The Hooded Figure

SIXTEEN

I was watching TV when I noticed Trey pulling into his driveway in his red Camaro, but I didn't bother ogling it like I had before. I didn't bother processing the fact that I'd met a pop star in person, let alone treated him like shit. I already felt disheartened and somewhat useless for doing so terribly at the interview, and even my day today with Layla and Trey was bad. Just as my eyes started to drift shut, someone knocked at the door.

I sighed and got up, dragging my feet on the floor. As I opened the door, I froze.

My hair was unbrushed, my sweatpants had two holes in them, and the loose crop top I was wearing ended just below my B cup boobs. "Hi, uh, Amy, right?"

The brown haired delivery boy was standing on my doorstep, grinning boyishly at my appearance. I shut my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

"Yeah," I said, crossing my arms over my stomach somewhat self consciously.

"Great, send your work schedule to Marco when you get a chance. Here's your apron," he stated, handing me a black apron that looked clean. I took it from him in shock and he smiled at me, showcasing his straight white teeth. I blinked at him and shook my head slightly.

"Sorry, what?" I asked stupidly, looking up at him. He was maybe just less than six feet tall, but what did I know about height?

"You got the job," he repeated, slower this time. I felt stupid, as if I couldn't understand the simplest of concepts.

"The chef one?" I inquired, tilting my head. His little red fiat was behind him, sitting along the side of the street.

"Have you applied to any other jobs recently?" He asked with his eyebrows drawn together.

"No, sorry, I'm just- wow," I sa- actually, I don't think that counts as speaking.

"Okay, well, I'll see you at work," he said awkwardly, giving me a small wave before turning around and walking to his car.

"See ya," I muttered shutting the door and leaning against it. I still held the apron in my hand and I looked down at it. There was a medium sized pizza sewn onto the front of it, I realized as I unfolded it. As I held it up in front of me, I smiled at the bold lettering that read 'Marco's Pizza'.

That's when it finally hit me, I got the job. I squealed excitedly just as I heard the sound of a key sliding into the lock. I moved away from the door as it opened. On the front porch, stood my mother. She looked tired, her brown eyes seemed weary and her brown hair was falling out of her loosely tied ponytail. She was still in her blue hospital attire and she smiled at me firefly as she entered the house.

"Hey, honey," she said, the exhaustion clear in her voice.

"Hey, mom!" I welcomed excitedly. I hadn't seen her in a few days which was normal, but I was happy to see her nevertheless. "Guess what?"

"Hmm?" She hummed tiredly as she dropped her keys on the small table by the door.

"I got a job!" I exclaimed happily, showing her my apron. She grabbed the corner of it and rubbed her fingers against it as if she was feeling the texture.

"That's great, honey." I was sure she meant it to sound happier, but she was just so tired that I don't think she could manage it. "I didn't know you'd applied."

"Yeah, I went to an interview today," I told her, following her up the stairs. She dragged her slender hand along the railing before making it to the second floor.

"And you got the job already?" She asked with what I thought was pride for her daughter.

I didn't catch her disbelieving tone as I replied: "Yeah!"

"That's great, it really is." She smiled at me as she placed a hand on the doorknob to my parents' room. "I'm going to go to bed, it's 9:00PM, you should too."

I sighed, a little disheartened, but happy nonetheless. "Okay, good night." I smiled at her as she slipped into her room. I decided to follow her advice as I stepped into the shower. I had a new set of shampoo and conditioner and they smelled amazing. I loved the smell of oranges, they made me happy for whatever reason.Once I got out, I braided my hair and brushed my teeth. I slid into my bedroom and wondered where my dad was seeing as he still hadn't come home.

I brushed it off and crawled under my sheets, rolling over and opening my window. My bed was right under the window so I got felt the breeze every time it rolled in. I loved sleeping in the cold because my bedsheets were so soft and warm.

My eyes fluttered shut just as a loud engine revved. My eyelids flew open and I jolted upright. It was super loud and I wouldn't have been surprised if it had awoken the entire neighbourhood. I glanced out my window just in time to catch Trey's red Camaro speeding around the corner.

Seriously?

I huffed angrily as I slid back under my covers and got comfortable. As I drifted back to sleep, I could hear faint rumbles in the distance and I recognized it at thunder. I tried to stay awake until the storm rolled in because if there was one thing I loved more than the smell of oranges, it was the smell of rain. The thunder silenced all other sounds in the neighbourhood, even the occasional car engine. I smiled as a few raindrops flew through the screen of my window and landed on the side of my head.

I took a deep breath of the humid air and relaxed. If there was one thing that made this day better, it was the rain. Well, that and getting the job. After enjoying the rain a little longer, I started to fall asleep.