MICAH BLEU

I force my eyes not to look in Weston's direction because I have no idea how to act, anger bubbling up inside me like I've never felt before. I stand by the front door, saying goodnight to our last few remaining customers.

Weston and his guests are the last out of the building, smiling politely as they stare me down from tonight's antics. Probably ruining their experience and their business deal but I don't care for him, not after that little stunt he just pulled.

He follows his clients, his gaze clocks on me. "Goodnight," he smiles before nodding politely in my direction.

"I'm not a charity you know," I blurt as he steps one foot out of the door.

He stops in his tracks and slowly turns back to me, one hand keeping the door open. My skin feels a slight breeze from the draft. "I never said you were," he comments as he straightens out the sleeve of his navy blazer.

I force myself not to look at his actions and lay them firmly on his eyes that look so incredibly intimidating. "You had no right to do that," I shake my head at him.

Weston shoots me an odd look. "All you had to do was say thank you," he says as his lip curves slightly at the side.

"I don't want your money," I say bluntly before folding my arms over my chest like a spoiled child. There is no way that I am backing down from this, no matter how childish I currently look. I will never get over the sheer embarrassment of getting a pathetic handout.

"Sounds like you might need it," his voice is soft. Even though his words sound like he's trying to out smart me, he sounds genuine. There is nothing sarcastic or patronising in his tone.

I blink back at him in an attempt to gather my thoughts as quickly as possible. "Maybe you shouldn't be listening to other people's private conversations," I shoot back, my tongue feeling tied.

A sigh escapes Weston's lips, a hand swiping its way through his tousled hair. "Private conversation in a public toilet?"

I want to punch him, no exaggeration. My stomach twists in knots and I hate the way it makes me feel. "I'll give it to a homeless charity if you don't let me give it back," I say eventually, a clear aggression in my tone.

Weston shakes his head at me like somehow this is meant to affect him. "Do what you want with it, it's yours now," he breathes out quickly. "Goodnight, Micah."

He pushes the door and steps out, letting it shut slowly behind him. My eyes watch him through the glass as he leaves. I stand routed to the spot for a few moments, my head trying to wrap around what the hell just happened.

I wipe my hand across my forehead and begin to walk back to the till, Abel is already waiting for me. "So?" He catches my attention. "What happened?"

"Basically it's because of the conversation he overheard in the toilet," I grumble.

Abel's eyes shoot wide. "Yeah maybe we should have checked before we spoke about that. I'm sorry, Micah."

"I just feel like an idiot," I shake my head and look up at the ceiling. "I can't even express to you how embarrassed I am."

"Don't be embarrassed," he tries to comfort me. "He probably gives big tips out a lot, to him it's nothing."

"But to me it's everything," I lean onto the waiter stand. "I can't help it if I feel like some charity case, if he didn't hear that conversation he wouldn't have given me the money. My life just sounds so pathetic."

"It doesn't Micah," he reassures me. "You're in uni, trying to get by, supporting your mother. I think you need to give yourself some credit. You work hard for what you have, you should be proud."

My eyes flick up to Abel and give him a smile. "Thanks for the pep talk," I say, leaning up to press my hand to his shoulder.

"Anytime," he nods once. "You can be prideful and still accept help."

I stare back at him and let his words sink in.

. . .

As I swing open the front door to my flat, I was not expecting Valentina to be sitting at the kitchen table with multiple books spread out across the wood. I notice a monster energy drink sitting beside her as her eyes run over the words of a thick book.

She doesn't even glance my way until I shut the door firmly behind me, her dark eyes then find mine and she beams. They looked bloodshot and heavy, making me feel better about how I currently look.

"Hey," she says as she closes the book in front of her.

"Hey," I reply. "What are you doing?"

Valentina takes a quick glance at the mess on the table and sighs. "I've decided that I need to do an all nighter."

"Why?" I furrow my eyebrows at her before taking a few steps towards the fridge. "I thought your first exam isn't until next week?"

"Yeah exactly, that's why I need to study as much as possible," she hums before taking a swig of her energy drink.

I grab the carton of orange juice and place it to my lips. "Vee, don't burn the candle at both ends, you don't need to be doing an all nighter now."

"I just want to work as hard as possible, a few miserable weeks for an amazing grade and change to get an amazing job," she says before rubbing her eyes harshly.

"If you say so," I say before placing the orange juice back into the holder.

"How was work?" She asks, twisting around in her seat and facing her work once again.

I shrug as I kick the fridge door shut with the heel of my shoe. "Something weird happened today."

"What happened?"

My feet carry me to the chair opposite her and I sit down, pushing some of the paper out of the way to place my elbows down. "Some guy tipped me a thousand pounds."

I watch as her eyes widen at my words. "What?!" She yells loudly.

My head nods towards her. "I was talking to Abel in the toilet about our rent and this guy who is a regular at the restaurant overheard, then decided to tip me that much."

"Oh my god Micah, that's amazing!" Her eyes light up.

I shake my head at her suddenly. "No it's not Vee, I'm annoyed that he did that. You have no idea how embarrassed I felt, how does one tip someone a fucking grand?"

Valentina shrugs from across the table. "So you're going to not accept it?"

"I don't know," I say eventually. "I didn't want to accept it, it's pity money. But Abel tried to convince me otherwise."

"But it will help you tremendously Micah, you won't have to worry about finding the extra money over exams." She expresses. I know she's right but the pride inside my heart doesn't want to admit it.

My head turns to the wall. "I don't want him to know that I've accepted it and used it on myself though Vee, I can't."

"Who says he has to know?" She raises an eyebrow at me out of the corner of my eye. "If he ever asks which I know he wouldn't, say you gave it away or something. You'd be stupid not to accept it Micah, we are struggling as it is."

A deep sigh escapes my lips. I would be out of my mind if I turn down that kind of money when we need it. I'd just have to tell myself it isn't from Weston and instead I won it on a scratch card so I don't feel so bad. Fake it until you make it.

"Okay," I say as I push myself up from the table, the chair scraping against the floor harshly. "I know it would be stupid not to accept it, it's just hard to."

A small smile stretches out onto Valentina's lips, glad that I am thinking reasonably now. "So are you gonna see him again?"

"Who?" I ask as I grab my bag from the door.

"Your sugar daddy."

My head turns to her sharply, she snorts at my actions. "Do not ever say that again."

"Why? Because it's true?" Valentina folds her feet into her seat.

"Vee, please stop."

"Is he fit?"

"Vee—"

"Do you think he's attractive?"

"Vee—"

"Is he?"

"Yes," I hiss through my teeth. "Okay, he's fit. But that's it, he seems very business oriented and materialistic and I don't care for his looks or his money."

Valentina shrugs effortlessly, her shoulders bumping her short hair. "Nothing a quick shag with a millionaire won't solve," she says before dropping her eye into a causal wink.

"Oh my God, Vee, you are delusional," I exhale a breath as I look up to the ceiling, wanting to be anywhere but this conversation. "If you think I would sleep with him just because he's rich then... wow."

"So you'd sleep with him if he wasn't rich?" She gasps jokingly.

I want to hang my head in disbelief, there is nothing more I hate than being wound up. "Please spare me the shit, I can't deal with it tonight."

"I reckon it would be pretty good," she says enthusiastically before staring up at the ceiling dreamily. She doesn't even know what he looks like.

"Right," I say before walking towards my bedroom door. "I'm going to blame those energy drinks for your ludicrous thoughts. Goodnight."

Valentina laughs softly from behind me. "Goodnight," she says.

When I reach my room I want to scream at myself for leaving it in a God awful state, why do I always do this to myself?

I shuffle my feet through the endless amount of dirty clothes on the floor, knowing that I desperately need to do a wash tomorrow. Paper, books and pens everywhere. Surely I could have at least made my bed when I woke up but no, I neglect everything to study or work.

Deep down I know that the next few weeks are going to be extremely stressful. I already can't wait until exams are officially over and I am free from university forever. I want to be earning a decent living and in something that I enjoy, something I am passionate about.

Knuckling down and not getting much sleep doesn't appeal to me but getting a first and being proud of myself does. My mind wanders as I lower myself onto the bed and yet again I fall asleep before my head hits the pillow.