How to Love.

Chapter Five.

[Israel]

"-I don't know how to be nice without feeling fucked over in the end."

"What's up with you?" Lai questions me as I walk into the kitchen. "Nothing." I wave her off grabbing a Sprite as I walk back up to my room.

A few weeks had passed since that entire mall incident and I wasn't quite over it yet. I was still a little irritated, but I kept my composure.

Alex began to appear more than usual and I'd share short conversations with her as she made me feel like I was doing the most.

I just didn't know her so we didn't have anything to talk about, what's so hard to understand about that?

"Rae," Lai called out as I headed to the door. "I've got to go." I didn't bother to look back at her as I walked out of the door.

I had to work today, so that's where I was headed. I only worked a few blocks away from my house so I decided on walking, besides I could use the exercise.

The scent of brand new shoes hit my nose as I walked into my job at Footlocker. "Rae Rae!" Danny, my favorite coworker of five years, greeted me as I walked into the door.

"Yerrr!" I greet as he smiles responding with "Yerrr! Where the hell you been?" He walks over to me giving me a quick hug.

"I been busy, every time I'm scheduled you're never here." He nods his head walking back to the counter, allowing me to walk to the cash register and clock in.

"Yeah right—!" He hollers causing me to jump slightly, our eyes meet as he gives me a pleading look "My bad."

I exhale slowly sitting on the counter. "How's it today? Busy?" He shakes his head.

"Had about 19 people walk in and only 7 bought something." I nod my head picking up a pack of shoestrings.

—

The day went by slowly as I was ready to clock out, there were barely any customers today. That's because around this time of year the big ballers are out of town with their children for break.

Only time we're actually super busy is between November to around the end of May. That's when Christmas shopping is being done and tax returns are being delivered.

"Let's shoot," I suggest to Danny as he shrugs walking over to the basketball rims in the corner.

The two of us simply begin to shoot baskets for a few minutes before someone walks into the store.

"Welcome to Footlocker, let us know if you need anything." I turn around, and when our eyes meet a smile spreads across her face.

"I'll let you know." I shake my head, turning back to shoot the baskets. "You know her or something?" Danny questions as I nod my head with a slight shrug.

"Something like that." He eyes me for a moment.

"Y'all used to talk?"

"No—!" I almost shout, he looks surprised at my outburst.

I clear my throat looking back at Alex who was looking at some shoes.