After I got Christopher on the bus to school I went and checked on Katie. She was passed out on her bed hugging the bottle of liquor. Her room was a mess empty bottles lay everywhere, trash overflowing the trash cans and clothes all over the floor. I could see the small rise and fall of her chest letting me know she was still alright for now. I turned and shut the door behind me leaving her alone.
I needed to get ready for the animal shelter. So I quickly got showered and dressed in a pair of blue Jean shorts and a plain tank top. Leaving the house I climbed into my blue 2006 Toyota Tacoma that I received from my after he passed. The drive wasn't too long and I quickly arrived at the Barstow animal shelter. The paint on the building slowly fading from baking in the sun. The old dingy signs still hanging in the window. I don't think they will ever change them out. The heat was coming in waves today. I hurried inside to escape it. Inside the cream colored walls screamed that they were in need of a new coat of paint. The floors are cement and the sounds of barking filled the building.
"Hi Marlena, how are you?" Stacy said from the front desk of the animal shelter. "Hey Stacy, I'm fine. How about you?" I muttered. I continued on down the hallway to the back of the building where I could grab my vest and ID tag that listed volunteer in bold letters.
Mark was sitting at his desk writing out an email when I came in to my things. "How are you feeling Marlena?" Mark said. "I'm fine. It's just another day Mark." I wasn't trying to be rude. I just didn't want to talk about it. Something he should already know.
"Okay, Okay." he said putting his hands up as if to say I concede. I put my vest and ID on ignoring him. Before I could get out the door Mark says, "Marlena, we have a new volunteer today so be nice to, huh?" I gave him a bright almost fake smile letting him know I would be on my best behavior.
I walked out of the office rounded the corner headed for the dogs kennels to start taking the dogs out for a potty break. As I was pushing the door open it smacked right into someone.
"OMG! I am so sorry. Are you okay?" I half yelled. I came through the door the rest of the way trying to see who my victim was. Our was holding his forehead smirking. "It's okay. I am sure it won't leave a bruise." He said releasing his forehead.
When he did this I finally go a look at his deep blue eyes, crooked smile and short light brown hair. I felt as if my brain had packed up and left the skull. "A-ar-are you sure?" I stuttered.
"Yes." He said smiling. He tried moving past to continue on his way, but before he could I whispered, "Oh. I'm Marlena, you are?"
This mystery person smiled at me and said, "I am..."
I got lost I'm his eyes. It felt like I was drowning in an ocean. No time to breathe or catch myself. What was happening to me...
"I am Cole. I'm new here. Are you new here too?" He said.
"Oh no. I'm old." I said waving my hand. My mouth turning into a O shape realizing what I had just said. "I-I mean have been here a while. Not that I am old or anything." I rushed through my sentence my cheek burning bright red with embarrassment.