In the End

3 │ Mystery Men

I met Cassie in the break room, her sleeping body spread out across the small couch that I had been sitting on just before.

I wasn't going to wake her up just yet, instead moving to the lockers to grab my things. I grabbed my bag and discarded it onto the floor as I then pulled out the jacket, a few hairs getting caught in the hinge of the locker door as I did so.

I pulled it on, draping the material over my shoulders and clipping it up, immediately hiding my body from view. I then dropped my phone into the large pocket that hung over my thigh and swung the bag over my shoulder. I then walked back over to the couch, placing my hand on Cassie's shoulder to wake her up. I figured it wouldn't take too much, considering the fact that she was probably cat napping at the most.

"Cassie, hey Cassie, wake up," I whispered, shaking her arms.

She groaned, moving her lips but no sounds came out.

Alright, one of those days it seemed. "Come on, let's get you home."

I pulled Cassie up, intertwining her arm with mine as her head rested on my shoulder. Gently, I led her out of the club, from the back entrance and moved us both back onto the Main Street. I didn't care that Cassie was dozing away, just as long as her feet kept moving.

Everything was still dark, the lights that covered the streets now even more intense than when we had entered the club. I could see the faint hope of light on the horizon, at least another two hours before the sun started to rise.

I lead us up the stairs of our apartment, jolting Cassie just slightly more awake to prevent her feet from dragging against the bottom of the step. That, at least, seemed to work, allowing us to make it all the way up to the Third Floor without any problem. I shoved the key into our door before shoving Cassie through. I didn't bother turning on any lights, knowing that we could manoeuvre around just fine without it.

My first stop was Cassie's bedroom, pulling back the blanket and tumbling her body into it. I undid the sneakers from her feet and discarded them to the wall before loosening the button on her jeans.

If she woke up again, she could fix herself up from there. As I moved away, Cassie curled up into a ball on the bed, her back facing me.

We were usually able to control the tiredness, but I had a feeling that somewhat soon, if not tomorrow, we were going to take another bad day.

No matter, We could deal with that when it happened.

I exited the room, dragging off my coat and throwing it onto my bedroom floor as I walked by, immediately heading to the shower.

The first order of business was my tips. I pulled the massive wad of money notes out of my chest and placed them in a small plastic box that I always kept in the bathroom for that specific reason. I slid off my dress and removed my shoes, placing them in the corner and my dress on a rack before I attempted to deal with my hair. Removing the hair tie, I relished in the immediate relief, the blood in my scalp being able to move freely. I wiped off most of my makeup, then jumping into the shower. I made the water as warm as I possibly could, washing my body as quickly as I could before hopping out. I changed into just a pair of long, flowy pants and a tank top, leaving my hair undone to try and relieve it from the constant hairstyles that I put it through during the day. I grabbed my dress and placed it in the laundry basket that Cassie and I kept for club uniforms before grabbing the plastic box and going back to my own room.

Not without locking the apartment door first.

I didn't switch on my main light, only placing myself on the edge of my bed and flicking the switch for the small lamp on my bedside table. Then, I pulled the lid off the plastic box and began to count.