Previously: Zack nearly gets caught in a compromising situation in the Foreign Currency Room and makes a promise that we know he can’t keep.
-$12.71
Zack blinked at the balance on his phone’s banking app. Pay day was coming soon, but he would definitely incur some overdraft charges before then. And, Sydney had asked him to meet for a drink later, to talk about the Drake concert he had no business going to.
He ran a hand through his hair and paced around his apartment. Was it always this small? He flung open a window and gulped at the crisp spring air, and stuck his sweaty face as far out into the cool breeze as he could.
Outside, birds sang cheerful songs and the deciduous trees had started to push out noticeable buds. The vibrant colours and fresh smells of spring were emerging, but true spring was still hidden beneath the winter, like a reluctant sleeper trying to ignore the alarm.
Zack pulled at the neck of his T-shirt; the collar felt like a boa constrictor.
Ting!
Zack looked down at his phone as he slumped onto his ragged couch. Another message from his parents:
“Do you have time for a call?”
Zack sighed. He couldn’t ignore them any longer or they’d start to get worried. He tapped the FaceTime button and his face filled his screen. He looked exhausted. He had dark bags under his eyes and he hadn’t shaved in a few days. He tried to give his hair a quick tousle before they picked up.
The connection sound came up, and Zack was staring into the concerned faces of his parents.
“Hey!” Zack said, already resenting the fake cheer that he injected.
“Hey son,” his dad said. “How is everything? You get that car shit figured out yet?”
Zack’s mom elbowed his dad and tutted. “James, really!”
Zack felt his face colour. He had already been paid out for the car, but with the increase in rent, he couldn’t afford to buy another one. At least he was getting a little fitter from walking everywhere.
“No, I haven’t bought another car. I’m, uh… waiting to find the right one. You know, something that speaks to me.”
Zack’s mother saw right through the lie. “Do you need any help? Could we send you some money?”
“Thanks, mom. I—”
Zack’s dad harrumphed and waved his hands. “Zack doesn’t need a handout from us. He’s not some loser who needs to get bailed out by his parents. For Chrissake, Annie, the boy’s an adult now. I never had that when I was young.”
Zack grit his teeth. Tears welled up in his eyes. He swallowed the lump in his throat and put on his best smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Really.”
“See? He’s okay, Annie. All that floundering is a thing of the past.”
Zack’s mom hid her face behind her hands. “Do you have no filter, James? What if he needs our help?”
Zack’s cheeks burned. He wasn’t some kind of loser, he was just going through a rough patch. He had to swallow his pride and pull himself up by his bootstraps.
He needed time to dig himself out of the mess he’d found himself in.
The lie popped into his head like a deer prancing onto the highway. “Hey, guys? I actually have some news I wanted to share. I got an acceptance to go back to school!”
Zack’s mom audibly gasped. “Oh honey! That’s amazing! Which school is it?”
“Uh… it’s an online one. I’ll tell you more about it later. I’ve got to go. Thanks for the call! Love you.”
“Love you too, son.”
Zack saw their faces fall for a moment before they replied. Did they detect his lie? Zack smashed the end call button and threw his phone onto the couch. His leg bounced uncontrollably and he had to get up and pace around some more.
He marched around his dark apartment, all of the lights kept off at all times in order to save on electricity, and tapped his head. “Think!”
How could he make the money that he needed in order to save himself from the open maw of both the ruin of his finances and reputation?
The stove clock blared angry red numbers at him through the black kitchen. Almost quarter after four. Shit. Sydney. The drink was at five, and Zack still had to walk to the close by pub he’d suggested for the drink. He pulled off his shirt and turned on the shower.
——————————————————————————————————————
Zack swirled his paper straw through the glass of water he’d ordered at the Town Hall, the pub near his apartment. It wasn’t overly full, a few dedicated alcoholics at the bar and a smattering of couples and groups at some of the tables. ’70’s rock wafted through the air, competing with the clack of billiards coming from the back room.
The door opened, harsh daylight splashed over the wooden interior, and Sydney walked in. She was wearing a black dress with a mustard yellow blazer. Her short heels clicked and her curled hair bounced as she walked over to Zack’s table.
Zack dropped the straw and gawked at her as she sat down. She looked incredible, not even remotely the same as she did at work. “…Hi,” he managed.
She plopped a clutch on the table and shimmied into her bar height seat. She looked down into her lap. “Hey! I, uh, wasn’t sure what kind of drink this was, so I dressed up.”
Zack shook his head, incredulous. She was stunning. What kind of drink was this? He had thought that they would bullshit about work a little bit, and then Zack would tell her that he couldn’t take her to the concert, and then things would just go back to normal.
“Wow.” He said.
She blushed and giggled. A huge orange-bearded man in an apron came up to their table. He flipped open a notepad and held a pen at the ready. “Made any decisions?”
“I’m good with wate—” Zack started.
“Let’s have two pints of your best craft beer! Sound good Zack?”
Zack drew his lips into a thin line and swirled his water with the decomposing paper straw. “Yep.”
Red-beard scrawled on his pad and walked away.
“So…how has it been going?” Sydney asked.
It had been going horribly: things were moving swiftly from bad to absolute shit, and now he was going to ‘enjoy’ a beer that he’d be charged at least seven bucks for. “Yeah, pretty good, actually. Yeah. Good.”
Sydney tilted her head and examined him. “You sure? You seem a little…off. Look, I don’t know what was up with the Drake thing, but are you still interested in going?”
Zack tried to sit straighter and he worked his face into a semblance of a smile. “Yeah, sorry. I’m just nervous. You look…amazing. I’m kinda shocked.”
The drinks showed up, two towering glasses filled with cloudy, bright yellow beer. Zack sipped at it, the fruity, hoppy beer warmed his gut as it went down.
Sydney took a big drink of the beer and eyed him. “So, we are going to see Drake? Look, Zack. I like you, and I don’t know what this is here, but I’m not interested in beating around the bush.”
Zack spun the pint glass on the wooden table, condensation building up at the base of the glass. The truth was, he did like spending time with Sydney. She was thoughtful and had been helpful for him to navigate all of the investigation stress. And, she was drop dead gorgeous.
Would she still be interested if she knew that he was completely broke?
Zack took a swig of the beer in an attempt to calm his raging nerves. His knee bounced obnoxiously and he had to work to stop fidgeting. His heart rampaged in his chest. “So, even though the Drake tickets are reasonable, I’ve got to be honest. I have been struggling a little, money-wise, and I don’t think I can pay for the concert. But, I really enjoy hanging out with you and I’d, uh, like that to continue.”
Zack gulped and chanced a glance into her eyes. She sighed deeply. “That’s shitty. No joke, I was blaring “God’s Plan” on my way over here.”
Zack deflated. He stared down at his shoes. That’s what he expected. He nodded, coming to terms with the rejection and the fact that he was a complete failure. A loser. “Ok.”
“Hey.”
Zack sniffed and looked up.
Sydney smiled and touched his arm. “I didn’t say I didn’t want to hang out. I’d like to do that more too.”
Relief exploded in Zack’s chest like a breath of fresh air after a deep underwater swim. “That’s awesome.”
Both of their phones made a sound at the same time. Sydney checked the message. “Oh. Work.”
Zack pulled his phone out. It was from Cory.
“Hey guys, I’m going to need you to get everyone together for a quick announcement at the end of shift tomorrow, ok?”
“Oh, shit.” Zack said. He looked into Sydney’s brown eyes. They never had staff meetings for announcements. Whatever it was, Zack got the sick feeling that it wasn’t anything good.
Great writing! “Like a reluctant sleeper…”