Friends or Frenemies

I closed the studio after Axel was gone and went straight home afterward.

He appeared like a ghost and left like a calm wind that not even his parents or sister knew he had even arrived in town, just like what happened a year ago.

The name of the movie theater where I work, 'Inferno,' or 'Big Shag,' was changed by the owner; despite this, people in this town still call it Big Shag.

It was never full on a Wednesday afternoon.

I had just returned from school to put on the terrible orange shirt and ridiculous cap.

I cleaned the counter, which Sarah again had made messy because she always eats fries on the counter and never corrects the customers not to eat anything on the counter.

"So what is the high school drama like now?"

I rolled my eyes and continued wiping the counter.

"Come on, Ava"

I slammed the rag on the counter and faced the customers in front of me with my professional smile.

"How may I help you, Please?"

"two tickets to 'the Ostrich'"

The customer said, handing me his credit card.

I see Tessa rolling in an older woman in her wheelchair. This woman had an elegant feature, her nails were painted, and her makeup was mild.

She gives the warm feeling of hot chocolate.

On the other hand, Tessa scorned her face, searching the area for any familiar face. She frowned more when she saw it was me.

"Two tickets to 'the Ostrich'" I smiled and looked at Tessa

"Hi, Tessa" I took the credit card and made the transaction.

"Ah, a friend of Tessa__."

Tessa interrupted the woman, "She is not my friend! Mom"

"Oh, so sorry, dear, I also want two popcorn and 2 drinks" I watch Tessa bends down to whisper to her mother.

"Where will we get that kind of money to replace it?"

Tessa's mom pecked her cheeks, and she smiled; it was the first time I had ever seen Tessa smile so brightly.

"Don't worry, dear; my novel is becoming a big sale."

She still had a grin on her face, even with me around.

"What the hell is taking so long?" a guy shouted from behind.

Tessa twisted, and I stretched from the counter to see who was talking. Instantly Tessa sulked at the guy.

"Wait, isn't that Trampy Tessa" a girl in his friend group pointed out, and everyone laughed.

"How is your mother doing?" the guy asked, ridiculing her as he held a smoothie in his hand. "still using a wheelchair like her life depends on it? I remember when you were so rich, thinking you were above us. How high did you fall, eh?"

They all laughed

I observed as Tessa's mother held Tessa's hand to stop her from causing any trouble. Tessa bit her lips hard to restrain herself.

It was then he noticed that Tessa's mother was behind her. He took a sip of the smoothie first before he continued talking.

"Sorry, Miss Woods, but just so you know, your daughter gives the best blow job."

"Moda Fucker!" I shouted. He looked shocked to see me calling from the counter.

"I bet your mother didn't teach you home training because she was too busy spreading her fuckin legs just so she could create someone that is not like you, and your father took one look at you and was like that was just a waste of cum. Bitch! Bitch!" the girl pointed to herself while looking around to know if it was her I was talking to.

"Yes, you Bitch! I guess trash attracts trash, so next time you want to bring Tessa and her mother into your garbage truck, just know they don't belong in your circle."

Sarah raised her hands to clap for me, and so did everyone. I could see that everyone in their group was pissed and embarrassed.

The guy glared at me and smashed the smoothie he was holding in his hands to the floor.

"Am out of here; who needs to watch some fucked up movie anyway!"

His friends repeated his action and left the line.

Tessa's mother had a grin on her face.

"and you said you were not friends" Tessa took the tickets and rolled her mother in

"we're not," she said.

A few minutes had passed after the incident. I had convinced myself I wasn't going to get fired for the commotion I had instigated, even after I mopped the floor and returned to the counter as if nothing had happened.

I crouched as soon as I saw Cleo and Liam enter the movie theater; they hadn't told me they were going on a date.

"What are you doing down there?" Sarah asked.

"Cover for me," I whispered. Sarah leaned closer to me

"I said cover for me," I whispered as I crawled out of the counter while removing the ugly shirt.

My head hit a human leg as I crawled out of the employer's counter.

I looked up to see an amused Tessa.

"Your cap" I tilted my head.

"Your cap," she said again.

She drew closer to me and removed the cap on my head.

"Oh"

It was then it occurred to me that she must have seen what had gone on there.

"Whatever," she handed me back the cap in my hands.

"I just wanted to say thank you for what happened out there" She leaves me puzzled. She comes to a halt and looks at me.

"Just so you know, we are still not friends."

I nodded. If Dani was confusing, Tessa was a different ball game. It made me wonder why all of them were so weird in their friend group.