Quick As A Flash // Open To All

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I got off work early, five o'clock to be exact. Even though it was summer it was dark, the sun hidden behind the dark, threatening clouds looming over the District. I rolled my eyes at my friend Connor's joke, "What did the tree where into the water? Swimming trunks! Get it, swimming trunks?" A chuckle escaped my lips and I shook my head. "I swear, you should be a comedian," I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I was generally a sarcastic person, and by that I mean extremely sarcastic. If I were to guess, I'd say that at least half of the tings I say are sarcastic, and to avoid getting your feelings hurt you're safest bet is probably to assume that I'm always being sarcastic.

Connor smirked. "If you didn't like it, then why did you laugh?" he pointed out smugly. I let out another giggle unintentionally. "Because, it was actually one of the worst jokes I'd heard in a while. It was so bad it was laughable," I teased. Connor gasped, pretending to be offended, which made me laugh even more.

"Whoa, that must be a seriously bad joke, I mean, you have to listen to your jokes all day, I thought you'd be used to terrible jokes." I stuck my tongue out at him, and he gave me a friendly wink back. We started to slow to a halt as we reached the small, two room house that Connor shared with his girlfriend. "See you tomorrow, Lee," said Connor, giving me a friendly punch in the shoulder, which I returned with a nod and grin.

Just as Connor walked up the footpath, the first drops of rain landed on my head and back, and a ripple of thunder scared some birds in a nearby tree. I sighed. I had heard thunder on the way here, but I had been hoping I would get home before the storm started.

It was a ten minute walk, five minute run, depending on how busy the town square was, which would most likely be fairly empty considering the weather. I had just arrived in the town square when the heavens unleashed, the rain pouring down, soaking my dusty leather jacket and tracksuit bottoms, my brown, unbrushed hair sticking to my scalp and getting darker, almost black.

Mum would be pissed, especially if she had dinner on, but there was no way I was making my way home in such bad weather. The first strikes of lightning lit up the sky and I quickly pushed my way through the crowds, occasionally saying a "Sorry" or an "Excuse me" when I pushed someone too forcefully or stepped on someone's toe.

The people who were outside and weren't trying to get home seemed to be heading in the same direction as me - towards the shelter outside the bar. Seeing the crowd that was gathering around the area, I quickly took a detour, turning left sharply, towards Emmie's Book Store. It didn't get much business, in fact it was scheduled to close soon, in two weeks. Who had time for books anymore, anyway? The only reason I ever started to read outside of school was because of an old friend of mine, Michelle.

It was much warmer than the bar, and I was surprised I hadn't thought of going here sooner, though of course the grey exterior didn't give off a very welcoming or cozy atmosphere. I didn't have much time for reading these days, of course, too busy working, but I used to come every weekend, spending the little bit of money I earned in the factory. I closed the door behind me, giving a small wave to Emmie, who looked up as I entered.

It had shelves on all the walls, and one two sided shelf down the middle of the store. I took my usual place in the corner across from the desk, however, at a table surrounded by armchairs, one or two of which were occupied by people reading. I slouched into the red cushion, silently making a promise to visit again soon, a sense of happy nostalgia washing over me.