work experience ~ s.w

eight

***
Monday morning and I just about manage to drag myself out of bed. I change into one of the few outfits I actually own. A denim miniskirt, black tights and a black skin tight jumper. I rub the sleep out of my eyes as I head upstairs towards Zach's room.

"Rise and shine" I say sweetly standing in the doorway.

"Cuddles" He says still half asleep. He holds his arms up and grasps the air as I walk over to him. I lay down on the mattress softly before pulling him into my arms. We stay like this for a few minutes before I know I have to get him out of bed and ready for school. I have the week off for work experience so I don't have to worry about getting myself anywhere on time.

"Come on Zach" I say softly. "You have to get up, you have school."

"Can't I just not go?" He groans as I pull him upright.

"No, you have to go to school. It's important."

"Dad doesn't go to school"

"Dad is an adult" I say. He doesn't act like one but his unused drivers license says otherwise.

"You're an adult" Zach tries as he pulls on his school uniform. Luckily, Zach's school is one of the few in the area that actually has a uniform. I wash it at work on the weekends.

"No Zachie. I'm only 17." I sigh as he struggles to do his tie up. I walk over to him and bend down on my knees so we have level. "Remember? It goes, over and over then through the loop then pull." I say tying the tie slowly as he chants along with me.

"Oh yeah" He laughs, hitting his forehead with the palm of his hand. Luckily, Zach qualifies for free school meals on account of our deadbeat dad so he can have breakfast at school. He slips his feet into his shoes before we walk out the door to the school.

***

"Hey cutie" I hear a familiar voice call out the window as a black range rover drives slowly beside me. I stop making the driver break forcefully. "I thought I was picking you up from your house? I was planning to knock and be a gentleman and everything."

"Hey Sam" I smile. I walk round to the vacant passenger seat and climb in beside me. "Sorry, I had to take Zach to school"

"Did he get there alright?"

"Yeah" I smile. It's sweet that Sam cares about my little brother; he doesn't even know him. He doesn't even know me. "I had to drop him off early for breakfast"

"He has breakfast at school?"

"Yeah. I want him to have at least one proper meal a day- not just diner food all the time." I sigh. It sucks that I can't even provide for the one person who needs me.

"And do you eat diner food all the time?"

"When I'm there yeah" I shrug. I don't really have food during the day. I pig out and snack when I get to the diner. My diet is really unbalanced.

"So what about when you aren't there?"

"Sophie's mom cooks for me at the weekends. She makes enough to take back to Zach on Monday."

"That's real nice of her" He smiles, turning down the radio so he can hear me clearly. I watch as he turns down an unfamiliar road- it wasn't on the route I memorised from Sophie's maps app on her iPhone.

"Where are we going?"

"I'm making a quick detour to Starbucks. Is that okay with you?"

"I guess so. As long as you don't punish me for being late to work." I smirk.

"I promise you that I won't. I won't write it in my report to the school either."

"You're writing a report to the school about me?"

"I was actually going to get my 'assistant' to write it for me but I figured that would be unfair."

"Assistant yeah?" I laugh. "Am I doing your bitch work?"

"No" He smirks. "Just the stuff no one else wants to do"

"So the bitch work. That's okay. I'm cool with it." I laugh. He pulls into the drive thru of Starbucks. I didn't even know they had a drive thru here.

"So what can I get you?" Sam says sitting back in his seat as we wait in the queue. "I'm paying"

"You don't have to get me anything"

"Yes I do. I've got to get some food in my girl haven't I?" He beams. I let out a small laugh at his words.

"I've never had a Starbucks before. Too luxurious for me" I laugh.

"Nothing's too luxurious for you Viola."

"Surprise me then" I smile.

"Why don't I get a drink and you get one and we can share both?" He smiles.

"Sounds like a plan" I beam. I hit the jackpot here. Sam is the sweetest, most thoughtful boy I've ever met.

"And I know you love raspberries so why not make a muffin out of it." He smiles. Okay so maybe he does know about me. He pulls up to the first window and orders a strawberries and cream Frappuccino. He knows I hate coffee. I pour enough of it everyday to feel physically sick at the smell of it. And a chocolate Frappuccino along with two raspberry and white chocolate muffins. My mom used to make that kind of muffin- for the last 3 years of her life she was so ill that I can't remember what life was like when she was healthy. I haven't eaten a muffin since. Sounds petty I know but I felt guilty to be enjoying myself without mom.

He drives to the next window and collects our order, handing over the money too. He passes me the drinks and bag of food before taking off and joining back to the road. I wait patiently for him to arrive at a stop in the car park but he notices my actions.

"You don't have to wait for me" He smiles. He reaches over and squeezes my thigh softly.

"It's polite"

"It'll be all mushy if you wait babe." He smiles. With that I give an innocent smile and take a large sip out of one of the straws. I immediately clutch my head. "Brain freeze?" I nod, rubbing the side of my head in an attempt to warm my brain. "You really haven't had one of these before. I have so much to teach you."

"Well you've got a week to fit it all in."

"Don't be so sure of that Viola. I'll be around for a while yet."