They Call Him Superman

Chapter Five: Condemned

I woke up to the sound of my alarm, I had to wake up extra early to get to work on time today. I needed to take the bus of course. I rushed around my apartment dressing in what clothes they recommended to me I wear. I rubbed Diesels head and poured food in his bowl. He meowed at me as I grabbed my phone and keys.

It took me twenty minutes to get to the bus stop, this early in the morning I was the only one here. I sighed impatiently as I had to wait another fifteen for the bus to actually show up. I sat on the bench bouncing my knee. I didn’t want to think about him, but he was literally at the forefront of my mind, I tossed and turned last night because he had haunted my thoughts.

I didn’t even hear the bus pull up, I was startled actually. I hopped up once the doors opened and climbed in placing the change in the bucket for the fare.

I hastily took a seat and sighed, it’d take me an hour to get to work now. The bus had to make many stops. I used the time to play on my phone.

Once my stop came I climbed off quickly thanking the driver and made my way down the street to work. I stopped at the security box, the same guy from yesterday was there. I sighed.

“How can I….Oh, it’s you,” he grunted as he stepped out of his box towards me.

“Yeah, well I’d like to go to work so can you?”

I motioned my hands to the front door, he smirked, “What was it you said yesterday? Must be difficult…being an asshole and pushing a button?”

I sighed, “I’m not going to apologize for you being an asshole. Now open the gate.”

“See in around here, I don’t take orders from you. I push a button. I can also not push it.”

“If you don’t push that button I will.”

“You do that I will arrest you for harassing me.”

I was about to storm over and press the button myself when someone spoke up, “Greg, was it? You will open the gate for Ms. Hastings and myself.”

I saw his eyes widen as he stared over my shoulder, I closed my eyes. Of course he would be here.

“Ye-y-yes Mr. Cavill I do apologize,” Greg stuttered as he ran into the station and pressed the button quickly. I walked into the opening gates.

“Harper wait,” Henry called out.

“I have to go to work Mr. Cavill, thank you for the help.”

“Please,” he spun me around to face him.

“What? Didn’t you get your point across last night?”

“I’m s-“

“Sorry? That’s original. You thought you were the stupid one, but honestly it was me. You were the first person I actually opened up to since I moved here. That was a wrong move on my part. It won’t happen again.”

“Harper,” he strained, but I stepped back.

“Goodbye Mr. Cavill,” Just like last night I walked away from him and towards where I would be working on the set.

The day passed by quickly. I saw Henry from a distance and made sure to avoid him like the plague. I was already being harassed by the guys I worked with. They’ve never seen a woman work the way I do. Of course there were plenty of other woman who worked on the set, but I guess it was because I new they targeted me.

I was tired when it was time to leave. I worked ten hours and wanted nothing more than to go home. I saw a hot bath with a beer in my hand. It helped motivate me to leave the lot. I said some goodbyes before walking out of the lot.

I pulled out my phone and noticed a missed call from my mother. I listened to it as I walked to the bus stop.

‘Hey Harp, I know you’re probably busy, but I just wanted to call you and let you know we miss you and are very proud of you. We can’t wait to hear of how your first day went. Call me when you can. Love you!’

I sighed and ended the voicemail call. I plopped down on the bench for the bus stop and looked at my phone debating if I should call them back right now.

I knew I’d eventually have to come clean, but I couldn’t bare to hear my mom fret over the phone. I checked the time. The bus was supposed to show up right now. I looked down the road and didn’t see anything. Maybe it was running behind.

After another ten minutes ticked by the bus still hadn’t shown. My stomach growled for a fifth time that day. I never got the chance to eat something today. I stood from the bench and began walking down the sidewalk towards the outskirts of Hollywood. I knew walking alone at night was a good idea, but I didn’t have an option. I would rather try walking home than be caught sleeping on a bus bench.

The air grew bitter cold as I continued the walk. I didn’t think to wear a jacket this morning due to it being warm, so I was in my long sleeved shirt and jeans. I hugged myself as I continued the walk.

I let my mind fill with the thoughts of Henry. How he had apologized this morning to me, but he already hurt me twice. I shouldn’t think about forgiving him, but I couldn’t think anyway because he was all that crossed my mind. It was a vicious cycle.

I sighed and kicked a can. It was going to be a long night.

I didn’t reach home till two hours later. To be honest I didn’t realize that it took that long because I was so lost in m mind. Once I walked up to the building I froze. There was a condemned sign on the door. I stared at it wide eyed. I quickly pulled out my key and tried to open the door but it wouldn’t budge. Understand I wouldn’t have fought to go inside, in fact I would turn around and walk away…if it weren’t for the fact that my cat was up stairs!