Justin stared blankly at the fridge. Cheese…half a bottle of Pepsi…two bottled waters and Milk. 

“At least with milk I can have cereal.” He thought to himself. Justin lazily dumped some cheerios into a bowl and reached for the milk. It felt too light. He set it back in the fridge to save for Niko incase he woke up. He ran his cereal under warm water and added loads of sugar to try to hide the bland taste. Maybe if he told himself enough it was milk, he would actually believe it. 

He picked up the phone to call his cousin Angela. They used to see each other a lot when they were younger considering both of their mothers were from the same breed in more ways than one. Angela was the only person who understood him when she talked about his mom. 

“Hey Angela.”

“Sunshine! It’s about damn time you called me!”

“I know…I know…I suck. I’ve been busy though with school and picked up a few extra shifts at the club.”

“You're still working there?” Angela sounded worried.

“It’s good money. I haven’t found any other place that can match what I make there and even now I’m struggling with what I get at the club, there is no way I can work for any less. If anything I need to work at a place that pays more.” 

“Alright…I won’t try to change your mind. You gotta do what you gotta do and I can respect that. What else is up?”

"I met a guy..."

"Uhh and waited this long to tell me? Why? Is he horribly disfigured?”

Justin laughed out loud, “No he’s actually gorgeous.”

"Weeelllll whats he like?"

"He's not my type really, except that he's kind of a bad boy. On the outside his life looks pretty perfect but I know it’s filled with drama; a lot of secrets."

“Is this one of those guys your’e going to try to fix?” Angela sighed.

“I don’t know. That wasn’t my intention but he just kinda fell into my lap and I’m enjoying it for what it’s worth while its beginning. No titles have been put on anything and I’m taking it day by day.”

“Sounds decent.”

"Yeah, but I'm so broke, Ang. Yesterday, all I ate was cereal. Today, all I’m eating is cereal. Yuck! if I eat one more bowl of soggy cheerio's..."

"Jus, lemme send you some money….."

"Nah, its okay I talked to Grandma, she said she is going to send me rent money and a little extra. Really though it sucks being poor. Yet here I am, dreaming of all the new clothes I want and the truck I want to buy. Oh well, eventually I'll make more than fucking pocket change, right? Seems like my paychecks are getting smaller and smaller too. God, my income is laughable. How am I surviving again?"

“You’ll make it, Justin, You’re a strong one, that’s for sure. Any news from your mom?”

“I don’t think she is ever coming back. And if she tried, I don’t want her back. I will not let her and her tweaker friends steal everything I have worked to get for me and Niko.”

“Now that you mention him, how are things with the lil’ man?”

“Aww, things are great. As far as I’m concerned my mom doesn’t deserve to even know him. Anyways, he seems to like my date well enough, which is a good sign.”

“That’s good! Well it was great hearing from you. I gotta get to work though. Don’t be a stranger, don’t wait so long to call again and maybe I’ll try to save up some money to get out there to see you.”

“Okay…I love you.”

“I love you too, take care of yourself, Justin.”

Justin hung up the phone and slid down to take a seat on the cold tile kitchen floor. He poked around at the nasty cereal floating in the bowl. At this moment, he really needed something promising to look forward to. Maybe Friday with Brian would be able to take his mind off all the stress that seemed to consume his everyday life. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


“I am so tired it hurts to blink.” Justin closed his eyes and leaned his head back against his locker.

“What time did you get in last night?” Breanna asked.

“Oh jeez I don’t even know - close to 4am I think. I was supposed to work until 2 but then decided to stay because one of the other guys couldn’t make it in and I need the money so I stayed.”

“What do you have first period?”

“Fuck! My chem. test. I totally forgot about that. I’ll catch you at lunch I want to look over my notes for a few before the bell rings.” Justin hurried into class praying he would be able to retain the information he had worked so hard on all week for the test. 

There was no time at all for to review notes, the second he sat down the bell rang. He took a deep breath as the test was passed back to him and wrote his name at the top. Half asleep he randomly circled answers and then glanced over at Brian. It was clear that he was taking his time reading each question a few times before he scratched down his answers. The little wrinkle in his nose when he concentrated made Justin smile inside. He deserved to pass this test and he probably would. He, on the other hand, well it seemed that his lack of sleep had taken over his brain and caused it to black out. He couldn’t remember anything he learned the entire week. However, all he could think about was going home to take a nap and failing his test was the last thing on his mind. Justin walked his test to the front of the room, setting it on Mr. Bolloski’s desk, and then went back to his seat. He crossed her arms and rested his head down…. accidentally closing his eyes and drifting off.

“Hey… wake up,” Justin felt someone gently shaking his shoulder. His eyes opened slowly and he looked around the room noticing it was empty except for Brian who was standing over him.

“Are you sick or something?”

“No, I’m just really tired I didn’t get to bed until way late.”

“Why?” Brian was helping him clear his desk and the two of them headed to their second class.

“Umm I was…well I… Niko was up all night I think he was having nightmares or something.”

“I see. Are we still on for tonight though?” 

“Of course, 7:30?”

“Yeah I’ll pick you up,” the two of them took side by side seats in ceramics. 

Justin spent most of the day paying attention for the first half of class and then sleeping through the second. He was disappointed in himself, but couldn’t keep his eyes open. Working late nights at his job had to give, because his school work couldn’t continue to suffer. 

Finally when the day ended he decided to ask Breanna for a favour.

“Hey Bree can you keep Niko at your house after school until after my date? I really want to go straight home and take a nap before I have to get ready to go out tonight.”

“No prob.” 

“Great, thanks.”

Justin got into his car and drove straight home. Not even bothering to turn any lights on, he went straight to the bedroom and changed before jumping into bed. His entire body ached and his heavy eyelids instantly locked closed. 

A few hours later….

Brian stood in front of his closet in just a pair of jeans. He shuffled through his shirts trying to find one that matched. This was his first date ever and he wanted to look perfect. Deep down he was surprised at himself for actually going through with this. Years ago he promised himself he would never try out dating, he would never invest time into relationships, he would never get married….he would NOT end up like his parents. 

Finally he settled on a blue and yellow Abercrombie & Fitch button down shirt. As he buttoned the first few he looked down at his hands. They were slightly shaking. He was so nervous. He glanced at the clock, which read 7:15 in bright blue numbers. He grabbed his keys off of his dresser and ran down the stairs. He didn’t want to be late. 

“Ma I’m goin’ out,” Brian called into the living room from the hallway.

“Be home by midnight or I’ll come over and drag you home!” Joan warned, wary of his late night habits.

Brian drove to Justin’s house with a mixture of excitement and nerves brewing inside his stomach. As he pulled into the driveway he wondered why all of the lights were off…….