One look at Cassandra Andrejevic made parents turn away in disgust. She made religious people cross themselves, and pray for her soul to stay on the right track. And she made a few people who had snotty comments leave with a nosebleed. Tattoos covered her body like an extra layer of clothing. She had too many things pierced to count. Her usual high head was now staring at the ground as she made her way through the crowd of people towards her favorite coffee shop. Another night of no sleep; another dream-free night. Her body ached and her head pounded more with each step she took.
Cassandra had had this problem for a month now. An entire month of dead promises that she'd get natural sleep if she chewed on some roots, changed her diet, and started exercising. All of which, besides chewing on foreign roots, had Cassandra been doing previous to her sleep problems. And never before did she have sleep problems. She was able to sleep the entire day, if anyone would let her. In fact, most of the only thing she did was sleep; sleep and eat, that is.
Looking up briefly, she revealed the terrible bags under her eyes, that even pounds of make-up couldn't conceal. It had gotten so bad, some mornings she didn't even bother to try and cover it. Her face was pale- paler than her make-up could ever make her- and her eyes seemed distant. Her mouth usually hung open like a girl who had blowed one too many boys. That was another reason for the nasty looks she recieved. She wasn't a harlot, she was just tired.
And then, the rich aroma of coffee filled her nostrils and she dragged herself into the shop. They knew her by name in there, she went there so often. Sometimes up to four times a day. She was going to blow all her money on coffee, but what could she do? She couldn't spend her entire day sleeping. "Large Coffee Frap," she muttered, almost inaudibly. The workers had already started working on her order the moment the saw her though. They already knew what she'd order. She smiled a little and waited for her coffee.
"No sleep again, huh?" One of the workers, Cassie was blanking on his name, leaned over the counter to get a closer look of her. "You look terrible." Frowning, he straightened up. Cassie got a glimpse of his nametag before she spoke.
"Well gee thanks, Ralph, you look lovely, too." Smirking, she grabbed her coffee and left her money on the counter, leaving the place. She never did stay to drink. She didn't have time. Driving wasn't exactly an option for her, as she was always afraid she'd fall asleep, or at least shut her eyes for a few moments in an attempt to. No amount of loud music seemed to keep her vigilant enough for driving.
Her high heeled boots tapped against the sidewalk as she walked to work. Cassandra would probably be late again, but that was the least of her worries. Much rather be late, than mess up a customer's body modification. Today, Cassie took a moment to look around at her surroundings, at the people scurrying to hail a taxi, or catch their train. She saw the others who were walking at a leisurely pace, chatting it up with the people next to them, or the random bypassers they saw, and Cassie tried to think of when she was like that. There was a time, a while ago, when she did get a full night's sleep, when she'd leave for work early, and stay to chat with everyone at the coffee shop, or leave even earlier and walk with her friend who needed a work-out. Now it seemed she ignored, and was just plain ignorant, to eveyone she talked to. It wasn't as if she really meant it, it seemed that she wasn't fully in control of what she was doing when she was like this.
Why can't I just be fucking normal.
Standing at the corner, angrily punching the crosswalk button until it changed from the red hand, to the white walking man. She didn't bother to look for turning cars; they wouldn't hit her anyways, and if they did? Oh well. At least the nightmare was over. Didn't walk quickly either, everyone who was behind her past her up, and before she had stepped onto the sidewalk the red hand appeared again, and a chorus of horns went off at her. She laughed and continued down the street, seeing the fluorescent sign in front of her place of work. It wasn't lit now, because if it was, they'd just be wasting electricity; no one could see it in this lighting.
She jammed her key into the door, thankful that she was on time. Cassie had almost forgotten that she was opening up today.
Is it Tuesday, already?
She went straight to the back to put away her purse, her coat, and her keys- she had to leave them for whoever was locking up and opening the next morning- and then she turned the old stereo on, plugging her iPod into the adapter. The first person there chose the music for today, though luckily for all the other staff members, the vast majority, besides a tiny girl named Gabrielle, lthey liked the same music. Turning it on shuffle, she left the back room and sat down lazily on her chair. Maybe before the first customer arrived she could get some sleep... As far as she knew, Tuesday's she was here alone until twelve.
Crystal Casltes poured through the tattoo place and Cassandra leaned back in her chair, tapping her feet to the beat. It was times like these when she couldn't help but think.
Think of her parents, who were so disappointed in her, no matter what she did. Even when she tried to fulfill her dreams as a photographer, they just put her down about how she'd never make it. And when she tried to puruse in a music career, they told her she wasn't pretty enough to make it big. Thought of her boyfriend who she kept pushing away, ever since the insomnia started. Thought of her boss who despised her lazy ways, and would've fired her if she wasn't blood related to him. Thought of cat, who hated her so much she ran away. Thought of all the people who thought of her as a pathetic, waste of space, disgrace to mankind, and she smiled again.
Hearing the bell above the door ring, she sat up straight, and took a long sip of her Frappucino.
It's going to be a long day.
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