AN: Hey guys. AU-fic with our favourite ladies. Let me know if you want me to continue :)
I've been working like a maniac. I've probably got sweat marks to prove just that. The sunlight's been showering me all day, and since it's Seattle it's saying something. The brisk wind hitting my face. It's been great. But I'm fried. And I've still got an hour left before my shift ends. I shouldn't complain, though. I've got a job not many people get to do. And I love it. It's been my dream ever since I was a little girl. Now, I'm living my dream. I am actually doing what I dreamt of and I even get paid to do so. I'm very grateful to how my life has turned out... or actually, just my career. The other parts of my life doesn't really work… like not at all. It's like they're non-existence. I just work. I wake up, pull on my uniform, braid my hair and walk those three blocks. And then I work. I work sunrise to sundown. And I love it. It's who I am. There's no one telling me how to be or act or even think. It's just me and the animals. It's me and them. Frankly, I don't even notice the Zoo's many, many visitors. I just do my job while people sometimes watches. It's no big deal.
Where was I? Oh, yeah. Fried, bummed, completely drained. I'm currently knee-deep in elephant-poo. Not your common kind of shit. But it's my kind of shit, and I love it. Or not like that. Not love-love. I just, I don't smell the awfulness anymore. I don't smell the rough scent or get annoyed by the flies. It's just a part of it. But today I could actually use a break from this shit. My assistant called in sick today, so I've managed the elephants, the polar bears, the penguins and the sea lions all by myself. Not to mention all the terrariums. A bunch of new stick insects arrived, so I had to nurse them, too. Yeah, today's been all kinds of hard work, but I love it. I thrive on this. I could've used Stephanie's hands today, though. She's such a bug-freak. It's actually really cute. Anytime new species arrive or they breed, she's all bounces and squeals. It's refreshing. I was exactly like that when I was in her shoes back in the days. But right now I'd trade shoes with the first person passing me by. This shit is just... well, shitty. The sun's hot and I think I've got a migraine brewing behind my eyes. I want to go home and curl up, watching American Bake Off and maybe... maybe swill a beer or two while I try to become me again.
I give the spade a hard stamp and the elephant faeces splits, one half now on the metal surface, I shove it into the wheelbarrow. I mirror the action a couple of times before running the back of my hand over my forehead. I'm hot. But I'm finally done. My work here is done. Suddenly I feel the raw skin of a trunk, fondling my neck. I immediately relax, my shoulders, too. I turn around to see a calm and very wise pair of eyes.
"Hey there, Sully," I say soothingly, giving his trunk a good one-armed hug, my hand on the upperpart of his leg. "What's up? You good, huh? Nice clean house now."
Sully yanks his head, letting out a sound of joy. His trunk wheels me in and I let out a soft laugh. "Yeah. A clean house is nice," I tell the animal as I untangle myself from its grasp. "Gotta go, bro," I sigh tiredly. Sully nudges me with his trunk. "But I'll see you tomorrow, promise."
He looks like he buys it. I pat him on his chest; it's been like our handshake from the day I started working here. He's been my friend from the very first day, his mild demeanour calming me instantly. "See you, Sul."
I step out of the large cage; it's more like a house, actually. I lock up and wave at my favourite friend. I gather my things; spade, wheelbarrow and place my cap back on. I walk down the path of the bears, passing the last visitors of the day on their way towards the exit. They awkwardly smile at me and I return their gesture a bit confused. But I smile. Because it's me… it's Eliza the Zookeeper. All smiles. And I usually am all smiles, especially when working. Especially when living my dream. I need to remember that. I need to remember how happy I am when being here. And I am, I really am... except that I'm not. Not at the moment.
I'm passing another group of guests, all consumed in watching the monkeys playing as they lick away on their ice-cream cones. When I come to think about it, there's been a lot of people eating ice-creams this past week. As I turn a corner I'm reminded of why. There it is. The humongous shed or whatever that is. It's huge, that's for sure. And it's so bright and colourful. It looks like a rainbow threw up. I watch as a woman closes down the shop, pulling a big street-sign inside the... what is it? A house, a shed, a unicorn castle? I don't know. She looks like she's having a bit of trouble, though. Being the gentlewoman, I approach her, pulling the wheelbarrow into a hold.
"You need any help there?"
The woman turns around, startled by my voice. "Nah, I got it. Thanks, though," she tells me, her eyes narrowing a bit.
"What?" I ask a little taken back by her intense glare.
"Um," she hesitates, looking over my shoulder. By the look of her, it looks like she catches something behind me. "You got something on-"
"Amelia!"
The woman apparently named Amelia gets cut off by a voice behind me. I turn my head. What I see is not what I expected to. I didn't expect to see this. To see her. To see such beauty. Here. She approaches us, the late afternoon sun hitting her in a religious kind of light. She's mesmerizing. My heart's in my throat and my mouth goes dry. She is the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on. Her blonde her cascading down her shoulders, the light blue polo shirt hugging her body just perfect as does the white shorts. Her white sneaks are dirty, though. Dots of what I assume is different flavours of ice-cream are making her shoes into some kind of artistic painting. Those legs. Those long, shiny legs. I must look dumbfounded, ogling this woman I don't even know. But I can't help it.
"Amelia..." she repeats.
"Yup?"
"I just got off the phone with Karev. We're out of liquorish," she sighs, running her fingers through her hair. I swear, she looks like Lady freaking Godiva... only with clothes on. Jeez! "He'll make a new batch tomorrow."
"Gotcha. I'm almost done here. She..." Amelia says, looking at me. Something tells me I'm needed in this world, so I tear myself away from the pretty blonde.
"Min-Minnick," I stutter and immediately tense. Great, Eliza. Fantastic.
"Min-Minnick here was just asking if I needed any help," Amelia wags her eyebrows. "Maybe she can help you instead, Arizona."
Arizona... okay, wow. Didn't see that one coming.
Arizona turns her head and looks at me, her emerald blue eyes dragging me in almost painfully. But it's a beautiful kind of pain. And then she smiles. Oh my god, her smile. I'm pretty sure I just died and went to heaven.
"Hey," Arizona grins. I extend my hand... why? For the love of God, Minnick. Where's your game? Arizona shakes it, though. The softness of her hand and the look she gives me sending a sensational shiver down my spine.
"Hi," I try my best at smiling, hoping I don't come off all awkward or scary.
"Hi Min-Minnick," she crinkles her nose in the cutest way, and then chuckles. "Arizona."
"Actually, it's Eliza," I finally say, our hands still occupied with the other's.
"Pretty," she states matter-of-factly.
Amelia goes about pulling the street-sign inside the ice-cream shop, leaving Arizona and I to ourselves.
Arizona smirks, continuing to shake my hand. Then she gently pulls out of the handshake, slightly turning her shoulder. I feel the loss of contact shoot right through me, and I'm saddened. But then she hands me a napkin or actually, a whole bunch of napkins. "Here, you look like you need these," Arizona smiles kindly.
I just take the napkins, confused to why she would think that.
"I gotta help Amelia," Arizona informs. "I hope to see much more of you."
And with that she's gone, inside the ice-cream castle. I'm standing right where she left me, outside her shop, napkins in hand and a puzzled look on my face. I shake it off, tug the napkins into my back pocket, and resume to my last work of the day; dropping off the wheelbarrow.
As I walk into the changing area, I can't shake the image of that beautiful woman out of my head, not that I want to either. Wow. I can't believe I haven't seen here before. I know the new ice-cream shop has only been here a week or so, but why haven't I seen her? I would've known, that's for sure. I want to see her again, that much do I know. I need to see her again. Simple as that.
I pass the mirror on the wall as I go to change into my street-wear. Oh. My. Fucking. God! My reflection meets my eyes and I instantly feel sick to my stomach. Or maybe it's my pride that's the one feeling rather ill. Because I'm covered in freaking dirt and whatnot. A big, fat line of black something-something covering my forehead and some on my cheek, too. I look disgusting. I quickly turn on the tap, splashing water onto my face. When my skin feels soaked, I return to looking in the mirror, water dripping from my face. This is so not my day! When I reach out for a towel, I immediately remember Arizona and her napkins. Noooo! That's why she offered me those damn napkins. She's seen me all dirty and stinky. I work with animals, yeah, but I don't enjoy bathing in their left behinds. And I especially don't want pretty girls to see me like this. As I said before, this is so not my day.
AN2: So, what did you think? :) You know what to do!