AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You really want to know?”
“Yes,” I say desperately. “I really do.”
I just wait and watch as he lines up seven more pucks. He nails them, sinking each one into a different corner like clockwork.
“Get yourself a girl,” he says as he looks up at me with a grin. “Not a girl of the week. The girl. The one. Then, nothing else will matter. Not the lights or the crowd or the noise. Coming home to her will be the only thing that matters and everything else will just kind of fade away.”
I sigh as he skates over to collect the pucks.
That’s great advice and all, but where the hell is this magical girl?
It’s not like she’s just going to drop into my lap.
I sigh as I skate over to collect the pucks, feeling more hopeless than ever.
CHAPTER THREE
Norah
It’s like the end of an era.
After tonight, I’ll be the last of the original crew. Five years ago, I got a job at a new pub opening up and I’ve been here ever since.
I’m an Original. That’s what they call us. And after tonight, I’ll be the only one left.
Bridget met a guy online and moved to Australia, James got fired, Ivy had a kid, Zara went to work for her dad in Miami, Amir finished law school, Cole sells insurance, and now Lauren is leaving too.
She got a job as a data scientist for some huge engineering company. I still don’t understand what she’s doing even though she explained it a few times.
I’m happy for her, for all of them, but I still can’t help feel like I’m being left behind. When did everyone get together and agree to be proper adults? I guess I was off work that day.
“Oh, that’s so cute!” Samuel says when I pull out the cake I made for Lauren. We’re in the back while she’s tending the bar.
“I got candles too,” I say as I pull them out of my apron. “One for each year she worked here.”
“I can’t believe another Original is leaving,” Samuel says as I sink five candles into the cake. “You’re the only one left. Are you going to leave us too?”
I sigh as I search for my lighter. “No. I’m going nowhere.”
I’m a little jealous of these people, moving on and living normal lives with normal hours. Last night, I went to bed at four thirty and slept all day. It would be nice not having to keep the same schedule as a vampire.
It would be nice to have some career prospects and opportunities to look forward to. Something to work towards.
I guess I’ve fallen into a bit of a rut and Lauren leaving has made me realize it.
“Ready?” I ask when I find my lighter in the pocket of my giant zip-up hoodie. The boss doesn’t like it when I wear this sweater, but he’s not here so…
Samuel nods and shelters the flame with his hands while I light the candles.
It’s a quiet night with only a few tables of people talking and some regulars drinking at the bar. Lauren is doing a crossword puzzle.
“Ready,” I whisper as we turn the corner. “Go.”
Samuel and I start belting out a song off-key. Everyone stops what they’re doing and looks at us. Lauren bursts out laughing.
“Happy last day to you, Happy last day to you…”
The whole bar joins in and Lauren’s eyes tear up as we all sing to her as loudly as we can.
