Anticipated Life

chapter one : Caroline

Not only was it my fifty sixth day of work but it was my last. I arrived at 7:01 as I always did. I have trusted myself with multitasking on a daily basis. while driving, I had applied my normal eye makeup, ate a low fat, microwaveable, blueberry, waffle, and communicated a traditional morning hello with Kendly over a phone call. being pretty deep into our relationship, we had already disclosed our love for each other. his birthday was in a couple of weeks and we had planned a trip to new York together with some friends of ours. I was very excited and had already started to buy some new clothes for the trip.

I parked my car in the employee lot and began my small hike to the back entrance of the store. I swiped my ID badge and punched in, in the back room. I looked to the back left corner of the tiny, filthy, room covered in grit, to find my locker containing all of my pharmacy clothing. I balled up my clothing in my fists and made my way to the bathroom to change. once fully decorated in my Walgreens attire, I took my position at the check out register and relieved Margaret of her duties.

"Hey babe," I said jokingly to her.

"Morning delicious," she said back with a big but worn out grin.

"How can you do the 6:30 shift? You Must be crazy!"

"Baby, I need all of the money I can get. Toby is turning three in a week and so far I can't afford to even buy him a birthday lunch."

"I know Mar but dawn and dusk shifts? Can't Ryan help out?"

"He's a little bit iffy about paying for someone else's child. But I wouldn't want to push anything on him. He's young, not used to it. I'm ok with that. He needs time."

"Yes but this much? How long has it been, a year?"

"Only nine months."

"Come on, he's no younger than the average dad."

"Less experienced though. Listen I gotta go. See you later?"

"You better be here to relieve me," I joked.

After Margaret left, I had three customers back to back. One getting double A batteries, the next a bag of mini rainbow jaw breakers and a bottle of coke, and the last a large pink notebook with an arrangement of pens. I had about three minutes to play doodle jump and snack on some lays before a woman approached me.

"Hi!" I greeted her.

She set down her items on the counter for me to ring up.

"I couldn't help but notice how pretty you are." She said.

I thanked her whole heartedly but for some reason she sounded Incencere.

"A pack of gold camels please." She asked.

"Oh you've tried them?"

"No. Just heard things."

"I see."

I handed her the pack after scanning it and totaling her transaction.

"Thank you very much." She added before smiling at me very wickedly.

I took the cash and gave her back the change. She took her money grazing my fingers and left without another single word. Oddly enough I didn't have another customer during the rest of my shift. The hour or two that I waited in the silence of the store, just thinking made me curious. It could have just been the quite radio music playing from the speakers messing with my mind but the woman's behavior had been strange. Luckily Margaret returned shortly to put me out of my agony.

I dressed back into personalized clothing and made my way out to my little black car. I sat in the drivers seat and turned on the air. I had no place to go. I guess I could go back to my dorm or Bart's loft but either way I would probably be alone. I pulled out my phone and dialed Kendly's number. After a number of rings it went to voicemail and I having nothing to say, hung up before the beep. Where could I go? Maybe hope would like to go to dinner or something. I found her name in my contact list and tried to reach her as well. I guess, to my luck, nobody was available to me.

I cranked my car and backed out of the lot. I guess my designated designation was my dorm room. I could watch a movie or something. I've always been a fan of dirty dancing, especially when I'm feeling alone. I think it's on Netflix and I could stream it directly to my laptop while munching on take out from Chang Tai.

When I arrived at my building I immediately called in my food, the usual dumplings with chicken and rice, and then I changed into something more comfortable. I dressed my legs in black leggings and my decorated my top half with a tight air brushed t-shirt from the Bahamas. I gathered my wallet from my beige Kavu purse and collected the exact change for my meal, including the tip. While waiting for the delivery man, I pulled up the Netflix website on my computer and searched for the movie. My roommate hadn't returned home from who knows where yet but she was destined to return soon, so I gathered my headphones and connected them.

I started the movie, anticipating my usual, delectable meal. Soon after visiting the camp and enjoying the welcoming dance lessons, I heard the anticipated knock on the door. I paused the movie, removed my headphones, and jumped up to retrieve the money I had set out. I opened the pad lock and greeted the young Asian man. I asked how much, pretending I didn't order every week. I paid him and took the food, not being able to hardly wait to continue my movie.

After finishing the delightful meal and my entertainment, I preceded to get a shower, brush my teeth and hair, and cuddle up in my small, twin sized bed. Lily, my uptight roommate, still hadn't returned home. It surprised me but in no circumstances was I complaining. It didn't take long for the short but long day to dawn on me and cause me to fall into a deep sleep.