Chapter Text
Leigh hates her life. She hates her job, she hates her parent-bosses, she hates the shitty tv dinners she makes, and she hates her apartment. It was small, dingy, with thin walls between everything else, barely separating herself from the outside world.
Right now she’s staring at her half eaten breakfast, some shitty scrambled eggs that she was trying to make into an omelette, hearing her neighbor talk to himself. Sometimes she wanted to break his face, smash his glasses and that camera he always carries, and tear out his eyes.
…
She takes two more bites of the eggs before tossing the rest into the bin and gets ready for work. Slacks, shoes, button up and the apron that’s getting a little tight on her. She grabs her bag and leaves the living space.
There were already people waiting at the elevator, it was that mother and her kid, Leigh standing next to them. Tapping her foot to pass the moment. This damn thing was always so slow, she could take the stairs but her feet were hurting, she should probably get some new shoes.
The elevator dings and opens, that tired guy stands inside, the one with mismatched distant eyes. It was already set for the ground floor so Leigh just grounded her teeth in hatred of the elevator music.
“Uh-Sophie! Stop that!” The mother cried, causing Leigh to look down at that little girl, who was untying Leigh’s shoes.
Leigh grit her teeth, trying not to laugh, not to encourage or yell, nothing. Just giving a ‘smile’ and saying “It’s fine, don’t worry.” Little shit.
The elevator dinged, everyone stepping out, the mother continuing to apologize before leaving Leigh to tie her shoe again. Seems like a typical day so far-
“Ms Morris!” Oh goddamnit.
Leigh looked up to see her landlord, grouchy old face turned even more angrily. She gave her best grin, don’t show any anger, nothing.
“Good morning, Mr Henderson.”
“You're late on your rent again, Ms Morris,” she wasn’t, but according to Henderson 'you're either early or late’.
“I promise I’ll have the money by tomorrow!” Leigh standing and putting her arms up defensively.
“You better, I have no tolerance for freeloaders,” he huffed. “You know, when I was your age-“
“That sounds like a great story, sir, but I’m running late for work, goodbye!” Leigh immediately rushed out before another word fell out of that old fuck’s mouth. Her stretched smile only fell when she stepped outside of the apartment building. She barely processed her surroundings, head abuzz with her thoughts.
Fuck how much time has she wasted, she needs to open up the market at 10 but it’s usually best if she gets there before then to get ready. The butcher was fired thanks to him arguing with her father about something or other, so she’s probably going to have to close that for the moment. Or if her dad actually shows up today she’ll be working at chopping things up, which could be cathartic but she would also have to-
Leigh walked into someone, nearly falling flat on her ass in shock. The person gripped her shoulder though, holding her up. Tightly. Leigh shook out them off, “Fuck, ow, watch where the hell your going!”
It was the gardener. Oh fuck.
She was a giant, both in height and size. Usually wearing coveralls, but today she’s wearing overalls and a t- shirt. As long as Leigh’s seen her, she’s never shifted her expression of sheer annoyance at anyone. She was holding sheers in her other hand.
“You bumped into me,” her voice was deep and soft, it held no accusation, just a statement.
“W-well don’t stand in the open,” Leigh says, as if the gardener wasn’t the most easy to spot person. Hell she’s about as tall as the hedges she’s turned to continue trimming.
“Hm,” was all she said. Smug ass. actually now that Leigh sees it she does have a nice as- SHE NEEDS TO GET TO WORK.
Leigh continued to rush to the market, pushing all those stupid thoughts back down. Sure it wasn’t the first time she’s had those thoughts regarding the cute gardener, she had a cute face, pretty eyes, and a really really hot body-
Leigh was not watching her steps, she didn’t finish retyping her shoes from earlier. All that to say, she tripped over her own shoe lace and her face met the nice soft embrace of fucking concrete.
Fuck her life.