Him and I {Chuck Clayton}

Chapter 23

It's 10 a.m. and I am dead tired. I am running on 2 hours of sleep and a mind full of thoughts that I am trying to broker because I cannot think straight. My head is pounding due to the late night drinking I put myself through after getting home and my lack of sleep before realize that I work up with 30 minutes left to get to Pop's before I was considered late. Rushing on my uniform and not bothering to brush my hair, I run outside to my car and semi speed my way through traffic, barely getting to Pop's with just 5 minutes to spare. I step inside and I stop dead in my tracks, instantly feeling nauseous. Chuck and Josie are sitting at the bar and they both turn around and look at me, Chuck with a pale look on his face and Josie smirking with her bruised left check and a right black eye that I gave her.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me," I mutter going to the back of the shop to clock in and brush my hair into a low ponytail. I take a look at myself in the mirror and I finally see myself. I see the dark circles under my eyes from my lack of sleep and my skin isn't radiating and looks bland, reflecting my current mood. I move back up to the front to clean the counter and check out the menu for today's special, anything really to distract my myself from Chuck and wrapping my hands around Josie's neck.

Ding Ding...

I look up at the door and I see Archie come in with Betty and I grab menus and guide them to a clean table, read to take their orders.
"I'm gonna use the bathroom really quick. Archie you know what I like. Order for me," Betty says as she runs off to the bathroom.
"Hey," Archie says looking me in my eyes. "Are you okay? Yesterday was crazy."
"Yeah," I clear my throat to distract myself from the tears I feel coming. "What can I get you too?"
"Get us both eggs and sausage with roast and OJ please," Archie responds, his eyes still not leaving my face.
"Okay, I'll be back with the drinks," I say softly walking away before he has a chance to say anything else.
I slip the order to the cooks and prepare the OJ and I hear giggles from Josie and I take several deep breathes before turning around and facing their direction to get to Archie and Betty's table. I blink several times to fight the tears I feel coming and I set the drinks down on Archie and Betty's table, walking away again before Archie could say anything else to me again.

"Serena?" I hear someone call for me from behind.
I recognize the voice as Pop's and I turn around to face him and I muster a fake smile.
"What are you doing here?" Pop inquires with a puzzling look on his face.
"Working?" I respond not sure how to answer.
"You know you're off today right?" Pop says showing me the schedule that has me scheduled off.
I feel my face turning red and I'm full of embarrassment that I rushed over here on my off day and I feel everyone's eyes on me, waiting on my every word.
"I didn't know that, I am so sorry," I apologize. "Well since I'm here, can I just work anyway."
"I can't spare the house this week Serena. Go home and enjoy the day off. It looks like you could use the sleep," Pop says shows a look of concern before walking away.
"How embarrassing," I hear Josie say and I bite my lip and fight the tears from coming and just go to the back of the Shoppe to grab my things and clock out.
I speed walk to the car and I feel a tap on my shoulder and I snap not seeing who is behind me.
"WHAT?'" I shout at Archie before I realize it was him.
"I'm sorry," Archie says sincerely. "I just wanted to see if you are okay."
"I-I.. I don't know. The last couple of days have not been my best," I admit letting out a heavy sigh.
"I'm sorry about last night. I didn't know Veronica was going to egg you on and I should have done more."
I look at Archie and pierce my eyes as if I can see his soul to see if he is telling the truth. Feeling like he is, I let my guard down a little and lean back into my car.
"You don't have to apologize Archie," I assume him rubbing his shoulder. "You are not who I am mad at."
So... Chuck and Josie huh?" Archie asks nodding his head towards the diner.
"I guess," I shrug, trying to sound less sadder than I already am. "This is news to me like it is to you,"

As if his ears were burning, Chuck comes out of the diner towards me direction and I roll my eyes and open my door to get into my car.
"Thank you for checking up on my Archie. I really appreciate you for this."
"Anytime," Archie flashes a smile at me and I smile back as I shut my door, starting my car and pulling out of the driveway before Chuck can say anything to me.

I crank up the volume and get lost in the lyrics, letting the tears I have been fighting all morning flow like a river down my cheeks. "Heavy metal love of mine, I should have learned to let you stay, You didn't want me all the time, But you were worth it anyway, 'Cause you were so much better, Than the rest of them, Out of all the others,?You were the honest man..." The rest of the Lana Del Ray song finishes and I just drive in silence with tears flowing throughout my eyes until I reach my apartment, sighing with relief with the thought of being home and away from the world while I decompress and unpack my feelings. The sheer little excitement of getting into bed with a book in my hand gives me the energy I need just to get out of my car and into my apartment building. Going up the steps and opening the door to the hallway where my apartment is, the little excitement I had is knocked out of me when I see Chuck, leaving Josie's apartment with Josie following him. I have to laugh because I left the diner before he was even in the car but the fact that he got her faster than I did, is laughable. Really fucking hilarious.

Josie leans in and kisses him and he kisses her back, cusping her cheek the same way he kisses me. Filled with disgust and hurt, I walk past them as they break apart and shoot them a dirty look for before to my door. Chuck turns around looks shocked that I seen him and I just roll my eyes opening my apartment door.
"Serena wait—," Chuck starts but I interrupt them.
"No," I shout at him and drop my keys in the process.
"Chuck, you are dead to me. Delete my number, delete me from your life and you can go straight to fucking hell," I scream before grabbing my keys and slamming my door.

I thought I've had worse days. I thought my ex boyfriend leaving me and breaking my heart was bad. I thought losing the person that I love the most was going to be the end of me. I never thought that I would endure this kind of pain again. I thought those days were over but thanks to Chuck Clayton, he's reminded me what if feels like.

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