Jeff's POV
TEN WEEKS BEFORE

Beeep Beeep Beeep

I groaned.

"Oh, come on! In the best part of my dream! Ugh..."

I slowly sat up on the bed and turned off the alarm. I yawned. Blinking, adjusting my vision to the now light room, I checked the time.

10:04

That's a record. Last time my alarm managed to wake me up only at 10:09

My stomach grumbled.

"Well, breakfest time"

I got up from the bed and stretched my back. I paced towards the closet. Opening the closet, I chose a red T-shirt, jeans, and my dark blue hoodie.

'That should be it for the day'

I quickly got dressed, and exited my room, going to the kitchen. As I walked through my corridor, I figured that Matt probably was home, judging by the light and the smell of alcohol and weed coming from his room. With a sigh, I entered the kitchen to get breakfest.

I chose to make some waffles. I got the ingredients and started to prepare them. I usually go with a cereal and milk, but I guess that I can practice my "cooking skills".

When the waffles were done, I set them on the table and got a beer from the fridge. I had the terrible habit of drinking, and I really tried to stop, but it didn't work. I ate my food, taking a sip from the beer from time to time, and eventually the can was empty. That didn't really bother me. I don't get drunk easily. Unlike Matt. He couldn't drink a glass and BAM! Instantly drunk to death.

Speak of the devil. There was Matt, standing in front of the kitchen door, so drunk that he looked like a zombie. Plus, his eyes were red from smoking so much weed.

"Gooo...(hic) ffff... morni...g(hic), Feff..." He stuttered

"Morning, Matt. Big party yesterday huh?" I answered

Matt slowly nodded, pacing shakly towards the table. He took a long time to be able to grab the chair and sit on it.

"What about Amy? Finally confessed to Perla?" I asked, knowing that the blond liked to talk about his friends' dramas.

Matt shook his head in deny.

"And Molly? Are you guys still on the 'we like each other but are too chicken to confess' stage? Or you finally talked to her?" I teased.

Matt only looked at me and suddenly fell asleep.

'Typical Matt' I thought, chukling a bit

I left him there asleep and washed the dishes. Suddenly, i felt my phone buzz.

"Hello?"

"Hey bro! How you doin'?"

"Hey Mel! What makes you call me in a saturday morning?"

"Just to tell you some big news"

"What would those be?"

"Promise not to kill me"

"I'd never, sis"

"Alright then...

...

..."

"Mel..."

"Okay! I got a boyfriend"

Whoa! My little sister has a boyfriend?

"Who's the lucky guy, Melissa? I want to meet him"

"You don't know him yet. His name's Otto. He's such a nice guy, and he's so kind!"

"Yeah? Cool!"

"I told him you would like to meet him, so we agreed to meet you at 2 pm in front of the McDonald's where you work. He's got a car, so it wouldn't take so long"

"Ok, Mel. See ya!"

"See ya, bro!"

With this, I hung up. I was still a little surprised with the news. Melissa was only 15 and she already had a boyfriend. Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy for Mel, I just didn't think she would start dating someone right now. And I'm happy she decided to tell me first. That made me wonder if she had told our grandparents about it. Probably not. They would have completely ignored her anyway, so there's no point on telling them. For them, Mel is just a hungry dog that they have to feed and give a house to, and then kick her out when she becomes an adult. Just like they did to me.

My phone buzzed again, snapping me out of my thoughts.

'What's up with all these calls today?'
I thought

"Hello?"

"Mr. Jefferson?"

Oh, great! It was my manager's voice. Exactly what I needed... (notice the sarcasm)

"Yes, sir?"

"Oh, Jeff. Good morning."

"Good morning. Why did you call me, sir?"

"Oh, yes. That. Well, it happens that Melody skipped work today..."

'Well, she's damned.' I thought to myself

"...and I thought you could replace her for today. What do you think? You'll be payed for the extra work."
I internally growled

"That's fine by me."

If I was in a normal condition right now, I would have refused. But I really need that money. I can barely pay my bills and room rental with what I already gain.

"Great! You must be here at 1:30 ok?"

"Ok, sir. I'll be there"

Conversation ended, he quickly hung up.

'Crap. I was going to meet Mel today! Well, at least she said we could meet at the restaurant, so I'd still see her anyway' I thought.

Suddenly, a disgusting noise drove me back to reality. I gasped, already knowing what it was. I turned my head and saw what I already expected to happen.

Matt was vomiting on the floor.

'Oh boy' I thought, rolling my eyes 'This is gonna be one of THOSE days.'

____little time skip____

It was 1:27 pm. The Shopping Mall was filled with people of all kinds. Through the glass ceiling, the sky could be seen, and the sun rays gave the building an additional light.

I was walking down the hall, looking at the stores with a melancholic expression. I sighed. I knew that Mall too much. I have been working here since I was like 19. Well, I'm 22 right now, but crap, how three years make a lot of difference.

I felt like the people were invisible, or didn't even exist. It was me, that mall and the boring work I had there.

After walking a bit, I got to the Restaurant Plaza. That was the place where most of the people were right now. Of course, many were having lunch.

I headed down to the single fast food restaurant there. McDonald's. Heaven for those who like to feel the smell of gross fat and artificial meat and love to get the junky stuff all over their faces like it was a piece of heaven itself. Hell for normal people like me.
(A/N: Lmao, sorry if you like McDonald's, please don't hate on meh, remember that's Jeff's opinion )

With a sigh, I headed to the employee door. As I entered, I was greeted by Charlotte, one of the other employees.

"Good afternoon, Jeffy!" She said, showing off her blinding white smile as always.

I blinked at her with a totally uninterested face.

"I already told you not to call me 'Jeffy', Charlotte." I groaned.

She giggled.

"I'm sorry, Jeff. I couldn't help it! You're soooo cute with that grumpy face!" She was still smiling like an idiot. Seriously, this girl has problems.

"I'm gonna work now, so leave me alone, please." I sighed

"Fine by me Jeffy... Oh, sorry, I mean Jeff."

I groaned again. This girl knows how to piss me off. She's so annoying.

"Where's my uniform? I can't work in this hoodie, ya know."

"Over there, near the employee bathroom! Have a happy day with work, sweetie pie!"

'Sweetie pie? Ugh...' I thought

Heading to the bathroom, I grabbed my uniform. I entered the bathroom to change.
I changed and, leaving my clothes on a shelf next to the bathroom, headed to the balcony to work.

Jeff's work ^^^^^

~~~~~~~~time skip 'cuz I'm lazy~~~~~~~~~

"How can I help you, ma'am?" I sighed, faking a smile

"Um, I want..." She stopped to think. When there's a heck ass long line behind her. She stopped to think.

Damn this woman. Damn this restaurant. Damn this work. Damn this mall. Damn my life.

"... A chocolate milkshake please." She finally said.

"Which size?" I grumpily asked.

"Um, well... is the medium one too big?"

Behind her, people are starting to shout at me. As if it was my fault.

"No ma'am, it's 500ml."

"Yes, but how big is it?"

I stomped to where we kept the plastic cups and grabbed the 500ml one. I put it right in front of her.

"This size."

She looked at the cup, thinking. Oh gosh, those people behind her, they are SO GOING TO KILL ME.

"It looks too big for me. How about the small one? What's the size?"

'HERE WE GO AGAIN' I shouted inside my head.

I went to the place again and grabbed the 300ml cup. I slammed it in front of her face. I was losing my temper. It was already 3 Pm, and Mel had just called me saying that they wouldn't come because Otto apparently had eaten something out of date and was vomiting his insides out. So no chance of seeing my sister until next two weeks.

"That's the 300ml size?" The woman asked

"Yeeesssss, maaa'aaam.... It is."

"It's too small."

'ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME??!!?!?' I internally shouted again.

"So which one do you want?" I groaned.

"Actually, none, just cancel my order."

She then turned and left.

'AAAAAARRRRRRGHHHHHH'

"Next." I sighed.

The next in line was a boy about my age, with black hair and a painted blue lock. His eyes were as green as a leaf and he had large bags under them. He was wearing a dark green hoodie with the symbol of a darker green sword. I think it's from a computer game, but I'm not sure. He was also wearing black jeans and I had the impression of seeing a tint of black eyeliner around his eyes.

"How can I help you?" I asked, a bit interested in this boy. He looked a bit out of the ordinary.

"I... I-I would like a... Cheeseburger and... a Coke. Please."

His way of talking got me surprised. He looked a bit anxious. Maybe he's just really shy and socially awkward.

"Okay. It'll be ******* dollars." I said, while writing down his order. (A/N: I won't say any prices in this book because I'm Brazilian and I really don't have ANY idea what anything in the USA costs :v)

He took the money out of his pocket and handed it to me. I handed him the paper.

"When this number appears on the screen, you can get your order, 'kay? Have a nice day."

"Thank you, sir." He said.

I watched as he walked towards an empty table and sat down. Then I turned and called Charlotte, who was in the kitchen.

"Hey Charlotte, get a Cheeseburger and a Coke please!"

"Comin' right up, sweetie!"

'Sweetie?'

I groaned.

"She your girlfriend?" The man who was in the front of the line asked.

"No! Ugh! God help me if she was!" I answered

~~~~~I'm lazy af sorry~~~~~~

3:08
Finally the line was over and the costumers were all eating. Everything was working around perfectly.

I took the time I had now to look at the weird boy from earlier. He had finished his hamburger and coke and now he was just scrolling through his phone.

Yes, I'm pretty much of a creepy stalker.

Then, out of nowhere, two huge guys appeared next to the boy and started messing around.

"Hey, Timmy-crybaby." Said one of them

"That nick...name is ridi...culous." The boy spat, not looking away from the screen.

"Well it fits yo, nerdy bitch." The other guy yelled, punching the table. He grabbed the boy by the collar of his hoodie and hanged him over the chair. The asshole sure was strong.

The boy looked nothing but calm. He looked like he was so used to this kind of treatment.

"Wanna fight, lil' bitch? Huh? I got a fight right here, nerd! Come on!" The guy continued to yell.

The boy was surprisingly calm and still.

Then the other guy (not the one holding the boy) punched his face. I stood there, shocked. Poor boy. He had no chance against those giants.

The guy laughed maliciously.

"Like that? There's more from where this came!" He yelled, lifting his arm for another punch.

Then I decided I had to do something. I don't know why or what made me do this but I rushed out of the restaurant, jumped over the balcony and stood in front of the guy.

"Hey! Go mind your own business, man! This is a shopping mall, not a wrestling arena!" I yelled

The guys looked at me like they were lions and I was a zebra. The guy who was holding the boy set him free. The boy just fell, face on the ground.

"You know who you are talking to?" He shouted-whispered.

"Yes. Two bullies with no respect for a fine young man who just wants to be alone."
I answered

I don't know if they hit my head or just knocked me to the ground. All that I know is that it hurt, and soon after I was engulfed by the darkness.

Before I completely lost my senses, I could swear I heard a faint and distand voice

"th...thank you"