four.

✪pirate is online!

pirate: do you ever feel like a fraud?

blossom: what do you mean?

pirate: I feel like im expected to act a certain way around people and im tired of living up to peoples expectations

pirate: like i don't even know who I am anymore

blossom: that makes so much sense to me

blossom: I don't deal with people very well

pirate: you don't?

blossom: I'm not shy or anything but I hate being put on the spot, you know? like I hate it when someone asks me the opinion of something because I freeze.

pirate: really?

blossom: yeah I don't like small talk. when someone asks me something I always answer with what I think they want to hear, even if I don't agree with them, just so I don't start any confrontation.

blossom: afterwards im always like..did I really just say that?

pirate: I do that ALL the time apart from you, because it's different

blossom: how so?

pirate: because I think you're the only person I can be myself around

pirate: I don't have to pretend to be anyone im not because you don't know who I am irl

pirate: I dont have to think like you're gonna judge me

blossom: im always judging you pirate

pirate: BRO

blossom: omg im kidding

blossom: but I get what you're saying 100%

pirate: I think you're my favourite person blossom

blossom: I think you're my favourite person too pirate

✪blossom is offline!

the rest of the day was a blur but relatively good even if I don't remember getting back home to my grandmas.

because it was a sunday, there wasn't too many customers and kai definitely helped the day go so much quicker.

but I am exhausted.

I tried to persuade my grandmother to let me quit but after she threatened to beat me with her cane (which she doesn't even use) and she wasn't having any of it.

"it's just a summer job" my grandma rants, talking about how much she had to work to get to where she is.

it's pretty difficult to explain to my grandma how much the world has changed, especially in comparison from her being a teen to hers.

I try to excuse my attempt to quit by telling her about the mysterious girl calling me princess and she just raises her eyebrow, brushing me off.

"I pulled some strings to get claudia to talk to finneas about getting you this job, you've worked one day"

and I know for a fact if anything happened at work, finneas will tell his girlfriend and his girlfriend will come running straight to my grandmother.

this is great.

why did I get on the flight again?

honestly, I could've just pretend to be in LA and spend my time living in the middle of the woods all summer or something.

I understand living in LA isn't cheap and I can't expect my grandma to spend money on me, more than she already has so I feel guilty not wanting this job.

I have to pay my grandma back for frankie too, even if she said I don't have too.

"this is good for you sage, you need to stop moping around in your room and get yourself out there"

I do understand where she's coming from....in theory.

I suppose the point of my job is to be bringing in my own pay check so I can show her and my dad im responsible so ill have to tough it out.

im not a quitter and it's a summer job anyway...right?

that's what I keep telling myself anyway.

besides it's not like ive got more important things to talk about.

you know...things such as PIRATE being anywhere.

the next morning after no sleep I get up and dressed, having time to do my makeup and curl my hair.

kai is off work today so mind the store alone while finneas has a lot of guitar lessons today.

this is fine.

im fine.

"theres an opening at three tomorrow for two hours, does that work for you?" I look up at the woman trying to rent the studio and she nods.

"yes that would be wonderful, put it under the name styles"

I write the name down in the diary and put the pen down "that's booked in for you, is there anything else I can help you with today ma'am?"

"is finneas in today? I need to ask him about what strings I need for my guitar"

"he's in a private lesson right now, I could try and help you, what guitar do you have?"

I stand up and follow her over to the guitars on the wall and she points at one, one I'm familiar with.

"the red arrow? I have the same one in black back home, she's a beauty" I scan the shelf of strings and pull out the strings for the guitar and hand them to her. she gives me a bright smile and thanks me.

"do you need help re-strumming your guitar? you could bring it with you tomorrow and either finneas or I will do it"

"oh that would be perfect, thank you so much"

she pays for her strings and leaves the shop, leaving me to deal with another customer.

billie hasn't come back into the store since, but I wish kai was here so I could ask them who she was.

but honestly i don't know why I'm disappointed.

when the store is empty, I slide my phone out of my pocket to see if pirate has messaged me back from this morning.

"you shouldn't be on your phone while you're working" I whip my head to the voice behind me a spot a very familiar, blue eyed girl, leant against the doorframe, her arms folded with her brows raised.

"what have I told you about the door" I ignore her first comment and lock my phone, sliding it into my back pocket.

"you you know who I am princess?"

"is there anything you need?" I ask, ignoring her and going back to my intended job, sorting out the records which need putting away.

"I'm just here to see you princess"

"okay you've seen me now, goodbye"

"damn ma, whats up with you?"

"can you leave already I'm-"

"what are you doing here?" we both turned out heads to the door, finneas walking in with two boxes of new records he'd just been to pick up.

"oh hello, it's so nice to see you too finneas" billie rolled her eyes and walked over to take a box from finneas, putting it on the counter in-front of me.

"I'm working billie"

"the shop is empty" billie pulls out a sucker from her pocket and unwraps it, making eye contact with me as she opens her mouth and slides the candy into her mouth.

fuck that was hot.

no.

"billie I don't have time, come back later"

"whatever" billie rolls her eyes and glances to me and leans into me, so close I can smell the cherry scent of her breath. "laters princess" she winks and walks out the back, out of sight.

"have yall met before?" finneas asks me, opening one of the boxes and I shake my head, helping him with the other box.

"she came in yesterday but I have no idea who she is"

"she's my little sister"

"really?"

"yeah" he laughs "she's annoying but she's sweet when you get to know her"

"no offence finn but from what I've seen she seems the furthest from sweet"

"yeah I can imagine, she doesn't come in often so you don't need to worry about her"

good.

I hate it when she calls me princess.