eight

I spend the next morning walking up and down the side streets of LA which is safe to say it's a bust.

there's no signs of pirate but ive run into too many stupid stray dogs, none of which answered to the name mattress.

I still have some time before I have my afternoon shift at 10,000 hours and im praying billie isn't there.

I am not looking forward to seeing her again.

ugh just thinking about her makes me wanna punch something.

or someone.

I throw away my slurpie cup in the trash and keep walking down the street, making my way the opposite way to where ive been walking.

across the street is a vintage clothing store with mannequins in the window which look older than I am.

when I step inside, theres a bell over the door which rings and is audible over the pop music playing over the speakers.

the shop is dimly lit with a musty scent, all of the clothes being tightly packed together because there's so much shit in here.

I scan my eyes over the store and realise there's only one person in the store other then me, sitting by the register at the back.

I spot a rail of black clothes near the counter.

bingo.

some of hem smell funky and have unusual stains on them and a few are way too ugly for my taste but there's dozens of options here to choose from.

halfway through the rack I find a vintage looking black leather jacket which looks like the perfect oversized fit.

on the way to the counter i find a beautiful looking belt which I pick up too.

I pay the girl at the register and while she's ringing me up, the bell over the door rings.

crap it's z.

"what's up mama" z smirks, lazily sliding up to the cash register, talking with the cashier while she collects my change.

I glance up at her face and she's got deep under eye bags, wide eyes and sunken in cheekbones.

somethings off.

ive never really looked at they look like they're sick.

"I told you not to bother me at work z" the cashier says to z.

"yeah well it's an emergency, I need you to help a brother out"

"not now" she spits, accidentally dropping the change onto the floor, silently cursing at herself.

z puts their hands on the counter and leans closer, watching as the cashier bends down to collect the change scattered on the floor.

"please man, I wouldn't ask if I wasn't desperate"

"I thought-"

z cuts her off with a heavy sigh. "I know I just need a little"

hello? do they know this conversation isn't private?

"it's just for today I promise"

"that's what you said last week" the cashier argues, finally handing me my change.

"come on baby"

the cashier runs her hands through her hair and sighs "ill make a call, it'll be a couple of hours"

I turn to leave but z turns to me, leaning against the counter with a smirk.

"hi there pretty girl"

I don't reply and I can feel her looking over me while I take the bag with my coat inside, shoving my change in my pocket.

I head down the narrow aisle towards the door because I wanna get out of here, like yesterday.

"watcha buy?" I feel a tug on my bag and whip my head around to see z reaching in my bag.

"old mans leather jacket? is this for your dad or your boyfriend?"

"neither" I snatch the jacket back out of their hand and give her a sarcastic smile.

"woah now pretty lady, im just making conversation. sage, right?"

"no"

"come on baby" z reaches to touch my hair but I flinch out of the way, wanting to get out of the door.

but im too quick and don't see or hear another person walking behind me until I turn and smack into their chest.

my cheek is slammed against a boob.

man what the fuck.

hands grip my forearms.

I look up and realise it's the last person I wanted to see today.

billie.

"what the hell do you think you're doing here?" she's not talking to me or directing her anger at me.

she's talking directly to the person behind me.

"who are you? my mom?" z rasps "relax dude, I was just saying hey to sage, unbunch your panties eilish"

um they're lying.

but the tension between the two of them makes me wanna keep my mouth sealed shut.

why is billie still holding onto me?

she seems to notice at the same time as I do and she lets go of me, holding her hands up in-front of me like im radioactive.

"and what are you doing here?" billie looks down to me, directing her focus to me and not z.

"buying a jacket" I smile, moving away from her.

why is she always up in my personal space?

"you should come to the party tonight" z says and I look up to see them looking directly at me.

I have no intention nor do I want to go to this party.

especially after what I overheard z say in the shop.

billie snorts fromt beside me and im feeling pretty awkward so I step backwards "I gotta get to work"

"ill come with you" billie says, her hair shining in the golden sunlight.

shit.

she's coming with me?

I need to find out when she's actually working so I can avoid her at all costs.

although knowing billie, she'll probably make sure to come in while im working.

she's looking at me kinda finny, stratching the back of her neck like she's hesitating to say something to me.

and now I remember the rose she left me and I think billie does too.

sure, it was a cute apology gesture but for all I know, she could've stolen it.

feeling uncomfortable to mumble a good-bye and turn to leave, avoiding all eye contact.

"see you later pretty girl" z calls out somewhere behind me.

let's hope not.

I notice billie heading in the same direction but she seems to be walking faster than me, despite her short legs.

im glad she didn't chose to walk with me because if anything, it would probably end up in another argument.

and if anything, I don't ever want to talk to her again.

well, if I can help it.

✪pirate is online!

blossom: what do you want to do when you get older?

pirate: you mean in life?

blossom:I mean college and when you get older I guess. I wanted to be a star growing up but I think id prefer to make stuff rather than putting it out myself if that makes sense. I don't want that kinda pressure

pirate: star? do you mean like movie star?

blossom: I wanted to be like hannah montana

pirate: LMAO WHAT

blossom: I WAS A KID

pirate: to answer your question, i don't know.

pirate: I wanted to be a dancer but things change

blossom: you can't dance?

pirate: no, not anymore

✪pirate is offline!