Through the Dark *ON HOLD*

Part 6 Stop

Silly, that's how I feel after my first interview. I sigh loudly making my way to the bus stop. I didn't get it. I wanted to stop all the voices that were currently putting me down for my answers, outfit and even for trying. I didn't need to put myself down, I needed to build myself up.

I tug at my black skirt and let myself float back to the memory of my interview with Jack. I had worn a similar black skirt but there had been small plastic strings sticking out from it. I remember trying to cut most off the night before in vain. I remember the shirt I wore was too tight, it was one my mother had bought for me before my chest came in. I remember thinking about all the reasons I wouldn't get the job. I was greatly under qualified and all the interviews I had up in till then I had bombed. I wasn't good under pressure or with new people.

"Why do you want this job?" Jack asked after we had introduced ourselves and taken a seat in his office. I had kindly accepted a coffee only to place it down to emphasize my interest.

"Well I've always seen my self-working in this fiel-" I begin to try an regurgitate an answer I found online.

"Be honest. Why?" he asks again his eyes full of patience. I blink several times feeling as if he had cracked a wall. It was easy to read me but it was rare that someone called me out on it.

"I need the money and experience... I don't want to be poor" I say glancing down at my skirt and pretending to remove a fluff from it. It was hard for me to talk about feelings or the past but I managed to tell him more "I have a sick mother... I just need to get us by."

I felt warm hands take my own and I flinched looking up to meet his eyes. He smiled at me like a proud father would. I felt my heart being tugged and stared back. I saw his lips moving but it was as if I couldn't hear what he was saying. It took him a few more tries before I finally zoned back in to reality, I got the job.

I open my eyes as it dawned at me that I would never have a boss greater than Jack. In the short time we worked together he had become like a father to me. My heart hurt thinking about losing him but that was selfish of me. I should be happy that he was in a better place and not wallow on his death. I allowed myself a few more minutes of remembrance before pushing forward.

"Those jobs weren't the right ones for you that's the only reason you didn't get the job. There is something much better out there for you" my best friend states simply giving me a cheeky smile. 

"Your right" I say to her. I wanted to have it all. I wanted a full time job with benefits. I wanted something that paid reasonably and I wanted to keep gaining more skills so someplace were advancement. 

"So... I was thinking we could go out this weekend?" She questions trying to hide her naughty smile. I knew it took well. She was up to no good and I knew it probably had to do with a guy she meet that would be perfect for me.

"I don't know... I am going to volunteer again this weekend" I say trying to get out of this blind date.

"But you just volunteered! You only do that ones a month... unless" her eyes sparkle as she thinks about me finally finding someone. 

"There is a pretty cute volunteer so ya know I was thinking..." I say finding my pb&j more interesting now. This can buy me a week or two to put off the blind date.

I know she means well but its hard for me to trust men. I'm sure I just had abandonment issues but I couldn't help my self. Even making new friends was hard for me. It was rare that people didn't let me down so  I just kept my self away from people ant that way I could protect my self.

"Ok but you have to tell me all about it!" she exclaims excitedly. She begins to talk to me about this guy she has recently started talking to. He sounds really nice and I mean it when I tell her that I would like to meet him. I want to be a part of her life and be there for her when she needs it. 

The rest of the afternoon goes by smoothly. Nothing I can't handle. As I am locking up I realize my phone is ringing and I pull it out. I really should check before answering but since I've given my phone to half the city looking for a job. 

"Hello?" I answer after fumbling over the phone about to answer. I begin to walk away from the building as I glance to the alley looking for his eyes. 

"Sorry for the late all but we want to get you in for an interview-" I stop dead on my tracks. I see his eyes. His on the ground and there are two men over him. 

"I'm going to have to call you back..." I say to the phone. I hang up and rush over to them. Now that I am closer I can see that they are two cops in uniform about to hand cuff him. 

"Excuse me, Whats going on here?" I ask coming to stop infront of them. They look up but clearly don't want to pay any attention to me. 

"We got a call about him hanging around here. No loitering around Ma'm" one of them finally answers me when they see I am holding my ground. 

"Frankly I don't see how this is any of your concern" the other cop adds in. He was much older worn down from years of working in the field I am sure.

"It is my business when it concerns my brother" I say taking a step forward. My back was rigid with tension. I look over to him letting my brother's name slide out in a whisper, Ben. Words had power and his had me relaxing and feeling strong.

"His no-" He begins to say walking over to me when I interrupt him by shoving my phone in his face. I have the home screen a picture of my little brother and my self when we were younger. I an see he isn't convinced that the grown man on the ground is it. His partner helps him rise and comes closer. 

"No way that's the same guy" he voices his opinion first.

"That's my brother. I haven't seen him since our alcoholic father took him in the divorce 10 years ago. I know his changed a lot but I could recognize his eyes anywhere" at this point they seem a little more convinced. My brother did have blue eyes but nothing like this man. 

"Fine you can have him. But we don't want him hanging around here. Got it?" the older cop relents. I smile and wrap my hand around this mans arm. 

"Lets go home Matt" I say to him looking up at him like a big sister would her little brother. I walk with him like that for a while. We reach my apartment and I begin to feel nervous butterflies, why didn't I think this through?

"I should go" he says standing outside. My arm was still around his, I wanted to keep it there. I wanted to ignore how good it felt to have a male walk with me home. I felt safe and warm. I also didn't want to let him go afraid the cops were following us. Yes I am paranoid. 

"Why don't you come in?" I ask hopeful. I stare up at him and his eyes avoid mine. I can see his eyebrows furrow in concentration. I knew he wanted to come in so I made the choice for him.

"You don't have to..." he begins. I'm sure that he was thinking this was payback from him saving me. It wasn't. I just couldn't stand there and watch them take him away. I wanted to protect him like he had me. I wanted to be selfless for ones. 

"I want to" I say with finality as I open the door and welcome him in to my home. Should I be worried he would hurt me? Maybe but I wasn't. There was something about him, about his eyes. I wasn't worried if anything I was excited and nervous for this interaction. 

_____________________________________

Hi guys!

Sorry again for the short chapter... 

I worked all weekend on my work costume but tomorrow is Halloween so I will be free to write again! Next time I will post a picture of me in my work costume so that you guys can see what I was working on! 

Thanks everyone for reading!! Please vote if you like it! :D THANKS!!