Monster Among Men [cth au]

01

Harlow

I wake up and sigh, turning my alarm clock off, I loathe my morning shifts at Tim's. Early mornings and late nights are when the strange people come in. Everyone normal comes in during the day. I look at Roman after putting my hideous glasses on; I extremely hate my lack of good sight. He's ready for his morning walk around the complex, as per usual. I only get up this early for him.

The only issue I ever really had with living in the apartment is that Roman cannot really roam freely, but I think he doesn't mind too much, he's well behaved and trained...and also not a puppy, thank God, that would be a handful.

"Outside?" I say happily to my dog, he wags his tail excitedly. "Just let me get dressed, we'll go out in a few minutes." I change from my glasses to my contacts as soon as I get to my bathroom, I really hate how those things look on me, they really are too bulky and ugly.

...

"Okay Ro, I'll be home later, be a good boy while I'm gone" I give my little fluff a kiss on the head and make my way out to work. I just walk, I know how to drive, I just don't like wasting the gas in my car when I can just walk, I'll drive if it's raining or in the winter when it's too cold, but the weather is just starting to get nice again and I'm taking that to my advantage.

I also need to walk because walking to work and walking Roman are basically my main exercising...and I really need to. Especially with this protruding belly and my big thighs. Lynn says I'm pretty and she wishes she looked like me, but I just don't understand why.

Lynn is beautiful and fit, then again she swims all the time, but I guess that's what they do in Australia? I don't know, I bet it's so extraordinary there, she says it's nothing special and would much rather visit me here in Vermont. I can't believe we've been friends for 3 years and I've still never given my best friend a hug. We're gonna see each other as soon as one of us has the money saved to do so.

"Good mornin' Harlow!" My coworker Jessica chirps, I will never understand how she's so excitable and happy every morning, but I'm kinda glad she is because it brightens my mood almost every morning.

"Hello Jessica, good morning." I smile at her and make my way to the cash register where I belong. I look at the two braids resting on my shoulders and notice my left one looks a little messy, I should really fix that when I get a chance.

Calum

I wake up to loud banging on my door and I groan in frustration. Who the fuck is pounding in my damn door at, I glance look at my phone, fucking 6 in the morning? I get up, wearing only my boxers, and I make my way to my front door and I open it with force "What the fuck do you want?!" I say angrily and I see it's my buddy Ashton.

He laughs in my face "Calm down dude, can I crash?" Anger boils under my skin "it's 6am Ash, why aren't you home?" I step aside and let him in despite my annoyance.

"Uh, well I left this chick's house, total babe by the way, she had the best tits." He smirks at the memory of the shag and I roll my eyes. "I fell asleep after we fucked and she did too and then I woke up like a fucking half hour ago and your apartment was closer and I knew you wouldn't give a shit, so—"

I cut my friend off "goodnight, don't drink all my fucking beer." I grumble at him and saunter back down the hallway to my room and in my bed.

...

A few hours later I wake up, well maybe more than a few hours, I was trying to sleep away my hangover, which helped a little. The pounding in my head is minimal now. I get dressed and walk out to the living room, expecting Ash to be sprawled out asleep or drinking my beer.

Empty bottles scatter the floor and couch, Ashton is nowhere to be seen, which is fucking per usual. I clench my fists and see a shitty little note sitting on the bar of my kitchen,

'Thanks for the beer mate, hope you're not too pissed, see ya!'

Fucking prick, I knew he'd drink the rest, I only had a few left. Now I have to go pick some more up fuck. Ugh I hate going to the store, everyone there is annoying. I can't think straight. Whatever, I better go now because I'm running low on other shit too.

I groan and pull my vans on along with my worn leather jacket, I grab my keys and I'm out the door in minutes.

I drive to the shittiest place in this town, Tim's, it even sounds lame. I turn my car off and head inside the building, the bright lights burning my eyes, as I'm still getting over my hangover, despite it being 9pm and having slept all damn day. Whatever.

I grab myself another box of condoms, two packs of beer, and some chips. This should be good for now.