Unnatural blue II A. KNIGHT

002

░▒▓█▓▒░ The day seems to go by far too quickly and, soon enough, Skylar is taking Ryan over to her friend and co-worker Christina's house for the hours of her shift. Skylar hates the times she ends up having to work evenings into nights but she knows it's not a permanent thing; she just has to keep this job until she gets into college and then she can leave Houston and, hopefully, never look back. Well, never look back besides for Christina. "Mommy, why can't I just go to work with you? Christy's house is boring," Ryan pouts from the backseat. "All she's got is TV and TV sucks and she doesn't ever tell me stories before bed!" "I thought you liked watching TV with Christy," Skylar responds, knowing he's just looking for an excuse to get to go to work with her. Ryan, though he loves to talk with anyone and everyone about anything and everything, doesn't much enjoy being away from his mother. "No," Ryan denies, shaking his head. "TV isn't fun." "Well, if you be good for Christy, I'll tell you two stories before bed tomorrow night," Skylar offers, "and if you're extra good we'll get pizza for dinner tomorrow." "I'll be so good," Ryan promises with a grin. "Can I stay awake 'til you're done with work?" "Sorry, honey, not happening," Skylar denies the request, "bed by eight thirty." ●☆●☆●☆●☆● "Skylar," Skylar's boss calls out, causing Skylar to stifle a groan. "I need you to close tonight." "I can't," Skylar tries to not be annoyed, "I told Christina I'd be picking up my son at one." "Well, now you'll be picking him up at three forty-five," Skylar's boss says with a shrug, "if you want to keep your job, that is." "Right," Skylar mumbles, "I'll be closing then." Skylar's shift feels like it goes on forever. From four pm to three forty-five am, she's stuck at the diner dealing with occasionally rude customers and some creeps. She closes up as quickly as possible, annoyed to have been stuck doing clean up and closing on her own. The drive to Christina's house is exhausting and Skylar almost falls asleep driving but manages to stay awake. "Dickface overworking you again," Christina concludes with a frown when Skylar shows up, gently pulling her inside and closing the door. "Y'know, I don't think he'd really fire you if you said no to staying late. He relies on you for way too much." "Yeah, he relies on me 'cause I agree to staying late when no one else will," Skylar reasons in exhaustion. "We can totally argue about this later but right now you need some sleep," Christina decides, not leaving room for argument. "Couch is already good to go. You're getting at least seven hours, preferably nine hours and you cannot fight me on that." "Trust me, I really do not want to fight on that. But I do have work at six tomorrow morning so that's not happening," Skylar doesn't hesitate to agree. "Night, Christy." "Night, Skylar." ●☆●☆●☆●☆● Sunday is uneventful, a ten-hour day shift starting at six am. She picks Ryan up after work and, as promised they get pizza for dinner. "Mommy," Ryan starts off thoughtfully, "d'you think magic people have jobs? Or do they get to stay home with their families all day? And do they have pizza? It'd be a real' sad life if they didn't have pizza. If we see the magic man again, I wanna ask him if they have pizza. Or jobs. D'you think we're gonna see the magic man again?" "I don't know, honey," Skylar answers as she parks the car and then goes around to the backseat to help Ryan out. "Can I carry the pizza? I won't drop it, I promise," Ryan requests, bouncing in excitement. "Hm, I think we can let that happen," Skylar agrees to it, "but you've gotta be careful. No magic man around to save our pizza if we drop it." "Protect the pizza at all costs!"