phone[7]

Claire sat alone in the living room, the cracked screen of her phone glaring back at her like a mocking reminder of how useless it had become. She glanced at it again, tapping the glass in frustration, willing it to work. But it barely responded. The thing had been hanging by a thread for months now. She could barely send a text, let alone browse anything properly.

She could have asked Lukas for a new one, but that wasn't happening. The cold tension that had built up between them made her feel like even the simplest request would feel like a betrayal of her pride. No, if she wanted a new phone, she'd have to get it herself.

Sighing, Claire set the phone down and got up to grab Lukas's laptop. She didn't care how awkward it was using his stuff—if he didn't like it, he could deal with it. She needed something to occupy her mind, and she figured looking for a job was a good place to start.

It didn't take long for her to find something a pizza delivery job for a place just a few blocks away. The pay wasn't amazing, but it would be enough to get her a phone. The ad promised flexible hours, and she didn't mind the idea of driving around. At least it would keep her busy.

She applied, not expecting much, but to her surprise, she got a call back almost immediately. They set up an interview for that afternoon. After a quick shower and a change into something more presentable, Claire left the house, feeling more determined than ever to prove she could handle this on her own.

—

The pizza shop was small but busy. It was tucked away on a quiet street, its neon sign casting a warm glow that contrasted with the chilly evening air. Claire stepped inside, the scent of cheese, pepperoni, and garlic filling her nose. It was the kind of place where people came for a quick slice, or a delivery if they were too lazy to cook.

The manager was a man named Tom, a little too eager to shake her hand when she walked in. He had the kind of smile that made her uneasy, wide and overly friendly. She forced a smile back, trying to shake off the feeling as he led her behind the counter and showed her the schedule. The place was busy, especially on weekends, so she'd be expected to deliver a lot.

After a quick rundown of the job, Tom had her fill out some paperwork and get started. It was simple work—take orders, prepare pizzas, and then head out on deliveries. But every time she came near Tom, his eyes lingered on her just a bit too long. She caught him staring more than once, and it made her feel uncomfortable, but she pushed it aside. It was just a job. She could handle it.

—

Her first delivery was straightforward. A quick drop-off at a nearby apartment complex. But by the time she returned, Tom was waiting for her with an overly enthusiastic greeting.

"Hey, Claire," he said, flashing her a grin. "How was it? You doing okay out there?"

She nodded, trying to keep things professional. "It was fine, just a little slow. But I'm good."

"That's great to hear. You're doing great so far," he said, leaning against the counter. "If you ever need anything like a break, or if you get tired of all this let me know. I've got a nice office in the back. You know, to unwind a bit. I can show you around, if you'd like."

Claire forced a tight smile. She didn't want to make a scene, but she couldn't help but feel weirded out by his tone.

"I'm fine for now," she said curtly. "Just focusing on the deliveries."

Tom didn't seem to take the hint. He kept standing there, still watching her with that strange grin, like he was waiting for her to crack. Claire excused herself and grabbed the next order.

—

The night dragged on. She made a few more deliveries, each one more annoying than the last. The pizza boxes started to feel heavier, the air colder, as Tom's lingering presence continued to unsettle her. He would come over, lean a little too close when handing her the orders, and try to make small talk. At one point, after returning from a particularly difficult delivery, he tried to convince her to "take a break" with him in his office.

"Come on, Claire," he said, a little too eagerly, "You've been running around for hours now. Why don't we go in the back and have a chat? I've got some paperwork to do, but I could always use company. Plus, you're new, right? I could show you the ropes."

"I'm fine," Claire responded, her patience starting to wear thin. She just wanted to finish her shift, get paid, and go home. But Tom wouldn't let up.

"You sure?" he asked again, this time taking a step closer to her. "It's not all about work, you know. Sometimes you've gotta enjoy yourself too. Maybe I can show you some of the perks here. A little extra something for someone who's... special."

Claire's blood boiled. The flirting was relentless, and it wasn't even subtle anymore. She shot him a cold glare.

"I'm just here to work," she snapped, her voice cold. "I'm not interested in anything else."

She grabbed her jacket from behind the counter and stormed out the door, not even waiting for him to respond.

—

The rest of the evening didn't get any better. She made more deliveries, but with each return, Tom seemed more persistent. His attempts at flirting escalated, and by the time her shift ended, Claire was furious. She didn't need this. She didn't need him.

She quickly changed out of her uniform in the back and shoved her things into her bag, ready to leave. Tom was still hanging around, but when he saw her walking toward the door, he called after her.

"Hey, Claire, wait up. Don't leave like that. Come on, let me show you something. You deserve better than all this delivery stuff. Why don't we talk about it?"

Claire didn't even stop to respond. She pushed open the door and stepped outside, slamming it behind her. The night air hit her like a slap in the face, but it didn't clear the anger swirling in her stomach.

She couldn't take it anymore. The whole night had been a nightmare. Tom's unrelenting advances, the pressure to be nice and polite while he crossed every boundary she was done.

—

When Claire got home, it was well past midnight. The house was quiet, and the light in Lukas's room was off. He was probably asleep already. Claire didn't care. She was too exhausted to think about anything but crashing on the couch. She threw her bag on the floor and fell onto the cushions, curling up and turning on the TV in a daze.

A movie She watched with lukas last night, but she couldn't focus on it. All she could think about was how she had been treated all night. Tom's face kept flashing in her mind, his creepy grin, his insistence that she join him in his office, the way he never seemed to take no for an answer. She fumed quietly, her fists clenched at her sides.

—

A few hours later, the front door creaked open. Claire looked up to see Lukas walking in, his steps light as he dropped his keys onto the table. He didn't notice her at first, but then he glanced over, raising an eyebrow when he saw her lying on the couch.

"Hey," he said, his voice softer than usual. "What happened to you?"

Claire sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Work sucked."

Lukas frowned, noticing the annoyance in her voice. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, her voice tight. "Just… dealing with some stuff."

She didn't want to go into it. The last thing she wanted to do was unload on Lukas. He probably wouldn't get it anyway. She hadn't exactly been the nicest to him recently, and she wasn't in the mood to explain everything.

Lukas paused in the doorway, still watching her. "Alright. Well, I brought something for you."

Claire didn't move, but her curiosity piqued. "What?"

Lukas reached into the bag he was holding, pulling out a brand-new phone. He held it out to her with a small smile,

"Here," he said. "Since your old pho- i thought You might like it"

Claire blinked in surprise. She wasn't sure what to say. The phone was sleek and modern, nothing like the cracked piece of junk she'd been using.

"I-" She started, unsure how to respond. "I-thanks."

Lukas gave her a small smile. "You're welcome."

Claire hesitated for a moment before taking the phone from him. As she held it in her hands, she could feel the weight of the night slip away just a little. She had been so angry earlier, but Lukas's gesture unexpected and kind made her feel a little lighter.

She didn't say anything else, but she didn't need to. The gesture spoke for itself.

—

That night, after Lukas had gone to bed, Claire sat alone on the couch, the new phone resting on her lap. For the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of calm. The job hadn't worked out, but this? This felt like a step in the right direction.