Catching Stars

Madison

"Just a few more strokes," Madi gently glided the paint across the canvas and stared at her work.

It was a good piece, great even, but her mind was elsewhere. She was thinking about her boyfriend, Matthew. Why hadn't he texted her? She sent him a few messages about 4 hours ago, and he still hadn't responded.

"Hm, looks good." Katie, her older sister by 13 years, commented as she stood behind her.

When Madi's parents died, Katie was already nineteen years old. They had Katie when they were teens and still managed to raise her and give her a good life. After the accident, she took Madison in and tried to make her life as good as possible.

"You think so? I feel like it's missing something." Madi sighed, and Katie rolled her eyes.

"You say that about all your pieces, Madi. You're an artist. You have talent."

"If I have 'talent', why can't I go to art school then?" She questioned, and Katie released a frustrated sighed.

"Madison, we talked about this. We simply don't have the money."

"Oh, I don't know, maybe you could just take a loan or something," She stated flatly.

"You know we can't do that."

"Oh right, because taking a loan to pay off your boyfriend's car was much more important, right?"

"Madi, please, I'm not in the mood for this. I have to get to work now." Katie kissed Madi's forehead and grabbed her coat.

"You know, working two jobs is hard, Madison. I'm trying my best. The least you could do is go easy on me. Be thankful that I can still buy your art supplies for you," She looked at Madi one last time before she left.

'Whatever,' Madi thought.

She had a shift at Burger Bros in about half an hour.

Madi groaned at the thought of wearing that stupid uniform. She only did this job to help pay the rent since Katie still had to pay off that loan she took.

Katie and Nathaniel have been together since they were teens.  When he was having trouble paying off his car, Katie took a loan and helped him out. How could she do that when they were struggling?

Madi often thought about that.

They've been together for so long, and he hasn't popped the question yet. Katie is also afraid of marriage or, rather, commitment. Every time Madi brought up the topic, she brushed her off.

Madi changed into that tacky brown and white outfit and made my way out of our neat little apartment. Making sure that the door was securely locked, she walked to her job. It was a fifteen minutes walk anyway, so it didn't make sense to take a cab.

"Ah! Right on time, Madison. We're having a dinner rush. We will need you to work an extra shift since Alicia called in sick," The manager, Darrell stated. Darrell was in his mid-thirties and held onto this job as if it was his life support.

'If you ask me, he was a little too passionate about all of this,' Madi thought as she rolled her eyes.

"Sure, I guess I can work an extra shift."

She got to work immediately after texting Katie that she'd be home around 11. It really didn't matter that she did. Katie would be home around 12 or maybe even later.

Madi always texted her. It makes her feel good knowing where I was.

"This is awful. My legs hurt," Madi's best friend, Samantha, groaned. Her chocolate brown orbs reflected how tired she felt. Her short blonde hair was neatly tucked under a cap, seeing as Darrell thought that pink highlights were unprofessional.