Lucy

“It’s not that bad, hun,” Daisy said, barely glancing up from the pizza she was working on.

It was probably the worst thing Lucy’d ever done, and she didn’t even realize how bad it was until it was too late. What did that even say about her?

That you’re a complete psycho.

Lucy considered the thought; it was so hard to tell where it had come from. Was it her’s or not?

“You don’t know, Daisy. You weren’t there.”

Lucy looked behind her; Kat was busy at the counter. She’d be fine if she didn’t raise her voice.

“I think we were almost friends, and I totally blew it.”

Lucy wiped her grubby hand across her Pizza Stack apron. A mix of flour and grease stubbornly clung under her nails.

Grime, she might never clean away.

“She’s a good girl,” Daisy said, “she’ll forgive you.”

“I doubt it. Besides, do I even deserve it?”

“People in love do crazy things.”

That was a stretch; even she wasn’t that doe-eyed about Tom.

“Gross, it’s not like I asked him to marry me. I just…”

“Just what, hun?”

“It’s just a dance…I thought it might, you know. Make things clear.”

“What needs to be cleared up?” Daisy asked, her voice calm and even, despite Lucy’s behavior. “You lo…like him. He’ll figure it out.”

“That’s what I want to clear up. I want to get him out of this place, see if he can see me any other way. But I can’t even get him to go for a coffee.”

“Then maybe things are already clear?” Daisy said. The compassion in her voice didn’t stop the question from stinging.

Lucy glanced back at Kat again. She was looking at Lucy, and both of them quickly averted their gaze and went back to work.

“I mean it,” Daisy continued, “she’s a nice girl. She’ll forgive you.”

“That’s only half the problem.”

“And what’s the other half?”

“Tom sees her…I mean, he sees her how…”

Daisy gave Lucy’s shoulder a firm pat.

“I know. You don’t have to say it if it hurts.”

Lucy sighed; her chest was too sore for this sort of thing.

“It wouldn’t be so tough if there were more options.”

Daisy playfully tossed some cheese over a fresh pizza crust.

“It can’t be that bad?”

“Did you grow up here, Daisy?”

“No, I settled here with my husband. I grew up in Tacoma.”

“Well, my graduating class will be 35, if everyone even makes it that far.”

Daisy’s eyes widened.

“Yeah, exactly,” Lucy said, faking a laugh. “It’s slim pickings out here. Multiple schools have to band together to even make sports teams. Tom was captain of a team that comprised multiple schools, Daisy. Cream of an extremely small crop!”

“Still, there has to be someone from your class worth giving a chance?”

“Well, there is a guy who sits in front of me in trig. He looks back at me now and then.”

“Oh? Is he cute?”

Lucy thought back to class, to the boy who turned to smile at her sometimes.

It was…strange.

“I think so,” Lucy lied.

“What’s he like?”

She…she couldn’t say…it was like his face had a screen over it—a fine mesh hiding the details.

“He has brown hair…and.”

“No, I mean, what does he like? What are his interests? Is he funny?” Daisy asked.

She had no idea.

She should know; he’d been in or around her classes all her life.

It was a small community…he lived just…

Where was he?

“Okay, be secretive if you like,” Daisy said jovially. “At least tell me his name so I can pretend like we’re gossiping.”

What’s his name, Lucy?

She couldn’t remember.

“I don’t think it really matters,” Lucy said, feigning a dismissive shrug.

Daisy squinted at her.

“For someone who doesn’t like the boy, you’re awfully secretive.”

Was there ever a boy there? Or like the rest of your life, is it just empty space?

“I don’t like him, Daisy, I don’t like anyone!”

Lucy slammed her half-finished pizza into the oven. The waft of hot air blew her hair back and stung her eyes, making them water.

Sure, pretend you aren’t just crying.

“I’m going to do some restocking.”

She stomped into the back and waited for the swinging door to settle before leaning up against a shelf and exhaling.

What was wrong with her?

Daisy was just trying to be nice, and Lucy freaked out. Plus, Kat probably saw her lose her shit too.

That’s just what she needed, more stories that would get to Tom.

It was okay; any second, Daisy would come back to check on her.

The moments passed under the flickering backroom light.

No one is coming.

Lucy tried to focus; she tried to break through the fog and clear her thoughts. She had to hear them clearly.

You’re all alone.

That wasn’t her voice.

But it’s okay, little witch. I’m here for you.

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