Chapter One
“Cassie! I’m leaving,” I called from the entry way to our small flat. It was currently full of luggage that I was finding difficult not to trip over.
“God, why are you up so early??” She shouted back at me.
“I have to work. You know, so we can buy food and stuff!” I said. I really shouldn’t give her a hard time about money, after all her parents pay for our flat. I didn’t contribute a dime.
Its not that I didn’t want to help, but her parents wouldn’t let me. They knew I had money issues. Why didn’t they kick me out? Well, first off they were some of the nicest people I ever met, except Cassie maybe. But, the main reason I got to live in the flat, rent free, was because Cassie and I had been friends since we were five or six. She was my first and only friend from my years in foster care. She was adopted when we were 13; however, I was unlucky enough to never be adopted. I left foster care as soon as I turned 18, now here I am, living off the generosity of my only friend.
I really owe Cassie a lot. Not only was she letting me live with her, but also she helped me find a job and gave me her old Abercrombie clothes for work.
“Al, I thought you were leaving.”
“Oh, ya. I’m going!” I said, searching for my keys. They must be around here somewhere.
“Don’t forget I’ll be gone for a few days. I’m visiting my parents in Boston.”
“Really, I almost forgot. I was wondering what all this luggage was doing in the MIDDLE of our entry way,” I said, my voice full of sarcasm. She just giggled. I sighed, and let out a chuckle, I wasn’t really mad at her. “I’ll see you when you get back. Say hi to your parents for me.”
“Will do. Bye Alli!”
“Bye, Cass.”
I found my keys, grabbed them, and walked out the door. I got down to the lobby and noticed it was snowing.
“Shit,” I mumbled, pulling my hood up and throwing the strap of my dance bag over my shoulder.
I made my way down to the subway and onto the train. I grabbed a seat and made myself comfortable. I had a few stops before I had to get off. I put my headphones in and pressed shuffle. The beginning notes of “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol came on, my favorite. I just sat there, listening and trying to tune out the world.
As the train reached my station I stood up, getting ready to run off the train. Why was I running? Well, because I was late for work, as usual. The only thing I was never late for was dance. And that was only because I loved it so much.
The doors opened and I practically sprinted off the train. People tried to avoid me, while I tried to avoid all the people too oblivious to notice a 19 year old sprinting though a subway station. I reached the sidewalk and checked my phone: 6:52. I still had eight minutes until work. I slowed my pace to a walk, and tried to make myself look presentable while walking the last few blocks to work.
I walked in the door and my eyes took a minute to adjust to the dim lighting.
“Hi, Todd.” I said as I saw the store manager walk up to me.
“Glad to see you decided to show up for work on time today.” I cringed at his remark; this last week hasn’t been my best, in terms of tardiness.
