Story: For What It's Worth (chapter 5)

Authors: keilanch

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Chapter 5

Title: Part five: Perrie

[Author's notes: Back to Perrie! Read and review, of course! Keep me happy and inspired.]

 

Part Five: Perrie

 


A tired groan comes out of me before I’m able to suppress it as I finally close the hardbound cover of the Calculus book in front of me and call it a night. I’m barely aware of what time it is, but I’m not worried because I’ve done this a lot of times already. I’m the only one in the diner right now and I’m assuming it’s around eleven pm because I’m pretty sure it’s been hours since I’ve closed the place off for the night. My apartment is only a few walks away so there’s no reason for worry, and right now, I have more reason to worry about what will happen tomorrow rather than what’s happening tonight.

Okay, well maybe I’m freaking out again. Maybe, like my friends say all the time, I’m blowing this whole thing out of proportion again. But see? I can’t help it.

I’m a sucker for studies. What can I say?

And the Calculus midterms exam is tomorrow for Pete’s sake!

I look at the obscenely thick book I’ve just been poring over the past few hours. Well actually, I’ve been studying for the past few days, sneaking in a few problem solving here and there when I have the spare time or when I’m not being bombarded with orders from regular and not so regular customers. My aunt wholeheartedly supports the way I care so much about college education and I love her for it.

Actually, I love her for everything she’s helped me with these past few years.

She owns the diner I work for actually, and I’ve been working here since I was still a freshman back in high school. It started out as a part-time thing every weekend just so I can save a few bucks for myself, and I ended up working for her every night when I realized that I finally had an idea what I wanted to save up for: my very own place.

I know I can never really afford to buy myself a house, not yet anyway, so I opted for the cozy apartment that I have now. I have enough saved up to pay for the rent for as long as I want, I guess, and right now, I’ve already paid enough for a full year.

I’m proud of my place. It’s not that big like a condo but it’s enough for me. I have my own bedroom (with the walk-in closet and my clean bathroom), my very own kitchen (which Claire absolutely adores and Lizzie bombards with her kind of food all the freaking time), and a decent enough living room. I have friends over almost all the time, but even when I’m the only one there, I don’t feel so alone. And the best part is that every time I step through the door into my apartment, I’m reminded that it’s all mine. That it all comes from the money I saved up from my hard work.

I can’t help the smile on my face as I clean up the papers strewn all over the counter, evidences of the nerd that I am. And probably always will be. Claire tells me to loosen up all the time, but I think I’m loose enough. I mean, I just care for my education a whole lot.

There’s a slight knock on the semi-tinted glass doors that I hear quite clearly given the silence of the place and I wonder who could be out there, knocking on the door of an establishment that’s obviously closed, at this late time of the night. I look up from packing away my things when I see the girl that was just on my mind a few moments ago.

Claire is standing outside the diner, looking bored but surprisingly not tired, and as I put the last of my things inside my messenger bag, I sling it over my shoulder and walk towards her. She smiles at me when I come out, and I turn to lock the door.

“I knew you’d still be here. I was at your place but no one’s there so I figured you’d be here.”

I look back at her after making sure I’ve closed the diner door, “I got caught up studying for the midterms.”

Claire laughs lightly, “You are such a nerd. Loosen up a little!”

I grin at the words she spoke out, the same sentiment I had been thinking about. Claire is just adorable, she doesn’t even know it.

“So you say all the time, Claire.”

“It’s just the plain truth, my friend. You are one hell of a nerd,” I feel her link her arm to mine as we walk together towards my beloved apartment. “I don’t get why you even have to study, really. You’re a genius! If I had your brains, I’d spend my time having fun.”

I speak without thinking, “Studying is fun,” and from the way we just stopped and Claire looks at me as if I’ve grown some kind of monster on my head, I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t have done that.

Claire shakes her, with a teasing smile on her face. “Nerd.”

“Well, what’s your definition of fun?”

“You know better than ask me that, Perrie. What’s more fun than parties, parties, and more parties?”

Right. Of course, I knew that.

“Oh, and a little dating on the side doesn’t hurt too,” she smirks.

Yup. That too. This is Claire I’m talking to anyway. Probably one of the hottest girls in the planet. At least one of the hottest girls I’ve ever had the chance of meeting.

She gently squeezes the arm she’s holding – mine – as she turns to look at me with one of those sly smiles of her. The kind only she can pull off, and the kind she’s been known for since forever (and forever goes a long way back, really).

“Speaking of dating,” and there goes that smile again, “anyone caught your eye?”

Is she actually asking me this? Tonight?

“Are you asking me if I… like someone?”

She shrugs but pointedly looks at me with that freaking smile. God, this girl can manipulate her way into anything.

I bite the inside of my lip, “I’m swamped with school stuff. Really Claire, do you think I have time for that?” I didn’t want to sound defensive, but I’m pretty sure I just did, because she’s not smiling anymore. She looks serious and contemplative and I don’t know how to stop these damn loud drum beats from somewhere inside.

Shit.

“Perrie…”

“I’m not like you, Claire. I don’t treat dating like it’s some kind of game. Or pastime,” we stop in front of my apartment building and I give her an equally serious gaze. “You know me. When I fall,” I sigh, “I fall.”

“I do know you. And I’m just – I don’t know – I’m just concerned.” We’re walking again; actually, we’re climbing the stairs to where my apartment’s at. “That’s why I came over. We haven’t talked in a while. I just thought we could catch up.”

She shrugs but I know there’s more behind what she’s saying. I may be dense and oblivious most of the time, but there are moments when I become aware of people keeping things from me. And this time, I’m sure there’s something Claire isn’t saying.

Something I don’t want her to say. Because I think I know what it’s about.

I open the door to my room and we walk in. She walks past me to the couch as I fumble for the light switch. When the place finally becomes illuminated, I see her settling on the couch, making herself comfortable.

I drop my bag beside the couch and walk towards the kitchen. “You just miss hanging out with me,” I say, looking back at her.

“Yeah, and I felt like having a spontaneous sleepover. Of course here, in your spiffy bachelorette pad that I feel like I haven’t been to in a long time.”

I take a swig off the water bottle that are now in my hands and turn back to her. “Well, Lizzie’s been hogging the place a lot lately.”

And then I realize I just said the worst thing when Claire quips back, “And she’s been hogging you too.”

Oh shit damn. What?

“What?”

“Your time. I meant, your time,” Claire stands up, approaches me, and I swallow. Only, there’s no water in my mouth left to swallow. “Or are there other things she’s been hogging that I don’t know of?”

I don’t look at her so she proceeds to rummage through the fridge. “I don’t know what you’re saying, Claire.”

Because really, I don’t. I mean, I shouldn’t.

Only, I think I do.

Sort of.

I know she just closed the fridge even though I’m still not looking at her. And I can feel her stare at me, gauge me maybe, but I refuse to look her way.

“Whatever,” she sighs, but I’m sure it’s not the defeated kind. It’s the kind that’s an indication of more to come. Only not now.

A familiar ring tone cuts through the air and I’m relieved for the distraction that will hopefully end the conversation Claire and I have been having. Don’t get me wrong. I always love talking to Claire, but I just don’t like where this is going right now.

I hurriedly walk to where my bag is, and I retrieve the phone inside. When I look at the caller ID, I feel that slight something in my stomach. I flip the phone open and answer the call, “Hey.”

“I knew you’d still be up. Stop studying and go to sleep!” comes the voice from the other line.

“I am done studying.” I smile a little, and I can feel Claire’s eyes on me again.

“Well, then go to sleep now.”

“Didn’t you ever consider the possibility that I’d already be asleep?”

There was a light chuckle, and I bite the inside of my lip to keep from smiling a tad wider. “Frankly, no. You don’t sound sleepy though.”

“That’s because I wasn’t sleeping.”

“See? What were you doing up when you’re already done studying?”

“Talking to Claire.”

“Oh,” a slight pause, “She’s there?”

“Yeah.”

“Tell her I said hi.”

This time, I finally look at Claire, who is still – guess what? – looking at me. “Lizzie says hi.”

One of Claire’s eyebrows rises up a little and I have to break contact. Good thing it’s the moment Lizzie speaks again.

“Now, go to sleep, Perrie. I mean it.”

“I will, I will.”

“Stop being such a study freak and get some rest, ‘kay?”

“Yes, mom.”

There’s a very audible giggle from the other line and then a, “Good night, Per.”

“G’night, Liz.”

“Sweet dreams.” And then she hangs up.

“That was Lizzie, huh?” Claire’s in front of me now, and the look on her eyes are a mixture of amusement and condescension. “Does she make it a point to call you to sleep every night?”

“She does it sometimes, Claire.”

Claire scoffs. She scoffs and then pokes my nose.

“Where’s your spare toothbrush?” And then she’s walking away.

Shit damn.

(Tbc)

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