The car was unnervingly silent as Simon drove Archie home but Archie could feel Simon's gaze on him for the flicker of a second through the mirror.As soon as the car pulled up into the house garage, Archie got down and went straight into the house, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts.“Archie” A low voice sounded and Archie froze, not expecting his mother to still be up that late at night.He forced a smile to his face and turned to look at her.“You're still up?” He asked, trying to divert the topic as he knew exactly what she was going to ask himHer face hardened and she took a step closer to him.“What do you think the time is?” She asked, her voice low and stern.Archie blew out air through his mouth and shrugged “It's midnight” He muttered under his breath.She nodded and scoffed.“Exactly, it's midnight. Care to tell me where you're coming from?” She asked him, her hand folded across her chestHe scratched the back of his neck, his mind thinking of an escape route. “It's nowhere
Archie sighed. Could he say no? No, of course not.“Sure, come on in. We can talk” He said, his eyes following her every move as she fully entered the room and closed the door behind herShe sighed and crossed her arms at him and he blew out a deep breath, the tension in the air palpable.“Yes mum, what did you want to talk about?” He asked her, after a long silence between themShe seemed to be thinking of something but hearing his voice made her snap out of her daze and she nodded.“Oh sorry, my mind went AWOL for a moment there” She muttered and Archie kept silent waiting for her to say something The look she was giving him was unnerving and made him feel uncomfortable.“Archie, you know that I want the best for you…” she began, her voice low but calculating.Archie gulped, not liking where the conversation was heading.“Yes, mum. I know that," he muttered.“Then I need you to tell me the truth” she demanded and Archie just wanted to scream. Why was she especially insistent?“I al
“Archie?” A voice called out behind him and his anger dissipated at the sound of her voice. BaileyHe turned to look at her, anger still blazing in his eyesBailey gave a warning look to everyone and hurried to Archie.“Are you all right?” She whispered to him, her voice low so that no one could hear her except him.He didn't answer, his gaze fixed on nothing.The guy who he slapped pinched his nose bridge. “Leave the bastard alone and let him face me” The boy growled.Bailey behaved like he was nothing but a persistent fly and she placed a hand on Archie's back and he calmed down a bit.“Let's leave, it's not worth it” she whispered to him and he looked up at her with pleading eyes but she shook her head and he conceded.“Fine” He muttered, straightening up.Bailey placed her hand in his and was about to drag him away when some people started booing.“Why do you try to act so tough huh?!” The guy yelled, angry that Archie was walking away.Bailey stared down at Archie's other hand an
"I can't... I can't do it" Archie shook his head and Bailey's expression fell."Archie.." She tried reaching for him but he stepped out of reach, running his fingers through his hair."I'm not the kind of man your parents want for you," He sighed, staring at Bailey."Your parents want nothing to do with me and I'm okay with it. I just can't go" Bailey shook her head, reaching for him again luckily he didn't move away."Who cares about my parents? It's you I want, it's you I love... Just come with me, I promise everything will be fine" She pleaded, framing his face with her hands.Why wouldn't he believe her? She loves him, isn't that enough? Isn't that what their relationship strived on?She didn't want anything from him except 'him'. All of him.Archie was silent as he searched her eyes. He gently brought her hands down from his face and her heart broke at the gesture.She could feel it, he was rejecting her. There was no way she'd convince him again. That was Archie."I'm sorry Bail
"Boss...Boss, are you for real?" Archie's jaw dropped the moment his boss declared that statement. From the other end, he could see the rest of the workers already growling and murmuring with jealousy as envy rented the restaurant.Seeing they just finished gossiping about him, of course, they were meant to get uncomfortable."Why Archie of all people in this restaurant?" One of them murmured to the other, bitterness visible in his voice and how he spoke."I don't even know myself. Isn't he an irregular worker? What does the manager see to make him the new manager?" The other whispered to the first one, and Archie's eyes twitched, falling on the two workers who instantly cleared their throats, focusing back on the work."You know it's good not to gossip while at work? If you're pained by my success, then you can just make use of the door" Archie said bluntly, trying to keep his cool as the Manager returned to his office.Archie felt so happy, ecstatic, and surprised at the same time.
Archie went back to his work that day without adhering to the gossip of workers. He was ready to head back home when the Manager called him again."Sir" He smiled after changing the close and open sign of the restaurant. The boss was actually outside waiting for him. "I can see you've started managing the restaurant, Archie" he said and smiled and Archie felt proud. He was going to be missing his boss though and suddenly, he was forced to ask."When will you be returning back, Sir?", He asked, trying not to sound so desperate to know. "Soon, I can't say for now" he muttered like he could read his mind and Archie nodded his head."Um, will you like anything? I'm just surprised that you called me" Archie uttered. "I heard the struct policies you instilled in the workers" Manager Temple replied, and Archie was taken aback. His limp bone rose as he averted away. He was sure he wouldn't like the rules he just made.. was he really going too far?His thoughts were cut off when he spoke again
"What do you want?" Archie asked, his voice a sharp edge. He had better things to do than entertain their false care.Ryder forced a smile, he was sick of his attitude but he kept his composure, he was here to earn his trust and find out what he was up to "Aren't you happy to see us, Archie? We came all the way out here..." He trailed of trying his best not to scrunch his nose in disgust He wouldn't be caught dead in this ratchet part of town, Archie should be grateful he considered stooping to his level.Archie’s eyes flicked over them briefly before he leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "Happy? No, I’m not. How do you feel being in this part of town? I'm surprised you even had the guts to come here so what did I do to be honored by this disturbing visit?"Ryder’s smile faltered, his knuckles tightened by his side, the audacity of this man! He thought it took a lot for him to keep his tone light. "We just thought we’d check on you. It's been a while."Archie scoffed.
Archie watched the clock on the classroom wall, counting the seconds until the final bell. He had been watching them acting dumb he could tell they were waiting for the right opportunity to act.He almost chuckled watching them act anxious like a child waiting for Santa Christmas morning.Simultaneously their eyes clashed they glared at him then looked in the other direction while he kept his expression neutral.Finally he stood stretching a little to see the eager expression on their faces, they failed miserably to hide their intentions, if Emily hadn't warned him he would have still figured out their plan.Rolling his eyes he walked out leaving his bag behind knowing that was where they would plant the evidence.He stood outside watching through the glass as they stayed back. They were waiting for everyone to leave before they executed their stupid plan.Not bothered Archie left then went to the cafeteria to grab a snack, those peasants were not worth stressing over though he would