I reached my arm to my forehead to wipe the sweat off of my face. Catching a whiff of the stench coming from my armpit, I crinkled my nose in disgust. It had to be time to go home. I stumbled across the floor towards the nearest window, upon lifting the shade, a hint of sunlight poured into the room. Whatever the actual time was didn't matter. It was day.

"It's time to go home," I instructed everyone one by one. "Whatever you've not gotten done, our normal day crew can deal with it."

I hope everyone left then, I'll honestly never know. The second I was set to go, I was gone.

When I woke up in my bed who knows how many hours later, Nicole was above me, and she was poking.

"I was wondering when you were going to get up," she sighed. "Working too hard again, were we?"

"No," I replied. "I just had a crazy night last night that has left me utterly exhausted."

"Oh, you wanna tell me about it?" Nicole offered, picking at her freshly painted pink nails. She flicked a bit of the polish that had been stuck to her skin onto my face and pretended not to notice.

"Are you mad at me or something?" I asked her, sitting up fast and brushing the flake off of my face.

"Why would you say that?" she asked, still not looking me in the eyes.

"I don't know you just seem... oh whatever. I've got to go."

"Rob called for you by the way. He seems pretty angry with you. What did you do?"

"Nothing ok."

"Uh huh, sure," she sighed, disbelieving. "And when are you going to get that new job we discussed?"

"I'll be working extra hours for the time being. Day and night." Goodness, I wanted so badly to ask her why she couldn't just get another job, but I already knew the answer. She just wouldn't. If anyone had a million and one excuses not to go to work, it was Nicole.

"Alright, whatever you need to do to cover the bills," she called after me as I slammed the door to our apartment shut behind me. And good riddance.

Stomping down the street to some yet to be decided location, I figured it would be a good idea to check up on Rob, as we hadn't made up and he was apparently mad. Also, it was his friend Steve who had caused all of the ruckus and been arrested after all.

Ignoring all other voice mail and messages awaiting me on my phone, I dialed Rob's number.

"Hi," Rob said when he answered the phone.

"Hey, it's me, Reina," I replied.

"I know," he responded, tonelessly. How could someone normally so energetic be so cold?

"So, I'm sorry about the other night. I just got really carried away but thank you so much for looking after Nicole for me. You really were a lifesaver that night and—"

"Reina, don't even bother," he cut me off. "If you don't want to go out with me then just... it's fine. I get it. But you didn't have to get Steve arrested because of it."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, incredulous.

"So you do want to go out with me?" he pushed, a tone of hopefulness to his voice like a small child might have if they were offered a chance of candy.

"I didn't say that."

" You're a real looser, you know that?"

"Dude, what are you even talking about. I'm so confused at the moment. Do you like me or not?" Thinking for a second, I realized that was beside the point. "Actually, never mind, that's not what matters. Why are you so mad at me? I get why you might be upset that Steve was arrested, but that's not even my fault. He did that to himself. I didn't ask him to come stomping around my workplace screaming about how the world is flat." It was then, that it hit me. Removing the phone from my ear, I instead put it to my lips and shouted, "look, if you're here to tell me that you also enjoy disregarding science and spending your time prancing around harassing people because you believe that the earth is flat with literally no evidence then I'm sorry, but please stay away from me. I don't have time for conspiracy theories and all of that in my life right now. There's already too much going on for me to have to—"

"Reina, look up," he cut me off. Looking up, I realized the voice came from outside the phone. Right in front of me, was Rob.

Shoving my phone into my pocket, the frustration and lack of sleep took over the control of my body, sending me emotions into overdrive. "Are you stalking me now? Huh? Are you?" I shrieked, my sticky, sweat drenched hair flying out behind me as I stormed up to Rob and prodded him in the chest in perfect timing to my next three words: "leave me alone."

"Reina, please, calm down."

He grabbed my hands, sending me even further into my fury as I screamed, "get off of me!" Don't touch me!" I felt around, blinded by rage with only my hand to guide me. When my hands made contact with skin instead of fabric, I finally took the advantage I craved to get the upper hand. To save myself.

Digging my fingers deep into the skin I clawed down and back creating, what I hoped was a painful enough gash to make him finally set me free. Only he didn't let go. Even as the small river of blood found solace under my fingernails leaving the skin tainted, he hung on, holding me.

"Can you stop?" he asked with gritted teeth.

"Why won't you let me go?" I asked.

"Because you don't understand," he responded. "Reina," he choked out. "I'm sorry."

I let go, my hands falling to my sides and my eyes traveling in the direction of his arms and the damage I had done. Tears replaced blind rage with a willingness to understand.

"Why?" I wailed at him, crumpling to the ground. "Why do things have to be like this?"

"I don't know," he responded, pulling me back up to my feet. "But you should stand strong and fight whatever it is you're feeling right now. I wouldn't ever hurt you."

"Are you sure?" I asked, tentatively.

"Uh huh," he responded. "You need sleep. Let's get you home."

"But I need to work," I insisted, yanking away from him. I already lost one of my jobs and valuable time. Time means money. We can not survive without me making money. And I need to find a new job because Nicole won't get another so there is just so much going on at the moment. I don't have time for sleep. I should not have ever taken that one night off. It was such a mistake."

"Woah woah, hold on," he called after me as I started up the street once more. "You need peace and quiet. Come stay at my place for a bit. Steve is in jail, I'm sorry for blaming you by the way, so I've got more space until I can rustle up the funds to bail him out. Come with me," he pleaded.

I stared down at him, on his knees in front of me. Part of me thought he just looked foolish, the other part, well... "Ok," I agreed. "I'll come."