GUCCI BOY

chapter : 1

"She spent a life building walls and when she was done, she sat there in her 'lonely' wondering why nothing grew."

-Atticus

•••

__________________

Cassia's POV

It wasn't easy. Cassia had known that things weren't just going to fall from the sky but she didn't think that it was going to be this hard to get by.

She had been on her own for over a year now, living in a tiny apartment in SoHo, Manhattan, working three jobs to pay for her college education. One of which she had just been fired from. Great..

Cassia let her back slide down the wall of her small bathroom until she found herself sitting on the cold white floor tiles. Phone in hand, she stared at the text message from her boss. Well, her ex-boss now.

She let out a small sigh, unable to tear her eyes away from the bright screen. She gently rubbed her temples in an attempt to soothe her headache before mumbling to herself that she hated working at that damn bistro anyways. Or at least that's what she told herself now to feel less crushed at the fact that she just lost yet another job. A source of income, one she had highly depended on.

Of course jobbing as a waitress wasn't exactly her dream job, it got very stressful at push hours and there were plenty of rude customers but it paid well. And Cassia needed the money. She really needed the money.

"Right" she sighed. "Enough of this pathetic sulking, I'll find something else" with that she gave herself a push and got up from the floor, straightening out her black pencil skirt. That thing was way too tight but what was it that her mother always used to preach? Dress to impress. Even if you were just going to a job interview for working at a movie theatre.

Whenever she wasn't stuck at work or attending classes she was either looking for new side jobs or studying for hours on end. Being a college student with no financial support from anyone other than herself was extremely tiring.

But Cassia wasn't complaining. She was grateful for being independent and getting to study what she loved every single day. Complaining and sulking all day wouldn't magically make things easier, if anything it was the opposite.

That's what Cassia kept in mind as she plugged in her curling iron and waited for it to heat up. Met with her pale reflection in the bathroom mirror she tried to muster a smile. Fake it 'til you make it. More cheesy advice from her mother.

She ran a brush through her long dyed brown hair before carefully taking a few strands of her waves and curling them into tight curls. She liked to create really over the top ones and later shake and brush them out. If she used any other technique than that the curls would never stay put.

She applied faint nude lipstick, touching up her hair one last time as she threw her watch a quick glance. Almost time to leave. She wanted to get there early, just in case.

Well, that had at least been her plan until a certain someone decided it was okay to bolt through her apartment door like an enormous elephant and nearly cause her to suffer from a heart attack. Cassia screamed, cursing through her teeth as the hot wand came in contact with the back of her hand and burned her skin.

"For f**k's sake, Jermy! How many times have I told you to knock!" Cassia yelled, furiously snapping to face the tall boy that was sheepishly making his way into her bathroom and grinning at her like he was the damn Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland.

"Whoops" he smiled. "Guess I forgot"

"You always forget.."

"Whatever, I almost live here anyways you should be used to it by now" he shrugged it off.

He wasn't lying, whenever he wasn't hanging around Cassia's place, he was either on his way there or she was already at his. Perks of living next door to your best friend.

"Brought you something to cheer up" he beamed and placed a pink smoothie on the bathroom counter in front of her.

"Raspberry. Your favourite. Also, where the hell are you going dressed like that? Don't tell me you're finally dating someone!"

"Yah, 'course. His name is Mr. Densil and he's 56. Owns a movie theatre, quite the catch" she huffed, sarcastically. "Job interview, again"

Jermy loudly groaned, crossing his arms over his chest. "You're always working, I hate you. I thought we were going to study tonight?" he gave her his best puppy eyes.

"We'll see.. Depends on whether I get the job, if I don't, I'm going somewhere else afterwards to another interview..but if I do- then sure"

"Promise?" Jermy asked with a pout.

"Promise" Cassia smiled, holding out her pinky as Jermy intertwined it with his, smiling back.

"Oh, shit." Jermy gasped when he noticed the red burn on her hand. "Sorry, Cassie"

"Ahh, it's fine. Happens to me all the time." she shrugged, inspecting the angry red skin that was still stinging like hell.

"I'll get you some ice" Jermy offered, expression growing more guilty by the second.

"No, I'm good. I need to get going now anyways. But if you really wanna make it up to me you could cook dinner for when I get back?" she suggested. "Just please not spaghetti, I've had that for what feels like weeks" she quickly added.

"Consider it done" Jermy beamed, giving her a thumbs up.

"You're the best, babe" Cassia got on her tiptoes to kiss Jin's cheek, grabbed the pink smoothie he got her and jingled her keys to showcase that she really needed to get going now.

Jermy watched her grab her bag, slide on her heels and hurry out the door, not before stopping in the door frame and blowing him a kiss though. "Love you!"

"Love you too, i***t!" he shouted after her, shaking his head in amusement.