complicated

chapter 6

        "Come on Chelsea, we're going to be late for work again!" I yell down the hall as I walk/hop to the front door, pulling my shoe on as I go. Chelsea runs down the hallway, both of our aprons in hand.

        We hurry down the stairs of our apartment and to my car, quickly starting it and pulling out of the parking lot. Cheals and I both work at this run-down diner called Emilios a few blocks away, and ever since starting there we've developed this habit of always running late. It does not matter how early we start getting ready, or when we leave, or when our shift starts. We are always late. It's become a sort-of ongoing joke at the diner.

        We walk in the front door at 2:45, exactly 15 minutes late. Most people would be worried about their boss firing them at this point, but Emilios couldn't run without us, and we know it. 

        "Only 15 minutes? Wow, you guys made good time today!" our co-worker and close friend, Michael, says as we reach the back room to sign in.  I almost flip him off, but decide to go with a more work-appropriate move and stick my tongue out at him, which he returns. 

        "Hey, you dyed your hair again!" Chelsea says upon glancing at him, which causes both of us to laugh.

        "Yah, I did dye it again. Like 2 weeks ago. Which you would have known if you actually ever came to work." he says with a bit of an attitude as he runs his hand through his now bright green hair. I've had a suspicion that Michael likes Chelsea ever since we first started working here a year ago, despite the fact that she was in a serious relationship. He doesn't know about Calum yet, and I'm not quite sure how he'll react.

        "Well, I was recovering from a broken heart. I still am, actually. You really should be thankful I'm even here," she says as she swoops her curly hair up into a high ponytail and walks out the door. Michael and I share a look before following her. 

        The next 6 hours of work seem to fly by as I fall into the routine of waitressing. I don't mind my job, really, because I'm acquainted with a lot of the people that come in and Michael is always there to give me a good laugh if I need one. Also, the cooks are always willing to hook me up with a fresh plate of fries. 

        Everyone that comes in that knows me always leaves me a nice tip as well, because it's my tips that are going to help me pay for University eventually. I love my town, and the people here as well, but I want nothing more than to get out and make something of myself. I've seen how people somehow get stuck here, and I don't want to be another one of them.

        As Emilios winds down and begins to close and I deliver checks to the last few tables, I hear Chelsea squeal from across the restaurant.

       "Calum!" she yells with way too much enthusiasm. I turn to look at her just as she runs up to Calum and immediately begins to kiss him, apparently not caring about the onlooking customers seated at the tables around her. Calum obviously has a bit more decency, because after a moment he separates himself from her, causing Chelsea to pout.

        It's been a little over a week since the night of the party, the night that I hooked up with hat-guy and Chels met Calum. Of course I've had no contact with what's his name but Chelsea and Calum have been together practically every night since, and always at his house, which has left me kind of lonely in the apartment by myself. Every night she offers for me to come along as well, which helps, but I don't want to third wheel. Or fifth wheel, on the nights that Luke and Jess are over as well. I'm just fine sitting at home munching on chinese food and binge-watching netflix.

        After the people at my last table leave, I make my way to the back room to clock out. I find sitting in the room a very angry-looking Michael.

        "What's your problem?" I ask him, grabbing two sodas from the mini fridge and flopping into the chair across the table from him. He doesn't say anything, just opens his hand for me to slide the can into his hand. He then proceeds to down almost half the can in seconds.

        "Who's that kid?" he asks as he slams the can back down on to the table, causing me to jump. I sip my drink, trying to decide how to approach this conversation.

        "What kid?" I ask, and he rolls his eyes at me, a very feminine habit of his. 

        "Obviously you know who I'm talking about, Erin. Who's the kid that Chelsea can't seem to keep her mouth off of? I've never seen him before." 

        "That's Calum. Chelsea's been.... hanging out with him for the last few days." I say carefully, trying not to insinuate anything. It doesn't work.

        "By 'hanging out' you mean that they're fucking, right?" he says with a sharp edge. Wow, nothing gets past this guy.

        "Well... yah. I think. I don't know. She doesn't tell me any details so I kind of have to fill in the blanks myself." I say, which is pretty much true. I don't know exactly how far Calum and Chelsea have gone in the past week, but it isn't hard to figure it out.

        Michael lets out a laugh. "It's just funny because, like, she was so hung up on that other guy for months, and she meets this kid and now she's just fine. Even though there have been other people here for her longer, ya know?" . Noticing my expression, which I assume is a mix of pity along with other things, he adds; "Not that I care who she's with or anything. It's just kind of sudden is all."

        Before I can say anything about it, he quickly changes the subject, but I can hardly pay attention to a word he's saying. 

        Because I'm afraid Michael doesn't just LIKE Chelsea. I think he's in love with her.

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hi this was totally a filler but next chapter's gonna be really good ok bye ily