I stand in front of the mirror at work You can do this Jenna, it's just another day... Soon this will be all over. I say to myself, trying to keep my spirits up even if I know that I'm lying to myself. I fix my hair and head out of the bathroom and into the lunch room, and notice my coworker there. "um... hi." I say weakly, trying to break the awkward silence.

Jenna is a twenty-eight year old woman with long brown hair and blue eyes. She stands at about 5'5" and weighs around one hundred and fifteen pounds, making her look even smaller than she already feels. She works for the shoe store in the mall and is currently in the break room eating lunch while waiting for her shift to end so she can go home.

I glance up at the sound of the bell and see...a boy? No, a man. Well, not that old...younger than I thought he'd be from his voice. My cheeks heat up as I realize what it means; it's a customer...and they want my attention. "Um...hi," I mumble again, feeling even more pathetic and insignificant now.

I blush even harder and try not to look at him as I grab the jeans he asked for and ring them up on the register. "It's, um...thank you?" My voice is barely a whisper as I hand over his purchase. He really does think I'm some kind of baby...why can't anyone see me as an adult?

I let out an exasperated sigh. "Twenty-eight," I mutter, not bothering to look at him this time. Why do people always think they can guess my age? "And if you're done with the questions, I'd like to get back to work."

I freeze for a moment when he hands me the tip, my eyes widening in surprise. Is...is he flirting with me? "T-thank you," I stammer, taking the money and quickly putting it in the register. His compliments make my cheeks feel hot, but I remind myself that people don't really mean what they say; they're just being nice. Or maybe they think I'm pathetic and want to see me smile...

I shake my head no, looking down at the counter. "No...not really," I admit quietly. "Most people just see me as an employee, not a person." It's the truth; none of my coworkers or even my family really pay attention to me unless they need something from me. But maybe...maybe this guy is different. Maybe he actually sees me for who I am beneath the surface.

I stare at him in surprise as he speaks, unsure how to react. "Um...yeah? I-I'd like that..." It sounds pathetic even to my own ears, but it feels good to finally be noticed by someone who isn't just using me for a sale. A small smile spreads across my face as he turns to walk away, and for a moment, I allow myself to believe that maybe things aren't so bad after all.

I blush deeply at his offer, completely taken aback. "R-really?" I stutter out. Truthfully, I've never had anyone offer to do something like this for me before; everyone always assumes I can take care of myself or that my dad will be there to drive me home like he does when I call him in a panic. The idea of riding with someone other than family feels strange and exciting all at once. "Um...I get off at nine-thirty, but...that's okay if you have somewhere else to be," I add quickly, not wanting him to feel like he has to do this for me.

"Of course not!" He says enthusiastically. "I was just about to leave the mall anyway. Don't worry, I'd love to give you a ride."

I finish getting ready as quickly as I can, taking extra care to make myself look presentable. I smooth out my clothes and run a brush through my hair one last time before grabbing my bag and walking over to the entrance to meet him. The anticipation building up inside me feels almost electric; it's like everything in my body is humming with excitement.

As I approach, I force myself to calm down, trying not to make a fool of myself by acting too happy or excited about this. It might just be a ride home for him, but for me...well, it means something more. Something that I've been longing for without even realizing it. "Hey," I say softly, offering him a small smile as he looks over at me.

I hesitate a moment before getting into the car; it feels strange to be riding in someone else's vehicle, let alone with someone I barely know. But he was so insistent on giving me a ride home...maybe it really is just because he wants to help. "It's not far from here," I say softly, giving him my address. As we pull out of the parking lot and onto the street, I try to think of something safe and neutral to talk about. "So what do you like to do in your free time?"

I smile politely and say "Nice to meet you, Rory." I should probably offer up something more than just my name in return, but it's hard to think of anything else about myself that's interesting or worth sharing. I lean back against the seat, watching the scenery outside as we drive past the mall and towards her apartment complex. It feels...oddly nice to be riding with someone, just like this. Like we're in this together somehow.

"Oh...sorry about that," I say sheepishly, laughing a little at my own forgetfulness. "I'm Jenna." It feels strange to finally be saying it out loud; it's almost like admitting who I am, really. But something about Rory makes me feel comfortable enough to share more than usual. "So, what are you studying in college?" I ask, trying to find a subject we can talk about that won't reveal too much about either of us.

"Oh...that's interesting," I say with genuine curiosity. "I never really knew what IT was about; it just sounded complicated and kind of boring." I laugh, feeling a little self-conscious for admitting that. "Anyway, I...um..." I hesitate, not sure how much to share. "I dropped out of med school," I finally blurt out, wincing at the admission as soon as it leaves my lips.

Rory seems genuinely surprised by this revelation. "Why? You had such a promising future in medicine." His tone is sincere, like he truly means what he's saying. It makes me feel even more foolish for not having the strength to continue with my studies. "I...it was just too much pressure," I explain lamely. "Everyone expected so much from me, and I couldn't handle it." I bite my lip, embarrassed by how pathetic that sounds when put into words. "Anyway, yeah...so now I work at the shoe store."