Letters to Nobody ~*Poofless AU*~

3

~*Preston*~

I blink open my eyes and look around. I don't know why I always expect a different view. It's never going to change. Sighing, I sit up in the bed and run a hand through my tangled mess of hair. Surprisingly, I only had one thought in my mind. I should write back to them...

I grab my pen and a paper before thinking about how I was going to respond. You're wasting time Preston. Lisa will be here soon. Just write. It'll come to you. I take a deep breath before I start writing.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I sign the paper and hide the pen just in time for Lisa to knock on my door. "Preston? You alive in there?"

"What kind of question is that?" I ask, masking my voice with a fake yawn.

"A good one. May I come in?" Why is she so polite today? Usually she's barging in by now.

"You don't have to ask. You are the one in charge of me." The door clicks and is pushed open to reveal Lisa with a genuine smile on her face.

"I guess you're right. Anyways, how'd you sleep?"

"It was alright. The bed is as hard as a- Wait, since when have you wanted to know how I've slept?" I look at the woman in confusion.

"Now Rob is here to help take care of you, I can have more time off to do things that doesn't involve this place. That, and I was asked out on a date last night." Rob? Great. Just great. Another batch of fake smiles and cheerful voices.

"Oh. Well, congratulations I guess." I shrug and look at my feet.

"Alright. What's bothering you?" She sits down on a fold up chair, facing me.

"Why do you think something's bothering me?"

"Your voice. Is someone pestering you?" So my annoyance is actually viable. Wonderful.

"No one is pestering me." My voice trails off. Except you...

"Alright. If you need to talk about anything, I'll be there if you need me." She clearly didn't sound convinced. Standing up, she walks toward the door and pulls it open.

"Thanks I guess."

"I'll be back in an hour or so for your breakfast."

"I think I've already known that," I say with a small sigh before flopping backward into the bed again.

"Alright then." Lisa sighs before closing the door, leaving me alone to my thoughts once more.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lisa drops me off at the cafeteria, and I sigh quietly. Go in, get your food, and find Mat. You got this, Preston.

Taking a deep breath, I push open the door and walk towards the kitchen. My hands were in my pockets, and my head was down. None of y'all better talk with me...

"Hella boi! Where are yues going?" an aging man asks, grabbing my arm.

"To get my breakfast," I mumble quietly, trying to break free of his surprisingly strong grip.

"Speak up boi. I lost most of 'em hearin' durin' t' war of 2032." He brought his face close to mine. His breath smelling the equivalent of if rotten eggs, dog feces, and dirty socks all had a party inside his mouth.

"I was going to get breakfast," I say a bit louder.

"Breakfast is almost over boi. Yues atta be faster den dat of yues want anyting."

"May I go get my food now?"

"Back 'em the day, kids like yues respected teir elders. My name is Corporate Hennings. I fought in the war of 2032."

"Yes, yes. My name is Preston. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be getting my food now." I back away from him, yanking my arm out of his grip before walking, maybe even jogging, towards the kitchen.

"P-Dog!" the woman behind the counter, Amy, cheers as I walk through the door. "You came just in time! Any later and we wouldn't have been able to feed you."

"Sorry, Amy. This guy stopped me from coming over here for a little bit."

"Let me guess, Old-Man Ashton?"

"The one and only," I mutter with a small laugh as Amy hands me a tray of food.

"Also, you should really find yourself a girlfriend. A handsome young man like you should have someone in mind," Amy says with a wink as I turn to walk out.

"We'll see. But, I'm more interested in the other side of the spectrum." Amy smiles widely and laughs quickly.

"That's exactly what one of the volunteers said this morning when I asked him the same question!"

"Oh really? Do you know who they were?" I ask, looking over my shoulder at her.

"He was such a nice guy. Cute; pretty tall too! But he thought you would ask about him, so he said for me to tell you he is Nobody. What ever that means." My heart skips a beat at her words. Nobody is one of the volunteers?

"Thanks!" I say before walking out of the room.

"You're welcome, dearie!" she calls as the door closes behind me.

~*Rob*~

I sigh and run a hand through my hair before stepping into Preston's room. Chore one of many for today; clean Preston's room while he's at breakfast.
The door closes behind me and I look at the paper on the nightstand, this time it was addressed to Nobody.

Dear Nobody,

I'm kind of embarrassed that you found the letter.
But then again, you probably won't be reading this. If you're like any other helper, you're here and gone the next day.
If you are here again, I might as well rant to you again.
A new volunteer was assigned to me yesterday. I think his name is Rob? He seems like every one else that comes to volunteer here. Fake smiles, and "way too cheery to be real" voices.
As you might be able to tell, I am not a big fan of new volunteers and what not. To be honest, Lisa annoys me half to death as it is, and I've known her for ages now.
Enough of me, what about you? What if your life like? You know, outside of this place? I haven't really seen what's outside these walls in forever...
Well, it was nice ranting to you.

Sincerely,
Preston

My eyes scan over the letter once more before hiding it within the many pages of my clipboard. Once I was finished cleaning the room, I write my response to his letter before stepping out of his room, and closing the door quietly behind me. Taking a deep breath, I head over to clean Mat's room. Those unicorn dolls better not move on their own.
___________________________
There u go!!

Btw! The Ashton guy is a friend of mine who begged to have a cameo in the book... #NoRegrets

XD

Hope you enjoyed!

Anyways...

:)

Much Luv,
Mickey-Kenzie

2019 Mickey- I haven't talked to the Irl Ashton in over two years. Still have no regrets.