliding doors swept open. The half dozen entered the vehicle, before I myself made my way aboard, finding a seat near the front, just behind the bus driver. I gazed out the window, watching the countless houses whizz past. The older man driving the bus began to whistle a slight tune, as a white mist escaped his lips, presumably from how cold it was.

The bus eventually reached the closest bus stop to the rink, where it pulled to the side, and the doors swung aside once again. I hastily got up, giving the driver a faint nod before planting my feet onto another path. As I paced along, I noticed that this concrete was slightly paler than the path near my house, as it was for the most part covered by the shadows of trees. The other was tinted a light orange-brown, whilst this was purely light gray.

I went along the path, Until the entrance of the building became visible, where I took a left turn, hastily rushing towards the entrance. I gently pulled the glass door open, where an older lady was sat behind a computer. At the sound of the door, she peered over the screen.

"Hi, how can I help," She grinned. She must get sick of doing that to everyone who walks in.

"Oh, I'm just here," I started, before a mental blank washed over me, my mouth forgetting to let the words escape. The woman stared at me, an awkward expression etched onto her face, her head tilting slightly.