Chapter 8: Animosity

Delaney

My work shift is pretty easy, apart from one thing.

I’ve forgotten how to socialize with people.

If I had to be completely honest, I’d say that I never really learned how to deal with people. In school, I didn’t have any friends. Everyone was too busy calling me Cursey Waters to get to know me, even the other Omegas. The years I spent in isolation made things worse, so I feel awkward around big crowds, and for some reason, I’m afraid that someone will recognize me and spread tales about me.

I serve my last table the beer they ordered and then return to the bar. Paola is busy with the cashier, and she glances at me covertly before asking, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just a little overwhelmed,” I admit.

“You seem on edge,” she notes. “It’s weird being around people again, right?”

“I guess so.”

The door of the cavern swings open and Francesca and Pollux both walk in. They’re standing very close, and she presses a kiss to the side of his neck before making her way back to the bar.

I’m mildly surprised. I didn’t know they were together.

“Here comes the asshole,” Paola says before slamming the cash register closed. “I’m so mad about the way he treated you. What’s with him? I don’t get it.”

“He’s not usually like this?”

“He is,” she says reluctantly. “But I didn’t think he’d be a dick to you. That’s so out of pocket, all the things he said. Believe me when I tell you that I never made him think that you weren’t innocent.”

“I believe you,” I say.

“Let’s hope Francesca talked some sense into him,” she grumbles.

“They’re together?” I ask curiously.

“Yeah, they have been for a while now,” she states. “I don’t know what she sees in him. He’s such an immature dick.” After a pause, she heaves a sigh. “I’m mad at him, and I didn’t think that would happen anytime soon.”

“I don’t want you to argue with him because of me,” I say. “That makes me feel bad.”

“He can’t treat you like that,” Paola says. “He doesn’t know what it was like for us in prison. Nobody wants to come outside and encounter prejudice and judgment. We just want to move on. I can’t believe I killed a man for him. That was a waste of time.”

I hold back a laugh and Francesca approaches us. The first thing she does is ask me, “How has your first night been for you? It’s a weekday, so it’s not very busy.”

“It’s fine,” I respond. “Thank you for the opportunity.”

“Of course,” she says with a smile before heading into the back room.

Pollux chooses a table to sit down, and then he glances at the bar with annoyance before snapping his fingers loudly.

Why’s he doing that?

“He’s calling for you,” Paola informs me.

I scoff. “What?”

“Since you’re the barmaid, you know,” she clarifies. “Don’t go. Don’t you dare go. Let’s see how he likes it when we match his energy.”

It doesn’t take long for him to stand up and stride toward the bar. I keep my eyes on his face, still refusing to show him that he intimidates me in any way. He doesn’t.

“I called for a barmaid,” he says angrily. His eyes are on my face. “You didn’t hear?”

“No.”

He presses his lips into a hard line, then says, “I want a beer.”

“Come make it yourself!” Paola yells. The few patrons in the bar look at her briefly before returning to their conversations.

“What the hell is your problem?” Pollux asks her.

“What the hell is yours?” she asks. “Do you realize how immature you look? You’re making Delaney feel bad, and for what? For being an Omega like us? For being born under a supposed bad moon? She’s my friend. My best friend. You hurt her, you hurt me.”

Pollux rolls his eyes at her speech. He doesn’t offer any response at all, and Paola walks away, leaving the two of us alone.

I stay put and keep an eye on him.

He’s bracing both his hands on the countertop, and his head snaps in my direction as soon as his sister disappears from sight. “Let’s get one thing clear: I’m not convinced by this persona you’re trying so hard to maintain.”

I shrug. “Whatever.”

“If you even think about hurting my sister, I promise you that I’m going to ruin you.”

“The only person who’s hurting her is you,” I remind him.

His eyes narrow. “Because of you! Because she can’t seem to see you for what you are! You’re…you’re fucking unbearable to be around. I can’t even stand to look at your face!”

“I don’t care,” I tell him in the most unconcerned way possible. “What you think of me doesn’t matter to me. If you’re so triggered by my presence, do us both a favor and never speak to me again. Walk away when you see me. Act like I’m not there. You know why?” I inch closer to him. “Because I’ll be doing the same.”

I take the opportunity to grab my tray and walk over to a few tables to ask them if they need anything else. I’m aware that he’s not moving, so I spend more time than I should asking people if everything is alright and making light conversation.

An older lady asks me, “Tell me, is that your natural hair color?”

I touch the ends of my hair automatically. I’ve decided to braid it, and years without cutting it has allowed it to grow long. “Oh, yeah. It is.”

“Quite uncommon, right?” she asks the man sitting next to her. “I’ve seen it a few times.”

I return to the bar. I’m aware of him looking at me, but I decide to stick to my decision and not entertain him. If he wants to constantly argue, he’ll have to find someone who has the time.

Eventually, he disappears and I don’t even notice it. I’m glad to finally have something to do. It’s incredible to think that this morning, I woke up in my cell and thought my day would be uneventful. Now, I’m a hidden city and working alongside people who don’t criticize me. Well, some don’t. But I don’t care about what Pollux Lyons thinks.

Paola returns a few minutes later. She’s looking around for her brother and becomes satisfied when she doesn’t spot him.

Shortly afterward, it’s time to close up. Paola tells me, “You’re going to be staying with us, okay? Whoever isn’t happy with it can move out.”

We close the bar after cleaning it up and say goodbye to Francesca, who stays behind because apparently, she lives upstairs. Pollux is outside, leaning against the wall with a cigarette between his lips. Paola doesn’t even glance at him. She just walks past him and I follow her cue.

She says to me. “Fuck him.”

A few minutes later, I hear his footsteps behind us. The smell of his cigarette reaches my nose, so he’s not that far behind.

Paola’s place isn’t that far away, and it’s similar to the houses we walked past when we first entered the city. She unlocks the door and we step inside. It’s pretty small. The walls are merely cemented, and the floor is the same. There aren’t tiles. There’s a thin layer of dust everywhere, but I guess this is expected. She shows me to her room.

The bed is a double.

“We’ll share it,” she proclaims while closing the door. “It’ll be just like the old times.”

I shed the clothes Francesca gave me for work and Paola hands me a spare pajama. We wash up in the small bathroom right down the corridor, and then we get in bed.

“I’m sorry about my brother,” she tells me in the dark.

“You don’t have to apologize for his mistakes,” I tell her.

“Yeah,” she says before she turns on her side and immediately falls asleep.

I stare at the low ceiling and try to fall asleep, but my thoughts are racing and I’m just too anxious all of a sudden. I glance at the brown envelope. I’ll have to throw everything away so that nobody finds out that I was ordered to leave. It might complicate things more for me.

I finally lie on my side and feel myself drifting off to sleep with the hope that tomorrow will be a better day for me.

I’m certainly excited for what life has in store for me. Maybe for once, the stars are turning in my favor.