𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐋𝐘. ᵉᵐⁱⁿᵉᵐ

2.| 𝐦𝐫. 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲'𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫

_

       Morana anxiously fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, desperately trying to shield more of her skin from the chilly Detroit air. Normally, she wouldn't give a second thought to how much her obnoxious boss wanted her to reveal, but the biting cold had changed the game entirely.

With each hurried step, Morana watched her breath form misty clouds in the freezing air. The chill seemed to seep through her entire body, making her shiver uncontrollably.

For a fleeting moment, she contemplated turning around and calling in sick, imagining the warmth of her bed and the comfort of staying home. But this was a familiar internal battle, one she faced almost every morning.

Driven by the need for money, Morana pushed herself forward into the freezing morning, silently praying that the bus would be on time for once. The cold air bit at her cheeks, and she wrapped her coat tighter around herself, each step feeling heavier than the last.

She came to an abrupt stop when she noticed Marshall struggling to get into Stephanie's old Delta. Her curiosity piqued as she watched him fumble with the keys, trying to coax the stubborn engine to life. Each failed attempt seemed to mirror her own frustrations with the day.

Despite the cold and her own worries, a grin tugged at the corners of Morana's lips. The sight of Marshall's exasperation was oddly comforting. Before she could think twice, she found herself calling out to him, her voice breaking through the morning stillness.

"Having trouble?" she asked, her tone light and teasing. Marshall's head snapped up at the sound of her approaching footsteps, his expression shifting from frustration to surprise.

"Didn't know strip clubs opened this early," he shot back, his gaze drifting up and down her bare legs before meeting her eyes again.

"Haha, very funny," Morana retorted, her laugh devoid of any humor. She shot him a glare, but he only grinned wider in response.

"Where do you work now, anyway?" he questioned.

"You remember that diner up on Kingston?" Morana asked, her voice tinged with hesitation.

Marshall nodded, the memory flashing vividly in his mind. It was the first place he'd been arrested on assault charges after beating up Morana's ex-boyfriend when they were 15. The scene played out like a movie in his head—the anger, the fight, the flashing lights of the police cars.

"Yeah. I remember," he said plainly, the weight of the past hanging heavily between them.

Morana quickly shook away the haunting memory that had surfaced. She turned to Marshall with a hopeful expression. "Wanna walk me to the bus stop since you can't offer me a ride?"

Marshall didn't respond right away. He seemed lost in thought for a moment before he abruptly stood up from the car, the door slamming shut behind him with a sharp thud.

"Yeah," he finally said, his voice carrying a mix of determination and something unspoken, as if he was trying to push past his own lingering thoughts. "C'mon."

Morana followed silently beside Rabbit as they made their way towards the bus stop at the end of the trailer park. "So... You never told me where you work now," Morana commented, glancing at the man who continued walking with an unbothered expression.