The next morning came way too early.
With a slight headache, I sat up and turned off the alarm clock.
A little aggressive, I pushed it aside. Before I could do anything, I had to gather for a few minutes.
So I sat on the edge of the bed and stared out the window.
A cold draft, which reached me through the open window, made me shiver slightly. So I took my soft bathrobe from the other side of the bed and put it around my shoulders.
Slowly but surely I got up.
With a last look out the window and a sigh, I left my bedroom.
I was just too tired to do anything at all. My lazy steps led me into the living room, from where I wanted to go backwards.
I stared at the mess. The plates with the noodle leftovers were still on the table, as well as several packages of pretzel sticks and sweets. Not to mention, of course, the four empty bottles of champagne ... I put my hands over my eyes.
If I did not have a headache, I would probably be totally out of it.
I began to stack the plates, but found that I had to decide between tidying and showers now - I was late.
I left everything lying, just like last night, and got under the hot shower.
"I don't want to work..", I repeated constantly.
I didn't even have time for a little make up and so I left the house, looking like a corpse, but there was nothing else left for me.
After all, I still had to pick up Riley from our meeting place.
I got into the elevator and waited for him to start moving. Just when he wanted to do that, someone else pressed the button on the outside.
Strangely, everything in me was hoping that the person was Arthur, but I was disappointed.
It was just Ms. Dumond with her daughter. She lived on the same floor as me.
"Good morning.", she said politely, smiling.
I thought I could hide that I was not a morning person, smiling back.
"Morning."
"Good morning.", came now from her daughter. I looked down at her and had to smile again.
I just wanted to go back to my bed ...
Only by luck and a little sprint I could still catch my bus, which to my delight was still overcrowded.
Now I stood there, sweaty, with too many people near me, tired at eight o'clock in the morning.
Now I could say with certainty that this Friday could not have been my day.
Arthur's POV
My heart beat higher, the closer I got to the Ha Ha Club. I was afraid. I didn't want to be beaten up again, like almost every day.
I didn't even know what I was doing wrong. Was it because of my costume, my face, or was I just born to be beaten and hated by everyone?
I didn' know it and I doubted that only one human could have explained it to me.
It wasn't just the punches ... The way my colleagues treated me hurt me deeply.
I tightened my grip on my checkered pocket to better control my thoughts.
In the last few days, I tried harder to suppress my laughter, even though it is harder for me than I would like to admit. Smoking is also a way to distract me a little. Only this morning, I had already smoked five cigarettes.
One saw it to me, my misfortune.
I didn't want to be sad anymore, or be considered an outsider, but I didn't know what to do to change anything.
I was just like me.
A freak.
Lila's POV
"I hope you feel as bad as I do.", was my greeting when I hugged Riley. She nodded. "I think we should have left the last two bottles."
I smiled. "You're right, are you ready for this great work day? No? Me neither."
I hooked up with her and together we walked in the direction of our Boutiqe.
"Do you already have something from your neighbor ... I keep forgetting his name ..", Riley began.
"Arthur."
I looked at her.
"Did you hear something from him?"
I shook my head.
"No, but I think I really go to him after work, I think people misjudge him, maybe he just needs a bit of company."
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