What's on the Outside

CHAPTER 2

"I gathered every possible drug that you could ever take to help your hangover." I spread the medicine in front of Audrey, showcasing them to her. "Pick a drug! Any drug!" I said acting like a gameshow host. "I need new friends." Audrey replied she laughed at how ridiculous I was being. She grabbed the Tylenol PM and popped two in her mouth, taking a sip of her coke to wash it all down. "Good choice!" I gave her a thumbs up and she returned the gesture by throwing a pillow at me an saying, "Go to work." very sarcastically. I winked at her and went to my room. Changing into my work clothes, a red long sleeve shirt with black slacks and black flats, I heard a deep voice in the living room. Guessing it was Audrey's boyfriend, Luke from earlier, I ignored it. After I was dressed and had put my hair up, I grabbed my keys and walked back into the living room to find Audrey and Luke making out on the couch. I quietly snuck to the back door to avoid any more awkwardness and triumphantly succeeded. They probably couldn't hear me over their raging hormones anyway.

When I get to the little gas station on the corner, I park my car and walk inside. "Hello dear! We have a new shipment in. Come around here and I'll show you what we got." Mrs.Darline brings me around to the back of the store and I am greeted by big stacks of drinks, chips, beef jerky, candy, beer, pretty much everything you could think of in a gas station, we had it. "Wow. this is a big shipment Mrs.Darline!" She smiled. Mrs.Darline was a very short woman of five feet two inches with bright white hair and glasses that took up most of her face. She had a red shirt and black pants on like I did but hers were a lot more baggy. "That's why I didn't make you come in until later! You're helping me unpack and put all of this stuff on the shelves." She looks at me with a smile still on her face. She is the most devious little woman in the whole world.

I return home with my hair a mess, my clothes still wet from the coke bottle that fell and sprayed everywhere, and my eyes barely able to stay open. I mindlessly walked to my room, shut the door and snuggled under the covers without even bothering to change clothes.

The next morning I hear humming but it's not Audrey. I get dressed in some workout shorts and a t-shirt and walk out of my room. "Luke?" I say walking out of the hall and into the living room that is separated by the kitchen with a little island. "Cecily! Good-morning! Would you like an omelet?" Why was my dad in my kitchen? I nodded my head. "Sure id love an omelet. No offense dad but, why are you here?" his reaction to my question indicated that his answer was not going to be something I wanted to hear. He looked down at the pan he was cooking an omelet in nervously. Knowing that he didn't want to tell me now, I tried my best to dismiss the question. Sitting down on the stool at the island, I tried a better question, "Nevermind. How's work?" Again, he looked down at the sizzling omelet in the pan and his smile faded. Things must not he going well with my dad. "Not good. Actually, here's a better word, non-existent." my eyes widened. "You lost your job? What happened?!" he pulled the omelet out of the pan and put it on a plate. He turned to me, leaning on the counter. "They found me helping a patient in the parking lot. I walked outside and there was a little four-year-old girl with burns all over her back and Cecily, when I looked at her I saw you. The mom wouldn't let me take her inside because she knew they wouldn't be able to cover the bill. So, I helped her without charging any money." he put an omelet in front of me. "Dad, I know it's good to be selfless and help other but, it's okay to put your own needs first." he looked at me with sad eyes and grabbed my hand. "There was a child with horribly infected burns Cecily, I had to. Everything is going to be fine Cess, I will figure everything out." he gave me a forced smile and turned back around to the pan. "Where is Audrey?" I rolled my eyes, "Probably still sleeping. That's the only thing she is really good at." My dad chuckled. I always admired him for his selflessness and his ability to cope when things go wrong. The first year my mom died, he never cried in front of me, he would always keep a brave face on and focus on healing my burns. Every time I cried, I would always get the same speech. "Be brave Cess," he'd say, "that's the only thing that can be done when the universe is against you. It's okay to cry, just don't waste a whole day doing it. You'll wear out those pretty little eyes." He'd kiss my cheek and whisper that he loves me more than anything. "Look who decided to show up!" My dad beamed at Audrey who was in boy shorts and a tank top. "Good morning, Charles." Audrey said, yawning. Ever since we were little, Audrey refused to call any grownup by their last name. No one knows why, I don't even think she knows why. She never gave an explanation. "And how are you this fine morning 'dree?" Audrey yawned again. "I will be just fine once I get a cup of coffee and one of your magnificent omelets down!" She replied pouring the warm coffee into a mug. Pulling a flask out of her bra, she poured some alcohol into her coffee. "Isn't it a little too early to be drinking?" She looked at me as if I had said the dumbest thing in the world. "It's 3 hours until lunchtime. What's wrong with having a morning drink to give you a boost of confidence?" she continued pouring the alcohol into her coffee cup. "Besides it's never too early to pay a visit to good 'ole Jack Daniels!" she exclaimed and then took a long gulp I her coffee. I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back over to my dad who was laughing at Audrey. Her and I had always stuck together even though we have absolutely nothing in common. Our friendship literally made no sense but, I loved it and I had a pretty good feeling that she did too. "Oh. My. God. Charles, these omelets taste like love! Best omelets ever!" Audrey said in a sing-songy voice trying to shove as much omelet into her mouth. "Thank you Audrey! Your approval means so much to me!" he said, nothing but a sarcastic tone was left in his voice. "No problem Charles." Audrey winked at him and put her plate in the sink.