I take a shower, dress in my sophisticated outfit—a pair of black slacks and a pink blouse with my black heels. My funeral, wedding, and now job search attire. By the time I get downstairs, I find an empty couch, and I realize Dex must have woken up at some point. Meaning that he’s either in his room or he’s left the house.

Departing the back door, I lock the bottom lock on the door with the key Sadie gave me and pivot around toward the front of the house. There are a few girls outside the house next door, smoking. None of them wave, but inspect me through the corner of their eyes. The disapproving judgment can be felt from across their weed-infested lawn.

My heels click on the sidewalk, and the downtown area of Western comes into view. Marching up to a bar and grill first, I figure my best shot at getting fast money is waitressing. Although, I’m a little worried how much college kids tip.

Bustling all the courage I can muster, I open the doors to a dark and dingy rundown bar. The linoleum floors, fake wooden tables with napkins stuffed under a leg of each one with mismatched chairs tucked alongside them inhabit the center of the room. Booths line the wall, covered in black vinyl with rips and tears. “Welcome to Aces.” An older man with a grey beard and matching head of hair greets me from behind the bar.

“Hi, I was wondering if you were looking for help,” I say, my timid voice trembling a little.

“Sorry, darling, we aren’t.” He circles around and continues to fix a drink for someone, whom I assume is a regular, since the man actually never spoke to order one.

“Okay, thank you anyway,” I say and walk out of the bar, feeling a tad dirtier from when I went in.

Two more places, including a more uppity establishment, all with shakes of their heads before I can even get the words out if they’re hiring. Exhausted, I drop onto a park bench, feelings of being unwanted rise to the surface. Will my life ever turn around? Am I destined to a life of shittiness?

Why am I here in Western? What am I here to accomplish? Why did I ever go back to that crappy town anyway? All my prospects of ever getting out drying up before my eyes. But then all I did was run to someone else to fix my problems. Dex. He can’t save me from my life or make it better somehow. From our conversation last night, he sure as hell isn’t looking for love. Not that I ever thought I was the one to give it to him.

“You’d think you were trying to figure out world peace with the concentrated expression on your face,” a deep voice intones, its owner sitting next to me.

When I look around, dark spiky hair and blue eyes shine at me. “Hi, Rob.”

“Hey,” he answers and then crumbles up a receipt and tosses it into the trashcan next to him. “Have you eaten?” he asks me, standing up before I even answer.

“No, but I’m good.” My low supply of money does not allow me to eat out.

“My treat, come on.” His head jerks to the side in a let’s go motion.

“Thank you, Rob, but I can’t let you do that.” I remain in my seat and cross my legs.

“Don’t act like some independent girl. I’m buying you lunch, not a damn car.” He grabs my hand and yanks me forward. “And I’ll be ordering for you, so you can’t try any of that salad or bread shit,” he continues, dragging me forward.

We enter a small café on the corner right across from the campus, called Lit’s. We’re seated outside at a table for two and a nice view of students coming and going off campus with their bags around their shoulders, conversing with others. I imagine intelligent conversations from lectures their professors embarked on.

“Look at those people wasting their time and money,” Rob remarks, staring out into a lawn filled with college kids that I yearn to be.

“Why do you say that?” I turn my attention to him, wanting to hear his perspective.

“I was one of them for years. I didn’t learn anything except how to chug a beer, smoke pot and get laid.” His face bears no expression, and then he picks up the menu.

“Did you already graduate?” I ask a more personal question, figuring he opened the conversation.

“No. I’m a dropout. I’m just saying, your eyes were all lit up when you looked over there, and I’m here to tell you it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.” The menu rests in front of his face, so I can’t see his expression, but his tone is sourer than someone who truly believes that.

“I’m a never been,” I add, and he drops the menu slightly, his lips turned up.

“So, I actually have a leg up on you,” he jokes, and I kick him under the table. He feigns injured and chuckles, lightening up our lunch conversation.

“What’s your story then?” I ask, and his eyes dart to the street and then down to the menu.

“Not much. Guitarist, dropout. Went on tour with the Beatskulls and Krypto last year, but it was a fucking disaster.”

“Why?” I ask, and then a little brunette bounces over and places two waters on our table.

“Good afternoon. I’m Gretchen, and I’ll be your server.” She says her spiel, and then eyes Rob before throwing me a half-hearted glance.

“Hi, Gretchen. We’ll each have your chicken sandwich with fries and coleslaw.” Rob hands her the menus, and her eyes dart to mine.

“Oh and can I have a Diet Coke?” I stop her right before she leaves.

“Yeah, sure. Would you like anything to drink?” she looks at Rob, and he just shakes his head. “Okay, great. I’ll be right back.” She bounces back through the doors.

“So what were we talking about?” I ask him, and he quickly perks up.

“You and Dex,” he says with a sly smile on his face.

“Um … I’m pretty sure we weren’t.” I relax in my seat.

“Seriously? Friends?” he asks me unbelievingly.

“Yes … friends,” I confirm. “I’ve known him since we were eight.”

“Huh? How come you’ve never been around before?” He maintains the questions.

“Why so worried about it?” My voice a tad more curt than I intended it to be.

“Just curious is all. He’s different when you’re around, so I’m just trying to figure it out,” he admits, and I’m not sure that’s a good or bad thing that Dex is different when I’m around.

“Maybe more like brother-sister then?” I counter, since regardless of anything I do know, there is a level of deep caring we have for one another. Maybe because we’ve known each other for so long, or maybe because he has some hero complex to always save me.

“That would be sick, because from the looks you two share it would be incestuous. Don’t get me wrong, I’m into kinky, but that’s a whole other dimension.” His eyes widen, and he adamantly shakes his head, as though trying to rid the thought.

I laugh, watching his reaction to his own insane thoughts. “What about you? Any girlfriend?” I change the subject because let’s face it, Dex and I can’t occupy too much time, since nothing did, is, or will be happening between us.

“Just the flavor of the night.” I roll my eyes. “Don’t even be like that. Believe me, they’re plenty satisfied in the morning.” He takes a sip out of his water.

“Oh, how nice, you let them spend the night,” I sarcastically say, and he chuckles lightly.

“What can I say, I’m a gentleman,” he jokes back, and I begin to giggle.

Our food arrives, and we eat. Thanking Rob when he pays for the bill, we exit through the side gate and begin to walk back to the house. I’m not sure what everyone hates about Rob. To me, he’s been nothing short of polite and nice. Right as we are about to walk up the driveway, I’m still laughing at some story Rob’s telling me, about when a girl wouldn’t leave his room and the antics he had to pull off, when Dex’s truck turns in, almost running Rob over. Dex climbs out of his truck and glares over at us before retreating up the back steps.

By the time we enter the kitchen, he’s nowhere to be found, and I’m confused why he wouldn’t just say hello.