Five
After I graduated, I decided to put off college for a year. My mother was devastated. My father was amused. He used any chance he could to tell me that I would never leave his home. I was destined to be a waitress; he had said mockingly. I became the bigger person, ignoring him when he said things like this. I knew after Kaleb graduated; we were leaving.
A few months later, I experienced pain like I never imagined. I didn’t let it stop me. After the pain numbed, determination stepped in. When I had the funds, I left. He would never again hurt me in the ways he used to.
The world had a funny way of reminding us where we came from. I thanked the manager at the café and walked away, defeated. I couldn’t even get a job as a waitress now. That made three places on campus that were not hiring. My last stop was the bookstore.
I walked up the steps, peeking into the glass before I walked inside. The bookstore was the first door on the right. Three cash registers were lined up by the door. Beyond them school apparel and supplies took up most of the space, with rows of book centered at the back.
“Can I help you?”
I turned, finding a small girl with purple streaks through her blonde hair behind me. Her face was round, and a diamond gleamed brightly in her nose. She barely reached my shoulders, but something about her was intimidating.
“Uh yeah, I was wondering if the bookstore was hiring.” I asked, fumbling over my words. All my confidence had left since I had been rejected multiple times in one day. I knew one semester without a job wouldn’t hurt me, but the responsible part of me knew I needed to save every penny I could.
“Yeah, I just had a girl quit on me,” she said, grinning proudly.
My eyes widened. “Why did she quit?”
“Will you come to work on time?” she asked, dodging my question. I nodded in response.
“You won’t call in once a week? Can you handle teasing? We’re all friends here…”
I felt like a bobble head by the time she finished grilling me. She looked pleased as she folded her arms across her chest.
“I take it you’re a student here?” she asked.
“Freshman,” I said, and her face twisted to the side. “But I’m nineteen. I took a year off to work and save up money before I started. This isn’t my first job.”
She seemed pleased with my answer. “When can you start?”
“Don’t I need to fill something out?” I asked, confused.
“They’ll take my word. I hire everyone,” she said confidently.
“Didn’t the last girl just quit on you?” I looked at her strangely. I snapped my mouth shut, wishing I could bundle my words together and swallow them, sending them back where they came from.
“Touché. So, when can you start?” She laughed.
“Whenever you need me to,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.
“Come in Monday after class and bring me your schedule,” she said, walking over to me. She stuck out her hand and I took it, shaking once. “I’m Mandy.”
“Autumn.”
“See you Monday, Autumn,” she said, dismissing me.
When I walked from the building, I let out a sigh I didn’t know I was holding on to. The last hour of panic was for nothing. I finally had a source of income. I finished my first day and made new friends. Well, one is not my friend anymore obviously. Other than that, things were looking up.
There was something familiar about the shadow outside the dorm entrance. The sun was dipping down behind the building, and I kicked up my speed. Taking the steps by twos, I reached the door and almost went in before I was stopped.
“I’ve been wondering when you would get back.” That voice had a habit of chiming in whenever I didn’t want to hear it.
“Here I am. You can leave now,” I said, walking into the building. I left him behind without looking back. I would be lying if I said that didn’t satisfy me. The door opened and closed behind me. I rolled my eyes but didn’t stop walking.
“What did I do to deserve that?” he asked. I stopped at my door, determined to get rid of him before I went inside. I didn’t want a repeat of last night if his mood swings were more severe than a young child’s.
“Long day.”
“What are you doing this weekend?” he asked.
“Why are you talking to me?”
“About earlier,” he said, and I finally looked at him. I wished I hadn’t. His blue-gray eyes were full of sorrow. He was the first person here who was nice to me, and that alone made me want to cave.
“I’m not living through that again. You can be nice to me all the time, or just don’t bother,” I said. I spun on my heels and reached for the door. Liam gently took my hand, turning me. Despite my best efforts to control my reaction, I flinched. He looked as if I’d physically hurt him.
“What do you mean?” he asked, his eyes searching mine.
My brow furrowed, confused. I barely knew him. Why was he being so nice to me? I realized he was still holding my hand and shrugged him off.
“What are you not telling me?” he asked, determined.
“I’m not telling you anything, Liam. I barely know you,” I said with a laugh.
“Let’s change that. What are you doing this weekend?”
The door swung open. I stumbled, and a strong hand caught me. Josie looked between the two of us, smirking.
“What’s going on out here?” she asked as she crossed her arms.
Liam shoved his hands into his pockets, waiting for me to answer. When I didn’t, he leaned against the opposite wall,
