Underneath My Skin

Ch. 5

I step out of the shower and take my shower cap off of my head. I hurry over to my room and step into a light pink peplum dress and some nude heels. I put on some nude earrings and rush back to the bathroom for my make up.

I put on some foundation, some brown eyeshadow that highlights my brown eyes, mascara, and light eyeliner. I comb through my straightened hair and take one last look in the mirror. I run some Chapstick over my lips and hurry out of my apartment, locking it behind me.

Today is Friday and I have managed to have a successful first week. I actually like Mr. Putnam. I like all of my co-workers too. Whitney the receptionist is the sweetest old woman in the world, she's in her early 60's. Bailey is an accountant and she doesn't speak much but she is sweet.

The guys at the warehouse are pretty nice too. John, Austin, Byron, and of course Zayn. Its a small yet successful company. Everyday this week Zayn and I have a routine of going out for lunch, we alternate paying, which he doesn't like but who cares.

Wednesday morning he walked me to work. As well as yesterday. So i'm not surprised to see Zayn leaning up against the brick building as I walk outside. I walk over to him and smile.

"Good morning," he says.

"Good morning."

He hands me a bagel and I smile.

"You didn't have to make me this," I say and take a bite out of it. It tastes like cinnamon. I moan in gratitude.

He laughs. "I didn't. The bakery down the street did."

I laugh and we walk to work in a comfortable silence.

I spend the morning in the conference room with Mr. Putnam and some friendly men who are interested in net working for him. When we get out of the meeting its twelve fifteen.I sit down at my desk and pull out my phone. I see that I have a missed call from Jason so I call him back. He answers on the second ring.

"Bri, hey! How are you?" He says cheerfully.

"Hey Jason. I'm great, I got a job." I swallow the lump rising in my throat. He doesn't know that I am also a stripper on the weekends and he doesn't need to know.

"Really? That's great. What do you do?"

"I'm executive assistant for Putnam's Rolling Ladder Company." I say proudly.

"Ladders," he says and we laugh in unison.

"Its really good to hear from you Bri. You should call me more."

I sigh. "I know. I'm sorry. I've just been busy."

"You should come down later in the summer, before I have to go back to school."

I sigh again. "I don't think that's a good idea Jason."

"Why not?"

"It just reminds me too much ..." I swallow the lump in my throat.

"Bri, its not just hard on you, you know? You left here when I needed you the most."

A few tears fall from my cheeks. Why would Jason need me? I only saw him over the summer and he was always rude to me, or pranking me, or trying to drown me in the ocean. We were never really friends, we just knew each other through Jackson. But, I guess if the tables were turned and Jackson was my brother and Jason was Jackson's best friend, I would want Jason to be there for me.

"I know, I'm sorry Jason."

"No don't be sorry," I hear him sniffle and there's a long silence. "Sometimes, I think I see him. I'll drive down to the school football field and I swear he's out there running."