Apartment 17B ◈

Ten

EMMA

I paced back and forth across my living room as I ran my fingers through my hair. I can't believe Luke kissed me last night and I kissed Luke back. I have a boyfriend, well not for long, but I do. I had one when I kissed Luke and I couldn't feel more guilty about it. I wonder if Michael ever feels guilty for cheating on me, but then again, Michael only cares about himself. So of course he doesn't feel guilty. My pacing didn't stop for anything. I wasn't sure what to do with myself. All I knew was that I needed to talk to Michael. I reached for my phone and before I could even unlock it, I was receiving a call from work. "Fuck," I mumbled to myself before sliding answer and holding the phone up to my ear. "Hello?"

"Hi Em," I heard Timmy's voice on the other line. "Could you come into work? Elizabeth called in sick and we need a backup bartender. I wouldn't be calling you and asking if we really didn't need you. I know you're probably busy with stuff, but could you really try to come in?"

"I, uh, I'm not busy. What time do you need me to come in?" I knew that I should work tonight, since I didn't last night, and I really needed the money. I didn't necessarily want to work, but I almost had to. If I wanted to be able to pay my rent, I needed to work. I had some money left over from the money my parents saved up to send me to college, but I didn't want to risk missing a night at work. Especially since it's Friday night and those are the busiest nights and get you the best tips.

"An hour would be great," I took my phone off my ear to check the time; already seven-thirty. Well shit, I've been pacing around my apartment for that long? That's kind of psycho. I told Tommy I would be there and then ended the call. I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. I didn't feel like showering, so I opted on washing my face and redoing my makeup. Once that was finished, I got dressed in a black skater skirt, black thigh high socks, and a white cropped top. For shoes, I settled on my favorite pair of comfortable heeled ankle boots.

I grabbed my purse, keys, and phone before exiting my apartment, not bothering to grab a jacket or coat of some sort. I figured my long sleeve shirt would suffice. I locked the door behind me and rushed to the elevator. When I got inside of it, there was a girl that lived on the nineteenth floor going down as well. She got off on the tenth floor, leaving me alone with my thoughts in the elevator for another ten floors.

The elevator dinged, signaling that my stop was coming up and I sighed in relief. I hate being in elevators, especially alone. They freak me out. And after watching that movie when the elevator got stuck, my fear for them grew even larger. I rushed out of it, running past everyone that was waiting to go up in it, and made my way out of the building. I was smacked in the face with cold air and I shivered, crossing my arms in front of myself to get some warmth. That didn't exactly work.

I didn't bother trying to catch a cab. At this time of night they were all taken or would be overly expensive and I didn't have the money for that. I checked the time on my phone; eight-fifteen. It took ten minutes to walk to work and I had to be there in fifteen minutes. I could, hopefully, make it there in time.
I walked as fast as I could while wearing heels and only stumbled slightly when some man carelessly ran into me, almost making me fall to the ground.

The bar was finally in sight and I picked up my speed even more. Once I was to the doors, I recklessly yanked them open and stumbled inside. I rushed behind the bar, running to the kitchen, and finally to the break room so I could put my stuff in my designated locker. Once it was shut and locked, I let out a breath of relief for finally being on time to work for once in my life. I shut the break room door behind me and walked through the chaotic and busy kitchen to get behind the bar. Once I was behind it, the guy I was working with tonight, Jeremy, was wiping sweat off of his forehead and smiled happily at me.