Doing All Right

Fired

Roger
10 seconds earlier
"You're FIRED!" Shit. "Fine! I'll just collect my things and be off then!" I stormed to the break room, where we kept our things during work. I saw Mary sitting with John, consoling him. Immediately, I was angry again. You can't just berate a fucking TEENAGER. "Hey, are you alright?" The boy wiped his nose and nodded. "You didn't have to do that back there.." He has such a quiet voice; I've never heard him talk before. "You're right, but I wanted to. Besides, Prenter's a prick." Mary laughed. "Either way, as of 2 minutes ago, I don't work here." Mary cocked her head, and John looked at me with questionable eyes. "I got fired." John looked down. "I'm sorry, Roger, it's my fault! If I hadn't dropped the change then-" I put up a hand to quiet him. "Don't apologize, it's not your fault you dropped the change." I had an idea. "Since I have to be off, I'll give you my number so you can reach me if you need it, yeah?" "That would be cool.." I wrote my number down on the boy's hand with my marker. "Call me if you need anything," I grabbed my backpack and didn't look back.

In a way, I was happy that I had a valid excuse to leave that shitty pharmacy. It was overpriced and Prenter... well, you know now. But how am I supposed to earn money to pay for the flat? Working at the college library where I'll make even less? Drumming on the corner of the intersection in hopes that someone will drop a measly pound into a hat? I'm just happy I paid rent last week; three weeks to make a plan. Brian can't know about this, and he can't come over. Not until I know what I'm going to do for money.

Brian
During the car ride, I'd asked Roger to call me when he gets home. The pharmacy closes at 9, so I have plenty of time. Still, it was 8:30 and that pharmacy isn't in the best spot in town. I shouldn't worry; his shift hasn't even ended yet. Suddenly, the telephone rang. If it's mum calling again to check my grades, I'm going to lose it. "Hello?" "Hey Brian!" This isn't Mum. "Roger?"
"Yeah, it's me. I told you I'd call you when I got home, didn't I?"

"But your shift hasn't ended yet?"

Roger
"But your shift hasn't ended yet?" Why the FUCK does he know my shift sched- oh. The opening and closing times are printed on the door. I can't tell him I got fired, though. "Oh, I got off early! There wasn't anything to do, and the other guy before me had done everything apparently. So I was let go early," I lied. I hope Brian couldn't tell I was bluffing over the phone, I'm a good liar anyway. "Oh, well that's good. Not as much work to do as homework, yeah? I assume you haven't started your homework yet?" "No, I just got home." "Ah, well I won't keep you any longer. Wait, before you hang up: what time do you head to school?" Why the hell does he want to know? So he can meet me there? "I leave the house at 7:45 or 7:50. Why do you ask?" Now I'm suspicious. "No reason, I'll see you tomorrow Roger." And with that he hung up. That's odd, but I guess there's a method to his madness.

I plopped down at the kitchen table and opened the book for primary school children, see if there's any useful information. I flipped through the pages, scribbling things down in my notebook because believe it or not, the book actually had some things slightly relevant to college math. After a while, I was finally done with the math part. I looked at the clock, and it read 10:30. Sheesh, I've been here for two hours reading this damn thing. I was so tired that i didn't even notice what in particular I was writing down, just tidbits of information and various equations. Eh, I've got time to do my biology, English, and medical homework.
Little by little, I finished each paper and assignment for biology. We've been studying cell structure and how blood cooperates with human bodies blah blah. For English, I had to read the rest of this book we have to do. It's quite boring, but I can't get my grade lower or I'll fail. By this time, I would've had coffee to stay awake, but my head in my hand will have to do. It's around 2 in the morn now, and I just have to do my medical homework before I go to sleep.

Just... just one.. one last.. senten-

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
ShnOrK

I snorted awake to hear someone lightly knocking on the door. Who the hell is knocking at this hour? I stagger to the door from the kitchen table and find that- BRIAN? "What're.. what you doin here? What time is it?" I can barely stand up straight, partially from exhaustion and partially from hunger. "Well, it's 7:45 now, and I was coming over to drive you to school. But seeing as you've just woken, I'll wait for you to be ready out here," Brian smiled. I can't believe that he'd come all the way over from his house which is around a 45 minute walk, same as school. Kind of lucky that I overslept, if we'd left right now we'd be 30 minutes early.
"No no, come inside, I won't be long." As Brian stepped in, he glanced around. Wait, Brian's HERE. Shit, he wasn't supposed to see my flat!

Did you fall asleep at the table last night?" I slap my cheek to wake myself up faster. "Technically I fell asleep three and a half hours ago." The older man tsk tsked. "That's not good for your back you know," he frowned but I could tell he was playing. "Okay, mum," I laughed. I went into my bedroom and as I was pulling on my jeans, I remembered that I hadn't even finished my medical homework. I have no idea what I'm telling my professor for that, but I'll make something up. I walked back into the kitchen/dining room to find Brian writing something on my homework. "What, why are you writing on my homework?" He stepped back and handed me the paper. "I finished it for you. You got the bone structure and nerve map labels mixed up." Indeed I had, and Brian's handwriting is so neat unlike mine. "Oh. Well, thanks! That was a big help, Bri," I smiled up at him.

"Well, we can head off now that you're as fresh as a daisy." "Fresh as a daisy that's been shit on more like," I grumbled whilst packing my things. I heard him laugh from a bit away. "Well, lets go then," He said holding my door for me. I'm liking him more by the day.