365 Days

Chapter 20

A wweek passed after mom's death and I was still as lifeless. I didn't seem to look like I cared anymore. Even my bitchy officemates noticed.

I wore an overly excessive amount of black, my hair was never fixed at all, my makeup made me look emo and the fact that I didn't even try to respect them was a large shocker. I might be a grumpy ass a lot to them, but never did a treat  them like actual shit.

One of my co-workers made his way up to me. With his brown hair combed neatly and his boring grey suit smoothed out, he gave me a pitiful smile. Beck, yeah, I think that was his name. 

"Is there a problem, Victoria?" He asked, looking over me with concerned eyes. 

That was the first time anyone from my workplace asked that, and I simply ignored it. After that more questions similar to that came, even from my boss. Eventually, I explained it all to them just to make them shut up. But that backfired. 

After that, all I got was a chorus of I'm sorrys and pats on the back and shoulders.

It pissed me off. As if they were rubbing my fucked up misery in my face. Yeah, I had the best work area in the world.

And lastly came Greg. He hadn't spoken a single word to me after the failed attempt of a date he gave me.

He placed a hand on the edge of my table, just like he did in the past. His expression was hard to uncode. It was a mixture of what I saw as pity, shame, sadness and regret.

"I'm really sorry Tori," he whispered, using that nickname that so little could use.

I looked up at him, forcing a small smile. He looked different, he buzz cutted his hair, he wore different clothes and he grew taller. His smile even felt older, as if he matured after these months of being so silent.

He leaned a bit closer, his smile still on his lips.

"I'm really really sorry you know," he said, but I saw no emotion in his eyes.

"You're not telling the truth," I told him baldnly before going back to my work, sorting out which papers are important and which can be recycled.

His phone rang, giving off an unfamiliar song. He excused himself and walked away, answering his call. I watched his figure go, as he walked away, towards the edge of this large room filled with people working. The constant sound of fingers hitting keyboard rang in my ears.

My watch struck four when I finally finished all my work. Everything was sorted, everything was filed and everything was finally over.

Standing up, I smooth out my black pencil skirt and grab my bag, rumaging through it to make sure everything was in place.

Sighing and wiping my forehead with the back of my hand, I walked over to the elevator. Clicking the ground floor button, I stood there, waiting.

Click!

The doors swing open and I get out, my face blank and expressionless. The guard that usually sat on the counter waved a hand at me, bidding me goodbye and a sorry ( my does gossip spread fast ) and I ignored him.

I was a few steps away from the entrance when a voice called out from behind.

"Tori!"

Flinching on the spot, I instantly knew who that was. Sighing, my feet strode faster, walking out towards the parking lot and my hands going to the lock of my car. Hopelessly trying to pry the lock open, but Greg already caught up to me.

HIs hands were on my shoulders, gripping them tight.

"Tori!" He breathed out.

Turning around, my eyebrowns furrow as I glared at him, hand still on the lock, the other on my hip. The hand holding the carkey was still busy trying to bust the damn thing open.

"What do you want?!" I demanded, eyes glancing at the lock, hoping that it was budging.

He took in a deep breath, running a hand through his once neat brown hair. "I'm sorry," he started, me wincing at the phrase. I already had enough of that phrase for one day. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. But instead of stopping him, I let him continue. "It's just, that I feel bad for not being there," he muttered so quickly I barely had enough time to calculate what he meant. 

"Is that all?" I asked, shocked at how harsh my tone sounded.

He looked down at his feet, hands behind his back, his hair falling on his forehead, covering parts of his eyes. Greg shook his head, looking up at me, this time his eyes were full of sincerity.

"I'll make if up to you Tori," he pleaded. "How bout I treat you somewhere?" He offered.

I wanted to desperately to decline, after his first attempt in taking me out for a date, I didn't want to experience that again. It was just the opposite of everything I did with Daniel.

Sighing, I eventually agreed, leaving a very hopeful looking Greg. But if I were him, I'd ignore it, he doesn't stand that much of a chance really.

Sighing, I slipped inside the car and drove back home without any trouble, dumping my bag on the couch and greetingmy aunt.

"Afternoon, dear," she said in between tasting her soup, checking if the seasoning was good enough. "So, how was work?" She asked it the same way mom would ask about school back then.

"Meh," I muttered under my breath, walking up towards the kitchen and stuffing my hand inside it. Pulling out a carton of orange juice, I shook it to know how much was left. Smiling in satisfaction at the sound, I walked over and grabbed a cup, pouring the orange liquid in. Placing it back in the fridge, I sipped from the glass cup.

"How bout you? What have you been doing?"

"Good, the usual, soap operas, cooking, chatting with the neighbors," she told me aimlessly, waving her hand in the air. "Now go finish your juice and change."

Smiling, I drank the liquid in two long gulps, running up to my room. Tossing my tight black skirt and grey blouse to my bed, I grabbed something cozier. One of Daniel's jersies and shorts.

It said Reese 11

Smiling on the way down, I sat on the dinner table, not even bothering to help. Placing an elbow on the table, and my hand under my chin, I started to wonder how he was. His smell was still on his shirt, making me feel like he was still here, ready to comfort me.

Before I even noticed, my aunt already finished setting the table. In front of me sat a placemat with a plate onto of it, spoon and fork at the sides and the same cup I used to drink the orange juice sat next to me. I gave her a quiet thank you, watching as she placed a bowl of soup in front of me.

Pumpkin soup, yum.

Grabbing my spoon, I stuck it in and started to shovel from it, stuffing it in my mouth and relishing the taste. My aunt chuckled, sitting next to me. She too drank and got her fill of mashed potatoes, corn and carrots.

I didn't bother anymore, the soup was enough to fill.

Looking around, I noticed that there were only two plates.

"Where is he?" I asked, looking down at my soup.

She doesn't asnwer, busily eating her food. Sighing, I ate my fill, thanking her once again and placing my plate on the sink. Marching up to my room, I sat there, grabbing my notebook and adding yet another entry. Looking at my mirror, I forced a smile just to content myself. 

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welp. I'm disappointed with how this chapter came out X.X had no muse but pushed myself to do it.