close as strangers | calum hood

eight

Jaden

The warm Australian breeze rippled through my hair. I was walking to work, feeling warm as I was wearing my all-black barista uniform. Since art wasn't providing me with a stable career, I was working part-time until I could afford to find a place for myself.

The walk was short. The coffee shop I worked at was close to my house. The shop, Single Origin, was small but had a very homey feel to the environment. I loved it.

I walked into work, greeting my coworkers as I slipped into the back to clock in.

"Hey Jaden," Matthew, my co-worker, said from behind me,

"Hey," I smiled politely.

"Are you closing tonight?" He asked.

"Yeah. I'm done at 21." I said, confirming his question.

"Me too. Do you want a walk home, tonight?" He asked.

I shrugged, "No need, I live close." But really, it was because Matthew and I weren't close, and we weren't friends like that. I didn't want him to awkwardly walk me home.

"Okay, if you change your mind, let me know." He smiled and went back to the front of the house to continue work.

I wrapped my apron around my small frame before placing my bag on my hook. I proceeded out to the front of the establishment and began my work for the day.

-

Night fell upon us and soon enough, I was closing up shop. Matthew was wiping down tables and I locked the doors and flipped the Welcome sign to say Sorry, come again!

"Busy day." Matthew sighed in exhaustion.

"I know, but we're done now!" I said happily as I proceeded to wash the remaining dishes in the sink.

"You sure you don't want that walk home, by the way?" Matthew asked.

I bit my lip and looked outside. This wasn't my first closing shift, and I had always walked home alone. But that's not saying I ever felt safe doing so.

I turned and looked at Matthew, who was still longing for an answer. "Yeah, maybe I'll take you up on that offer."

He beamed at me, "Great!"

So we finished our closing chores. Matthew took out the garbage as the last of our tasks, and we washed ourselves up before clocking out. I put on the extra light sweater I had brought with me, swung my bag across my shoulders, and followed Matthew. He set the alarm before we left and locked up shop.

"So," Matthew said as we began our journey to my house. "What's new?"

I shrugged, "Nothing really. Still looking for an art gig."

Matthew and a few of my co-workers knew that I was a struggling artist. They had all previously tried getting my art into galleries or auctions, but even with all the help, I didn't succeed.

"Don't give up, Jaden. Your work is amazing." He commented.

I smiled at his compliment, "Thank you. Even though I'm struggling now, I know that my work will get me somewhere. I'm very proud of it."

"As you should be."

"So, what's new with you?" I asked.

"Same as you, nothing. I'm 25 and my mum is yelling at me to get a girlfriend." He groaned.

I giggled at his reaction, "Oh man, I feel you."

"Yeah, except I'm gay."

His comment caused both of us to roar with laughter.

"She seems to forget quite often," Matthew says through his contente tears.

"Maybe every week you have to keep coming out to her." I said, which only made our laughing grow louder.

After we got over our jokes, Matthew asked "Do you have eyes for anyone?"

"I do. But our relationship is very love-hate." I frowned.

"I hope soon enough, he figures out how great of a girl you are, and then your relationship won't be very love-hate." He said in a sad voice.

"I hope." I shrug.

Matthew and I both stop in front of my house, and I look up at the boy. "Thank you for walking me home."

"Anytime. I hope we close together soon." He smiles at me.

I return his smile and dive in for the hug, wrapping my arms around his torso. Matthew shared my hug for a brief moment before pulling away.

"Take care, Jaden." He waved and began walking off into the night.

"Stay safe!" I called before I disappeared inside my house.

I wouldn't consider my co-workers friends, but they were the closest things I had to friends. Speaking of, Milo ran up to me, wagging his tail as I entered the house.

"Hi baby." I giggled as I kneeled in front of him. Milo jumped onto me and began licking my face.

"I know, I missed you, too." I sighed. I stood and removed my shoes before heading to the kitchen for dinner. As I was heating up some left over mac 'n' cheese from my mum, I felt a vibration from my pocket. I took my phone out and unlocked it, seeing a notification in my texts.

cal: you got home safe.

I furrowed my eyebrows at his statement.

jade: yes, i did.

Almost immediately, he texted back.

cal: was that your boyfriend?

The beeping of the microwave caught my attention. I grabbed a fork from the cutlery drawer and took the bowl of mac 'n' cheese out of the microwave. I made myself comfortable at the dining table before responding to Calum.

jade: none of your business.

I replied bitterly as I ate my delicious mac 'n' cheese. Mum makes it so good.

cal: so that was your boyfriend.

jade: no, i'm single

cal: so you're single

jade: either way, it's none of your business.

After a few minutes with no reply, I clicked my phone off and began eating my dinner in silence. The vibration of my phone on the table startled me, and I grabbed my phone to continue the conversation with Calum.

cal: i believe it is, since i'm a male who's interested in a female and i just want to know if she's available.

jade: you don't get to act all buddy with me after you broke a promise that meant the world to me.

I frowned at my screen. It made me feel nice that he wanted me the way I wanted him. After all this time, he still wanted me. However, all the years of ignoring me, and lacking in our friendship was still burning a fire inside me.

cal: i didn't mean to. that promise was important to me too.

jade: if it was, then you would've kept it.

cal: it's not that simple, jaden. my life is not that simple.

jade: have you bothered to ask how mine was? i'm so stressed out with how my life has been going, and for years i lived with the emotional pain of losing all four of my best friends.

cal: the famous life is sweet, but it just comes with so many variables that i just didn't think of. i'm sorry if i disappointed you, but it wasn't my intention.

jade: you didn't disappoint me. you broke my heart.

[read at 21:54]

Of course he had no response.