Thirteen Time Ch1: The Docks
“I can’t believe he made pushed up my deadline again!” You groaned loudly into your Akita plushie. “I told him that this part of the manuscript needed more time considering I had to do more research! And what does he do?! Pushed up another fucking week!”
Your roommate Alice sighed as you continued to roll in your bed. She placed her hot milk onto the side table before sitting by the edge and patting your head. You only groaned once more before rolling into her lap. “My editor is an ass”
“You could always get a new one”
“...but he’s a good editor” you sigh dramatically.
“Then don’t complain sweetie”. Alice began to stroke your (h/c) hair as you laid in her lap, a small habit that has formed between your friendship. “Besides, it’s only one week difference. How bad can it be?”
“It’s awful when you have writer’s block”
“Oof”
You turned your head around, looking up at the black haired girl. “Why couldn’t I be smart like you? I wish I had your brain” She started laughing.
“Bitch you don’t want my position! Medical school is such a pain in the ass. You’re the lucky one with your brilliant creative mind, and nagged a job right out of college”
“Shut uppp. You’re better than me”
“No I’m not. And make me” she said while slapping a pillow to your face.
You squealed and rolled off her lap in an attempt to escape her attacks, sitting on the floor giggling to yourself. Alice followed suit and sat next to you, giving you the chance to rest your head against her shoulder. “This is why you’re my best friend”
“This is why I’m your only friend”
“Ouch!”
“Kidding”, you both laughed together. This is what your life with her was like, sarcastic jokes and compliments that neither of you would truly accept.
Alice was there for your since the beginning of college, from the time you accidentally spilled ink on her white pants because of sleep deprivation, to your graduation last year, and even to your heartbreaks. She was always there.
“Hey, Alice”
“Yeah?”
“What time is it?”
“Bout 5:30, why?”
You got up from the ground, and grabbed your blue jacket from the floor. “I’m going to take a quick walk, maybe seeing the sunset will clear my writer’s block”. Alice leaned over your desk to toss a small box over to you.
“Don’t forget these”. You caught them, knowing very well that they were your candy cigarettes. “Still don’t understand why you like that stuff?”
“Because they are yummy” you replied happily. She only scoffed, shaking her head sighing. “Don’t wait up. I’ll be back in half an hour”
“Be safe”
“Will do!”
You started to head out of your apartment complex, walking down the street. You pulled your iPod out of your pocket and continued to walk down the street. “High hopes” was blasting through your headphones, and you honestly didn’t care about the people staring at you head banging in the middle of the side walk. Hell, you even made eye contact with them and mouthed the lyrics hoping they would sing along somehow (some did fortunately).
Eventually, you felt the cold breeze of the shore biting at your open skin. You zipped up your jacket close. Pulling out the candy box, you took out a candy cigarette and placed it between your lips.
You found a spot close to the edge of the wooden rail and leaned against it. Chewing the end of the candy cigarette, you found that all stress in your body left. The sun was close to falling behind the waves, giving the sky a red and purple ombré (you couldn’t help but take a photo for instagram). This is nice, you thought.
....
....
“No, no girl. Leave her be”
You felt a nudge at the end of your leg, seeing a small dog bitting at your jeans. If you were a cartoon character, your head would’ve exploded at how cute this dog was.
“Hi baby!” You said in an overly high pitched voice. You knelt down to its level, letting the cutie jump in your lap and lick your hand.
A low chuckle echoed your ear, making you realize that there was still the owner on the other end of the leash. Whoops.
“Seems like she likes you” ooohhh he’s British.
“Heh, I’m glad” you tried to look up at him, but with the sun in your face you really couldn’t get a good look. You held your hand in front of your face, making an awkward smile. “Sorry I petted your dog without asking first. She’s just really cute”
You got up. “No no, I don’t mind. I’m just surprised. Frankie isn't really open to people on the streets. You’re the first”
“I have been chosen” you joked around. The sun started to set behind the sea, but when you tried to look back at the man in front, your eyes took longer to adjust. All you saw of him was his baseball cap.
“Do you mind if I have one?” You cocked your brow.
“I’m sorry?”
“A cigarette. Do you mind if I have one?” He was pointing at the white stick at your mouth, and you pulled it away realizing what he was referring to.
“Oh, um yeah you can. But they’re not cigarettes. They’re candy cigarettes”
“Those things exist?”
“Yeah actually” you laughed out. “But they’re made of sugar rather than tobacco. So sorry”
“No it’s fine. Um” he paused and started to rub his neck. A little embarrassed that he didn’t realize the damn thing wasn’t even glowing. “C-Could I have one still?”
“Sure” you smiled back. You opened the box again, giving the stranger a white sugar stick (author: why does that sound like a weird lingo for a drug...). He placed part of it in his mouth, chewing at the end.
“Oh god, its so plain”
“It’s unique taste” you laughed at him.
The two of you ended up leaning against the rail. Watching the waves crash over each other through the slightly dim sky. You didn’t like pure silence, so decided to try and make a conversation.
“Based on the accent, I assume you’re not from here? Or at the very least, new around here?”
You heard a chuckle escape his mouth, and honestly it was pretty soothing. “Yeah. I’m not from around here”
“Visiting or work, if you dont mind me asking?”
“Sorta for work. I um...I just finished a big project with my friends. We’re celebrating here, and have a um, contest coming up”
“Oh cool! What research did you guys do? Wait! Are you the guys who participated in the research regarding experimental drug for those who suffer from extreme GAD?”
Even though it was dark, you didn’t have to see his confused face as you threw all these questions at him. Well, that and the awkward laugh gave it away. “I’m sorry, but, wh-what?”
You brushed your hair behind your ear, embarrassed. “Sorry. I just realized that project can refer to multiple things, and my brain immediately went to medical research for some reason”
“Are you medical student by any chance?”
“Oh god no, that field is too advanced for me. I just like reading about medical discoveries”. He smiled at your response, a little astounded at how excited you got over it. “Sorry about that”
“It’s fine” he laughed, almost spitting out the candy cigarette. “Our project was actually a film we’ve been working on. It’s been a long process”
He looked off at the distance. His hat was shadowing his face, but if you focused, there were distinct bags under his eyes.
“It must have been exhausting”.
“Yeah it was” He smiled lightly. “There were a few bumps in the road, but...we all managed”
He pulled the candy cigarette from his mouth, looking at the chewed end. Maybe it was the fact that he didn’t have a real cigarette that made him look depressed, but you knew that it was something else. Being the cheesy person you were, you pulled a penny from your pocket and placed it on the rail near him. “What’s this?” He asked.
“Penny for your thoughts? It, seems like those bumps were a bit more exhausting that the whole project”
“Am I that obvious?” He sighed when he grabbed the shiny cent.
“No. I’m just that good at reading people”. You leaned on the rail, twirling the candy between your teeth. “When people experienced hardships, they either need to talk about it, or push it away. What kind are you?”
“...with people I know...I push it away”. You leaned forward to look at him, the back of his head facing you.
“Well...luckily you don’t know me”
And for the first time throughout this whole conversation, this guy that you’ve been talking to for the past fifteen minutes, finally faced you. Your eyes adjusted to the darkness, and you could see him.
He was handsome, no doubt about that. Young, but at the same time, has worn out features such as his eyes. He gave you a full on smile, averting his eyes to the side.
“What’s your name?”
“...(y/n). Whats yours?” You smirked.
“I am Nobody”
you laughed at him again. “Odysseus fan, who would’ve guessed”
“You wouldn’t” he smirked as well. You paused at the conversation, thinking about what he said earlier.
“You asked me my name so you would get to know me. And therefore, not tell me your hardships, didn’t you?”
“...god damn you really are good at reading people aren’t you?”
“Good is an understatement”
You felt your phone ring, and when you looked down, you saw that it was a text form Alice.
Girl get your butt home. I am about to call the cops to get you home safe.
“Boyfriend?” He asked you.
“No. Best friend. My cue to leave”. You squat down to pet Frankie before you left. “By girlie”. You got back up. “Nice talking to Nobody new”
“It’s a good name”
“Just don’t take it seriously”
“What do you mean?”
You started to walk off the boardwalk a little, but looked back at him one more time. “Nobody means someone who isnt worth something. But if you look at it as another way, Nobody always refers to somebody”
“...you’re an interesting character aren’t you (y/n)?” You smiled at him, before giving Nobody a quiet nod and walked off the boardwalk. Passing by more people as you left.
Nobody, that’s absolute BS.
“Hey, there you are! Gwil and I have been looking for you everywhere”
Their friend only looked down the boardwalk, and they waved his hand over his eyes. “Ben?”
“...Rami. I”
“You good dude?”
“I...I just met someone”
“And?” Gwil started. Ben pulled the candy cigarette out his mouth, staring at it.
“Guys, where can I get more candy cigarettes?”