𝐋𝐄𝐒 ➤ 𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐘

𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 - 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶

𝐋𝐄𝐒

𝘼𝙨𝙝𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙮'𝙨 𝙋𝙊𝙑

I couldn't help but hate Cleo a little more for snitching on me. Even if she had a point, I had been a dick, I didn't think I deserved a whole lecture from Fez about it. He had told me to watch my mouth plenty of times before but he had never been so serious about it, I don't think I'd ever seen him so disappointed in me.

I already knew myself that I had been a little too harsh before Fez even pulled me up on it. I might not show my own emotions but I'm pretty good at reading others and it was clear by Cleo's face that she had been genuinely upset, and despite many peoples beliefs I never have aims to hurt people without a reason.

I was a little nervous when Fezco came into the back and told me Cleo had shown up at the store to talk to me. I was already bracing myself for her to likely cuss me out and I was planning not to say anything too harsh in return.

Fortunately for me though, she hadn't turned up just to rip into me. As I entered the front of the store I saw her stood with another girl, Kat. I recognised Kat from the occasional trips to the store she made and seeing her milling around at parties but I'd never spoken to her myself since she wasn't ever after what I was selling.

"Kat needs to ask you a question," Cleo introduced dryly before shuffling off to stand beside Fezco.

I remained silent as I sat up on the counter looking at Kat expectantly. She seemed to understand my expression as she asked, "Uh, could you tell me how bitcoin works?"

I mentally rolled my eyes at her, questioning to myself why she couldn't just google this shit. I still offered her a plain answer, which she didn't seem to understand either.

It baffled me how she couldn't grasp such a simple concept. Fezco seemed to notice my patience wearing thin as he interrupted, "Why don't you just tell us whatchu tryna do and we can tell you how we can help."

"Unless it's human trafficking, Ion fuck wit human trafficking," I added in all seriousness but was met by a snigger from Cleo.

If it was any other day I would have spat back but I fought against it, remembering I had already been scolded about my attitude towards her.

"I was just wondering if it's a good way to anonymously get money online," Kat shrugged causing me to look back at her with a frown.

"That's literally what it's made for, dumbass," I muttered the last bit under my breath but of course Cleo picked up on it.

"Watch your mouth, Asstray," she warned with narrowed eyes.

I shook my head disapprovingly at the name she used but I remained quiet again. It wasn't until just before her and Kat were about to leave that I took my chance and spoke up, "Yo, Cleo. Can we talk for a minute?"

I could tell she was confused by my request but she slowly nodded and followed me into the back.

I exhaled a small sigh before saying, "Aight, I just wanna apologise for the other night, I shouldn't have said that shit."

I watched as her expression relaxed and a small smirk appeared on her lips as she gasped, "Ashtray, apologising? I never thought I'd see the day!"

It was taking everything inside me not to roll my eyes at her remark. "Well don't get used to it because for the record I still hate you," I replied in a dull tone.

"Right back at you, baldy," she grinned at me with amused eyes.

"Aight, well you can leave now," I said matter-of-factly to which she furrowed her brows.

"I think I deserve a bit of a better apology than that, you didn't even use the word 'sorry' " she noted.

"You lucky I even apologised at all, take it or leave it but this is the best you gettin," I finalised.

She seemed to give up as well, knowing better than to press me on it any further. "Whatever, fine. See you later, Ashy," she cooed with a devilish grin.

I cringed at the nickname which she purposely used to annoy me. Considering we tried to spend the least amount of time together possible, Cleo always knew how to get under my skin. She was like a permanent headache that I couldn't get rid of.

I imagine she thought of me in a similar way though. We both pushed each other's buttons at any chance we got and that's just how it had always been. In a way she was like the female version of myself, just not as intelligent, or as witty, or as attractive. Maybe not the last one, actually. It's just a shame the pretty face was ruined as soon as she opened her big ass mouth.