I OWN NOTHING!
Is it really ONLY 11:56 right now!?
I'm sitting in my cubical working for some company that at this point I wish I never even heard of. Ok deep breath, what does Poppy always say? Try to find the bright side…Well, I've got three hours down…Now only seven more to go. This is going to be a long day.
Ok so by my calculations, if I work through lunch and my 3:00 brake then I might, MIGHT be able to leave at 4:30 on the dot. Then if traffic is just as horrible as normal I could be inside our apartment by 4:51, just nine minutes before Poppy get home. I could surprise her for once and then we can spend the rest of the day curled up on the couch. I just need to get all this work done. If I'm lucky this might be one of those few days that my "Cubical Neighbor" doesn't try to start a "friendly conversation".
"HEY BRANCH!" speak of the Devil, and the Devil shall appear. I grit my teach and keep typing, no way is this guy going to stop me from leaving this hell hole as soon as I can and back to my living candy gram of a girlfriend "What do you want Mike?" He chuckles and pushes his wheelie chair out some more so that he's as close to me as he can be without actually being in my cubical "Oh cheer up, me and some guys were just planning on going down to Hooters for lunch, what do you think?" I decide to ignore him and pray that he goes away. Mike throws his head back and groans "Oh come on man, you need to relax a little. Some babes and beer won't kill you, you know." He's chuckling and I'm trying not to get sent to HR. Guess ignoring him like I have 17 times in the past no longer works. "No think you Mike, I have work that I need to get done. Go enjoy your booze and wings without me." And with someone who cares. Shit, which screen am I on…ok good, just missed a few customer complaints. He FINALLY lets out a sigh of defeat. "Fine, you win. Keep typing away while we have some fun, later" And with that he moves he's chair back and leaves with his group. Thank Cybil, I can now actually focus on what I'm doing. Though, I know he has something planned for 3:00, I just fucking now it.
2:55 and SOMEHOW, I've had no interruptions and I'm actually a little ahead of where I thought I'd be by this point. it's almost 3:00 though, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried about whatever Mike was planning. Ok, Branch stop. Just focus on your goal and the bright side. The Goal: Get home and away from this place as soon as possible. The Brightside: If I keep this pace up then I may be able to be in my apartment door 4:40. That gives me time to do…something before Poppy gets home from her last leadership class of the day. Besides, you're probably just being paranoid aga-
"HEY BRANCH!" I fucking knew it. It's not Mike though, nope its some girl that's around college age like Mike, Poppy, and Me. I think her name is Jessica, I've seen her around the office only a few times since I started working here a month ago. Without moving my eyes away from the computer screen, I answer with my regular frown. "I'm busy" I don't have time for random conversation. She giggles, I ignore it, She shifts her shirt, and I start to fear for my very life if she's trying to do what I hope she's not trying to do. She fake coughs and moves her arm over the cubical divider. "Sooo, I was wondering…well, Mike mentioned that you were looking to blow off some steam, and its 3:00...It's my break time." I just continue typing and I start praying to Cybil that she goes away. *Cough* "He might have mentioned that it's your break time too, so…I was thinking…" She touches my shoulder and I have to physically stop myself from actually growling at her. Fuck Mike. Actually yeah, if you want to do anyone do him, not me.
I look up at her still scowling and catch a glimpse of Mike peaking over at us from his hiding place in the back of the office, he gives me a thumbs up and my hatred for that man grows. I turn my eyes to Jessica, who's making a face that I guess is supposed to be seductive. Slowly, so she can understand every word I'm saying I tell her "No thank you, I am in a Committed relationship and I have been for many years. Please tell Mike to fuck himself because I am not his friend and I am not looking to "Blow off Steam" no matter what or how much he insists." Her face pales and she removes her hand as if I was suddenly made of lava. She rapidly apologies saying that she had no idea and almost trips before taking off back to where Mike was waiting. I move back to my computer screen (again) and allow a small grin to escape when Jessica's muffled shouting echo's through the office as she yells at Mike for embarrassing her by setting her up with a taken guy. Well, at least there's one good thing to come out of this.
4:32 and I am done! I quickly save everything, grab my stuff, and punch out. I have my committed relationship with a living glitter bomb to get home too. Traffic is just as horrible as always and when I push my apartment door open its exactly 4:53, YES! I made it. I press my back against the door and let out a exhausted, out of breath laugh before hiding in our bedroom. four minutes later, Poppy's keys jingle, and the door opens. I sneak out of my hiding place and make my way over to the kitchen, where Poppy's opening a cookie jar and humming some mindless pop song. As fast as I can I grab her waist, and turn her around. She lets out a short yelp before I start raining kisses onto her shocked face, she drops her cookie and after taking a deep breath from the heart attack I almost gave her she laughs. I welcome the smile that Pulls on my face. Three hours later we're snuggling on the couch, our stomachs full of Chinese food, and our arms full of eachother. I love being home.