Snapshot » l.t.

Chapter 21

Chapter 21


Renee's POV


I smiled when I heard Louis sprinting for his life. Who could blame him? He was going to be dead (not literally) when he got home. To his home, I mean.

I didn't really mean it when I said I was going to kill him. I didn't entirely blame him for that, either. After all, yesterday had been pretty intense, and the movie was long. I probably would've done the same thing if I was at his place.

I scowled when I remembered what Louis said. I had no interest in becoming homeless, but neither was I eager to get a job. Why couldn't everything be free? I think the world would be a much better place if that was the case.

I heaved myself to my feet and trudged to the bathroom. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and winced. No wonder Louis had been staring at me for so long. I looked awful!

I had bags under my eyes, frizzy hair that practically exploded from my ponytail holder, and my clothes were ruffled and terribly wrinkly.

I sped to my room to grab some new clothes. I stripped down and jumped into the shower. I sighed. It felt so good.

I came back out after maybe fifteen minutes and dried my hair. I put on my new clothes: a white spaghetti-strapped undershirt with a sparkly Superman t-shirt over it, along with jeans that had huge holes on my thighs and shins. I looked rather good, if I do say so myself.

I dabbed on some lipgloss, blush, a bit of eyeshadow, and mascara. I hoped I looked like a normal teenager looking for a job. Maybe I looked too slutty. I spun around once. Maybe I should replace the jeans.

I shook off my insecurities and concerns. I looked fine. If people couldn't accept who I was, they could go take a hike. I narrowed my eyes. Like Leo.

I made myself some coffee, a quick breakfast, and headed out. How do you look for a job? I knew there were some good opportunities in the newspaper, but I didn't want to look there. I never really liked any of those jobs. They never seemed to fit me.

I faltered for a moment outside my car. Who would hire a color-blind girl whose only talent used to be photography? My heart pounded in my chest.

No, I mentally reprimanded myself. Don't go there. You're not useless. You have more than one talent.

I thought about it for a while. A real long while, it seemed like. I came up with nothing.

I chewed on my bottom lip nervously. Maybe I was just destined to have an awful life. No color, no job, no money, no flat, no friends.

I blinked. That last one wasn't true. I did have friends. Lacy, Elise, and Louis. They were my friends.

But I bet if they found out they were friends with a homeless freak, they would abandon me.

I dropped my keys on the asphalt and tore at my hair. I probably looked insane, but I didn't really care at the moment.

Why? Why was I like this? Why did I always have to put a damper on something great? No wonder Lacy called me Rainy because of my "downy" attitude. I was pessimistic.

I bent down to pick up my keys, and ended up sitting down hard. I buried my face in my hands but refused to cry. I was such a baby. Why did people like me?

Maybe they didn't. Maybe they just pretended to. Maybe they just felt so bad for me, they pretended to by my friends. My shoulders shook.

I took out my phone. I needed some positive moral support, even if it was from one of my "fake" friends. Do they make anti-pessimist pills? I needed some.

How did looking for a job come to me accusing my friends of being fake? My brain was deranged.

I searched through my contacts, and found Lacy's number. For some reason, I looked past it. I didn't want to talk to her right now. I feared her bubbly attitude would bring something awful out of me. Don't ask me how I knew that, it was just a feeling inside of me.

I found Elise's number, and I relaxed slightly. She was bubbly as well, just not as much as Lacy. She would be a good person to talk to.

But what if she didn't pick up, like all those other fifty-plus times? Oh well, it was a chance I was willing to take. I tapped on her number and waited.

At the very last second, Elise actually answered. I was so shocked that for a moment I didn't say anything. Thankfully, Elise realized it was me.

"Renee!" she shouted, nearly deafening me. "I am so sorry I haven't answered your calls or texts! I wanted to visit, but Leeann sent me to New York for a super special photo shoot! Can you believe it?! Me, in New York! But anyway--"

"Elise!" I cried over her, and she shut up.

"Yeah?" she asked nervously. "Are you pissed at me?"

I avoided the last question. "Elise, I'm so scared," I said, struggling to keep my voice from cracking.

"Really? What about?"

"I'm trying to look for a job but I don't think anyone will take me. After all, I am color-blind and talentless. Soon enough I'll be poor and homeless and friendless--"

"Renee!" Elise gasped. "What are you saying? You're the most awesomest person I have ever met! I mean, despite being color-blind, you stayed strong and fought around it! You know the colors again from studying! And if you ever became homeless, I would take you in! You're my best friend. What made you think I would abandon you?"

I started to cry. Oh my gosh, there was seriously something wrong with me.

"Th-thank you, Elise," I hiccuped. "You're my best friend, too. But what can I do? All my life I've been a photographer. What can I do that will get me a job?"

"Oh, please, Renee!" Elise laughed. "There are so many things you can do! You went to school, didn't you? You can work anywhere you want as long as you aren't stupid."

Elise's words made me laugh through my tears. "Thanks," I repeated. "I love you, Elise." I cringed. I hoped I didn't creep her out.

She laughed again. "I love you too, Renee," she teased. "I'll be over in a couple days. I'm still in New York, but I'll be back soon. You can catch me up on what's been going on around town. Bye!"

"Bye," I replied softly, and we hung up.

I smiled. Maybe I should take anti-depressant pills. There was seriously something wrong with me, coming up with all those ridiculous thoughts!

Elise was wrong about one thing: I didn't stay strong. I was utterly destroyed for a while when I became color-blind. But this was part of my new strength: befriending Louis. At least I was finally moving on--in a way. Somewhat.


*~*~*~*


I whistled as I entered the nearest career center. I heard these places helped you find jobs. I figured I needed help.

The secretary at the desk looked up. "Hi," I greeted her cheerfully. "I'm here for a job."

"For here, or somewhere else?"

Before I could answer, she laughed. "I'm just kidding, dear," she said. "Ms. Betty is open over there." She jabbed her pencil over her shoulder. "Just find the empty table with the old lady behind it. Then you can get started."

I nodded and walked beyond her desk to the back room. There I found a bunch of people sitting at tables talking to other people. The wanna-be employees ranged in age. The youngest was probably fourteen, and the oldest was maybe thirty-five. Wow, I wondered how those older people survived.

I surveyed the room, and found an empty table. There wasn't an old lady behind it, but it was the only available table. I speed-walked over to it before anyone else could take it.

I sat down in the plastic white chair and gazed around. My best guess was that everything here was either white or gray. Plain.

"Hey," a small voice said, and I glanced over. A boy around fifteen was staring at me. He had curly hair and bright eyes, but it was hard to tell what color they were.

I smiled back. "Hi," I greeted him. "My name's Renee. What's yours?"

"Albert."

"Nice to meet you, Albert," I said pleasantly, and extended my hand towards him. He didn't do the same. My hand curled back to my side. I struggled not to blush.

"Um, why are you here?" I asked, then mentally cursed myself. What a stupid question. He was here to find a job, duh.

"I'm looking for a job," Albert replied. He didn't sound sarcastic or mean in any kind of way. "Same as you, I suppose."

"Yep," I said.

It was kind of disconcerting how he kept staring at me with wide, unblinking eyes. They were cloudy, in a way.

"What do you have interest in?" I asked kindly.

"Anything that doesn't involve art," he replied sadly. He sat down next to me. I think he meant to find a chair beneath him, but he stumbled when he didn't find one. I quickly grabbed his arm and steadied him. I frowned. "Um, are you okay?" I asked hesitantly.

Albert shook his head. His eyes were glassy as well as cloudy now. "No, not at all," he sniffed.

My brow creased. He sounded like he was near tears, and I felt like I was the cause. "Why? What's wrong?" I asked. I realized I sounded nosy. "I mean, you don't have to tell me--"

He ignored my babbling. "I'm useless," he mumbled. He had tears streaming down his face. My eyes widened, and I took his hand in mine. I gave it a squeeze that I hoped was reassuring.

"What makes you say that?" I exclaimed. "I'm sure you're not useless."

"Easy for you to say!" Albert shot at me, making me wince. "You're not blind!"

I blinked. Did I just hear him right? "You're... what?" I managed.

"Exactly," he grumbled. "Everyone thinks I'm a freak, even my own mother. They don't understand how hard it is. I just want to fit in."

I stayed silent for a moment, still holding his hand tightly. "I can relate," I murmured.

"No, you can't!" Albert cried.

"Yes, I can," I said more firmly. "Believe it or not, but I've been in your shoes before."

"You're blind, too?" he asked curiously.

"Not... exactly," I replied slowly. I bit my lip, but let go to continue. "I'm blind in a way. I'm color-blind."

"You mean you can't see color?"

"Exactly. That realization had very nearly destroyed me. I had been living the high life: I was rich, I had friends, I had a wonderful job, and I almost had a boyfriend."

A lump formed in my throat, but I pushed on. I don't why, but I wanted to make this boy feel better. He wasn't useless.

"But then someone took that away from me," I went on quietly. "I woke up in the hospital color-blind. Now I'm poor, jobless, and my potential boyfriend left me."

I let out a small, shaky sigh. "But... I'm okay with that. I moved on. I actually became friends with the one who made me color-blind." I let out a soft laugh. "Unbelievable, right? But anyway, trust me, you're not useless. You went to school, didn't you?"

"Yes, of course," Albert replied. He sounded confused.

"You learned something, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then you're not useless. You can do anything you want as long as you're not stupid."

Albert cracked a small smile, but it fell. "I doubt that," he mumbled.

"Seriously," I persisted. "I thought my life was ruined. All I did was photography. That was my life. But just because I can't do that anymore, doesn't make me useless. There are plenty of things you and I can do. Trust me on this."

Albert didn't say anything for a while. Finally, just when I thought he'd burst into tears and run off, he said, "Thanks, Renee."

I smiled. "You're welcome, Albert," I replied. I gave his hand one more squeeze. "Now get out there and get a job!"

He chuckled and nodded. He carefully turned around and walked away slowly. I watched him thoughtfully.

So I wasn't the only one who acted like that. Like the world was ending and nobody liked me. That wasn't true. While reassuring Albert, I had also been reassuring myself. I grinned. And I believed every word I said.

"Well done," someone said behind me, and I nearly fell out of my chair. I jumped up and spun around. "Excuse me?" I stammered.

The old lady smiled. "I saw how you handled that," she explained. "You did a very good job. Is it true that you're color-blind?"

I nodded sadly.

"Well, you're not useless, just like that Albert boy. I know just the job for you."

I frowned. "What?" I asked curiously.

Next thing I knew, I was hired as an assistant director at a Toys R Us in the mall. My job was to schedule activities for kids to do, and help them if they got frustrated or whatever. I instantly accepted. I started Monday.

I walked out of the career center with a huge grin on my face. That went well. I had a new job. And what do you know, it was something I loved.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Author's Note:


I'm not the only one who thought that chapter was cheesy, right? Well, good. Because cheesy is AWESOME!! :D

Renee is such a crybaby. Seriously, it's starting to annoy me. But it's just a part of her, I can't change that.

I don't why, but I'm getting serious Wattpad feels, if that's even a thing. You guys are more than just readers to me, you're like my friends. You actually listen to me. Too cheesy? Well, that's cause I'm awesome. ;)

I love you guys. So please read, vote, comment, yada yada yada.


Stay Beautiful,
-Sammi <3