To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people only exist.
                        - Oscar Wilde

        After spending three days away from work, plus the weekend, going earlier than usual felt like the right thing to do. Albert had called the garage while I was in the hospital and obtained some sort of permission so I wasn't jobless yet. Janice was the only person there but she was caught up in some yoga shit so I deemed it best to not intrude and just go to the backroom.

Kazeem and Luke bounded in a good ten minutes later while I was cleaning off old oil that had been spilled on the floor.
"Travis?" Luke called while Kazeem was still talking, causing him to stop and stare at me with a slight smile.

"Nice of you to show up". He said
"Shut up man, he was sick". Luke came to my defense.
"Yeah, so said your pinky friend. Or were you just sick of us?"
"Cut it out K, jealousy looks horrible on you". I joked, earning myself a scowl.

"I really was sick. Your home girl, Monique fed me poison".
They both looked at me with wide eyes.
"For real?" Luke asked and when I nodded, they burst into a fit of laughter.
"Go on, let it all out".
"Dude. How did that even happen?"

Oh, I was just trying to make my sort of ex, jealous but don't worry, neither of them will be coming back.
"I don't know man. Look, I'll take double shifts for the next three days to make up for lost time". I proposed.
"No bro, don't do that. It's cool, consider it a sick leave".

It didn't seem fair because I wasn't sick for all the days I skipped out.
"Okay but I'm working a full day today".
Kazeem smiled.
"Only because you asked so nicely".

    They quickly got down to telling me about everything I had missed out on in the garage and all the parties they crushed during the weekend.
"Why the hell you two ain't in your work clothes?" Janice asked two hours later as she strolled into the work area.

"Hey Janice". Luke said flirtatiously but she ignored him.
"We were catching Travis up to speed, not like it's any of your business". Kazeem replied.
She took up her don't-mess-with-me stance and crossed her arms across her chest.

"The garage is my business and you get paid to work here so by the end of this speech, you better be back there changing if you don't want me to tell them about the stash of power puff girls under your bed".
Luke and I didn't bother to hold back our laughter as Kazeem stood there with a mortified look.

"You devil". He said to his sister.
"You are still here? You want me to tell them about the other thing?" She gave him an innocent smile.
"What other thing?" Luke asked but Kazeem was already hightailing it to the backroom.
"Sorry love. That'd cost you five bucks".

"The power puff story will do for now. Hey Kazeem!" He ran off to meet our humbled friend.
"You are the reason I came back here". She said to me.
"What's up?"
"A call came in for you on.. Wednesday. It was a lady, said her name was Pokello".

My eyes snapped to meet hers.
"What did she want?"
"To speak with you? I think that's why people call".
I rolled my eyes at her sarcasm.
"Don't take any more calls from her".
"Why not?"
"Just don't".
She nodded in understanding but her eyes held questions.

"Crazy ex?" I laughed
"The crazy part is accurate".
"Sounds interesting, tell me more". She crossed her arms again.
"It'll cost you five bucks".
"I guess I'll just ask her when next she calls". She tossed me a devilish smile and started walking out.

"Don't do that. Janice!" She added a little bounce to her steps.
"Fine, i'll get you that jean you wanted".
"Throw in a black tee would ya?" She said over her shoulder and I groaned. There was no way I was letting her speak with Pokello, they'd fall in love.

I should have known he'd flip my life around but I didn't expect Jake to rat out my location to my sister, he even told her where I worked. I had no idea why he and his nosy boyfriend felt they had the right to meddle in my affairs and I made a note to give them a piece of my mind if I ever ran into them again, which I hoped I wouldn't.

      I let myself get buried in work in the hopes of burying the annoyance brewing in me as well but when Kazeem tapped me hours later, I realized it was still there.
"Luke and I are checking out. You still doing the whole day?" He quirked a brow at me.

"Yeah". I huffed.
"What of construction?"
"Santa's making me take the week off".
"Damn man, I need to get food poisoning. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a chewed gum, throwing it into his mouth.

"That might happen sooner than you think".
"You meeting us later? Tommy is throwing this party". He said as Luke joined us.
"We hanging with Tommy now?" I didn't get it. How do you smile at a nigga that plays around with your sister?

"We ain't hanging with him, we just going to his party". He explained.
"That is gonna be sick. You coming bro, we've missed you". Luke backed.
"Except you'd rather hang with pretty boy and his arm candy". I could hear the threat in Kareem's voice, he wanted me to hear it. If you weren't with him, you were against.

"I'll meet you losers there after closing". I said because it's what I was supposed to do, what I had been doing for the past two years.
They both gave me approving grins before backing out. I sighed and returned to work, letting my brain shut off for a while.

I lost track of time and only noticed how late it had gotten when Janice began turning off the lights. I hurriedly got changed and met her out front where she was topping off her makeup.
"You going to the party?"

She stared at me with black lined eyes.
"My boyfriend's hosting. Of course I'm coming".
So we went together with her talking about adidas and how ridiculous it was that people would compare Eminem to Tupac.

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As per schedule... See you on Monday or earlier if I'm feeling kind😘