Sober |a.k.|

3

I stared at the tweet on my phone screen, feeling slightly bummed out.

"SAW A CUTE GIRL AT TARGET AND LIKE ANY NORMAL PERSON WOULD DO, INSTEAD OF INTRODUCING MYSELF I WENT HOME AND WROTE AN OBSESSIVE LOVE SONG ABOUT HER AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING I'VE LISTENED TO ON REPEAT FOR THE LAST 2 DAYS"

"No, Elijah's so wrong," I looked up at Maggie.

"Elijah's also closer to Awsten than you are."

"But listen, he said he saw her in Target and didn't introduce himself. We met the day before we went to Target. Elijah's wrong, that isn't about me."

She shrugged.

"You didn't even know he made music up until a couple days ago."

"What in God's name does that have to do with anything?"

"Whatever, point is, you need to stop being so negative," she said, putting her hands on my shoulders, "I get it. Lucas fucked you up. And your parent's situation doesn't help either. But I think you like him. And from the sounds of it, he likes you-"

"You don't know anything about him."

"I know, I know. But from what you tell me and how you talk about him, I think you guys like each other. Just let yourself fall."

I rolled my eyes internally.

"Thank you Mags, I'll definitely think on it."

•••

"Come on, come on," I said as I slowly walked back to the break room, waiting for the clock to turn 5. I looked down at my watch, the screen lighting up when I brought it to my face.

"56, 57," I said out loud, quickening my pace.

"Uh, miss?" A woman said.

Shit. I contemplated pretending I didn't hear her, but I know she'd just say it louder. And I'd probably feel like a garbage employee looking back.

"Yes?"

"The dressing room attendant isn't over there, is there a way you could help me out over there?"

"Sure," I said, hoping this wouldn't take longer than 10 minutes.

"Thank you so much," she replied, grabbing her pile of clothing.

"Is there a limit?"

"Uh, yeah, it's 6."

"Oh.."

"But I mean, my shift ended two minutes ago, so I don't really care," I laughed, "how many do you have?"

"9."

"Just take 'em all in," I said, unlocking a door.

"Oh, wow, thanks."

I stood outside the door for 15 minutes before the lady came back out.

"Thanks again," she said, smiling and walking away.

I looked down at my watch, watching the clock turn to 5:20 as I grabbed my coat.

"Dammit," I said, jogging out the door. I got over to my car and started on my way over to the apartment. I slunk down in my seat as I saw Awsten's car sitting in the parking lot.

"He said 6," I groaned, glancing at the clock that read 5:51.

I got out and walked over to the entrance. I ran up stairs to where Maggie and I lived, seeing the blonde boy standing outside the door.

"Oh, hey, you're early," I said nervously.

"Yeah, by 10 minutes," he laughed.

"Well, uh," I fumbled with the key, "give me like, 5 minutes to get changed and then we can go."