One Word | H.S.

Chapter Three

Encounter.

~

String cheese packets are flying through the air.

"You're telling me that you slept with a guy that looked like Chris Hemsworth and you ran out of there?" Mia loudly questions as she grabs various packaged items from my broken ass fridge, hurling them at me.

She has this quirk in which she throws everything in sight once she hears bad news.

"With no pants too" I murmur under my breath as I try to pick up the mess Mia is making.

"Jesus, stop throwing my precious food!" I exclaim as I dodge the various packaged deli meats and dairy products.

Throw a knife at me. Throw a tiger at me. Just don't throw my fucking string cheese.

When I told her I was dropping out of college, all of my shower items ended up on the living room floor as she screamed, "ALONE? YOU'RE LEAVING ME ALONE HERE?"

Later, we ended up hugging on the couch, watching re-runs of Parks and Recreation as she told me she would be there for me, no matter the circumstances.

Get you a friend who can do both, I guess.

"Why did you even drink that much?" Mia questions but I can hear the sense of worry in her voice. I have had a semi-drinking problem since I left college. I couldn't handle the voices in my head telling me how shit everything was but when I drank, they seemed to just go away.

"Lost my job, no biggie," I respond nonchalantly as if money doesn't control everything in this world. I know that this situation couldn't be worse since I wasn't even meeting ends with the current job I had. Auggie and I lived off fast food and off-brands.

Target? Never heard of her.

"Shit dude, you lost your job?" Mia's tone responds as she helps me pick up the crime scene that is now my living room.

Gee, thanks.

Mia worked at a publishing company. I had no doubt in my mind she was going to be a renowned editor one day. I was happy for her, truly, it was just hard seeing what could have been if I just stuck it out in college a little longer.

I told myself that thing's were too good to be true. I believed that whatever I did wasn't good enough. I believed myself that I would never have the success my parents expected to me to have and I convinced myself that no one truly wanted me around, I was just a chest piece used to get further in their game.

They enjoyed the company I gave, the unwavering loyalty, yet I never seemed to be good enough to keep them around.

"I worked at a shitty restaurant, I'm sure I can get a job at another one or something," I lightheartedly say as I finish putting away tonight's dinner in the fridge.

We have turkey? Nice.

Oh wait, it's fucking expired.

Damn.

"Pres, why are you acting like this isn't a big deal? Are you okay?" Mia quietly wonders as I turn to face her slowly after throwing away the meat that held so much potential. Mia always worried about me and my drinking.

"Dude, no, seriously. I am okay. A-okay, never been better," I lie through my teeth as I sit on my couch that is a few movie nights a way from collapsing.

Ah yes, the typical okay speech. When people ask if you're upset, you say you've never been better.

"I'm here for you, you know that right? You don't have to lie to me," Mia solemnly states as she joins me on the couch.