Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
I’m an Original. That’s what they call us. And after tonight, I’ll be the only one left.
Bridget met a guy online and moved to Australia, James got fired, Ivy had a kid, Zara went to work for her dad in Miami, Amir finished law school, Cole sells insurance, and now Lauren is leaving too.
She got a job as a data scientist for some huge engineering company. I still don’t understand what she’s doing even though she explained it a few times.
I’m happy for her, for all of them, but I still can’t help feel like I’m being left behind. When did everyone get together and agree to be proper adults? I guess I was off work that day.
“Oh, that’s so cute!” Samuel says when I pull out the cake I made for Lauren. We’re in the back while she’s tending the bar.
“I got candles too,” I say as I pull them out of my apron. “One for each year she worked here.”
“I can’t believe another Original is leaving,” Samuel says as I sink five candles into the cake. “You’re the only one left. Are you going to leave us too?”
I sigh as I search for my lighter. “No. I’m going nowhere.”
I’m a little jealous of these people, moving on and living normal lives with normal hours. Last night, I went to bed at four thirty and slept all day. It would be nice not having to keep the same schedule as a vampire.
It would be nice to have some career prospects and opportunities to look forward to. Something to work towards.
I guess I’ve fallen into a bit of a rut and Lauren leaving has made me realize it.
“Ready?” I ask when I find my lighter in the pocket of my giant zip-up hoodie. The boss doesn’t like it when I wear this sweater, but he’s not here so…
Samuel nods and shelters the flame with his hands while I light the candles.
It’s a quiet night with only a few tables of people talking and some regulars drinking at the bar. Lauren is doing a crossword puzzle.
“Ready,” I whisper as we turn the corner. “Go.”
Samuel and I start belting out a song off-key. Everyone stops what they’re doing and looks at us. Lauren bursts out laughing.
“Happy last day to you, Happy last day to you…”
The whole bar joins in and Lauren’s eyes tear up as we all sing to her as loudly as we can.
“…Happy last day to Lauren, Happy last day to you!”
She smiles sadly at me and then blows out the candles. The whole place cheers.
“You’re all getting a piece,” Lauren tells them as I put down the cake. Samuel goes into the back to get some plates and a knife. “You’re so sweet, Norah. You made this?”
“I did. I can’t believe you’re leaving.”
“Me too,” she says as she takes a deep breath. “I’m going to do okay, right?”
“You’re going to do amazing!” I tell her, even though I still don’t know what she’ll be doing. “You’re going to be the best data person scientist that company has ever seen!”
She laughs. “We’re still going to hang out, aren’t we?”
“Of course!” I tell her, even though I know we won’t. That’s how it always works. Someone leaves the pub and promises that they’ll keep in touch, but they leave and I never really hear from them again. I know it will be the same with Lauren, which hurts because she makes working here fun. She’s always been my favorite.
But our schedules will be too different. When she’s off, I’ll be working, and when I’m off, she’ll be at work. It just never works.
Corporate schedules and vampire schedules just don’t mix.
“I’m going to miss you,” I tell her as I pull out the candles, trying not to cry.
“We’ll still hang out!”
I don’t say anything.
“Norah,” she says, piercing me with her eyes. “Are you okay?”
I shrug. “I don’t know… It’s just… I’m so happy for you. It’s just I didn’t think I’d be the last one left. Everyone has gone on to all these amazing career opportunities and it feels like I’m just stuck here existing. I’m not working toward anything.”
“You have your real estate thing,” she says, trying to be upbeat. “That’s exciting.”
“Yeah.” I just want to drop the subject. Why did I even bring it up? We should be celebrating and here I am being a downer.
I shake it out and plaster a smile on my face as Samuel returns with the plates and the knife.
“Strawberry lemonade cake,” I say as I take the knife from him. “Your favorite.”
Lauren hugs me. “You’re so sweet, Norah. Thank you.”
I put on a brave face as I massacre my cake, slicing it into dozens of pieces while Lauren walks around and hands them out.
“…yeah, I’m going to be a data scientist…” I overhear her saying to a table of smiling customers.