A Flair For The Dramatic

Chapter 1

Today was like any other day here in the world that I oh-so-hate. As I walk home from my job at the supermarket, the shadows of tall, vacant buildings cover me from the gray sky above my head. I live in the abandoned mall with a couple others. We are homeless so we have 1st pick of all abandoned things in this wasteland. Of course, we aren't the only ones who find refuge in other peoples' trashed homes and apartment complexes. There are about 250 or so of "the poor" and none of us are at home for too long to make friends. Most of our jobs are 6 am to 6 pm shifts and we get paid basically nothing for working. It's horrible but we have to like it because the people who skip work, are executed. The people who hire the poor are the ones who run businesses or are too rich to work. Our town is small but the poor are still outnumbered. It's 250 against 300, which might not seem like much of a difference, but nearly none of the 300 work. There are too many jobs to do and not enough people to do them.

As I am reflecting on the unfair social constructs regarding employment, I hear a group of people talking. At this time of day and with creeps roaming the town, it's unwise to run into any strangers. I hide and eavesdrop to satisfy my curiosity.

"How many do we need," a man asked. He sounds about my age, but that's just a shot in the dark. I can tell he's a smoker or was.

"At least 1. Wouldn't want to turn up empty-handed for the show," another man replied. 

"What are we looking for? 1-10 on the scale?"

"9-10. She's gotta have a performing body," they chuckle and walk away. What the hell was that about? I don't think I want to know. I come out from hiding and decide to go around them.

They seem to have a couple busses and a 16 wheeler. I could see their camp from the mall roof not too far away. I wonder what they're doing in a town like this. 

"Spying?" I turn to see my best friend Lisa. Her green eyes and red hair are bright in the sunset lighting. 

"You're the one sneaking up on people," I respond. She sits next to me and looks down at our broken hometown.

"Dan's looking for you. He said something about a conversation," she said turning to me with a mischevious smile. I roll my eyes and turn to hide a smile of my own.

" I guess I should go talk to him,"I sigh and get up, helping her up as well. We walk down to the second level food court. There, Dan and our friend Ryan were laughing at a table. Usually, another guy named Gavin is always with them but tonight, he's absent.

"Hey, boys," Lisa says as we approach. Dan stands and hugs me. I close my eyes and let him hold me for a second longer than appropriate. We are not a thing, but if he ever asked me to be his girlfriend I would probably fuck him on the spot.

"I missed you, Val," he says as we part. When he says my name I can't hear anything else... My mind is sick of thoughts like those but my heart can't get enough. It's a real predicament!

"I could tell," I winked. I love to tease him. Since he's the closest thing to a leader in our group, I can't help but flaunt my power over him. He blushes the darkest shade of pink and it's the cutest thing I've ever seen.

"I just missed you! What's wrong with that?" He said attempting to pull me closer. Ryan and Lisa exchange glances and laugh at his obvious crush on me. I can't fight my own giggles which makes the situation worse.

"Nothing! I just never hear you say stuff like that," I replied as I let him hold me. A loud cough echoing through the court caused us to freeze.

"Enough of the mushy stuff. It's weird," Gavin said as he got closer. Dan loosened his grip on me and eyed his friend.