Guilty Pleasure

2 | Officially Broke

I wake to the sound of loud hammering on my door. I quickly jump to my feet and wipe the drool that ran down my bony chin. I was such an ugly sleeper.

Still groggy, I stretch my arms out over my head and let out an enormous yawn. I think the family upstairs could feel the vibrations from it.

The knocking on the door becomes more violent as I slowly make my way to the door. I look through the peephole and see a flustered brunette standing on the other side.

Ruth.

I immediately open the door and Ruth barges in with sheer force, slightly knocking me down to the ground. I catch myself just in time to face Ruth's blistering rage.

"Why didn't you answer your phone?"

"I uh, didn't hear my phone ring."

I scurry over to the coffee table and retrieve my phone to see six missed calls flash on my homescreen.

Ruth examines me with wide eyes and suddenly grabs a pillow from the couch and throws it directly at my face. She has an arm on that skinny frame of her's, I'll give her that.

"You've been asleep haven't you?"

She points her finger at my worn out Snoopy pajamas that I've managed to keep since high school and surprisingly still fit. I noticed I had drool all over my collar and I discreetly tried to wipe it off before Ruth noticed. I haven't been around to buying me some new clothes because I hardly get by on rent as it is.

God I need money.

"From the looks of it, I'd say you were in a deep sleep!"

Her eyes are now fixated to the puddle of drool that stained my collar. Ruth knows how much of a slob I can be. Hell, she practically knows all my bad habits.

Sleeping in.
Being late on rent.
Not being able to afford rent.

It was basically an endless cycle of the same bullshit over and over again. No wonder Ruth had to keep an eye on me, I was sick of it myself. I hated myself for letting things get like this. Thankfully my parents aren't alive to see me like this, it would break their heart.

Ruth throws her hands up and clicks her tongue. A look of frustration crosses her face as she stands there waiting for me to give her a reasonable explanation for my actions.

But all I could do was give her the same excuse I always did.

"I'm sorry, Ruth. I must've fell asleep.

"As always."

Ruth playfully rolls her eyes and takes a seat on the couch, propping her legs up on the coffee table.

She notices the bills piled up on the table and starts rummaging through them to see what the damage was.

Quick reminder to not put my personal belongings on the coffee table unless I want Ruth to rummage through them.

Ruth's eyes seemed to scan through the documents with speed and I could tell she was slightly disappointed but at the same time concerned.

"Oh Aubrey."

I placed my hand on my shoulder and nervously looked down to the floor. I didn't want to see the disappointment on her face when she looked at me.

"Have you figured out what you're going to do?"

A strand of hair fell on her lips as she tucked it back behind her ear. Her bright blue eyes twinkled under the lighting in the living room.

"I don't know. No one I know is hiring and my job at the hotel isn't cutting it. My rent's due at the end of this month and I have absolutely no way of paying it. I'm so screwed Ruth."