After my shower I get dressed, starting to go slightly stir crazy with all my time off. Instinctively, I drive to JOINT. My job was as much my job as my second home, just like Chess was my boss as much as my friend. So I figured he wouldn't mind me hanging out in the back.
"Parker!" Chess rasps, "Someone who clearly doesn't understand the concept of a 'day off'."
"I got bored," I shrug, "And I missed you too."
He laughs, but it quickly turns into a coughing fit.
"Shit," I step back, out of the way of his germ attack, "Are you good?"
He clears his throat, "Yeah. I'll be okay."
He takes a seat next to me, "How was your brother's?"
I tell him, filling him in on Saide and his relationship. Occasionally he makes a joke about Karry from high school, and I pretend not to notice how terrible he sounds.
"You sure you'll be good to work new years eve tomorrow?" I ask, genuinely concerned.
"I'm good," he promises, "I have to get back to work though. What are you doing?"
"College stuff," I reply.
"Nice. Good luck, kid," he stands, "Let me know if you need anything."
He heads back into the kitchen, leaving me to actually do some work. I pull up my essay for the first time in hellas. Actually, I haven't looked at it since before Thanksgiving.
"I'm going to get you into college..."
Jesus... The memory jars me and I feel my heart pulled at. Crazy what a month could do to two people.
I start typing:
As it goes, children are supposed to bury their parents. But when we imagine the scene, it's adult children. Its not a middle schooler, just old enough to understand death, but not old enough to understand taxes.
My eyes burn, remembering the truth- that I wasn't even at my mother's funeral. I log out and pull up the application to St. Louis Community College. It doesn't take me long to apply.
And it technically is a college.
***
New Years Eve I'm awaken to my phone going crazy next to me. Chess.
"What's up?" I answer and am met with a staler, raspier version of Chess' voice.
"I need you to do an open to close," he turns into a fit of coughs, "I think I'm dying."
Told you so. "Ugh," I was originally going in at three to work the dinner rush and then heading to Lori's party. But I guess not, "Alright I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Thanks. Niel's coming in to help out too. You guys can even close at eight, since it's New Years Eve."
"Bless," I sigh from relief, "Feel better."
I shower and dress, grabbing one of the shirts from Karry to wear to the party afterwards. I takes forever for me to close, as we get busiest near closing, everyone wanting to fill their bellies with greasy food before a night of drinking. We completely clear out until nearly ten thirty.
As soon as I'm off work. I strip off my uniform revealing a crew neck and blue jeans under it. I speed dress on the way to my truck to put the button up over it.
The house, or more accurately the mansion, is in almost the middle of nowhere. The massive home looms on the edge of a bousey, old, suburb. Trees surrounding the perimeter, giving the appearance of privacy.
YOU ARE READING
one sin.
Romansa(NEW AND IMPROVED--- REVISED AND EDITED) Junior year, Kaylie Jane or "KJ," if anyone's asking, messed around and fell in love with a girl. Which is cool if you're into that type of thing, but she's not. Determined to have a hoe free senior year with...
