NEIGHBORS

▪️ E I G H T ▪️

Amyra tapped away at her computer, finishing up all her drafts. If she can send in all her work before the deadline it may lessen the anger of Michael once the cast tells him about last week events.

Amyra's hands begin to shake again and she quickly balled up her fists. The mere thought about being jobless again was sending shivers of fear throughout her entire body. The constant stress of needing money and the depressed state of living in her car.

If she ever went back to it — no. She will not allow herself to think about it because she will never allow herself to fall back that deep.

A knock at the door causes Amyra to jump out of her thoughts. Standing from her seat, she saves the work on her laptop before exiting her room.

"Who is it?" She asks, approaching the door.

Another letter with a wax stamp slides under the door and hits her foot. Amyra's eyebrows scrunch up as she picks up the letter and sits on her couch. A second letter?

What could this be about? Could this be Jack playing a twisted game with her? Or Ronnie playing into his stalker stereotype?

Amyra bites her lip as she drags her nail underneath the stamp to unfold the letter. Anticipation courses through her veins as she began to graze over the first sentence.

Another knock at the door causes her heart to sputter like a dead engine. The letter slipped away from her fingertips, hitting the floor as Amyra stared at the door.

Is it him?

"You okay in there?" Jack asks.

Amyra falls flat on her couch in relief. It's only the idiot. Picking the letter off the floor, Amyra reseals it before walking up to her door.

"I'm fine, but what do you want?" Amyra asks through the door.

"I came to apologize about last week," Jack explains.

"You already apologized."

"I know, but I know you haven't forgiven me for it," Jack retorts.

The truth in Jack's words caused Amyra to stand quiet by the door. He didn't deserve Amyra's forgiveness because he never worked for it. That's how this works and she will never forgive him if he didn't show effort.

"Amyra, I know what I did last week was wrong in so many ways and I'm here to tell you I take full responsibility for it all. I called the theater to make sure Maya didn't lose her job and they said they didn't tell your boss anything, so you're safe. I feel like such a dummy for ever putting you in this situation. I'm truly sorry for how I acted and the troubles I spread. If you want to give me the silent treatment for the next year, I'll take that punishment just... don't take away your friendship," Jack apologizes.

Amyra huffs and creams open the door. Jack comes into view standing in casual attire with a bookbag in his grip. Amyra forgot he was an idiot in college.

"What's with the curls?" Jack asks.

"Had to keep it healthy from the rain water," Amyra explains.

Silence. Has it really become this awkward between the two? Amyra pondered in whether or not she should keep this up. Yet, it's not like she has faked any of her emotions so far.

"Going to class?" She asks.

Jack nods. She pouts a bit wanting to hear his voice. Maybe he wants a bit more drone her. She can give that, right?

"Is your college the one next to the big library?" Amyra asks.

Jack nods once more. A monotone expression as his eyes searched to see if he was forgiven. That's all he wanted to know.