MIO FIORE

WORK OR PUB?

Looking over to the right there was another car beside us.

“Hey gurl, race ya.”

I looked at the pair of what looked like teenagers in the car, "What, no thank you." I called back as they revived their engine. Were they serious?

There was loud music blasting from their car and they had their red P's up, still on probationary driving license and they wanted to race me? I should report them to the police.

"Why? Are you scared of losing babe?"

I rolled my eyes ignoring them, deciding it was probably the safest bet, "Hey lady we're talking to you."

I was going to roll the window up to ignore them but thankfully the lights went green at the same time, the car next to us sped off leaving black smoke in their trial.

"God I hope they crash."

"See, if this was me driving we would have bet them."

I gave Aiden a sharp look, "Well thank god you're not because I would like to live a bit longer.

"I’m a great driver."

“No doubt."

As I turned around the curve I saw that car by the side of the road, "serves them right." probably busted a tire or something

“Are our parents gone?"

I looked over at Aiden as he looked at something intently on his phone, "Nah."

“Wait what?" I asked.

“I’ll drop you and go to work again." There was no way I wanted to be in that house when my parents were still there, specifically my mother. God she would just nag nag nag me all bloody night. I shuddered.

“Back to work?"

“Yep."

"Do you do anything else in your life?"

I cast him a look, "What do you mean?"

"Drive to the pub."

“What?"

“The one on the Manchester and King Road corner." 

“Why?" That means I had to turn around, I was using my shortcut so I can get back to work faster.

“There's another aspect to life I'll show you, go to the pub."

I bit my lip, really? The pub? So he can waste more money. Then again home was a nightmare with our parents so I wouldn't wishfully want anyone to be stuck there with them, even if that man was the annoying Aiden. grumbling I did a u-turn and turned the car back around.

I knew deep down I was already going to regret going to the pub with Aiden. The pub.

The last time I was at the pub I was a teenager. But I still followed Aiden’s advice and reached there.

It's definitely been too long since I had come to the pub. It was louder, darker, and smellier. I wrinkled my nose as I followed Aiden closely already regretting my decision but it had to be better than being stuck at home with our parents.

How could people just come here and waste away their money? If they wanted to drink or hang out with friends they should do it at home they would save so much.

I ran straight into Aiden's back not realizing he had stopped, "Sorry." I muttered raising my hand to my nose, my poor nose.

But he was too busy chattering away already, I stepped out to see who it was, a few familiar faces from that night at my house. So these are his friends, no good scumbags that break things in my house.

“Aren't you going to introduce us?" one of the guys said as Aiden was about to take a seat. He looked up at me, "Oh yeah, this is Krystal."

He grabbed the menu and I looked at him.

Introduction out of ten. I looked around for more chairs, the booth was all cushioned, "Move in a bit." I said to Aiden looking at the tiny place he left for me to sit. He looked up, raising his eyebrows but nevertheless moved in allowing me to sit on the edge, a safe distance from him.

I cleared my throat looking around at everyone, who was staring at me. Was there something on my face?

“Are you hungry?" Aiden held out the menu he was looking at, "Never mind you wouldn't waste your money here." He was about to take the menu back and I reached out taking it from him. I was hungry, but he was also right. And even more so when I looked at the prices.

My eyes widened, ten dollars for a bowl of chips and ketchup was a dollar extra? Are you serious? I could go to the supermarket and buy three bags of 2 kg chips for this price. My eyes raked over everything else, which was overpriced, "Are you for real?" I muttered to myself.

Maybe that should be my new business venture, open up a place that sold affordable food. And don't even get me started on the drinks menu.

“Are you going to order?" Aiden asked from beside me.

The cheapest item was two pieces of buttered garlic bread. This has to be a joke.

"Everything is overpriced," I said making him roll his eyes at me.

I scurried out and he got out walking towards the bar and I followed him as fast as my shorter feet could take me, clutching the menu in hand. The chips were the better choice to make even though they were expensive. I just hoped they filled the bowl up and weren't stingy.

Aiden grabbed the small stand-up number for our order, walked back to the table and I scurried after him to keep up. I sat back not really following their conversation, I wasn't even sure what they were talking about. My stomach was churning from hunger. And my mind was boggled with all the things I had to do. I was stressed. Why did my laptop have to go missing now of all times?

I had to give this a point for something, their food arrived quickly, even if their portion sizes

weren't that big. I looked at the small bowl with a frown, that seasoning better be great. I looked up at everyone else, was I meant to share? But they already had plates of food in front of them, I shrugged, well, I did pay for it. I reached out grabbing a chip, almost wondering how they made these fries so long in length, how long was the potato?