Different Lives
Don't own.
Alex woke up to the sound of yelling. Though the voices were angry and loud, they were muffled by her bedroom door.
"Ahh. Good fucking morning weekend." She muttered as she closed her hazel eyes again.
The sudden crash of a beer bottle breaking told her that it was time for her to get up, dressed, and out for work.
Stretching her arms, the painful memories of the night before came flooding back to her:
After getting out of school on Friday, she returned back to her apartment complex to drop off her backpack before going for a night out at the ravine with Jay. Walking down the hall to her apartment, the all too familiar stench of beer and cigarettes filled the air. Reaching the door, Alex heard the voices of her mother and deadbeat boyfriend, Chad. Opening the door slowly and quietly, she caught sight of Chad and her mom screaming at one another, both obviously wasted. Sneaking back to her small dark room, she dropped her bag on her bed and grabbed a black hoodie.
Opening her door, she immediately heard Chad yelling, "Give me my fuckin' money you shit! I own the money! I own this place! And I own you, you whore!"
Chad raised his fist, and hit her mother square in the nose. Emily fell back screaming and crying, and in a second Alex was on Chad's back. Growling in rage, Chad rammed Alex back into the counter. Pain seemed to erupt in Alex's ribs and she dropped to the ground. Before she could comprehend what had happened, Chad's rough grip found its way onto her shoulders. Pulling her up, he backhanded her in the face only to have her fall to the ground once again. Alex could feel her split lip bleeding profusely, and knew that she needed to get out of the apartment.
Seeming to know what Alex was thinking, Chad snarled, "You're not going any where you stupid cunt"
Chad wasted no time in kicking rapid, unyielding jabs to her body. Quickly turning into a fetal position, Alex waited for the kicks to stop. After a few moments, it stopped, and the only sounds were Chad's heavy breathing and Emily crying. Alex stayed in the same position until she heard Chad walk away and the door slam shut. Alex attempted to stand, only to have pain run through her body along with a feeling of light headedness. Dropping back to the ground with a thud, Alex dragged herself back to her bedroom.
Alex groaned, but stood up slowly nevertheless. She didn't get much sleep last night, and only wanted to get out of there. She heard the door slam, and decided it was safe to walk out. Weariness ran throughout her body at the sight before her. Her mother was laying on the couch unconscious, with empty beer bottles scattered about the floor. How had her life gotten this way? What had she done to deserve this much pain and responsibility? Quickly taking a shower and changing into her horrible work uniform, Alex moved as fast as her injuries would allow her to her old rundown jeep. Hopping in, she remembered that her day of work would be shared with none other than Paige Michalchuk
Walking into work, Alex saw Paige was already behind the counter waiting on a man. Glancing at the clock, Alex saw that it was 11:13. She was 13 minutes late, and she knew a lecture from bitch-from-hell-Merri.
Sliding behind the counter, she saw Paige give her a quick glare before returning her attention back to the man in front of her.
"Have a nice day" Paige said, a fake smile gracing her face.
As the man walked away Paige twirled around, "Late much? How have you not been fired yet?"
Looking down and shaking her head, Alex muttered, "Whatever"
Paige seemed to pick up on both Alex's attitude and appearance at the same time.
"What happened to you?" She asked with a hint of concern in her voice.
Alex noted the concern, but managed to keep the surprise suppressed. "Nothing. I'm fi-"
She was cut off mid-sentence as Merri appeared in front of the girls.
"Alex. Late again I see. What's your excuse this time?" She asked with a sneer.
Alex remained silent, and just waited for Merri to finish. She was too tired
"Whatever Nuñez. Just get to cleaning out the nacho cheese dispenser before I fire you." Merri said as she sauntered back to her fiery hell-hole.
As she disappeared, Paige asked again with hesitance, "Are you sure you're alright, hon?"
"I'm fine! What do you care anyway Princess? Why don't you just go back to having all those complicated thoughts that cheerleaders have" Alex snapped.
Hurt flickered across Paige's face before she shot back, "Oh wow. Brilliant comeback. Have you been practicing when you're not being arrested?"
"Just shutup, bitch."
"Whore"
"Snob"
"Ass"
"Catfight. Now if you two would just get naked and add a little mud, this would make a great video." Came a voice. Standing in front of the desk with a smirk on his face was Jay.
"Shutup slimeball" Paige spat with disgust.
"You look real hot in that uniform Paige. Does the rest of the school know that you have a job at the local theater?"
Alex interrupted before the fight could pursue, "What do you want Jay?"
"Oh, I was just wondering what happened last night Lexi. You were supposed to meet me at the ravine." Jay said as he gave his attention to Alex.
"Nothing happened. Just got busy." Alex said with a stern voice.
"Is what got you busy also what gave you the fat lip?" Jay asked staring at her lip.
"I just ran into a cabinet door. Now go fuck off."
"Aww. Is little Lexi upset? Hey, if you want to make it up to me, you could always come by and we-"
"Jay, I will not have sex with you. We are not going out. How many times do I have to tell you that?" Alex said, her glare piercing through Jay.
"Come on Lexi. We used to have such good times with each other. Plus, with me hanging around the apartment, Chad was always in a much better mood. So what do you say, eh?
"I say 'go screw yourself, because I sure as hell won't.'" Alex said as she turned around to the nacho cheese dispenser. Paige laughed.
"What the hell are you laughing at Queen Bitch?"
"Just a complete loser desperately searching for some attention. You're just trash. " Paige snapped back.
Before Jay had a chance to respond to Paige, Merri appeared once again, "Paige! We do not speak to customers that way." Turning her attention to Jay, she said, "I'm sorry sir. Please accept a free movie ticket and a free small order of popcorn".
Jay smirked. "Don't mind if I do. I just hope you can get your employees under control."
Alex quickly gave Jay his ticket and popcorn, along with a glare. "Have a nice day."
As Jay strolled away, Merri turned to Paige and Alex. "I don't know what your two's problem is, but pull yourself together if you want to keep this job. One more outbreak from either of you and you're fired."
With that, Alex and Paige were left alone. Tension and silence filled the air. Alex continued to clean the cheese dispenser, completely ignoring Paige.
Paige finally broke the silence with a loud, drawn out sigh.
Alex rolled her eyes. "What?"
"I just don't get why you would ever like suck a scumbag." Paige said motioning to where Jay had stood moments before.
"He can have his moments." Alex said. As an afterthought she muttered, "There's a lot of things you don't get about me."
"What?"
"I said, and I don't get why you would ever like Spinner." Alex said quickly.
"He's a lot better than that freak." Paige replied indignantly.
"According to who?"
"According to the world, hon"
Alex just rolled here eyes again, and turned to the next customer. The rest of the day was busy, and the two girls didn't talk to each other much. At the end of their shift, Paige and Alex were both about to head out when someone began to approach the counter. Looking up carelessly, Alex's eyes quickly widened with surprise…
TBC
Come on kids. Review.
-IAO