Apartment 5C

three.

"Lana it's your time to shine!"

The sound of my co-workers voice drawls me out of my concentrated state. I was currently coloring in some random picture Lylo printed out for us. Lylo was my co-worker and good friend from work.

I set the blue crayon down and make my way from the back room towards the cash register. I've been working at this clothing store longer than I care to admit. I hated the job, but the people I work with made it bearable.

It was a "vintage" clothing store, but really it was just a store full of clothing that we picked at random. The clothes were cute though, so that's all that really matters.

Keeping my head down I begin to ring up the customer's items.

"Lana, right?" A nasally voice questioned from across the counter. Her voice was all too familiar, and I wasn't excited about her presence.

"Yea that's me. Hey Brianna." I hold back the urge to roll my eyes at my classmate and instead tell her the total.

Brianna was the biggest bitch at our school. All she did was bully others and kiss the jock's asses. Everyone knew she had a hard on for Ryder and she thought he felt the same. It was clear though that it was unrequited.

"Well I'll see you in school. You're not planning on wearing those though are you?" She gestures to my glasses that were usually replaced by contacts. Her makeup-caked face scrunches up in a disgusted manor.

"Have a good day." I dodge her insult with a forced smile and continue to stare daggers into the back of her head until she turns the street corner.

From my right I hear a high pitched whistle. I didn't need to look to know who it was.

"I know right. What a sweetheart." I click my tongue before turning to meet Lylo's amused eyes.

"I am so glad I'm homeschooled because I know for a fact that girl would bully me to no end. And my self esteem is way too low for that." Lylo laughs at his own words before swiftly turning on his heels and heading back to the stock room to sort through new arrivals.

I glance around the store to make sure it's empty. It was finally 7pm which meant closing time. It was Friday night. I hated starting back to school right before the weekend, it seemed pointless to me to go one day instead of starting on a Monday.

I drag my feet over the ugly blue carpeted flooring as I make my way towards the front door. My arm feels as heavy as a brick as I slowly extend it outwards to flip the open sign to closed. The sudden appearance of a face on the other side of the glass door startled me, causing me to take a hop backwards, colliding into a poorly placed clothing rack.

"Are you okay? I'm so sorry I didn't mean to scare you." Jace's concerned voice fills the small store as he opens the shop's door that desperately needed to be WD-40'd.

"Just peachy." My tone comes across more annoyed than amused.

Jace hastily helps me up to my feet, squeezing my hand briefly before letting it go.

"What are you doing here?" I add a toothy grin, trying to mask my confusion and slight annoyance.

I only now notice he had a little entourage behind him. It was a few of the more popular kids in Jace's, or I guess our, friend group. Truth be told I never got along with them. They were quite rude to others, including me. Jace would never defend me in these scenarios I guess out of fear of losing his "cool factor".

"Well I know you get off soon and I wanted to see if you wanted to go to Ferteli's with us and then head on over to that big party tonight." Jace bounced from one foot to the other. Left, right, left, right. He was nervous I would say no. I could see the plea in his eyes.