You before me (bxb)

opening

I wished i wasn't here. In this room. It felt like I was boiling in a pot at this point. "Eli?" I look up to see my mom. "Yeah?" I say as I sit up in my chair. God, why did I say yes to this? "We have three more things after this." She said as she went through a rack of clothes. I immediately groan in annoyance. "Hey!" She said sound extremely offended, "It's not my fault that I got a different position at work, I don't want to do this either!" She's a nurse at the local nursing home. She got promoted so that she was now basically a manager. But really, I'd rather she didn't cause she now only has three days till the new schedule is official and it's THIRD SHIFT. Meaning she wouldn't come home until midnight or later. "I'll be right back. Ok?" She says as she walks toward the dressing rooms with three pairs of scrubs in her hands. My phone pings. It's a... text.

Asher: yooooo, wanna hang out?

I sigh already know what is about to happen.

Eli: can't, shopping with mom

It's is at least like maybe a minute before he responds.

Asher: wha! noooooo! whyyyyyyyyy must you do this!

Eli: what was I supposed to do?

Asher: hang out with me 🥲

Eli: your such a baby

Asher: whatever, I will hang out with Amon, see you ging

I
HATE
HIM

He knows I hate that nickname yet he still uses it in anything and it is so annoying.

Eli: asshole

Asher: 😁

M

om finally walks out, she has two scrubs in her hands instead of three now. "OK, we are going to the mall." She says but it's like someone just said they dung my grave. "What?" I croak out. She looks up at me, "We're going to the mall." it must be written on my face about how horrifying that idea sounds because then she sigh and say, "It's an in and out trip.". In my opinion, the mall is equivalent to doom. I have had the worst things happen there, I got jumped, I got my heart broken for the first time, and it is where my ex best friend works, Matthew. I have seen him face to face in years so seeing him now would be a nightmare. But if I am being honest I don't know why or how I even became friends with him. We are polar opposites. He is a popular guy while I have always and will always....be a geek. He is a faithful Christian while I am a Jew. He plays football while the only thing that even has the word playing in it is D&D. As I said...polar opposites. Mom grabs her purse and we are off. I really hope that today is my day because I do not want to die from an atomic wedge by a bunch of jocks. We get there and I feel sick immediately. "Mom, please don't make me go in there.", she just gives me the dirtiest look ever, "Elijah Preston Epstin, we are both going in.".... damn, my full government name. As we walked in my stomach clench in fear, and then hunger as my stomach tried to act like it played a brass instrument. "Can we get something to eat? It's been hours since I have.", she looks at me with a tired look, "Sure", she pulls out a twenty and hands it to me, "Don't go too crazy." "Thank you mama." I immediately walked to the nearest food stand, it was a weird macron shoppie. It had the weirdest flavors, like mint, coconut (I hate coconut with a passion), and pineapple (who in their right mind makes that flavor??). I walk up and just order mint ones, like a 12 pack maybe? I dunno, was too hungry to count cause I immediately inhaled half of them. But somewhere in my hunger addled brain I heard a horrifyingly familiar voice, one I haven't wanted to hear......Matthew. " Ah, yes, Mrs. Epstin, we have that size, just let me go find it." I turn into the shoe shop like I had no neck anymore. I stare at my mom who looked thrilled to talk to him, and then saw me, then immediately waved me over. I. Am. Going. To. Die.