After I turn in my test for Pre-Calc, the bell rings and I rush out to the parking lot, jumping into Brin's SUV. Yes, I'm seventeen and don't have a car. It's not that I don't want, it's that I can't afford it right now. I have my licence but I'm still saving for the car. Some people think it's weird that a seventeen year old girl who's a senior in high school and doesn't own her own car. I don't get why it's so strange.

What so strange about it?

Oh, I know! They think all teenagers are the same: party people, drugies. That sorta thing. The typical sterotype.

Well, that's not me. Nah, I'm a goodie two shoes. I don't do stupid crap like most kids.

"Shopping! We should go shopping tonight!" Brin practically screams when I hop in the back seat, Alex sits up-front. "Right now!"

"Brin, I have work." Even though I really do, I would still use it as an excuse even if I didn't. I don't have the money to be spending on random things.

"Alex?" She asks, pleading.

"Sure. All I have to do is tell you look good in everything though." He looks out the window, shrugging. I think I see a small smirk but it's gone before I can point it out. Alex isn't much for talking. After his parents passed away last year, Alex had been the quiet kid.  He doesn't laugh much anymore. I miss the old Alex. He used to be so pumped up about everything. He used to drag us out to go shopping, not Brin.

"Maybe we can go sometime next week?" I ask, realizing that I do need to get some new clothes.

"Sounds good!" Brin perks up, instantly happy.

She pulls up beside my house.

"Do you need a ride to work?" She turns to me after putting the car in park.

"Nah, I'll walk." I shrug and lean up and press a kiss to her and Alex's cheeks. "Love you both." They echo "I love you"'s and I hop out of the car. I grab the mail before unlocking the door and closing it behind me.

"I'm home." I call out, even though my mother never responds.

I walk up to my room and sit my stuff on my bed before heading to my mom's room. She's asleep in her bed. I lean over and press a kiss to her forehead. "I love you, mom." I close the door softly behind me and grab my bookbag off my bed and head to the office. I sit down at my desk and take out my notebooks. I spread everything out evenly before booting up my old computer and pulling up my videos for class. I jot down my notes and work on homework for a few hours before my alarm go's off for me to leave for work. I close up all my stuff and return to my room to change into my work clothes. I peak back into mom's room before I head out but she's still asleep.

The Midnight Movies is a five to ten minute walk from my house. Normally I never have problems getting there, but today, it seems the weather is against me. A quarter of the way there, is starts to get dark as the dark gray clouds form over head and it starts to pour.

"Damnit." I curse to my self that I didn't bring an umbrella and sprint into a run. 

A few minutes later I run into the theater and sigh as I'm no longer rained on.

"Here." My coworker, Nate, hands me a towel. He's always so willing and giving. He like a brother to me. One that I've never had.

"Thanks, Nate." He smiles in return and get busy with cleaning the popcorn butter off the counter.

I'm drying my hair with the towel when I see Lydia, Nate's girlfriend, come up behind him.

"BOO!" She squeals, putting either hand on the sides of his stomach. He jumps and squirms. He's ticklish.

"Jeeze, Lyd." He sighs, but his eyes turn soft, showing affection when he looks down at her. She gives him a toothy, wide, funny smile.

"You know you love it." She says, smiling up at him.

"Oh I do know something." He puts his hands on her hips and brings her closer, so their fronts are touching.

"And what's that, babe?" She asks, curiously.

"That I love you." He leans down, one hand now on her cheek while the other is still on her waist, and pulls her in for a kiss.

I internally 'awe' at that but feel my heart deepen a bit at watching them. I turn around to give them some space.

I feel sad but I have no idea why.

"Hey, Alice?" Nate calls and I look over to see him with his arm around Lydia and looking at me.

"Hmm?" I hum.

"Would you be able to watch for a bit? I want to go see this movie with Lyds." His face looks happy at being with his girlfriend but his eyes seem worried.

Worried about me?

"Yeah. Sure.." I sigh.

"You okay?" He asks, concerned.

That answers that question.

"Yeah. Yeah! I'm fine. Go on! Have fun." I fake enthusiasm. I think he sees through me.

"You sure?" He asks cautiously

"Yeah." I give him a genuine smile. He looks at me one last time before thanking me again and walking away with Lydia.

I'm wiping down the counters from butter an hour later when I hear a group of guys come in, laughing. I look back and see Jason and the football team heading toward me. Jason is looking at the ground, a blush on his cheeks, while they walk. I hear some if the guys teasing him about something before someone shushes them and Caleb comes to the counter with a smirk.

"Hey, Alice." His smirk widens as the words come out of his mouth. "So my fr-" he's cut off my Jason.

"We need tickets to see Deadpool Two please." He smacks Caleb in the back of his head as he move around him.

"Yeah sure." I pull the tickets out and hand them to each of the boys as they pull out their wallets.

They try to hand me a ten each but I wave them off. "It's five." I tell them and they look at me, confused.

"But it says it's ten." Jason points out.

"Yes," I nod. "But what's the point of having someone you know working here if you can't at least get it half off?" I question and they all grin.

"Thanks, Alice." They all say.

Who knew they could be so sweet?

"Have fun!" They walk away and turn back to my cleaning but feel someone watching me. Turning back around, I see Jason standing there while his friends are still walking toward the movie.

"Thank you, really." He says, not taking his eyes off me as his friends catcall to him down the hall.

"Yeah, of course." I shrug, it's really no big deal.

Suddenly he grabs my hand and I feel him press something into it before he closes my fingers around it. He gives me a smile and head back to the movie. I unfold my fingers and see a folded up piece of paper.

On the note is a small smile face with the words 'Smile for another day' written underneath it. A smile creeps onto my face and stays for the remainder of the work night. My pocket feels light but heavy at the same time with the note tucked away in side for safe keeping.

Word count: 1306

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