Gemma woke up to the train, again. She managed to get enough sleep to get her through the workday, but only enough.
So much for getting a cheap apartment, They thought. Then their own words came back to them like a rubber band snap; 'I will take every opportunity to be grateful for my life.'
Gem looked around their cramped living space. The free couch she found outside the dumpsters. Her baby blankets from the domes she hung like tapestries. The rug they bought from their neighbor with her last bit of change. She sighed and got out of bed and readied herself for work.
The sun was already blazing at just 7am. Gem skated their way to Krak-On in their new roller blades. Off The Hook bumped in their earbuds. They felt like they were flying. Gemma's eyes closed for just a moment, soaking in the euphoria of the early morning. Almost immediately she felt her body suddenly stop and crash into another inkfish.
"Oh my starfish! I'm so sorry!" Gem cried. "Are you okay?"
The inkfish in question looked to be a Cuttling, about Gem's height, maybe a little shorter. She had rope-like tentacles tied up into a messy bun, and droopy eyes with green eyeshadow and lipstick. Her skin was a deep, reddish tone of brown. She had a round stomach that was complimented by her apron tied just below her breasts. This may have been the most beautiful individual Gem had ever seen. Her heart began to pound more in the couple seconds she laid eyes on her.
"Ah, it's alright!" She reassured Gem. "I didn't look before I walked outside, that's my fault."
She stood up and gave Gemma a hand to help her up. They scrambled up on their skates.
"I-I'm Gemma." They blurted. "I'm kinda new around here."
"I'm Pyra. It's nice to meet you. Come by the Happy Crab sometime for a bite." Pyra winked and grabbed the package that was resting outside the door, and walked back in.
Gemma stood there, her heart racing and face red.
It was hard to think about anything else during work that day.
