It's Alright to be Together

Chapter 13

"You really don't have to Y/n."

"Yes I do Jenny. I don't want to be another freeloader. I'm just going to march right in there and-" you inhaled deeply. What am I going to do? What reason would she even have to accept? Sighing, you shook your head to rid it of those thoughts. "I'm going to ask for my job back."

"But what about Zane? He's bound to go in there." she replied.

You did a double-take. Hearing his name splintered your heart all over again. Tears started to form in your eyes. It was clear Jenny said his name purposely for this reaction: if you couldn't even handle someone saying his name, how could you survive seeing him without falling apart?

Wiping your tears before they feel, you inhaled deeply to try to control yourself. "I'll be fine." you lied. (Hey, how you doing? I'm fine. I lied. I'm dying inside)

Jenny laughed incredulously. "Fine!?! You're barely able to stand! You are not fine!"

"You're right, I'm not fine. But I can't just stay holed up in here. I need to get out and do something productive."

Your friend sighed, clearly exasperated. She knew there was no arguing with you and you knew she didn't approve. "Fine. But just know I'm here for you." Her thin arms wrapped around you, holding you close. "I know we haven't been friends for long, but already I feel like you're my sister."

You smiled, hugging back. "Me too."

Jenny pulled away and wiped her tears. "Well we should probably be getting going."

You chuckled. "Now who's getting all teary eyed?"

"Oh shut up." She playfully hit you as you both left the apartment.

Once you were out on the street, the wind hit you like a foreboding chill of what you were about to do. Were you emotionally ready for this? Definitely not, but at this point you felt you had no other options. Job searching had been a total bust.

Sighing, you pulled your borrowed coat on closer. You had been so lucky Jenny had spare clothes for you: all of yours was still at his house.

"Nervous?" Jenny asked as the cafe came within sights. You nodded. "You know, it's not too late and turn back."

"And lose my fingers and toes to the cold? No thanks!" you joked in an effort to release the tension. It worked some. Jenny laughed but then it was all serious again. Honestly, if she hadn't been there you may have just hightailed it out of there. But for some reason-possibly your pride-you pressed forward.

The clear glass door seemed far more foreboding than you remembered. Zoey saw you through the glass and made her way over to you before you'd even entered.

"Hey Y/n. I'm so sorry, I-" You cut her off with your hand.

"It's fine," you repeated the same old lie. Like Jenny, Zoey didn't buy it. "I don't want to talk about it. I've moved on." Lie, lie, lie. They just kept coming. "I just came here hoping to see if I could get back my old job."

"Oh, of course!" She seemed more than a little surprised at what she clearly perceived as a rather odd request which only caused your cheeks to be dusted in crimson.

"Thanks." you murmured, going around her to start work with Jenny close behind.

"Hey Y/n." You looked up from behind the counter to meet blue eyes. "It's been a while. How have you been?"

"Hey Jason," you forced a smile but it probably looked as broken as it felt. "I'm fine. You?" Out of the corner of your vision you saw Zoey call someone on her cell. Normally you would've paid no mind but it was unusual behavior for her. Maybe it was nothing. >:)