The Boy Between Us

Chapter Two

“Hey, don’t you have school today?”, Ava asked as I trudged downstairs in my pyjamas one Thursday morning, carrying with me a plate that I had used nights before but was too lazy to bring down anyways.

“I do. Kinda. They’re having some sort of fair or something and since it wasn’t really compulsory to come to school today, I decided not to.”, I shrugged.

“Don’t you think it’d be fun if you went? You could learn a few things and just enjoy yourself.”, Ava insisted, sitting at the table with a cup of coffee.

“No, I’ll pass. I get to work an extra shift at the bookshop instead, which is better.”, I say, making a cup for myself.

“Ryan, you do know that you don’t have to work yourself so hard, right? Just concentrate on finishing college and let me deal with th3e money stuff.”, she replied.

“It’s also important that we finish paying off the bills, Ava. College is expensive and by the time you done waiting for me to finish well we might even be living on the streets by then!”, I said.

“I can handle...”, she started to say but I cut her off.

“Oh, come on! Even with my hands on deck we’ve still not managed to pay half of the debts. Soon enough, I’ll make enough to see myself through college and then, I’ll get a better paying job afterwards so that I can help you with the clearing of the debts. It’s your responsibility as well as mine, so were going to have to do this ‘together’, okay?”, I stated.

Ava only gave me a sad look, sighed and thoughtfully went back to her coffee. I hated it when we argued like this. Ava has always been hard on herself, wanting to do everything all by herself. I wanted to help too, as much as I could because I knew that she deserved a better life too.

I needed to find another job so that I could pay for my own tuition fees by myself, I thought to myself as I walked over to the bookshop where I worked. The door bells jingled as I stepped in and my short stubby employer, Mr. Gales, also known as Eric, looked up from the counter and smiled slightly when he saw me.

“Well, if it isn’t my favourite employee.”, he beamed as I took his place at the counter. “You’re so reliable, Ryan. And here I was wondering who could fill in for Mrs. Jones when she called in sick today and here you are, just offering to do that for me. I think that earns you a raise, doesn’t it?”, he winked.

I gave him a smile and said: “Well, I just like to do my best when I can and always be available to help.”

Handing over the keys to me he said, “I know you do. You can close earlier than usual today if you like. Josh would come by for the keys later to lock up so just give him a call whenever”

Mr. Gales owns a number of bookshops in the town but the one I worked in was his largest. Most days it was surprisingly busy but on some regular days it was quite empty and boring. I began dusting off some of the books and the tables and chairs which then I realised that he had already done so himself. I sat myself back at the counter and waited.