America was like a pit. It was deep and dark, even when the sun shines its brightest. Someone can spend the rest of their lives desperately scrapping up the walls, breaking their nails and making the dirt climb together with their blood and still go nowhere. People that work to the top did so with blood, sweat and tears whether any of those were theirs or not didn't matter. Being at the top mattered. Living, surviving, that's what mattered. Everyone imagines getting to the top. They see themselves crawling out of the hole with a grin, dirt caked on their face, and the sun kissing their skin as a reward. There was law in the pit, one simply can't do whatever they wish but that just made the game interesting. Not many win by playing fair, after all. Those that waited for heroes, those that had hope that reached beyond themselves, those were the people that always fell and fell the hardest of them all.
That's why Chiara never thought to bring up the tiredness in Alfred's expression during their talk. That's why she didn't question his decision to work the night shift of a fast food place instead of going to school. She understood there was no need for words on the matter. Clearly, her fantasy loving ex boyfriend fell to the bottom and was trying to dig his way up again. Chiara can simply get the details of his fall when it wasn't too awkward to be friendly.
But, really, she wouldn't be Chiara if she didn't bring up things that she shouldn't. Honestly, Alfred just makes it too easy to poke at things she has no business with. "You really grew up, huh? Getting a job, being responsible.." Chiara trailed off, waiting for him to finish the thought for her.
Alfred gained a mix of a grimace and a smile on his face. Working a costumer-less McDonald's with a dirty uniform and permanent bags under the eyes wasn't something to be proud of and he knew it. Hello, they made fun of people like this in high school. "And you never really changed have you? Still passive aggressively attacking everything that gets your attention, huh?"
Chiara sucked up her teeth for a moment then huffed. "Fine. Don't humor me. I was just trying to make conversation."
This time Alfred grinned. "Yeah, at my expense." He shook his head in amusement. "It was hard. After high school I tried to go to college but we just didn't have the money to send me anywhere. Mattie was able to go off though. Got a scholarship for his hockey playing. Or his good grades." He shrugged. "I can't remember which. Anyway, I got left behind."
"So you saw McShit and thought, 'Yes! Perfect place to get money fast!'" Chiara lightly jested, not even trying to hide the smirk on her pretty pink lips.
"Of course! Don't you know that all amazingly successful people work at McDonald's?" Alfred joked back. He grabbed a rag from under the counter he moved to in order to communicate to Chiara and begun to idly clean up. "It was the only place that still considers hiring not so spectacular high school graduates." He glanced at the clock. "My shift is going to be over in a bit. You could stay if you want but then you'll have to buy something."
Chiara boredly glanced at the clock and tried to pretend that it wasn't disappointment she was feeling. "Thanks for the warning. I'm not really looking to spend anymore of my money at this grease-filled tragedy."
Alfred nodded his head in mock sympathy. "I know how you feel." There was a moment of silence where Alfred just wiped crumbs off the counter and surrounding tables and Chiara played with her nails and debated whether or not she should leave. "So.." Alfred glanced over to her briefly before feigning disinterest. "What happened to you after high school? You look well off."
Chiara sighed, leaning back in the chair she snagged from one of the nearby tables in order to sit at the counter and talk with Alfred. "You know Grandpa. 'Money is no object! Only the best for mio bambinos!' He sent Feliciano to whatever shit show he could get into and did the same for me. I still get money from him every now and then for food and basic necessities. He doesn't want me to have a job while in school."
Alfred grabbed a chair and brought it behind the front counter so he could sit down and look at her properly. "That does sound like your old man. How is he? And Feliciano?"
"What, am I not interesting enough?" Chiara crossed her arms. "Grandpa is as immortal as ever and Feliciano as dumb as ever. The only thing that's different is that Feliciano somehow got himself a chick."
Alfred blinked. "He has a girlfriend. Feliciano?"
Chiara snorted. "Yeah, I don't know what's wrong with the bitch either."
They had another small moment. "What happened with you and that Spanish guy?" Alfred blurted out nervously.
Chiara raised an eyebrow at the blunt a personal question and looked at him, quietly watching his expression. Alfred realized his mistake and begun to backtrack. "I mean, uh," He cleared his throat. "You guys still dating or did something happen..?"
"We broke up." Chiara stated simply. She had an inkling of why Alfred was asking something so irrelevant but addressing that would be giving food to the thought that they would magically get back together after all these years. "Things got boring so we broke it off and spent time on things that mattered."
Alfred breathed out a small 'oh' and stared somewhat helplessly.
Chiara let him suffer in his own awkward silence for a moment, then smirked. "You still suck ass at anything that requires being social. Get on my level, noob."
Alfred immediately felt himself relax. "I keep thinking I'll say something stupid! I can't do that weird talky thing you do."
"Not sounding like a dumbass isn't a special ability, Alfred."
Alfred placed his hands on the counter top and protested eagerly. "Is too! It is so a special ability, that's not fair!"
Chiara a hid her face behind her hands in an attempt to hide her laughter.
"I'm serious," Alfred whined. "Stop laughing! You tricked me!"
Chiara laughed harder. "H-How the hell could I trick you? I didn't even do anything!"
"Yes you did! I know you did! Stop it!"
"Hey, Jones!" Alfred jumped in his seat and turned to see the guy in charge looking at them with slight annoyance. "If you and your girlfriend are done then get the hell out." Chiara's laughter begun to dwindle down. "Your shift is over and your not helping if you're just sitting there being lovely-dovey."
Alfred blushed. "Uh, yeah. We'll be going, dude. No worries." Alfred sighed in relief when his boss retreated to the back.
"So I'm your girlfriend, huh bastard?"
And the blush gets worse, great. "Shut up."
"Sure thing, honeybear~."
They placed the chairs back and Chiara waited while Alfred rearranged some things and halfheartedly cleaned up enough to where he won't get in trouble for slacking off.
"Where are you going now?" Chiara looked up at the question. Seeing her confusion, Alfred continued. "Like, are you going further downtown, were you on a road trip, you have an apartment nearby..?"
Chiara nodded in understanding. Then shrugged. "Uni. I live in the dorms."
Alfred walked to a small side closet behind the counter to hang his apron and hat. "Don't they got rules or something about being out past 10?"
Chiara rolled her eyes. "Those rules are for pussies and people that get caught. If you haven't noticed, my dear dumbass, I am neither of those."
Alfred walked back out with a phone in his hands while holding them up in a sign of surrender. "I'm sorry, my queen. I forgot." He grinned and clasped his hands in a mock prayer. "Please, my queen! Spare me your wrath!"
Chiara rolled her eyes again. "Shut up you fucking elf. I'm tired and you're wasting my time." She opened the door for them both.
Alfred stepped through, playing with the phone in his hand somewhat anxiously. "So, uh, do you wanna see each other again?"
Chiara stared at him ludicrously and Alfred felt his face heat up. "No! I-I mean, it was good to see you after so long. I'd like to meet up again, you know?"
Alfred began to panic when Chiara stayed silent. "You don't, you know, need to say yes or anything, I was just asking, you know?"
"I know that, shithead." Chiara responded, seeing Alfred's shoulders start to slump in disappointment. "Give me your phone."
He immediately perked up. "You mean it?"
Chiara snatched the decisive out of his hand and quickly put in her phone number before shoving it back into his hands. "I'll save you the social panic. Text me two or so days from now." She turned and swiftly walked to her car, leaving him alone in the parking lot.
"Thanks..." Alfred muttered to himself, watching her walk away. "I guess I'll talk to you then, Chiara."
Don't worry, I'll be checking this again when I wake up for errors and the like. After the first little, I guess we can call it chapter, I was so lost on how to transition to them talking so I went through like, three notes on my tablet before just writing random crap I thought about when I was feeling bitter. I was gonna get rid of it but then I was like, "Whatever, Romano is a cynical lil shit anyway. I don't need to think too hard on it." This is a small progression in them getting together. That and it introduces them, kinda, maybe, I hope. Night night.
