ASHLEY

7💎

Work seems pretty slow today compared to how packed we usually are, especially on weekends. I don't mind it though. It gives me a chance to rest and not work myself so hard. I take people's orders and put them in. I work at Steak n Shake. Sometimes I get to sneak away with some free food after work or during my break so that's always good. The job pays surprisingly well, what with me not having to pay any bills or anything like that.

However, I do often put money to the side for emergencies or just to save. I'm a responsible young adult.

"Bria?" I look up at the sound of my name to find Kenneth standing near the counter. I offer up a small smile because it's my job to make customers feel welcomed. "I didn't know you work here," he continues.

"Yeah. So, uh, what can I get you?"

"Please don't blow me off like this. We use to be close."

"Yeah and then you moved halfway across the country and didn't even bother to call. You erased me, Kenneth Walker. Now, are you going to order something or not because I have other customers to tend to."

He looks around with a confused look plastered on his face. "There's no one else in line Bria."

"Well not yet."

"Bria I can't tell you why we left. I really want to but I can't. Look, it might not seem like it but I really did miss you. I thought about you all the time-"

"Just go, Kenneth. Leave me alone. I have better things to worry about."

"But Bria I-" I don't let him finish his sentence. Instead, I walk away from the counter and ask a co-worker to fill in for me while I go to the restroom. I stay in there until I'm sure he's gone. I come back out and thank my co-worker for covering me for a while.

I look out at the booths and tables and find Kenneth sitting in one of them. He barely touches his burger and fries, or drink. I know he just bought it so he can sit and stalk me from a distance.

I finally get to go on my break and Kenneth is still here. I sit down across from him at the table he's seated at. He smiles but this time I don't. I take a couple of his fries and he smiles even wider. "You use to steal my food all the time. That's how you got so fat."

I shrug. "You weren't eating it."

"You remember that time-"

"Nope," I cut him off before he can get any further. "I'm not here to talk about that. You're obviously not leaving until I talk to you so that's what I'm doing. Not it's your turn. Since you won't tell me why you left then tell me something else worth listening to." He really doesn't deserve my attention but he's going to stay here until he gets it. When did he get so persistent?

When we were kids he would let people walk all over him. He was always willing to compromise. Kenneth was a skinny little thing and he couldn't fight. His goal was to avoid as much confrontation as he could. He was always pretty good at that. He knew just how to work around people and defuse the situation.

"I got into some trouble-"

"What kind of trouble?"

"I'm not allowed to say. Just know I left for a good reason."

"Kenneth-" I begin to say before I'm cut off by a familiar voice.

"Kenneth?" Kayla says. I sit up straight and look at her. The look on her face reads heartbroken. I knew she was going to eventually find out Kenneth is back in town. I just didn't want her to find out that not only did I know but I was talking to him. "Bria?"

Kenneth stands up from the table, as so I. I'm sure I look like a kid that got caught stealing cookies out the cookie jar. I don't know why I feel so guilty about this. It wasn't like I enjoyed his company. I just wanted to hear what he had to say so he would leave me alone.

"Kayla how are you, it's been a minute?"

"I'd say more than a minute. What the hell are you doing back here? And why are you even talking to him, Bria?" Her shock has worn off and all that's left behind is anger. Anger towards Kenneth, towards me.

The three of us use to all be friends. I and Kenneth were just closer. We were all confused when Kenneth left and Kayla had to pick me up while also trying to make time to help herself.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "He stopped by out the blue again and-"

"Again?" She asks. I had not meant to let that slip. I try to let her know I hadn't expected him to come and that I hadn't told her about before because there was nothing to tell. I'm not trying to get all tangled up in his web again.

"He was here earlier today. I told him to leave me alone and he came back and wasn't leaving until I talked to him." I feel bad about not telling Kayla the whole truth. She's my best friend. I shouldn't keep things from her. Not things like this.