Jasmine lay there beside Michael as he lightly snored. She slid from beneath the covers slowly and quietly, so as not to wake him. She trudged to the bathroom and flicked on the lights. She moved the wild strands of hair from her forehead and studied her reflection in the mirror. She took a good, long look. Her pupils were sandy dots in the middle of her white eyes, there was a timid pout on her lips; a pale, lethargic face. The skin: like a shell, deadened and hard all over, cold on the inside, no matter how warm it looked on the out. It felt empty, as if the very fibers that fastened skin to hollow bone had been pulled apart and left that way. It was lonely inside her skin, like it wasn't hers, but a borrowed outfit she never asked for, to look the part of a role she never wanted to play.

"Little Miss Perfect," she disdainfully muttered. She looked over her shoulder once more at her slumbering boyfriend, and she sighed.

"Hey girrrl," sang her friend and coworker Akia, as she sat her purse down on the counter besides Jasmine's and began tying her work apron.

"Hey girl," she somberly replied.

"Girl, you look so tired. Long night? Oo! I want details!"

"I wish. You know Michael doesn't last very long."

"Mm, I thought he was getting a little better."

"'A little better' would maybe be doing it in something other than missionary some time."

"Have you told him?"

"I've hinted. It's just so hard because he's just so sweet. He really is a perfect boyfriend. He just—"

Buzz! Buzz! Her phone began vibrating. It was a text from Michael:

Hope you have a great day at school, honey! I love you <3 <3

Jasmine rolled her eyes. Akia giggled.

"What am I gonna do, girl?" she groaned.

"Let me hook you up!"

"Oh no, Akia, you don't have to—" Before she had a chance to finish the words, Akia's phone was already out.

"Nick."

"Nick? The one that works at the grocery store?"

"No. Personal trainer Nick from my gym."

"Show me his Instagram."

They spent a slow and rainy late afternoon like that: making coffees for themselves and talking about guys they knew.

"Hell no," she spat.

"What!"

"No!"

"What's wrong with him?"

"Look at him!" Jasmine exclaimed. "You can tell he tries way too hard with the selfies. Seriously."

Akia howled.

"Okay, okay," her friend replied, finally stifling her giggling as she scrolled through her followed list. "Okay, how about this guy? He's my neighbor. His name's Paul."

"He's holding a small dog up to his cheek and making a kissy face at the camera..."

"Yeah, he's kind of a sweet guy, ya know?"

"Pimping that dog out for dates!" Jasmine scoffed.

"Same Jasmine as always," Akia murmured between sips. "No guy is good enough for you. Okay, how about this guy?"

Jasmine gasped.

"I know, right?" But then Akia realized Jasmine wasn't looking at her phone. She looked flabbergasted.

"What?" puffed Akia.

Jasmine was fixated on the tv monitor hoisted above her playing the five o'clock news.

Depicted on the screen was a picture of him. The news anchor was advising people to remain on alert as the police were expecting him to be passing through the city some time tonight or tomorrow, and to stay indoors if at all possible.

Jasmine's heart was pounding. She hung on every word.

"...What people are calling the most notorious man-woman tandem since the infamous 'Bonnie and Clyde,'" the reporter announced.

"...Caleb Morris, son of billionaire mogul, John Morris, was a straight-A student throughout high school, even securing admission to one of the most prestigious universities in the country. Unlike his father, who was well-known for his flamboyant and boisterous manner, Caleb was an introvert, and a dedicated gamer. He and his partner first met in junior high, but they shared little to no interaction until their later years in high school, and from there, a romance blossomed. While it is unclear how these two kindred spirits found common ground in a love for robbing banks, certain mysteries just seemed destined to go forever unsolved..."

"Hey...isn't that ol' boy who used to come in and flirt with you?" Akia chimed in. "Wow! And he's a billionaire, too. Out here robbin' banks S-M-H. He's actually kind of hot, too. What a shame."

"You don't even know the half of it, girl," she lamented. Akia stared at her, wide-eyed.

"Jasmine...you liked this guy, didn't you?"

Jasmine's face turned redder than she had ever seen it.

"You did!" Akia exclaimed.

"I did not!"

"OH MY GOD. Bitch. Did you SLEEP with him!"

"OH MY GOD, AKIA NO!" She covered her burning red face as she giggled.

"I sweartogod if you're lying to me, bitch."

"I swear I did not sleep with him, okay?"

"So that's Jasmine's type, huh? The quiet bad boy."

"First of all, you're a whore," Jasmine playfully chided. "Second of all, get this customer."