Angie packed her waitress uniform and shoved it inside her backpack. Thank God she had a short shift today, because she was so tired. She'd stayed up the previous night to study for her latest biology test. The results weren't in yet, but if she didn't get at least an A on it, there was no way she could make up for two low grades.

Sometimes, she wondered what it would be like to not stress about test scores all the time. She quickly snuffed the thought because it was damn depressing. Things could've been much worse. She could still be living with Tiana, pimp extraordinaire. Kay's place was much better. Even if a little noisy. She could hear Kay screaming at someone. Probably Danny.

Angie sighed and made her way into the hall. The screaming became much clearer.

"I have a good mind to tell your parents," Danny yelled.

"I don't give a flying fuck! Maybe that way they'll believe me when I say I won't get over Kyle," Kay yelled back.

"You shouldn't be saying his name," Danny growled. "You know you're not allowed."

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm in love with Kyle Grant!" Kay said, her voice even louder. "Sound familiar, Danny?"

"Shut up," he said quietly. "Shut your damn mouth, now."

"Make me. But if you touch me, you'll regret it."

Angie pushed the door to Kay's room open. There was no way in hell she was letting Danny lay one finger on Kay. Though Kay would probably break his finger or any other limb he used to touch her. Danny and Kay both turned to her. He looked like an overripe turnip, but she had a mocking smile on her face, as if she took savage pleasure from the fight. It was a little scary.

"I'm heading out," Angie said causally. "Would you like to join me, Kay?"

Kay tilted her head as though trying to figure out the catch, then finally nodded and headed for the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Danny asked.

"Fuck off, Danny," Kay answered and started down the stairs.

Angie didn't know if she should say something to Danny or not, so she hurried after Kay. Over the past weeks, she'd grown to really dislike Danny. He was acting as if Kay was his property, hitting on her out of the blue, obviously oblivious to the meaning of the word no. No wonder Kay was screaming and cursing at him every chance she got. Namely when her parents weren't home. Because Danny was like their baby, the son they never had. And he was so sweet and attentive towards them. But Angie could see through his bullshit. She could also see that this boy had nothing in common with the Danny she knew. That guy had been funny, intelligent, with potential. In Kay's words, the drugs had probably fried his brain.

They walked in silence to the bus stop and waited to get into town. Kay's jaw was clenched tightly and Angie guessed she was holding back tears. No matter how brave she played it in front of Danny, saying Kyle's name had obviously taken its toll on her.

Angie wasn't sure how to feel about this Kyle either. Kay obviously loved him to bits, but if he returned her feelings, why wasn't he here? Why didn't he try to get her out of this hell hole? Kay didn't talk about him much, and Angie wouldn't push, afraid to open old wounds. But maybe Kay should try moving on. It's been months already and she wasn't getting better.

"Where are we going?" Kay asked when they got off the bus.

"I actually have to get to work. I just wanted to get you away from Danny."

Kay nodded and followed Angie into the diner. She headed to the back to put on her uniform while Kay found a table to settle down. When Angie came back out, she found Kay at the counter, talking to her boss, Earl. He seemed thrilled for some reason and kept nodding and making googly eyes.

"Hey, guess what?" Kay said, the moment she spotted Angie. "I got a job here as well."

"Really?" Angie asked warily. "Why?" Kay didn't need it. She had everything already.

"I need cash, too, you know. And I'll be spending a lot more time with you." Kay grinned and Angie could read between the lines with ease. Money to get back to Kyle. Time away from Danny.

"Great then."

That night, after Angie's shift was over, they decided to go celebrate. So they headed back to their favorite ask-no-questions club to dance in the honor of new plans and much more optimistic friends.

But even though she agreed that it was time for celebration, Angie was dead tired. She still had some studying to do and sleep to catch up on. But seeing as she no longer had to fall asleep to the sound of Tiana's fake orgasms, she could spare a few hours and have fun with Kay.

Her friend was much better off. This time, the music didn't seem to bother her and she kept smiling while she twisted and turned. Angie watched her carefully, stealing some dance moves for herself, even if it was hard to see properly under the strobe lights.

"I'm going to the bathroom," Kay yelled over the music.

"I'll be right here," Angie assured her and continued dancing. The heat, the lights and her exhaustion made her head spin, but not necessarily in an unpleasant way. And maybe she could just enjoy a fun evening and not worry so much.

She could even get a drink. Heck, she'd gotten a big tip today and could actually afford it. So she headed for the bar to grab a soda. The place probably would've sold her alcohol without asking, but she wasn't even tempted. It would probably floor her anyway and then Kay would have to drag her home.

"Can I get you a drink, beautiful?" some sloshed guy yelled in her ear the moment she reached the bar. He was tall and lanky, wore shorts and a checkered shirt and reeked of liquor.

"Ugh, no thanks, I'm fine." Angie took a step to the side to put some distance between them and signaled for the barman.

"You sure? I can actually buy alcohol."

She turned to him and gave him the stink eye. "Then you'd better stay away from me since I'm sixteen."

It seemed to work, because the guy raised both hands in surrender and turned in the other direction to yell at some blonde. Rolling her eyes, Angie got her drink and hurried back to her spot to wait for Kay. While she sipped her drink, two more guys approached her and tried to start a conversation.

"I'm waiting for my friend," she answered, trying not to sound as annoyed as she felt. They only came to her because she was alone, an easy target.

"Perfect, we can make it a double date," one of the guys yelled.

"Yeah, I don't think so." She had to get out of there. So she whipped around and headed for the bathroom to wait for Kay there.

Except she wasn't there. Not waiting in the huge line, not inside. Panicking slightly, Angie returned to the club, back to where Kay had left her. What if she'd come out while Angie got her drink? Shit. None of them had a phone. How were they supposed to find each other in this crowd?

Unless... Angie headed for the stairs that led to the DJ's station and climbed to the very top. She could see much better from up there so it was just a matter of time until she...

The door opened and hit her in the back. Her foot slipped off the step and her whole body tilted dangerously. Before she could topple down the stairs, someone took her hand and pulled her back. She bumped into someone's chest.

Angie looked up at the DJ. He still had the sunglasses on and it annoyed her to no end. She pulled away from him.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. You didn't have to grab me."

His eyebrows rose over the line of his sunglasses. "I'm sorry. I'll let you break your neck next time."

Angie could see her hostile expression reflected in the blue lenses of his glasses. She sighed and looked away. It wasn't his fault she'd had idiots coming on to her all night. He was just trying to help. "Look, I'm sorry. Just having an off day."

"Want me to change the music again?" he asked, pointing with his thumb over his shoulder towards the door of the station.

"No. I actually lost my friend and none of us have a phone." Angie expected him to look skeptical at this piece of information because who the hell didn't have a phone these days, but he just kept looking at her, probably, since she couldn't really tell.

"Okay, what does she look like? I'll help you find her."

"Um, she's tall and blonde. But not platinum, golden. And she's wearing black jeans and a crimson top..."

"Unless she's wearing a giant sandwich costume, I don't think it matters, because you won't see it from afar, not with these lights," he said, rising on the tips of his toes to get a better look at the crowd.

He had a point. Angie threw him a sideway glance. He wore faded blue jeans, cut up at the knees, flat sole sneakers and a grey t-shirt with the inscription Kill your Darlings and a picture of Wendy's family from the Disney Peter Pan cartoon with their eyes crossed out. She couldn't hold in a chuckle.

"What?" he asked, not turning to her. If he was looking at her, she couldn't tell.

"Your t-shirt is funny."

"Thanks." He kept scanning the crowd.

"Can you actually see anything inside with those sunglasses on?"

He turned to her this time. "I'm used to it." When she hesitated, he sighed. "Go ahead, ask, get it out of your system."

"Why do you wear them inside? Because you don't seem like the typical douche who does it because it's cool."

He laughed and Angie grinned, too. His laugh was beautiful and oddly infectious. "Thanks. No, I have photosensitive epilepsy."

Her mouth fell open for the second it took her to process the bullshit. "No, you don't. With these strobe lights, you'd be seizing all over the place, glasses or not."

For a moment, he just stared at her, his forehead scrunched in concentration. "You know someone with epilepsy?"

"Um, no."

"Wow, that means you're actually smart. Good to know." He returned to scanning the crowd.

His words brought her no pleasure. Just a crippling sense of guilt. She shouldn't be here right now, searching a giant crowd for Kay. "I should be home splicing chromosomes," she whispered.

"Huh?" He turned to her, looking utterly shocked this time. "Splicing chromosomes?"

"How did you even hear me? But yes, I'm having a bit of trouble with biology lately and I should be home catching up on that rather than looking for Kay in this mess."

"That sounds heavy." He pointed at the bar. "Only tall goldie I see, so it might be your Kay."

Angie looked over and let out a relieved sigh. "Yup, that's her. Thanks so much."

He looked at her, biting his lower lip. "If you want some help with biology, come to Cafe Hoff Thursday at four."

She turned to him, shocked. He was practically a stranger. Why would he offer to help? "Thanks," was all she could say.

"Bye, Angie." And he opened the door to get back to his job.

The moment he said her name, she realized she still remembered his. "Bye, Tom." And, still dazed, she made her way to Kay.

🔱🔱🔱

Tom and Angie meet again. And this time, there's a chance they'll meet more often.

I'm wondering if you're detecting a bit of paranoia coming from Angie? What do you think about her?

Also, I think some people might be enjoying the Danny abuse 😇.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to vote and comment. I live off snarky comments.