April's POV
God it's fucking freezing. My arms could be blue right now, and these stupid goose bumps were more like mountains. I should have just got that stupid sweater. Tom was there, he wouldn't have tried anything with Tom there. God April you're so stupid sometimes. I've gotta find a way out of this goddamn internship. Less than a month. That'll get me through. Less than a month. I finally get to the front steps of my house and open the door. Once it's shut I lean against it for support and hope that everyone is asleep. I can't deal with any pleasantries with my family. I look around and see no one and heave a sigh of relief. I push myself forward and head up the stairs. Less than a month.
~the next morning~
"Just go straight to the lot today. lots of work to do! -Leslie." God only Leslie would not only be excited about work, but assume everyone is. That was so annoying sometimes. And she still signed her name. What the hell, I know it's her, her number is in my dumb phone. I was already planning on not going to city hall today. Oh well, maybe He won't be at the lot. I push aside the blankets and lie in the cold bed for a quick second before pushing myself up to go get in the shower. I needed it to be scalding. That was a fun trait I didn't like that I picked up. After work I always take a scalding hot shower to get the feeling of his disgusting words off me. sometimes I would scrub until my skin was raw. It was so stupid. It wasn't like anything he did was physical. He was too much of a wimp for that. I drag myself to the bathroom and quickly get into the burning hot water. I need this today. The water drips down my back lightly as the hair on the back of my neck stands up, shocked by the heat. It is the best I feel in a while. A time I can be free of him, of everyone asking me what's wrong, of my own demons that seem like they are out to get me personally. But as I turn off the water and step out everything rushes back and hits me in the face with the hot steam. You can only escape everything for so long. I throw on the first clean clothes I see and quickly dry and curl my hair. I put on my everyday makeup and take one last glance in the mirror. Time to face the day.
-line break-
"Unbelievable." Ron was grumbling under his breath about the dumb raccoons. I didn't see the big deal. They were cute. And if someone was dumb enough to get bitten or attacked by one, that was their fault, not the dumb raccoons. I look over and see Tom walking up with Him.
"Hey." I only look at Tom. I don't need to see him. I can already tell he is looking at me.
"What happened?"
"Got a call from some panicky morning joggers. Apparently sanitation didn't empty this dumpster. To the raccoons delight." They were still there. Running through the trash.
"I thought raccoons were supposed to be nocturnal?"
:Not in this town sweetheart, in this town they're 24/7." I have to hold back when he calls me sweetheart. It's just Ron.
"We can't have raccoons for the Christmas thing. They'll hunt the kids for sport. Fess up guys who dropped the ball?" I look back and the two of them. I know it wasn't me or Ron. So it had to be one of those 2 idiots. Suddenly Tom hits Him on the shoulder as he realizes.
"Bring a case of beer to sanitation."
"Bring a case of… Yeah this one's our fault Ron, and we will take care of this for you" Of course it was him. The idiot couldn't finish a simple list of tasks but he had all the time in the world to creep on me. And of course he was off to save the day, make everyone love him.
"Okay good, because I have to.. run a public forum, supervise the maintenance crew, and teach crafts at the senior center. Simultaneously." Great so I had to do one of those things for him. Everyone walked away and i just sort of stood there. Maybe I could leave and no one would-
"April come on. We have to go to this stupid crack pot convention." Well there goes that dream. At least it was just with Ron. I start walking with him to his car begrudgingly. I hated public forums. The stupid people in this town were so demanding and ungrateful, it was the worst. I climb into his old car and stare out the window in silence.
"Fess up." God Ron what the hell?
"What now?" Why couldn't he drop this?
"You know that I don't like feelings or personal problems, but you are worrying me kid. What's going on?" I wish I was invisible so no one would ever ask me questions.
"Why do you care? You aren't supposed to care about stuff. That's kinda your thing"
"Yes, but you are still young, so you shouldn't have to deal with tough things alone. If you don't want to talk, I respect that, because I to hate talking. But let one of us know if you are in trouble."
"It's nothing. I can handle it." I look him dead in the eye as we pull into the parking lot.
"Just make sure it doesn't become something you can't." I follow him in and swiftly take a seat behind the old white folding table.
"OKAY! My name is Ron, you don't need to know my last name. Whoever wants to talk, talk. And we'll be outta here in a tight 15."
-line break-
"Hey! Sorry I'm late!" I can actually feel myself smile for the first time all day as we all greet Leslie and her mom says something to her. In all truth I wasn't just happy to see Leslie, I was relived. With her and Ann there it meant He couldn't be creepy. I had successfully avoided him all day. but sometimes I can still feel him looking at me. But all in all today was a successful no-creep day.
"Oh my god is something wrong with the tree?"
"Nah nothing wrong."
"But it's almost 9 the tree should have been lighted up over an hour ago!" God she really needed everything spelled out sometimes didn't she.
"We waited for you." Ron stepped around me to hand her the button and I couldn't help myself from smiling. The littlest things made Leslie so happy, sometimes it was kinda nice to be around.
"Okay everybody countdown!" Everyone counted down from 5 and watched as the tree turned on and quickly illuminated everyone and everything around it. People cheered, for some reason I didn't quite understand. Yay! Electricity! Whatever, i'll clap if it makes Leslie happy. And I looked over and saw Andy there in his stupid Santa suit. Before I know what's happening he pulls me in for a side hug and I smile to myself. At least that's one good thing to happen today. We all stayed a bit after that, but I needed to go home. I had definitely reached my people limit for the day. I say bye to Andy and start walking towards my car when I start to hear footsteps behind me. You're just being paranoid April. Don't turn around. It's all in your head. Just keep walking.
"Leaving so soon?"
end of chapter 4