Grace dropped her cigarette into the green ashtray and ran to her kitchen when the smoke alarm suddenly started beeping.
"Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!" Grace panicked and poured her can of tea into the pan containing the burning broccoli.
"Fuck." Grace said, irritated.
Grace picked the pan up and dumped it in the trash. After dropping the pan in the sink, she walked back to the living room and fell back onto the couch. This was the third time today that she zoned out.
I need to get more sleep.
Grace finished her cigarette, grabbed her keys and left the small one bedroom apartment, locking the door behind her.
Grace got into her 2001 Toyota Corolla and turned the ignition. After a coughing sound and some sputtering, the old car came to life. Grace looked at the broken radio. It's been two months since it stopped working and she still hasn't replaced it. Grace put her car into reverse and pulled out of the parking spot she was given when she got the apartment. After driving out of the paring lot, she realized she didn't know where she was going. She decided to go to the cafe where she works.
After a fifteen minute drive, Grace pulled into the parking lot of Java Stop. She turned off the car and climbed out. Mr. Bates, Grace's boss, noticed her enter the cafe.
"Hey, you don't work today, do you?"
"No," Grace replied. "I'm just getting a cup of coffee and I'm heading out."
"Alright, what'll you be having?" Mr. Bates asked.
"Just coffee with some cream."
"Okay, let me get it."
Grace stood there, awkwardly, watching her boss fill a paper cup with black coffee and pour some cream into it.
"Here you go," Mr. Bates said, handing Grace her coffee.
"Thanks. How much?"
"Don't worry about it. It's your day off, why aren't you out with your friends or something?"
Grace looked down. "Well, since I left Jasper and moved down here to Galveston, I don't really have any friends."
"Oh," Mr. Bates said, embarrassed. "Well I'm sure once you settle in you'll meet some nice people to spend time with. The beach is always a good place to meet people."
Grace glanced back up at her boss and smiled. "Yeah, I'll keep that in mind."
Grace quickly left the cafe and sat down in her car. She sipped her coffee for a few minutes, then put the cup into a cup holder and drove away from the Java Stop.
I can't go to the beach. What would people think of some random girl sitting alone?
Grace decided to go back home and take a nap.
When Grace woke up it was 11:27.
Great. Now I'll be up all night. Again.
Grace climbed out of bed and walked to her fridge. After pulling the door open and grabbing a bottle of water, she walked to her living room and sat down on her tan couch. Grace lit a cigarette and turned the TV on. She flicked through the channels for a solid five minutes.
Nothing to watch this late at night.
Grace finished her cigarette and walked back to her room. She was thinking about what Mr. Bates said about the beach. Grace decided this would be the best time to meet people her age at the beach. She put on her bathing suit and wore a pair of shorts and a sweater over it. She turned off the TV and left her apartment once more.
About ten minutes later, Grace arrived at the beach near her apartment. She climbed out of her old, white car and slammed the door. Grace walked down to the sand and heard laughter and talking coming from some young looking people gathered around the side of a van parked down the beach.
Maybe they're nice.
