Lefty's ✓

six.

July

My father and I have talked less and less. All his time has been spent at his new job: the local car dealer. Back in our old town he sold cars and did sales on the phone at night. Paying for Mom's addiction wasn't cheap.

All of my time has been spent either at Lefty's or in my room taking online courses. It's mid-July and classes start in a month. To take a certain AP class I had to have taken the beginner course. At my old school that wasn't an option, so here I am staring at my laptop for two hours, hoping to pass this stupid class.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, giving me the perfect distraction.

Meet me somewhere?

It's Melissa. Our exchange in phone numbers happened weeks ago, but it's the first time we've ever really texted each other.

Sure, where?

She tells me to go to Lefty's. I grab my keys off my desk and shut my laptop. I'll inevitably finish the course and it'll all be fine.

The route is engraved into my brain, the twists and turns of the steering wheel happen on instinct.

I park outside of the cafe. Melissa has chosen a window seat, which means I can see her from my car. A steaming cup of tea is in her grasp. She blows into the drink, trying to cool it down. Her other hand goes to move the black hair out of her face, revealing a dark red lipstick.

My feet carry themselves to her on their own, also like an instinct. The door jingles on my way in, signaling my arrival. The worker that's always here smiles at me when I look over, as does Melissa. She smirks up at me, the red of her lips curling.

"Hey," she murmurs.