marlboro → mike☾[au]

five

edith

Cleaning mine and alleys dirty coffee mugs at half nine in the morning, and listening to the smiths wasn't the worst way to start the day. scrubbing the mugs clean, the strong smell of coffee and the soft music in my ears made the entire thing seem somewhat therapeutic.

i was humming quietly, as i placed the sparkling clean mugs back on the tiny shelf that held a few other things in the small room around the back of the store. 

making myself and alley fresh coffee, i began to sing along and got so into i forgot that the water had already boiled. 

i walked out from the back and saw her sorting out a bunch of records in the extremly small 'popular (mainstream)' section - the shit most kids listened too these days. they always came in here and messed it up which means me and alley had to sort it all out. placing the steaming coffee next to her i say:

"need some help?"

she groans, takes a sip from the mug and then shakes her head. "fabe isn't here today, so i need someone taking the desk. he said that he's ill or something, with a cold but i recken he's just skived to be with that new boyfriend of his." she mumbles. i chuckle and agree walking towards the ruined, refurnished wooden desk, and sitting in the worn leather 'spinny' chair. 

it was a monday morning and i knew things were going to be slow, so i began sorting out all the newly ordered records behind me. my mind was so lost in the world of band titles and album cover that i almost didn't notice my phone buzzing. i picked it up and saw a text had come through from dennis. 

i motioned to put my phone back down, but then realised i hadn't spoken to him until sunday morning. i was a bad girlfriend. 

hey babe, miss you lots. hows work? xxxxxxxxxx

i cringed at the 10 'x's he had decided to put on the end of the text but replied all the same forcing myself to add at least three on the end of mine. 

hi, i'm fine. and i miss you too. works fine - a little slow - but fine all the same xxx

want me to stop by and take you out to lunch?xxxxxxxxxx

did i really want to spend the free time i had out of work, with dennis? 

no i did not. 

actually i promised alley i would have lunch with her. sorry babe. another time? 

sure baby xxxxxxxxxxxxx

yuck.

i put my phone away and began drawing doodles on a scrap piece of paper, only looking up every now and again for a customer that wanted to pay. 

i drew at random not really taking in what i was doing or my surroundings until a low cough interupted my thoughts. i looked up and glared at the person. 

"why do you keep popping up everywhere?" i growl. despite him being abnormally attractive, overly grunge, and everything my type i settled on the fact thati was starting to really dislike the boy. 

"edith!" he laughed. "i'm sorry i had no idea you worked here." 

"right. sure you didn't. you're a creepy stalker. aren't you michael?" i say.

he smiled slightly when i spoke his names and my brows were pulled down into a frown. he laughed and said "you got it absolutly right."

i tried to cover up my smile. "what are you even doing here, michael." i ask.

"i'm buying some records. we are in a store that sells records edith. are you dumb?" he smirks.

"shutup." i spit, and my eyes rake over the albums he has laid out on the desk. 

bleach - nirvana, louder than bombs - the smiths, and the bends - radiohead. 

i was actually suprised. despite him having the 'grunge look' about him, i never really expected him to listen to the music - i don't know why really. i really needed to stop judging people. 

"you have um good taste." i state. 

he smiles. "i know." he says. "you like the smiths?" 

"urm?" i laugh and point down to the t-shirt that i was wearing. i had a morrissey t-shirt on with an dirty flannel over the top. he laughed with me. 

"wow." he suddenly says. 

"what?" i question. 

he laughs and shakes his head. "this is the first time i'm seeing you and you're not smoking a cigarette." 

"yeah..." i laugh awkwardly. i'm not normally like this. i guess i'm just feel extra shy today. maybe it was because of what we did at the club. images come flashing back, and i try to hide the blush thats creeping it way on my sickly pale face. 

"you're not being a rude bitch towards me, and you're blushing. whats wrong." he asks, looking generaly concerned. i slap his arm and he laughs at me. "yay she's back." 

"that's gonna be $25."  i say. 

"i know the prices in here. this all comes to $19. you're charging me an extra $6." 

"no i'm not." i say even though i knew i was. i just need some more money to be some more marlboros.

"wow you really are dumb. look if you count this up-" 

"i know i charged you extra dumbass." i growl. 

he puts his hands up in surrender trying to mask a chuckle. "that is ironic coming for a dumbo."

"i am not dumb. now give me the $25." i say. 

he passes me $19, and i begin to protest but he laughs and hands me the rest. i didn't actually think he would and it made me smile a little. 

"thank you." i smile down at the extra money and pocket it. 

"your welcome edith." 

"bye." i say and turn back to my doodles. 

"how is dennis?" michael asks me. 

"fine." i huff. 

"he seems...nice?" hey grins. 

"shut. up." 

"you don't seem to like him much." 

"that is because i don't."

"why are you with him then?" he asks leaning his elbows on the desks surface and looking at me. i sigh - craving a cigarette. 

"it's complicated." 

"i have time." he says quickly. i look at him funny with one eyebrow raised.

"yeah well i don't. now get out." 

he laughs and puts a cigarette between his teeth, and doesn't budge so iwalk around the desk and begin to push him out of the door. he moves after this but not before shouting:

"IT'S A FREE COUNTRY EDITH!" lighting his cigarette, and walking off into the busy streets. 

i try to ignore the fact that i have just had yet another conversation with michael, and walk up to alley who was still desperatly trying to sort the records out - a spilled cupof cold coffee on the floor. i chuckle as i grab a paper towel to clean it up with. 

"thanks. these fucking kids...i swear." she says to me, just as one walks by. he glares at her and walks out of the store muttering under his breath. we look at each other and burst out laughing. 

"hey it's ten minutes till my lunch break, so you are having lunch with me." i exclaim as if she doesn't have any choice in the matter. 

"but-"

"no buts, come on. i'm hungry." i say and half drag a moaning alley out of the store. 

-

i dont know why i'm updating so much, but i am hahah. 

hope you liked this chapter.