Page 19 of Devilry

Honestly, it doesn’t bother me that they have access to money, and their parents shower them in it. It’s what parentsshoulddo, but if I was ever going to be jealous of these two, it wouldn’t be about their money. It would be about their parents. Even if they believed money solved everything, and often used it as a bargaining chip, they still cared. In a fucked up way, they cared, and it was a lot more than mine did.

“My parents aren’t well off,” I say flippantly. “And I’d rather wait till hell freezes over before asking them for anything.”

The dismissal in my voice is enough that they don’t probe, and I’m grateful for it. I’ve already said a little too much, and if I can help it, family is never something I want to talk about. I figured out early on, if you don’t talk about it, nobody can ask you about it.

“I would really love a job, though,” I say, steering us back on topic. “Have you guys seen anything around?”

“What are you good at?” Callie pulls out a pen and paper. She does this a lot, I’ve noticed. According to her, everything deserves a list. “And what job experience do you have?”

“Um.” I run my hand over my face. “I worked in a diner back in Kent, and I can make café style coffee.”

“Oh wait,” Callie claps in excitement. “Can you do those cute designs on them too?”

I hold up a finger for her to wait while I finish chewing my food. Taking a quick swig of water, I answer. “I have been known to make some fancy looking hearts in my time.”

“Excellent.” Without any more discussion, she continues to add to the list and I wonder what else she’s writing since ‘making coffee’ and ‘diner’ don’t take that long.

“What about working in the library?” Aiden suggests.“Or asking some of your professors if there’s stuff you can assist with?”

Just like the word association game, the mention of a teacher triggers an all too appealing visual of Professor Huxley in my mind.

“But do those jobs pay? I thought they just helped you earn extra credits.” Callie muses. “Unless it’s that professor of yours we just saw. I would work for free, for him.”

You and me both.

“I would like to earn extra credits.” They turn to me confused. “Why not?”

“You want a job, you want to give up your time to the people who already take enough of ours, and you expect to have a social life?” They both stare at me with disapproving looks as Callie continues to dress me down. “Are you trying to run yourself into the ground?”

“I’ve never had a social life, so I’m not really giving anything up.” I pick up a fry and pop it into my mouth. “I don’t need one.” They’re both so horrified it’s almost comical.

“What about us?” Callie pouts.

“Come on, guys, be serious for a second. I need to keep my scholarship and have a little bit of money to help me get by. Plus, no social life means I’ll spend less money.”

“You’re one hell of a party animal,” Aiden sneers.

Callie backhands his shoulder, and I try my best to not be bothered by his assumption that I’m the boring kid. I remind myself it’s by choice, and it’s a necessity.

“Honestly, Eli, it’s a good idea.” Callie is speaking to me, but looking at Aiden. “And it will mean that we’ll remain your best friends, because you won’t have time for others. I like it.”

“I guess that’s one way to look at it.”

“You’ll soon come to realize I’m the queen of the glass half-full movement.”

She smiles at me, happy and infectious, and I return it. Unlike Aiden, she’s never sullen or moody. She also isn’t taking my life choices unexpectedly personally.

Losing my appetite, I fork my food around my plate, while Callie and Aiden fill in the silence with unnecessary babble. Reminiscing about their pasts and laughing at their own jokes, they are talking enough that I never have to.

Dragging my cell out of my pocket, I check the time to see how long I have before my next class.

“Guys, I’m going to head out,” I announce, rising from my chair. “I’m going to stop in at the library and see if they have any jobs available there.”

“Are you going to be okay?” Aiden asks, glancing at my leg.

“Yeah, man, it’s getting better each day.”

“Don’t forget to take a hard look at the notice boards,” Callie pipes in. “Sometimes businesses leave flyers there for students to see, but they get buried.”

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