Torn between worlds

e damp with sweat, the air in the factory thick and stale. "Is this it? Five years of college

ottle between his fingers. He didn't look at me.

he work-school, internships, everything they said we should do. And what do we get? A factory

what do you want me to say? We've been over this a hu

he supervisor's office slammed open,

etching the buttons of his shirt, and his voice carried over the faint hum of the machines. "You thin

ghtening. "We were just taking a

y, entitled kids," he muttered as he walked off. "

fists clenched. "One

arm. "Don't give him the satisfa

of the machines filling the air. The fluorescent lights buz

g the tense silence. "W

he muttered, n

ed a breakthrough. Something big.

nt something big?" He turned to me, his blue ey

hat are you t

"Let's run a scam. Fraud. Something q

at him, my hear

ink about it. Everyone else is doing it. They're out there m

to get caught. I'm not even married yet-no wife, n

Do you even have a future? Do you think this job will ever get you there?" He gestured to the fac

n't r

, making real money. But here you are, earning scraps. If you're not gonna hustle, then

topped when the sound of an engi

its polished exterior gleaming under the afternoon sun.

light. She wore a fitted navy dress that hugged her figure perfectly, and her heels clicked

red, his usual sarc

My throat was dr

ul. Then she turned, her eyes briefly meeting mine. They were th

me. "You okay? Yo

elf to look away. "Who

is voice low. "But she'

over himself as he hurried to greet her. The sight was almost c

someone importan

but firm. Whatever she was saying, it had him nod

e'd arrived, she turned and

ing over the noise. "Which one of you

nged a glance, b

sing an eyebrow. "Do

stepped forward, my hear

le-and handed me her keys. "Be

eling Jake's amused gaze bur

ar, my mind raced. Who w

d him. "Good luck, Romeo,

I opened the hood, I couldn't shake the f

e tucked into the glove compartment, its edg

r of me. I reached for

thing int

to see her leaning against the doorframe,

the hood," I stammered, qu

e was something in her eyes

ze heavy. "Because you wouldn't want to get

me standing there, my heart poundi

t my side. "Wha

e barely above a whisper. "But