Olivia

You lock yourself in your room when they start raising their voices. Your parents always find a way to end the day with a heated argument. Even when you plug your ears, you can still feel the vibrations of their voices shaking the small mobile home. There is a light tap on your window. It's your next door neighbor, and best friend, Dylan. A mischevious, dirty blonde boy with green eyes. He waves and smiles. You slide the window up. "Now is not a great time..." "I know. I can hear it from my house," he says. Dishes crash in the kitchen. This is embarrasing. "You should go," you say. "Come with me. We can smoke a joint by the tracks," Dylan says. Your hands are trembling and you shake your head, "I can't. I need to stay here." "No, you don't." Another glass breaks and your dad's voice screams, (text-style:"shudder")["Stop it, Diane! For Christ's sake, are you insane!?" ] [["I said no."]] [["Okay, fine. Just real quick, though."]]

Dylan puts his hands up in surrender, "Alright, alright..." (text-style:"shudder")["Damn it, Javier! Tell me who she is right now!" ]You mother's voice screams from the kitchen. (text-style:"shudder")["I told you, I don't even know her!"] Your father screams. (text-style:"shudder")["Liar!" ] More dishes crash. "Do you mind if I come in?" Dylan asks. "Are you sure you want to stay here?" You ask. "Of course," he says and climbs in through the window. Angry footsteps shake the house. "Do you ever miss your parents?" You ask and take a seat at the foot of your bed. Dylan coughs and chuckles, "I can't miss someone I never knew." He sits on the floor by the window and lights a joint. "I'm kinda jealous..." You say. You hear a(text-style:"rumble")[ SLAM] across the hall. (text-style:"shudder")["Open this door, Diane!" ]Your father shouts and bangs his fist on the door. A train whistles in the distance. [[Next]]

<audio autoplay> <source src="ASSETS/Train Whistling.wav"></audio> "Hell yeah," says Dylan and clasps his hands together. You look over your shoulder, hearing more fighting and crashing. Then, climb out the window and jump down. The tracks are only a couple blocks from your house. You like to sit near them when trains zoom by, so loud you cannot hear your thoughts. Dylan sits cross-legged in the soft grass and puts the joint to his lips. The flame from his lighter flickers on and illuminates his face for a moment. He takes a couple hits and then passes it to you. You hit it and hear the train whistle in the distance. "Right on time," Dylan says. You exhale through your nose, feeling the smoke sting your nostrils a little. A coughing fit errupts and you hold the joint out to Dylan. He takes it and chuckles, "Good cough." "Shut-up," you say. "Don't be embarrassed. Coughing gives you a better high." "Isn't that a myth?" you ask. Dylan shrugs and takes another hit. The train gets closer. "Let's count the cars, see if we get the same number," Dylan says and passes the joint back to you. "Okay," you reply. Anything is better than talking. The train comes, sending a rush of air through your curly brown hair. You start counting. The ground rumbles beneath you. It's not long before you count over fifty cars. Sixty. Seventy. Eighty. Eighty-six. Then, it ends. "Alright, you first," Dylan says. "Eighty-six." "What!? Eighty-six? I got one hundred and one!" You smirk and shrug, "You counted too fast, I think." Sirens sing in the distance. Red and blue lights flash as three police cars speed down the street nearby. An ambulance follows close behind them. They turn on your street. Your heart gets caught in your throat and you stand up. "Olivia?" "That's my street..." [[Go Investigate.]]

Dylan gets in front of you, "Wait, don't go out there." You go around him and put your hand on the doorknob. Dylan puts his hand on the door, "Olivia, if you go out there, you could be in danger." You shove him and open the door. Your doorway looks almost directly into your parent's room. You see your mother holding a gun. Your father extends his hand to her, "please-" (text-style:"rumble")[BANG. BANG. KA-THUD. ] You cover your mouth with your hands and scream. "Olivia..." Your mother says and drops the gun. Dylan pulls you in and slams your door shut. He locks it, "let's go, we have to get to my house, now!" "But, my dad!" "There's nothing you can do! We have to get somewhere safe, so we can call the cops!" Your mother starts knocking on your door. The handle jiggles. "Don't be afraid, Olivia... Just open the door," she says. Dylan pushes you towards the window until you are forced to climb out. He climbs out after you and then jumps the fence to his yard, "Come on, Olivia, I got you." Tears streaming down your face, you climb the fence with his help. [[10 Years Later...]]

Without a second thought, you sprint to your house. You pray that you will turn the corner and see the police at someone else's home. Not yours. Your heart pounds in your chest. Dylan chases you. He yells for you to slow down, but you cannot run fast enough. The pavement under your feet feels like a tredmill. You run with all your might, but you do not get any closer. You stop at the corner when you see the lights again. The police cars are outside your house, and the medics are unloading a gourney. Dylan grabs your arm, "Olivia, wait! Whatever it is, you shouldn't see it." [[Stop running.]] [[Keep running.]]

The alarm clock beeps, and your eyes flutter open. You turn it off. A picture of you and your father sits on your nightstand. "Morning, dad..." You whisper and then sit up. Your morning routine usually consists of coffee and a bagel. You could have sworn you had a bagel left yesterday, but you cannot find it today. You groan and grab the cereal instead. You open the fridge, but there is barely enough milk left for a small serving. You toss the empty gallon in the overflowing trash can. With your coffee cup in hand, you knock on your roommate's door. "Dylan, wake up. It's almost noon, we both have a shift at one." No answer. You knock again. The door opens and Dylan yawns in your face. You are bombarded by his rancid morning breath, "I'm gonna call in today," he says. "Are you kidding me? You know we're short staffed." "I don't feel like going. Not my fault no one wants to work at that shitty grocery store." He tries to close the door, but you stop it with your foot. "Aw, c'mon, Oli. Are you really doing this to me, today?" He groans and rubs his forehead. "Get ready, you're going to work. It's just a couple hours." "Like hell." "It's been months since you've paid your half of the rent. You ate my last bagel, you didn't take out the trash-" "Alright, alright! I'll get ready and buy you some more bagels after work." "And milk," you add. "Yes, okay, and milk. Jesus." He closes the door. "And brush your teeth, dude! Your breath smells like something died in there," you yell through the door. Half an hour later, he comes out dressed in his uniform. You're waiting by the door with your keys and purse in hand. "Are you ready?" You ask. "Yep." [[Go to Work.]]

Sonny's Grocery is a small, organic grocery store on the corner of Main and Cobb street. It is locally owned, and somehow has managed to stay open even after the large department stores moved to town. You park the car around the back of the building, where the employee entrance is. You get out of the car, but Dylan is dragging behind. He takes a pack of cigarrettes out of his pocket and sticks one in his mouth. "We're early. Wanna smoke with me?" He asks. [[Have a cigarrette.]] [[Clock in early.]]

A cigarette sounds nice. Dylan smirks and holds one out to you, "come on, you know you want to," he says. You roll your eyes playfully and stick the cigarette between your lips. Dylan lights it for you, then lights his own. The two of you lean against the hood of your car. "This job ain't it. The pay is shit, the boss is shit, and the work is shit," Dylan says. "Yeah. At least it's something," you say. "I've been thinking about asking Bubba if I can sell for him. It's easier, and it's way more money." "Bubba, your drug dealer?" "Yeah," Dylan says and flicks the ash off his cigarrette. "That's dangerous. You could end up in jail." "I'll be careful," he says. You only smoked half your cigarrette, but this conversation frustrates you. You put it out on the sole of your shoe and toss the butt in a nearby trashcan. [[Clock in.]]

The offer is tempting, but you decline. The general manager of the store, Jason Ortega, catches you clocking in early. He's a middle-aged guy who wears a blue baseball cap every day. "Olivia, just the person I wanted to see. I have been meaning to thank you for covering so many shifts lately. We really appreciate it," he says. "No problem, Mr. O," you respond. He smiles at you, "You can take an extra thirty minutes on your break today, if you'd like." Dylan steps in and looks at you, "Hey, can I have the keys? I left my, uh.. phone in your car." "Dylan, when you have a second, I would like to speak with you in private," Jason says to Dylan. [[Hand over the keys.]] [["You don't need your phone for work, anyway."]]

You pull out the keys. You hand them to Dylan and he lets out a sigh of relief, "thanks, I'll be right back, I swear," he says and walks out. The outline of his cell phone in his back pocket makes you feel stupid. As you approach your register with a money bag in hand, you gaze out of the big windows in the front of the store. You watch helplessly as Dylan drives your car out of the parking lot. You organize the money into your register and tuck the empty bag underneath. In situations like this, you find it better to go about your day as usual. You know the routine so well that you can do it without thinking. A young, dark-haired man in his twenties approaches your register with a paper in his hands. "Hi, I'm Axl. I would like to submit my application," he says and holds out his application. You take it. He's wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. There's a piercing in his left eyebrow, and his eyes are honey-brown. He smiles at you. [["Okay, no problem. Can I ask what position you are applying for?""]] [["Okay. I will hand this in as soon as possible."]]

Dylan scoffs, "seriously?" "Seriously," you say. His smile fades and he rolls his eyes. He sticks his hands in his pockets and walks over to the computer to clock in. As you leave, you hear Jason begin his conversation with Dylan. "Dylan, you have to stop leaving your ciggarrette butts on the ground in the parking lot. I've told you time and time again. This is the last..." Jason's voice trails off as you make your way into the store. [[Continue]]

"I was hoping for a cashier position, but I'll push carts if I have to," he responds. His tone seems light-hearted. "We are urgently hiring for cashiers," you say. "Okay, cool. What's your name?" "Olivia." "Olivia... That sounds so familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?" He asks. "I'm not sure. I can't say I recognize you," you reply. "Huh... Okay. Well, thanks. It was nice meeting you, Olivia," Axl says and waves goodbye. Hours pass and closing time approaches. The next customer in line puts a gallon of milk and some bagels on the conveyer belt. Before you look up, you know it's Dylan. He yawns, "I'm ready to go home." You scan the items. [["Where have you been?"]] [["Me too."]]

Axl tilts his head a little at you, "do I know you from somewhere?" "Maybe. I have lived here all my life," you force a laugh. "What's your name?" He asks. "Olivia," you say. "That sounds so familiar..." "It's a common name," you say. "I guess so. Alright, thanks, Olivia. See ya later," Axl says and smiles at you before he leaves. You watch him leave and wish that you would have said more. Hours pass and closing time approaches. A gallon of milk and a bag of bagels come down the conveyer belt. You scan the items and look up. Dylan yawns, "I can't wait to go home," he says. It takes all of your willpower not to roll your eyes at him. [["Me neither." ->"Me too."]] [["Where have you been?"]]

Dylan perks up, "that reminds me, I bought something." You look at him, waiting for him to continue. "It's a surprise," he says, "I'll show you when we get home." "It better not be something dumb," you say and hand him his reciept. "No, no, it's not dumb. It's cool, I swear." You nod, unsure of what to expect. The last time Dylan said he had a surprise, it was a snake he found and wanted to keep as a pet. It was a harmless grass snake, but it was startling. "I'm gonna wait in the car," Dylan says. Before you clock out, you make sure that Axl's application gets to Mr. O. Dylan is sitting in the driver's seat when you get out. [[Let him drive.]] [["Get out of my seat."]]

You get in the passenger seat and roll down your window. The evening breeze fills the car. A water bottle rolls around on the floor between your feet as Dylan starts driving. You turn on the radio and flip between a few local stations. You stop on a fuzzy, alternative rock station. You sing along. Quietly at first. Dylan sings with you, and you sing louder. The green light ahead turns yellow. Dylan speeds up. You stop singing, "Dylan, you can't make that." The light turns red. You gasp, "Dylan, don't!" Dylan speeds through the intersection and a crossing car honks at him. "Yikes, that was close," he chuckles. When you get home, you take the groceries to the kitchen. "Let me go get the surprise!" Dylan says and goes to his room. "Close your eyes," he says from his doorway. "Okay," you say and close your eyes. You hear his footsteps approach you. "Okay, look." <audio autoplay> <source src="ASSETS/CarSound.wav"></audio> [[Open your eyes. ->GUN]]

Dylan hops across to the passenger seat and puts one foot up on the dashboard. You slide into the driver's seat and start the car. The needle on the gas meter hoovers just above empty. Is it even worth mentioning at this point? You are the only one who ever puts gas in the car, yet every time you drive it is empty. When you get home, Dylan drops the plastic grocery bag of milk and bagels on the couch and goes to his room. You pick up the bag and take it to the kitchen and tuck the items in the fridge. Dylan comes into the kitchen with his hands behind his back. His grin stretches from ear to ear, "close your eyes," he says. You smirk and cover your eyes with your hands. You hear rustling. "Okay, open them," he says. [[Open your eyes. ->GUN]] <audio autoplay> <source src="ASSETS/CarSound.wav"></audio>

Dylan smirks and points the gun at the door, "pretty sweet, huh?" You shake your head and take a step back, "I don't want a gun in the house." "What do you mean? Remember when that one crackhead tried to break in a couple weeks ago? Now we have protection." "So you're going to shoot him?" You ask. Silence. "What's your problem, Oli? I thought you'd be pretty hyped about this," Dylan says and lowers the gun. You turn around to avoid looking at the thing. Your heartbeat feels out of control. You clutch your chest. Suddenly, the air feels so much thicker and it is hard to breathe. [["Get rid of it."]] [[Go To Bed]]

"I traded my laptop for it," Dylan says. You put your hands on your head, "what?" "Yeah. I only used it for my music stuff that I haven't worked on in months. So, I thought I'd trade it for this," he says. [["Why do you need a gun?"->"What the hell are you doing with that?"]] [[Go To Bed]]

You don't have the energy to talk about this. As soon as you close your door, you lock it. Your hands tremble uncontrollably. You take in as much air as you can, but it doesn't seem to be enough. You want to shut your eyes, but every time you do, you hear them yelling in your head. Your parents. You barely manage to change into pajamas. Your arms wrap around yourself and you lay in bed facing the photo of your father. It will not be easy to sleep knowing there is a gun in the house. You need something to calm your nerves. [[Have a smoke.]] [[Pick up the photo of Dad.]]

Dyan puts the gun down on the table. It clunks on the wood, "what, no way! It's not like I can return it." You put your hands over your eyes. You find yourself laughing softly. How could he be so inconsiderate? He was there that night. You rub the smile off your face. "Of all people, you should be the one to understand," you say. Dylan crosses his arms, "is this about your father?" He sighs and takes a seat at the table, "Look, your mom was-" "Don't talk about my mother. Don't talk about my father. Just get rid of that goddamn gun," you say. [[Go to bed. ->Go To Bed]]

You reach over and grab the photo of your father. Tears stream down your cheeks. You hold the photo to your chest and take as many deep breaths as you can until you drift off to sleep. [[Two Months Later]]

You sit up and open the drawer of your bedside table. You grab the carton of menthol camels and a lighter. You slide the window open and take in the fresh air. You hear the sound of a cat meowing in the distance. You look out and see a black and white cat walking towards your house. You climb out the window and sit in the grass against the wall. The cat slowly approaches you. You light your cigarrette. The nicotine calms you down instantly. The cat paws at your socks and rolls over. Deep breaths... [[Two Months Later]]

You're closing on a slow night. The last customer, a young woman, comes to your register and unloads her items onto the conveyer belt. "Did you find everything you needed, today?" You ask. "Actually, I was looking for jumbo marshmallows, but there were none on the shelf," she says. "Okay, let me check in storage to see if we have any left," you say, "I'll be right back." You leave the register and go to the storage room. You search the boxes for marshmallows. The door opens and shuts. As soon as you find the last bag of jumbo marshmallows, you hear Dylan's voice. "You got plans after work? I could really go for a six pack and a bowl," he says. You turn to him. He has his hands deep in his pockets, and he avoids eye contact. You can smell fresh cigarrette smoke off of him. [["I have plans."]] [["I'm a little busy right now."]]

Dylan crosses his arms. He looks at you like he doesn't believe you, or he is waiting for you to finish your sentence. "Axl and I are going out after work," you say as you pass by him to exit the storage room. "Oh, I see," he says and nods his head. "I guess I won't wait up for you." You ignore that comment and return to your register. You thank the customer for her patience and finish checking her out. Axl puts the last of the grocery bags into the woman's cart and walks her out to her car. He returns a few moments later, pushing the empty shopping cart. You toss him the keys so he can lock the front door. Then, he tosses them back. "Are you excited for the movie?" Axl asks. [["Of course! I've been waiting for Hell Guns 2 forever."]]

"Perfect. I'm gonna head out. I'll see you then," Axl says. "Okay. See you," you say. Axl leaves through the back exit. You go to the safe lock the money inside. There is a light knock on the wall. Mr. O walks in with his hands on his hips and says, "hey, how's it going?" "Good," you reply. "Great. Do you have a minute?" "Of course." "Your work here is really appreciated. You exceed expectations over and over again. I want to offer you the Shift Manager position. It comes with a higher pay and benefits." [["I need to think about it."->Decline]] [["Yes!"->Accept]]

You feel a wave of relief wash over you. This marks a new chapter in your life. You started this job thinking that you would save up and leave as soon as possible. Now, this place feels like home. "Great! That's great. We'll get that paperwork done next time you come in," Mr. O says and shakes your hand. "Thank you so much," you say and see yourself out through the backdoor. Dylan is waiting in the passenger seat when you get to your car. You slide into the driver's seat and start the car. "What took you so long?" Dylan asks. [[Tell him about the promotion.]] [["Nothing, I was just closing up."]]

"Thank you for the offer, Mr. O. I like working here, but I need some time to think about it," you say. Mr. O raises his eyebrows, then nods his head, "I understand that. Don't worry, the offer will remain open." "Thank you, again. I'll see you later," you say and see yourself out through the back door. Dylan is waiting in the passenger seat. You get in the driver's seat and start the car. "What took you so long?" Dylan asks. [["Nothing, I was just closing up."]] [["Jason offered me the manager position"]]

"Jason promoted me to shift manager," you say. Dylan scoffs, "great, that's just... great," he mumbles and takes out a pack of menthol cigarretes. He sticks one between his teeth and lights it. You roll the windows down, "thanks, you seem really proud," you say sarcastically as you reverse and exit the parking lot. "It's just that I thought these jobs were going to be temporary. We were supposed to save up and move to California. Now it feels like we're just stuck here," he says. "Is it such a bad thing that I am starting to like my life?" "No. Forget it. I'm happy for you," he says. But he doesn't sound like it. The short drive home was silent. Dylan does not say a word to you before he locks himself in his room. You get home and there is a change in the living room that was almost unnoticable. The TV is gone. It was a TV that Dylan and you saved up for and bought together when you first moved in. [[Confront Dylan about the TV.]] [[Get ready for the date.]]

Dylan nods his head, "so are you going out tonight, or what?" "Yeah. I'm going to a movie with Axl. He's gonna pick me up," you say. "What are you gonna watch?" "Hell Guns 2," you say. "Sweet, can I come?" You choke back a laugh and look at him, "what? No, crazy. It's, like, a date." Dylan smirks and crosses his arms, "alright, I see how it is." You get home and there is a change in the living room that was almost unnoticable. The TV is gone. It was a TV that Dylan and you saved up for and bought together when you first moved in. [[Confront Dylan about the TV.]] [[Get ready for the date.]]

"Dylan, where is the TV?" You ask. Dylan stands in front of his bedroom door, "what?" "The TV," you say louder, "it's gone." "Oh, uh... I... Sold it," he says. "What? Why?" "I needed the money for rent and stuff. I'll get us a new one, I swear," he says. "It would've been nice if you asked me, first," you say. "Okay, I'm sorry. What else do you want me to say?" "Where is all your money going, Dylan? You rarely have money for rent. You're selling your stuff, now? What's going on with you?" "What? Nothing is going on. That job barely gets me any money, you know that." "Maybe it pay off better if you cared as much about your job as you do about getting high." Dylan sucks his teeth and brushes you off, "whatever, Oli. I'm sorry about the TV, okay? Just go on your date," he says and shuts himself in his room. It's almost eight-thirty. You go to your room and brush out your hair. You barely have enough time to throw on something casual before you recieve a text from Axl saying he is outside. [[Go.->"Wish me luck."]]

You don't have time to argue with Dylan about the TV. You go to your room and scan your closet for something to wear. What should you wear to the movie date? [[Wear something casual.]] [[Wear something nice.]]

Dylan takes in a deep breath, "what did you say?" "I told him I would think aobut it," you say. Dylan flips through the radio stations and stops on a station playing hip-hop. He rolls down his window and takes out a cigarette, "well, that's pretty cool. You are a good worker, they'd be stupid not to offer you a full-time position." You chuckle softly and drive out the parking lot, "I guess." Dylan lights his cigarette and exhales out the window, "maybe you should take it." "You think so?" "Yeah. Why not, right? Hell..." He takes another drag. You get home and there is a change in the living room that was almost unnoticable. The TV is gone. It was a TV that Dylan and you saved up for and bought together when you first moved in. [[Confront Dylan about the TV.]] [[Get ready for the date.]]

You change into something casual. A cool t-shirt and some jeans. There is a knock on your bedroom door. "Come in," you say. Dylan opens the door and stays in the doorway, "I need to borrow your car in the morning for work. That cool?" "Yeah. Just don't leave it on empty," you say. "Is that what you're wearing?" "Yes, is there a problem?" You ask. "No, not at all. It's just that some people try to look nice on their first dates," he says and cackles. You roll your eyes. You get a message from Axl saying that he's outside. You grab your purse. [["Wish me luck."]]

You pick out a nice blouse and put a bit of makeup on. Two sprits of purfume. Then, three more sprits for good measure. There is a knock on your bedroom door. You open it and Dylan stands in your doorway. "I need to borrow your car in the morning for work. Is that cool?" He asks. "Yeah, I guess. Just don't leave it on empty," you say. "I won't. You look nice, by the way." "Thanks. I'm kinda nervous," you say and shake out your hands. "Don't be." You cell phone dings. It is a message from Axl saying he is outside. [[Go.]]

When you open the front door, you see Axl standing on the doorstep. He's wearing a nice, black leather jacket and a silver chain necklace. He smiles when he sees you. "Wow, you look nice," he says. You smile back, "thanks." Axl walks you to the car and opens the passenger door for you. [[Get in the car.]]

You open the front door and see Axl standing on the steps. He's wearing a black leather jacket and a silver necklace. He smiles when he sees you, "hey!" You smile back, "hey!" He greets you with a brief hug, "you ready?" "Of course. I cannot wait a second longer," you say. Axl opens the passenger door for you. [[Get in the car.]]

<center><img src="ASSETS/Car.jpg"></center> Axl starts the car, "pick whatever station you like, I'm not picky." You start flipping through the stations. "So, there is something I have been wanting to ask you about," he says. "Go ahead," you say. "Is Dylan just your roommate?" Axl asks and glances at you. You chuckle softly, "yeah, basically." Axl laughs, too, "what's so funny?" "It's just that Dylan and I have been friends since we were kids. We were neighbors, and we basically grew up together. When we graduated, we got jobs and rented that place together," you say and finally stop on a rock station. "It's just that you two seem really close. I almost thought you were dating," Axl says. You sigh deeply, unsure of what to say next. You pause to think, then say, "Dylan and I have been through a lot together. That's all. We've helped each other through some dark times. That's why he's kind of like a brother to me." "Alright, that makes sense. Thanks for clarifying that," Axl says. [[Next->THEATER]]

Axl leans in for a soft kiss on the lips. It's brief, but romantic. Your heart races inside your chest, in a good way this time. Even though the movie was not everything you hoped for, you had a nice time with Axl. He wraps his arm around you as he walks you to the car. "I can't believe they did Phil like that. They brought him back just to kill him off again," Axl rants. "I know. The first one was way better," you say. "I actually have the first one on Blue-ray. We should go back to my place and watch it to make up for that terrible sequal," he says. [["Totally! Let's do it."->Spend the night at Axl's]] [["Some other time. I'm pretty tired."]]

Even though he was close enough to kiss, you turn away and watch the movie instead. Moving to fast could spoil everything. The rest of the movie goes by in a flash. Axl has his arms around your shoulders as you walk back to his car, "that movie was trash," he says. "Yeah. I had high hopes," you say and sigh softly. "We should go back to my place and watch the first one to make up for it." "What? You have it?" "Yeah! I got it on blue-ray. Wanna come over?" [["Yeah, totally!"->Spend the night at Axl's]] [["Some other time. I'm pretty tired."]]

Axl brings you back to his apartment and apologizes for the mess as soon as he opens the door. You hear a small bell jingling and then a cat meowing. "You have a cat?" You ask. "Yeah, his name is Winston," Axl replies. "Winston!" You chime and pet the fluffy, white cat. Winston purrs against your palm. <img src="ASSETS/Cat.jpg"> Axl offers you a beer and then goes to the living room to start the movie. Winston follows you to the couch. "He loves people," Axl says and sits next to you. The movie begins and Axl scoots in close enough for Winston to stretch out across both your laps. You have seen the first Hell Guns movie a million times or more, but something about watching it here with Axl feels comforting. [[Next->WAKE UP]]

"Alright. For sure," Axl says and opens the car door for you. When you get home, you can hear Dylan snoring in his room. You leave the keys on the counter for him. In the morning, you hear the keys jingle as he leaves. You only wake up long enough to hear the front door open and shut. The next time you wake up, you hear tires screech and a loud crash outside. You rush to to the front door. Dylan has crashed your car into the mailbox. He reverses out and then parks in the driveway. "Dylan! What the hell is wrong with you?" You yell from the doorway. Dylan staggers out of the car, "I'm sorry, my bad. I'll fix it." "How are you going to fix that, huh? Sell your kidney?" "What's that supposed to mean? It was an accident!" "You're drunk, Dylan! I thought you were at work!" "I-I was...But then I got fired..." [[Next->Kick him out.]]

"Olivia, sorry to bother you. Is everything alright?" A frail voice speaks through the phone. It is your elderly neighbor, Susanne. "Yes, everything is fine. Why?" You ask. "I saw your car speed into the driveway and hit the mailbox. I just thought I'd call to make sure everything is alright," she says. You are instantly wide awake. "Olivia? Are you there? Do I need to call the police?" "Y-yes. I mean, no, don't call the police. I'll be right there, I'm sure everything is fine. Thank you Susanne," you say and hang up the phone. Axl looks at you, concerned, "everything okay?" [["I need a ride home."->CLIMAX]]

"Fired?" you ask. Dylan rolls his eyes and goes inside, "yes, I was fired. Don't worry, I'll make rent-" "You haven't come up with your full half of the rent for months, Dylan. All you do is drink and smoke your problems away," you say, following Dylan into the house. "That's bullshit and you know it is," Dylan mumbles. "I am done, Dylan. Done. You have a week to pack your stuff and get the hell out," you say. "You're kicking me out?" "Yes..." Dylan stands in front of you, "you can't do that." "Well, I am. You're unhinged, Dylan. You need more help than I can give you." "Where am I supposed to go?" "You have a week to figure that out yourself," you say and walk around him. Dylan grabs your wrist, "Oli, please..." "I can't do this anymore," you say and pull away. [[Six Months Later]]

A brand new mailbox in the yard. Two cars in the driveway. Axl helps you carry a new TV into your house. "You got it?" "I got it." "Okay, keep going." You work together to bring it into the living room and set it up. You smile and clap your hands when it turns on, "yay!" Axl dusts his hands off, "yeah, not bad at all. Now we can stream Hell Guns 2 whenever we want." You scoff and roll your eyes, "uh, no." Your cell phone rings and you take it out from your pocket. "It's Mr. O," you say. "Aw man, don't answer. This is your one day off this week," Axl says. [[Answer It]] [[Don't Answer]]

Your work day goes by as smoothly as it could. The steady flow of customers makes time go by faster. You send a text to Axl when you lock the doors. You gather the tills from the registers and go towards the safe in the breakroom. The light flicks on and Dylan is standing beside the safe with a gun in his hand, "it... wasn't supposed to be you..." "What are you doing, Dylan?" "Give me the money, Oli," he says. You shake your head, "you need help. Please, just put the gun down." Dylan takes small steps towards you. "I just need the money..." Dylan says. [[Refuse]] [[Give him the money]]

"Okay," you say, "you can have the money." You throw the money bag as hard as you can at Dylan. (text-style:"rumble")[BANG.] Dylan stumbles to the floor. You look down. Blood soaks your yellow polo shirt. You collapse. "Oli? Wait, no... No!" [[The End.]] [[Retry ->Six Months Later]]

"No. Get out, now. Or I'm calling the police," you say. Dylan moves in to grab the bag from you, but you turn away. "Just give me the money!" He shouts. He grabs ahold of the bag, "let go!" He says. You hold on as tight as you can. Until you hear a deafening (text-style:"rumble")[BANG.] You step back and blood stains your yellow polo shirt. "Oli..." Dylan catches you when you collapse. He holds your head in his lap, "no..." His pale hands are covered in blood. [[The End.]] [[Retry->Six Months Later]]

On your way to the break room, you come face-to-face with your boss, Jason Ortega. He opens the door for you and says, "Olivia, good to see you." You smile politely and then clock in. Dylan is not far behind you. He nudges you with his elbow and says, "I think I left my phone in your car. Can I borrow the keys?" "Dylan, when you have a moment, I need to speak with you privately," Mr. O says before you answer Dylan. Dylan is looking at you, his eyes pleading not to be left alone with Mr. Ortega. [["You don't need your phone for work, anyway."]] [[Hand over the keys.]]

=><= (text-style:"bold","underline","subscript") [Olivia By Maricela Ramirez] Warning. This Interactive Narrative contains depictions of domestic violence. [[Start]] [[Citations]]

Dylan scans the area to make sure no one is around, "don't worry about that, Oli. I got something really cool to show you when we get home." You hand Dylan his reciept, "what is it?" "It's a surprise. Don't worry, it's really cool, you're gonna go crazy over it." Dylans eyes are bloodshot and his hair is a mess, but that is how he looks most of the time. The last time he brought home a surprise, he startled you with a garden snake. There is no telling what to expect. "I'm going to wait for you in the car," he says and takes the groceries. Before you clock out, you make sure that Axl's application gets to Mr. O. Dylan is sitting in the driver's seat when you get out. [["Get out of my seat."]] [[Let him drive.]]

"I'm jealous of you, man. At least you have parents," Dylan says and blows smoke out the window. You hear the door across the hall crash open. The sound makes the hairs on your arms stand on end. It's not easy to ignore the rukus. Dylan's voice becomes background noise. A distinct CLICK-CLICK. The unmistakable sound of a loaded gun. "For god's sake... Put that down," your father's voice comes through the wall. You stand up ubruptly, which brings Dylan to his feet. (text-style:"shudder")["Put the gun down, Diane!"] "Did he say 'gun'?" Dylan asks and puts the joint out with haste. "We should defintely get out of here." [[Run to safety.]] [[See what's going on.]]

<audio autoplay> <source src="ASSETS/Checkout Beeps.wav"></audio> At this point, the work comes naturally to you. You start by doing a sweep of every aisle to pick up misplaced items. You head over to the register, count the till, and help the next customers. After a couple of hours, you take your break. The break room is small with a kitchenette in the corner and a round table surrounded by metal chairs in the center. Today, there's a box of pizza on the counter, courtosy of Mr. O. Your break goes by in a flash. A dark-haired man in his twenties approaches your register with a piece of paper in his hands. "Hi, I'm Axl. I would like to submit my application," he says and holds out his application. You take it. He's wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. There's a piercing in his left eyebrow, and his eyes are honey-brown. He smiles at you. [["Okay. I will hand this in as soon as possible."]] [["Okay, no problem. Can I ask what position you are applying for?""]]

You open your eyes. There is a black cloth draped across his palms. Resting on top is a shiny black gun. [["I think I need to go to bed." ->Go To Bed]] [["What the hell are you doing with that?"]] [["How did you even afford that?"]]

Dylan glances at the jumbo marshmallows in your hand and nods his head, "oh, my bad," he says. Dylan moves aside and lets you pass. You return to your register and scan the marshmallows. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" You ask. The young woman shakes her head and swipes her card, "no, thank you so much." Axl puts the last of the grocery bags into the woman's cart and walks her out to her car. He returns a few moments later, pushing the empty shopping cart. You toss him the keys so he can lock the front door. Then, he tosses them back. "So, are you excited for Hell Guns 2?" Axl asks [["Of course! I've been waiting for Hell Guns 2 forever."]]

"Yeah, me too. I want to see if Phil is still alive," he says. "Probably not." Axl clutches his chest, "don't say that." You take out your till and walk towards the break room, where the safe is. "So, I'll pick you up around eight-thirty, since the movie starts at nine," Axl says as he walks beside you. [["Eight-thirty sounds good to me."]]

Axl escorts you into the theater and buys your tickets. He buys the popcorn and drinks for the two of you. <img src="ASSETS/Popcorn.jpg"> There is a brief discussion about which seats would be ideal, then you sit in the third-to-last row. He stretches his arm across the back of your seat. You lean in a little. You are not as interested in Hell Guns 2 as you thought you would be. Sequals are never good, anyway. You find yourself sneaking glances at Axl to see if he's as disappointed as you are. You lock eyes with him on accident, but it feels so right. [[Kiss him.]] [[Watch the movie.]]

Halfway through the movie, you fell asleep... You wake up to the smell of coffee. A soft blanket covers you from shoulder to toe. Axl is sipping coffee in the kitchen and looking at his laptop. As soon as he notices you are awake, he raises his mug to you, "morning, sleepy-head." "Did you drug me?" You ask with a smirk. "Oh, yeah, totally," he says and chuckles. "You fell asleep during the movie, and I just didn't want to wake you." You squint at him and then stand up, "creep," you mutter. Axl laughs, his face red as a strawberry. He turns around, opens the cabinet, and pulls a mug out, "what? It's not creepy, you just looked like you needed the rest. Coffee?" "I will never say no to coffee." Your phone rings. [[Answer the phone]]

Axl parks in front of your house. The mailbox is flattened on the front yard, and there are skidmarks along the curb. "I think I should come inside, too. Just in case," Axl says. As you approach your car, you see one of the headlights is broken from hitting the mailbox. You grit your teeth and squeeze your hands into fists. You open the front door and find the house in total disarray. The couch is tipped over on its side. Dylan's jacket and shoes make a trail to his bedroom door. You kick his shoes aside and swing his bedroom door open. Half of Dylan's body is hanging off the bed while he sleeps. An empty liqour bottle lay close by. He has a glass pipe clutched in one hand. "Wake up, Dylan," you demand. Dylan jerks awake and the empty liqour bottle crashes to the floor. "Shit, what?" Dylan mumbles. On Dylan's dresser, in plain view, the shiny black gun lays glistening in the morning sun. [[Next->CLIMAX B]]

"You still have the goddamn gun!?" The words force themselves out of your mouth. You go back to the living room and start pacing. You take deep breaths, but they're not enough. Axl stands nearby, speaking reassuring words, but you cannot focus on them. Dylan storms out of his bedroom, "you didn't have to burst in my room like that!" Dylan looks at Axl, "what the hell is he doing here?" Axl puts his hands up, "woah, relax, man." "Pack your shit, Dylan. I want you out of here by tomorrow night," you say. "What? You can't do that," Dylan approaches you, but you back up. "I can, and I am. Enough is enough," you say. "Oli, please! Where am I supposed to go?" "You have to figure that out. I can't help you anymore," you say. [[Six Months Later]]

"Perfect. Let me know when you're closing up so I can order it," Axl says and kisses your cheek. You clip on your new Shift Manager nametag and smile at yourself in the mirror. [[Leave for work.]]

"Spaghetti it is. I'll have it ready when you get home, Ms. Manager," Axl says and kisses your cheek. You smile and clip on your new nametag. [[Leave for work.]]

You yank your arm away and take off again. "Olivia, don't!" You don't listen. When you get closer, you see two police officers taking your mother out of the house in handcuffs. She isn't fighting them. Another officer catches you before you set foot on the front yard. "Woah, kid, where do you think you're going?" The officer asks. "Let me go! This is my house! Mom! Dad! Why are you taking my mom!?" You yell. The next thing to come out the door is the gourney. On top, a black bodybag. "These are your parents?" The officer asks. "Yes! Where is my father!?" "What's your name?" "Olivia," The officer holds onto your shoulders, "There's no easy way to say this. Your father has been fatally shot. Your mother is under arrest. Is there anyone you can stay with for the time being?" [[10 Years Later...]]

(align:"=><=")Thank you for playing.

Car Image - Unsplash.com 2018 Vladimir Proskurovsiy Car Sound- Freesound.org Odilon Marcenaro Cat Image- Pixabay.com Sophkins Grocery Store Sounds- Freesound.org 2016 dnlburnett Popcorn Image- Pixabay.com dbreen Train Whistle- Freesound.org 2015 Joshs

"I could always use the money. Plus, the store closes in a couple hours so it will be a quick shift," you say. Axl frowns and plops down on the couch, "fine." You answer the phone, "hello." "Olivia, thank god you answered. Carol went into labor so she can't close the store. Would you mind coming in? I know it's your day off, but I would really appreciate it," Mr. O says. You can hear him rubbing his eyes through the phone. Axl is shaking his head at you, mouthing, "NO." "Oh my god. Of course, I'll be there as soon as I can," you say. "Thank you so much, Olivia. I'm glad I can count on you." You hang up, "sorry, Axl. If I didn't answer, he probably would have called you, next, anyway." "It's alright. What do you want for dinner tonight?" Axl asks and stands up. [["Spaghetti."]] [["Pizza."]]

You let the phone ring until it stops. Axl's face lights up, "good! I guess the only question now is what would you like for dinner?" [["Chinese food."]] [["Ice cream!"]]

You climb out your window. Your feet land in dry, prickly grass. Dylan climbs out after you, "we have to jump the fence, okay? I'll help you," he says. You nod. Dylan puts his hands together and holds them low in front of you, "go." Using his palms as a step, you jump the tall fence. (text-style:"rumble")[BANG. BANG.] The sound is so loud that your breath gets caught in your lungs. Dylan lands next to you and grabs your arm, "Oli, hurry! Inside!" He pulls you in through the back door and locks it behind you. "Is that you, Dylan?" Nancy, Dylan's grandmother, calls from down the hall. "Yes, grandma," Dylan responds and rushes over to her. "We need to call the police! I think someone was shot!" [[10 Years Later...]]

Tears stream down your face. You embrace Dylan. You dig your face into his chest and choke back your sobs. Dylan wraps his arms around you. His eyes gaze forward as police officers unravel crime scene tape around your house. "I can't go over there," You say. "It's okay. I'll go with you," he says. "Whatever it is, I'll be with you." Dylan walks you all the way to his house, but the cops are unavoidable. Dylan's grandmother, Nancy Caldwell, is being questioned by two officers in her doorway. She waves and points in your direction. "Yes, this is Olivia. She is Diane and Javier Cruz's daughter," Nancy says, "and that there is my grandson, Dylan. He lives with me." "Olivia Cruz, nice to meet you. I'm Officer Jones, this is Officer Gonzalez. Are you aware of the situation with your parents?" One officer asks. You shake your head, "no." "I'm very sorry to have to tell you this... Your father has been fatally shot. Your mother is the only suspect, and we're taking her in for questioning. Is there anyone you can stay with for the time being? A relative in town?" You stop responding. It feels like a nightmare. Nancy's voice chimes in to say, "just come inside, darling. You'll be safe here for the time being." [[10 Years Later...]]

"I was hoping you would say that," Axl says and pulls out his cell phone. "I've been craving orange chicken." You smile and sit next to him, "I've been thinking about turning Dylan's old room into a study. What do you think?" You ask. "That, or, it can be my room." You chuckle softly, "you want to move in with me?" "Maybe I do. Is that so bad?" "No, but if you want to move in, you could just ask." Axl looks up from his phone to you, "can I move in?" You wrap your arms around him, "of course! And Winston, too." Axl hugs you back, "he'd love it. He misses you when you're gone," he says and stands up. "I'm going to call in the order. Do you want your usual?" "Chicken lo-mein," you say. He gives you a thumbs up and then puts the phone to his ear. He walks towards the kitchen when he starts talking. You flip through a few channels on the TV and stop on a Ghost Busters marathon. Axl returns a few moments later and says, "they said it's gonna be about fourty minutes. Is that Ghost Busters?" "Yeah, I found it playing. Wanna watch it?" "Duh. Popcorn?" "Duh!" [[The Next Day]]

"Ice cream is not dinner," Axl says. "For you, maybe. Come on, lets go," you say and tug on Axl's arm. Axl sighs and stands up, "just because you're my boss at work, doesn't mean you can boss me around at home too," he says and grabs his keys off the hook on the wall. Axl drives to your favorite ice cream parlor. The two of you go there so often that the staff know your names and orders. Axl almost always gets birthday cake ice cream in a waffle cone. On hot days, you like to eat your cone at a table near the window. On cooler days they are best enjoyed on the wooden bench in the shade. You have a taste of Axl's cone, even though you know it is way too sweet for you. Axl carries your cone as the two of you walk towards the wooden bench. "Thanks," you say and take your cone from him. "You're welcome. I'm actually kinda glad you suggested ice cream," Axl says. "Me too," you say and sit next to him. Axl leans back and stretches his arm along the backrest of the bench, "I want to ask you something." "What is it?" "Well, I've kinda been thinking that it could work out if I moved in with you," Axl says. His expression as genuine as ever. "If you want, of course." You smile, "I would like that." [[The Next Day]]

Your cell phone wakes you up in the morning. You shut it off. "Stupid alarm," you groan. You could have sworn you turned it off last night. It rings again. You widen your eyes and focus on the screen. It is not an alarm, it is a call from Mr. O. This is the first time he has called so early in the morning. Three hours before opening. You sit up and answer, "hello?" "Olivia. Sorry if I woke you," Mr. O says. He sounds like he just woke up, or has not slept all night. "It's okay. What's going on?" "Well... The store was robbed last night. No one was hurt, but they have someone in custody." You rub your forehead, "what? seriously?" "Unfortunately, yes. I'll keep you posted, but we will not open today." "Okay. Do you know who the robber was?" "Yeah..." You hear him sigh through the phone. "Who?" You ask. "It was... Dylan. Dylan Caldwell. Like I said, I'll keep you posted, but that's all I got for now." You hang up. [[Call Axl]]

You call Axl. He picks up after a couple rings, "you're up early," he says. "Can I come over?" "Of course. Is something wrong?" He asks. "I'll tell you when I get there," you say. Axl's apartment is a short drive away. You pack an overnight bag, just in case. He greets you with a tight hug, "I made coffee," he says. "Thank you. There is something I need to talk to you about," you say. Axl pours you a cup of coffee and passes you the sugar, "go ahead." You talk for so long that your coffee goes cold. The sun rises. You tell him about how your father died and how Dylan was there to pull you through it all. Axl nods and listens. He does not turn away or interrupt you. "I'm really sorry you had to go through that. Thanks for opening up to me, though. I knew there was something heavy on your heart," he says and kisses your forehead. Winston jumps onto your lap and purrs loudly. A smile forces itself on your lips. Tears trickle down your cheeks. "You did everything you could," Axl says. You finally take a sip of your coffee. Even cold, it is still divine. Axl is right. You did everything you could. [[The End.]]