*Seventeen*

March arrived and I got a job at a local vintage coffee/book shop, uber rides weren't free, and it was an eye opener when mom resigned as mom and, matt and I had no idea what to do

The place was pretty cool and low-key, - But that didn't mean that it didn't get really busy from time to time.

Admittedly it was a lot of work on my side, as I was trying to pull the weight of the three barista's that left last spring, Which often led to; me forgetting some orders, and mixing up the rest.

It technically wasn't my fault, as I was able, but not a miracle worker like Jesus.

The café was still hiring, but no one had come in since those kids left, and I was the first person to step foot in there in search of a job. - So technically I was a 'god-send', which was why the manager cut me some slack and tried helping out wherever he could. Other than that it was a good distraction with everything else happening around me.

Amanda and I were hanging out less. - It just seemed easier that way.

Don't get me wrong, we still hanged out a lot, and spoke every day at school and all that, - it just felt like 'High school' was actually this supernatural force that drove change into many young lives, Which is why Amanda and I found our friendship the same but not quite the same especially with everything going on, - The saddest part of it all was that; Matt and I had begun drifting apart too.

Matt was probably my favourite person in the whole entire world- [apart from Amanda], so it had been heart-breaking when I realised that we were in-fact growing distant. - But not really knowing how to stop or fix it -

I imagined that being one of the many feelings mom and dad were feeling concerning their marriage.

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My shift was ending at the café Bella; I hurried and hung up my apron over the rail in the kitchen, slipping on my denim jacket.

It was Friday night, and I was thinking of popping around by Dave's place, I was in need of a drink and maybe a smoke.

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I got there a little past six, where I saw a few kids of my grade, sitting on the patio lounging like they grew up here and knew this place like a home.

I waved to them as I walked past, stepping over legs and red plastic cups.

Once in the kitchen, I pulled the fridge open.

I had been coming here enough to know that it was; either help yourself or stay thirsty for the rest of the night.

Taking out a bottle of beer, then popping the lid off, I took it to the lounge area.

I spotted Dave sitting on the couch talking to some guy that I had seen enough to know that he was named Ian, and was a senior.

I nodded my greetings, and took a seat

Dave gave me a sour look.

Nothing new

Ian was the one who actually looked up and voiced his greeting

''Em, right?''

I nodded, smiling lightly

On a normal occasion no one really noticed me or bothered pretending they did

I blamed this new trend, - where people acknowledged me, even if I didn't necessarily acknowledge them, Ian included – someone I'd never spoke to before) who suddenly had a newfound interest in me. I blamed this all on Finn

The girl sitting next to me looked up as if scanning me.

Deciding I wasn't all that interesting, she looked back down to her phone

Ian's eyes followed me until I took a sip of beer, it was unnerving

''What you guys talking about?'' I asked trying to shift the attention off from me, daring to sneak a glance at Dave.

''Nothing really'' Dave said shrugging

''Did you guys here about Stacey Opiero?'' the girl next to me said, looking at everyone else besides me.

Ian and Dave frowned in unison

''She was the one who got Mr Fletcher fired'' the girl began again, sounding pissed that they didn't seem to know this, as if it were vital information

''Oh yeah, I heard about that, that's some crazy shit man'' Dave said

And then Ian and him began talking about Mr Fletcher being fired, entirely ignoring the girl next to me.

The conversation didn't get really far after that.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Finn at the staircase landing, in nothing but boxers and a grey t-shirt.

He walked past, and all four pair of eyes shifted to watch him walk into the kitchen, his eyes dark, veiny and red, his hair a mess.

Exiting the kitchen soon enough, with a glass of orange juice, Finn sat down next to Ian , opposite me

He looked up for the first time, his tired eyes dancing around the room, playfully skimming everyone's.

''sup'' he said to Ian, in more of a statement than a ; 'what's up?'.

Ian didn't bother answering him

Finn seemed to notice me for the first time, giving me a different smile than he did to everyone else

Or maybe I had just imagined it

He shifted his weight on the sofa, disturbing the others who were sitting on the same side as him, then buried his hand under the couch cushion, pulling out a Ziploc bag filled with joints.

Everyone's eyes went wide as in a: 'I had no idea that was there, and if I had, I would've stolen it, and either have sold it, or gotten high as fuck'

So now every time they came over, they would check underneath that exact sofa, and maybe every other sofa, - only to find nothing, While Finn smirked to himself, because people were all the same.

This brought a smile to my lips, even tired and disoriented Finn WIndel always had a trick up his sleeve

He caught my smile, and I looked away quickly.

Too late

Finn offered everyone one, not because he wanted to, but because they were looking at it like a pack of starved wolves, Dave declined, but then Ian nudged him, urging him to 'not be so boring' so he took one

I took one

I pulled out my lighter, not missing a beat, offering it to rest of them

''Bloody hell'' the girl muttered next to me, catching everyone's attention

Looking up from her phone as she began

'' I need to get a job guys, my parents are fucking nuts, like; did I choose to be born? - I mean they should've thought this through, Taking on the responsibility of having a child is no joke, they should've worked out that when ; their daughter reached sixteen , she'd need way more than what she needed when she was 5, I mean they're my parents they supposed to be fucking providing for me''

You must be joking

''I hear you sister'' Ian said mocking her, the girl threw him with a cushion square in the face

''Why don't you try the Café downtown''

No way

When Finn spoke everyone's attention was on him, - it was kind of crazy

''What café?'' the girl asked slightly more interested than necessary

''Oh, the one that Em works at '' he said gesturing towards me

I nearly choked on my own spit

How did he know?

Finn carried on, unaware of my questioning glances thrown towards him.

Was he following me?

''Café Bella, - yeah they still hiring, you should drop bye, if you want''

Maybe it was just a coincidence, because people weren't so ashes about following other people, maybe he knew the manager or something

''Yeah, sounds great'' she said smiling at me then Finn.

The room was quiet for a while, totally oblivious to what seemed like a 'googly-eye-stare-off' featuring; the girl who needed a job, and Finn.

My mind was racking itself with different reasons for why Finn had just known what he knew, I wanted to ask him so badly, but I didn't want to interact with him in any way, as I was trying to sever all ties with him, and salvage the remains of my fragile reputation

Mom had told me many times growing up, to steer clear of all male species, that being associated with a boy messed up your image and that image/reputation followed you all through life

And I hadn't believed her at first, but I'd be an idiot to have ignored the signs she warned me of, when I had seen them come to life the moment people saw me step out of Finn's car

So I pretended it didn't bother me

Ian finally broke the ice, by slaying the elephant in the room

''So, are you going to Gresco Friday night? ''

Finn blew out the longest puff of smoke before he turned to Ian.

I didn't know a lot about Gresco, just about as much as the next Crescent Oaks high student knew, which was that; Gresco was some place where people raced and did all sketchy types of shit

No one really got caught, based on what I knew, unless the race passed through a main road. - Which was hardly ever?

Gresco was the place where typical posh kids lost their; 'birthday- present- from daddy -Mercedes ', and underage girls used it as an excuse to dress as skimpy as possible and still label it classy

Because apparently everyone had watched fast and furious

It wasn't really my scene, cars didn't really Interest me, like it clearly did for a lot of people

''Why?'' Finn finally answered disrupting my train of thoughts

''Just asking mate'' Ian said with a forced chuckle, and even I felt the sudden tension dancing around the room

Finn turned to Ian, his full gaze on him; I could see his eyes burning through Ian's skull

''A lot of people are betting on you'' Ian felt the need to add.

I sensed that, by the way he went beet red, he was one of the 'many' that bet a lot of money on Finn

''Cool'' Finn said barely taking note any longer

The girl next to me shifted, so that she could look at Finn

''I bet on you'' she said batting her eyelashes,

I swear I thought I almost saw her bite her lip

Finn looked at her amused

''Maybe'' he retorted sending her a wink

I couldn't help but smirk

I tilted the bottle lapping up the last bit of beer from my bottle, then got up to go throw the bottle in the trash

''I'll go if Em goes''

I stopped dead in my tracks

Did I hear correctly?

''Em what do you think?'' Finn asked, in a non-asking way

What was he doing?

Maybe this was his way of getting out; he knew I didn't do that type of stuff

And before I knew it I was agreeing to go to Gresco with Finn Windel