GUCCI BOY

chapter : 2

________

•••

"Progress is dancing to the same song you used to cry to"

-unknown

•••

________

Cassia's POV

_________

She had done this a million times. Smile, listen, nod your head, "yes, Sir", smile again.

For every job offer Cassia got, she had been turned down at least three times as often. After a while she had gotten used to rejection. Used to just shrugging it off and looking for something else.

But Cassia wasn't going to go down without a fight. She put all her energy into getting the job this time, even if it was just working at a shabby, little movie theatre.

Mr. Densil seemed rather bored as he strolled around the theatre showing her around. He had quickly glanced over her application and grades earlier when she was sat in his office and decided that he was going to give her a chance.

"Here's your uniform, I'll have a name tag made for you by tomorrow, Miss.. what was it again?"

"Cassia, Sir"

"Right. Seems like you'll do just fine. I want you here by two in the afternoon tomorrow. You won't be alone though, don't worry. I'll have someone explain everything to you again tomorrow, teach you how to use all the machines and help you, wherever you might need it. After that though, you'll be alone most of the time, except for weekends. We have a lot of business on weekends but on normal weekdays things should be managable for you." he spoke and half-smiled at Cassia.

"Understood. Thank you again for your time, Sir. I won't dissapoint you."

"Good" Mr. Densil checked his watch every two minutes or so and seemed to have lost all interest in the girl who brightly smiled at him and listened to his every word.

"We're done. See you soon, Casey" he mumbled and with a quick nod and handshake he left.

"Casey" Cassia mumbled on her way home. "How original"

She decided to buy some groceries on the way back to the apartment. She also got some snacks for college and some of Jermy's favourites. Of course always comparing prices and looking for stuff on sale. Being a college student on a budget really wasn't all too much fun.

The soft buzzing of her cellphone caught her focus away from the mozarella sticks she had been eyeing.

She quickly checked who was calling before picking up. Kev?.

"Heyaa" Cassia smiled as she read her brother's name.

"Hey, Cassie" Kevin said, sounding somewhat off. "Are you busy?"

"Ehh, sorta. Why, what's up?"

"I was kinda hoping I could stay at your place for the weekend or even longer"

"What? Why would you fly out to New York now? What happened? Is it mum, again?" worry was clearly evident in Cassia's voice as she waited for her brother to reply.

"Yes. She's completely out of it. I found at least three empty vodka bottles in her room again. She's throwing plates and yelling at me for no reason. Last night she wouldn't stop slapping me because I went out with Hobi and didn't tell her. I'm 20 years old and the woman is treating me like a child. You should see her, Cassie. Her hair's a mess, she won't cook for me when I get home from uni and all she does is watch tv and yell at me. I think she's picked up smoking again as well, not sure though" Kevin sounded tired as he spoke.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Cassia could feel a headache coming. All the supermarket lights suddenly seemed way too bright. And the chatter from shoppers seemed piercing loud.

"Kevin" she whispered into the phone, not even sure what she should tell him.

"I want you here with me. I've always wanted you to leave Seoul with me and live with me in New York. I still want you to leave that place at some point but I don't think now is the time." Cassia took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts before continuing.

"Mum really needs you right now, I can't be there for her and I feel like s**t every time I'm reminded of that but you can. You're still there. I know you hate it and I know you're miserable, god I feel so- so selfish for leaving you there with her." Cassia had to take a breath, tears were brimming in her eyes.

"f**k" she cursed under her breath, she hated showing emotion, showing weakness like this, especially in public.

"I'm just scared that mum will lose it if you leave her too. If you leave her now. I'm terrified of what she would do to herself." her voice was growing smaller and smaller.

Cassia heard a whimper from the other side of the line. Kevin was crying. All this time she had put her energy into moving to New York, getting into a decent college, finding an apartment and applying for side jobs but what Cassia had forgotten to think about was all the sorrow this would bring to her brother, Kevin. Her best friend (aside from Jermy of course). Cassia could always rely on Kevin, yet she had left him like this..

Forgotten about how all this would turn out for him.

Cassia had achieved her goals, she was living in New York now, she loved the courses she was taking in college, she studied hard, she worked her ass off and she was happy. She had finally gotten out of the grasp of her alcoholic, depressed mum. Far away from her abusive, manipulative father. But Kevin. Kevin was still there. All the weight that had been liftet off of Cassia's shoulders hadn't dissapeared. It had merely been moved over to Kevin.

All this guilt was suddenly raining down on Cassia. She felt like her legs were weighing as much as iron blocks.

Collect yourself, Cassia. You can't break down like this, not in front of Kevin. She told herself.

"Where is he?" she managed to say, holding back her anger.

"Business trip with his new girlfriend. Thailand, I believe." Kevin dryly replied.

"Is that the reason for mum's breakdown?" she asked even though she already knew the answer.

"Of course it is. He calls me every day. Whenever I block his number, he gets a new one somehow"

"Same. He keeps emailing me as well, I have no idea how he gets all our personal information but there's no way to get rid of him. All you can do is delete his messages as soon as you get them. That's what I do to somewhat stay sane." Cassia said.

Silence.

"I miss you, Cassie" Kevin whispered.

"I miss you too, Kev" Cassia took a breath. "Do you think you can stay with her a little longer? Just until she gets over this. I'll pay for your plane ticket, you can stay "I wish it was that simple" Cassia weakly smiled.

Jermy deeply sighed and rapidly shook his head as if to show that he was done with sulking.

"Let's eat now, I bet you're hungry. Just wait until you taste the magic that is my cooking." he proudly exclaimed and pulled Cassia to the already decked table.

Opening the fridge he pulled out a bottle of champagne. "We still have something to celebrate, you landing the job!"

Cassia couldn't hold back the smile forming on her lips. Jermy was so extra and she loved it.

The food was delicious and the champagne bottle soon empty, nevertheless they pulled out their books after some time and started studying together as planned. Cassia felt like she owed it to Jermy and she also really needed to catch up on some work herself.

The night ended with them falling asleep on the couch to some movie playing in the background. Jermy was the closest thing to a home Cassia had ever known. Home wasn't a place for her, it was a person.

~~~~~~~~

"Do you have any classes today?" Cassia tiredly asked Jermy before splashing her face with cold water.

"Uh huh, English Literature at 11" he groaned. It was 10 am.

"Are you not going to get ready then?" Cassia wondered, knowing fully well that her apartment wasn't exactly next door to Jermy's college.

"Nah, who am I trying to impress at this point?"

"That's the spirit" she sarcastically said.

"Oh, you shut up, miss 'I've only had one boyfriend so far and that lasted for about a year' " he tried to mock Cassia's voice.

"Shut up, will you? You know I just haven't met someone decent yet. I don't have time for dating"

"You don't have time for anything these days" he groaned. "When was the last time we went out together, no hold up, when was the last time you even hung out with someone other than me?" he laughed and raised his eyebrows.

"Not that long ago.." Cassia replied a little bit unsure now.

"You know overworking yourself constantly really isn't good for your health. Both physical and mental health. You should enjoy yourself more, get out there, let loose for once" Jermy was trailing off again, getting lost in his thoughts.

"Okay, doctor Jermy. You'll have to take me out some time then" Cassia got annoyed with his constant nagging.

"What about tonight?" He lifted his head off of the couch, sending her a hopeful smile.

"Not tonight, first shift at the theatre" she shook her head.

"Those bastards, you had that interview yesterday! Can everyone just chill for once" Jermy groaned.

That made Cassia laugh and Jin scratch his head.

"You know what? I'm going to get a side job too. Lift some of the weight off of your shoulders so you have at least a little bit of free time again"

This wasn't a suggestion, Cassia could hear the determination in Jermy's voice and boy, if Jermy set his mind to something, you could consider the job done.

After a while the chill he had just been talking about mere minutes ago left Jermy as he realized how late he was running.

"s**t, s**t, s**t! Cassie why didn't you stop my rambling. s**t!" And with that the powerhouse that was Jermy Williams was gone. All that still reminded Cassia of his presence was the messy couch.

~~~

She spent her morning cleaning the apartment and going to the library to do some more studying before showering and changing into her new uniform.

She walked into the theatre five before 2 pm and was greeted by a half-sleeping, ice blonde guy.

"David" she read his name tag and quickly noticed that there was another small silver tag laying on the counter similiar to his.

"Oh, for f**k's sake" she cursed.

"Casey" she glared at the tag.

David seemed to have been woken up by this and he wasn't exactly happy about it. Cassia could almost see the cartoon-like lightning bolts shooting out of his head.

The afternoon continued with David or "Suga" as he had introduced himself, making all sorts of popcorn and slushies to show her how the machines worked. He printed out tickets with her, showed her all the theatre rooms and the cleaning supplies. Speaking of cleaning that's exactly what Cassia proceeded to do after Suga was done with explaining everything, it was after all just a Tuesday afternoon and not busy at all.

Even though he seemed a little intimidating at first, Cassia soon grew to take a liking to her moody co-worker. He was very honest and Cassia appreciated that about him. When Jermy picked her up at 9 pm David even smiled at her as she said her goodbyes.

"See you on Friday" he called after her.

"See you, Suga!"

Maybe this job wasn't going to be as dreadful as she had expected.

________

as long as you want after this, I promise Kev."

"Okay, Cassie. I can't do this for much longer though, it's breaking me"

"I know. You don't even know how strong you are. Pull through, I'll call you again tomorrow, alright?"

"I love you, Cassie"

"I love you too, Kev"

_____________