Happy Friday!
Enjoy :)
Kara and Alex made their way from the front entrance of Alex's building to the pathway leading to the parking lot.
"This is ridiculous." Kara whined. "Why do I have to get on this thing?"
"Uh, excuse you." Alex scoffed. "You're getting on this thing because you suck at rock paper scissors."
The pair approached the Ducati and Alex turned to hand Kara her helmet, earning a dramatic eye roll.
"Do you honestly think I need this?" Kara sighed.
"Powers or no powers, I'm not getting my ass lit up from our parents for allowing you to break the law." Alex shoved the helmet into Kara's chest.
Clearly having perfected the "Danvers art for dramatics" in her short time on Earth, Kara sighed heavily, adding a little nose flair for effect.
"Fine but you'll probably get your ass lit up for making me get on this thing at all." Kara noted before tugging the spare helmet over her cascading curls.
"Awesome." Alex whispered sarcastically before pulling her helmet over her slightly less charming hair style.
If there was one thing Alex would readily admit to envying about Kara, it was that no matter what kind of night she's been through, no matter how the weather turned out, it didn't even matter if there was a shower involved or not, Kara's hair always looked perfect.
Alex shook the little green monster out of her head and swung her leg over her bike.
"Hop on kiddo!" Alex smirked through her helmet before flipping down her shield.
"Kiddo?!" Kara scrunched up her nose and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Fine!" Alex giggled. "Hop on grown ass adult, we got somewhere to be."
Kara pouted but inevitably did as instructed.
Pulling up to the Danvers family driveway, Kara's face wrinkled in confusion.
Alex slowly pulled in before leaning the bike slightly and killing the engine. Taking off her helmet she hung it on her handlebar and attempted to work out the kinks of her helmet hair.
Kara followed suit but the look of confusion never left her face. She dismounted the bike and made her way to face Alex.
"What are we doing here?" Kara asked.
"We're getting me a job?" Alex quirked an eyebrow.
"Here?" Kara asked disbelievingly.
"Mhm." Alex replied simply, pulling her leg over the Ducati.
"So we're still following through with the plan then?" Kara questioned. "We're not here to tell them you're moving back?"
"Absolutely not." Alex grimaced. "Let's go."
Alex made her way to the sidewalk leading to her neighbor's front yard. Around the hedges separating her parent's home from her next door neighbor she spotted a completely rehabbed white picket fence. Her face morphed from one of confidence to a pure look of shock.
"Where is she?" Alex whispered under her breath. Damn she finished that quick?
"What?" Kara looked on confusedly. "Where is who?"
"Come on." Alex directed, marching her way up to her neighbors front door.
Without hesitation, when she made it to the top step of the porch, she knocked three times on the wooden door. Seconds later she could see a figure peering through a curtain behind the glass, just a few moments after that a small woman with a skin tone similar to the girl in overalls was opening the door. She kept her body hidden behind the door, her facial features looked tired and her eyes dull.
"Yes?" The woman's tone came off guarded.
Kara stuffed her hands in the back pocket of her jeans, still unaware of why they were even here.
"Yes, my name is Alex Danvers. My family has lived next door for 20 years." Alex pointed in the direction of her family home.
The woman stared blankly in response as if she was waiting for Alex to continue with her point. Alex shuffled her weight awkwardly from one foot to the other. She coughed before continuing.
"Uhm, so I'm looking for someone." Alex's explanation came out weak. "A young woman I met out here yesterday late afternoon. She was painting your fence."
The woman's eyes seemed to brighten.
"Ah yes, is your family looking to rehab their fence?" The woman opened the door in a welcoming manner. "Won't you please come in?"
Alex and Kara both glanced at each other before accepting the invitation and entering the home. The small woman shuffled through the front foyer and made her way through the hall leading to the kitchen, signaling for the girls in her home to follow.
"Maggie." The woman said simply, pulling out the stools at the kitchen counter for Alex and Kara to sit.
"I'm sorry what?" Alex asked, taking the offered seat.
"Maggie." The woman said once more, digging through a large drawer in the kitchen. "My daughter."
Alex's head glanced over to greet the face of a very confused Kara.
"S-she's your daughter." Alex confirmed. "That's awesome."
"A-ha!" The small woman exclaimed. "Found them."
Maggie's mother made her way to the counter just before Alex and Kara and laid out a series of pamphlets, each with a photo of a fence with different woods, finishes, shapes and sizes.
"I'm Nina by the way." The woman extended an offer to shake Alex's hand before following suit with Kara as well. "Nina Sawyer."
"Alex and Kara Danvers." Kara pointed to each of them.
"Well uhm, Mrs. Sawyer." Alex waited for some tell in Nina's face to make sure that addressing her by that name was alright. Nina nodded in response and Alex continued. "I apologize; we actually weren't looking for fence services, though Maggie seemed to do a wonderful job." Alex chuckled nervously.
"Oh no, she's not in any sort of trouble is she?" Mrs. Sawyer began to panic.
"No no." Alex halted the woman's train of thought. "I wasn't even aware that she was your daughter. I was actually just going to see what company you hired her through. I'm currently on a job hunt so I thought I might see if they were hiring."
Nina Sawyer exhaled a sigh of relief. Alex and Kara offered warm smiles in return.
"It's our company." Nina gathered the pamphlets to tuck them back in the kitchen drawer. "Well my husband's company." She corrected.
"Oh." Alex rubbed the back of her neck, unsure of what to say next.
"Unfortunately Joe has fallen rather ill over the past few months, so Maggie has been lending a hand." Nina grabbed the tea kettle from the stove and brought it to the sink to fill with water. "We're so very thankful for her help. Would either of you ladies care for a cup of tea? Coffee maybe?" She offered kindly.
Both Alex and Kara politely nodded their head in response.
"She painted our fence out there on her day off." Nina shook her head while placing the kettle back on the stove. "Can you believe that?" She turned to both girls. "She could've have had a day of rest but instead she chooses to pick up the slack around this place. "
"Sounds like she loves her family." Kara smiled warmly at Nina.
"Well we're all each other have." Mrs. Sawyer sighed heavily, turning back to reach for the tea cups in the cabinet above the stove. With the cups being just out of reach Nina attempted to stand on her tip toes.
"Here let me get those for you." Alex hurried around the counter to grab three mugs from the cabinet.
"Thank you dear." Mrs. Sawyer smiled up at Alex pleasantly. Alex grinned and nodded in response. "Joe used to reach them for me before he lost his strength."
The sound of the tea kettles whistle broke the moment.
"So you say you're looking for a job?" Nina began to prep the tea.
Alex leaned against the counter and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Yes well-"
"What's this I hear about a job?" The voice cut off Alex's response causing everyone to snap their head in the direction it came from.
There, in a fresh pair of white overalls and a blue cut off t-shirt stood Maggie Sawyer, the hard working-family lover from next door.
"Maggie, honey" Nina smiled at her daughter. "This is Alex and Kara Danvers from over the hedges. Alex here was just inquiring about a job in the fencing company." Nina was now beaming.
"Is that right?" Maggie opened up the refrigerator and pulled out an energy drink from the side door. She caught Alex's stare from the corner of her eye.
"Yea well-"
"We're not hiring." Maggie once again cut off Alex's response almost immediately.
"Maggie!" Nina exclaimed. "That is no way to speak to a guest." She chided. "Not to mention untrue."
"Alright fine." Maggie shut the door of the fridge and walked over to grab an apple from the fruit bowl. "Then we're simply not interested."
Nina stared dumbfounded at the side of her daughters face. Maggie on the other hand chose to ignore her mother's disbelief. She took a bite of her apple, grabbed her keys off the counter and made her way to the front door. Moments later the door could be heard slamming shut.
The three women in the kitchen sat in a thick silence for the next minute or so.
"I cannot apologize enough for her behavior." Nina finally turned to face Alex. "Let me talk to Joe, see if we have any position vacancies."
Alex nodded gratefully.
"Do you have a pen and paper? I'll leave you my contact information."
"Well that was weird." Kara sighed as they made their way down the driveway.
"Yeah, I'm gonna head home now." Alex took hurried strides toward her bike.
"What about mom and dad?" Kara shouted out to her.
"I have until Monday." Alex tossed back. "Catch ya later!" Alex flipped down the shield of her helmet.
"Later.." Kara half waived to her sister as she watched her speed off.
Alex exited elevator once it reached her floor. She froze when she saw the stature of a large man leaning head first against her apartment door. Everything in her bones screamed at her to turn around and get back on the elevator. She reached her hand behind her back to push the button to the elevator as discretely as possible. The green arrow lit up and a loud ding rang through the hallway causing Alex to wince. The sound caught the man's attention and his head snapped in Alex's direction. She squinted and took in a familiar face. A face she's known her entire life, a face belonging to her best friend.
"Beck?" Alex rasped carefully.
"Alex!" The man's facial features instantly brightened.
The door of the elevator opened behind Alex and her cheeks tinted a shade of red.
"Leavin' cause of me huh?" Beck leaned against the door pane staring off to Alex down the hall.
Alex shook her head violently.
"No way man." Grabbing her keys out of her jacket pocket she made her way toward her apartment. "How should I know the strange man leaning on my apartment door was just your big goofy self."
"I swore you were in there." Beck chuckled. "I hadn't heard from you in a week, I thought you were ignoring me."
"Ignoring you?" Alex approached Beck, rolling her eyes before jamming her keys in the door. "Never in my wildest dreams."
Once the door sprung open the duo made their way into Alex's flat. Alex flipped on the light switch and Becks eyes bulged.
"It's the cleanest I've ever seen it in here." He pointed out.
"Yeah I was robbed last night." Alex shrugged.
"And they took all your garbage?" Beck whipped around to face her. "What?!"
"Long story." Alex shook her head. "We can order in, or I can cook pasta. Take your pick."
"You're not going to elaborate?" Beck pouted. "No wonder you were so jumpy in the hall."
"Becks!" Alex exclaimed, tossing her hands up in frustration.
"Fine." Beck made his way to the living area and flopped on the couch. "Pasta then."
Beck went to flip on the television when he realized there was no television to turn on. He looked to Alex in a panic.
"Yep, they took that too." Alex chuckled lightly.
"How are you taking this so well?" Beck stared at her in shock. "I would be furious."
"I have bigger problems to deal with." Alex set a pot of water on the stove to boil.
She made her way to the couch and flopped down next to her best friend.
"I dropped out of school." She said simply, leaning into his side.
"Oh shit." Beck stared at the empty space on the entertainment center.
Alex exhaled heavily. "Exactly."
"I'm guessing your parents weren't too thrilled."
"You'd be right sir." Alex bit the inside of her cheek.
The apartment went silent for what seemed like ages before Beck spoke up.
"I think my dad has a spare television in his basement. It's about 100 years old but I'm sure it'll do the job."
Alex felt gutted at the idea that she may not have an apartment to put that ancient television in soon.
She patted her best friend on the chest. "Thanks Becks" she said simply before standing up to check on the water.
The water was boiling so she went for the box of pasta but before she could rip it open she heard her phone vibrate on the counter.
Unknown Number: Spoke with Joe, looks like we need a new inventory manager! When can you start? -Nina Sawyer
Alex all but squealed.
"Beck!" She screeched while texting Mrs. Sawyer back.
Alex Danvers: I can start ASAP! Just let me know. Thank you so much for the opportunity Mrs. Sawyer!
When she looked up from her phone Beck was leaning on the counter in front of her.
"Yes?" He quirked an eyebrow out of curiosity.
"Forget the pasta." Alex shut the burner off on the stove. "You're taking me out to celebrate."
She grabbed her jacket from the near arm chair and slid her arms through before running her fingers through her tangled hair.
"Ready, when you are." She saluted confidently.
"What are we celebrating?" Beck asked while tugging on the zipper of his hoodie.
"Guess who just scored her first job?" Alex grinned.
"What?!" Beck beamed. "Seriously?"
Alex bit her bottom lip and nodded furiously.
Beck scooped Alex up and swung her around in his arms. Alex eyes widened and she began to smack Becks strong shoulder.
"Beck!" Alex groaned. When he didn't falter she pulled out the big guns. "Cornelius Beckham Vanderbilt!" She shouted causing Beck to halt. "The forth." She added on viciously and smirked when he dropped her immediately.
"Party pooper." His shoulders slumped. "Let's go celebrate Al, my treat."
"Always is." Alex chirped.
Exiting out into the hallway Beck gave her a playful shove.
"And now you can tell me why you needed a job in the first place."
Monday soon rolled around and Alex for the first time in a long time sported a promising attitude while entering her parent's home. She was greeted immediately by her eager parents, hoping she'd come with news of her plans to attend college again in the fall.
"Hi Sweetie!" Her mother grabbed both shoulders and kissed her cheeks European style. "Please join us."
Eliza Danvers had prepared lunch and had everything set up on the back porch. Alex could see through the window that Kara was already digging in.
"That girl never stops eating, it's incredible." Jeremiah sighed, balancing a plate of vegetables to top the burgers. "Let's get out there before there's nothing left to eat besides these onions and tomatoes."
The Danvers family got situated and without much conversation, began to dig in.
Alex ate because they ate, not because she was hungry. She was too nervous to have an appetite.
"Al!" Kara whispered, nudging her sister in the ribs.
Alex glared over to her younger sister.
"When you shake your leg like that, you shake the whole table." Kara grouched. "You're gonna knock over my iced tea."
"I'm nervous." Alex mouthed, wide eyed. She gritted her teeth before taking a sip from her own glass of iced tea.
Kara felt for her sister, she seriously did. So she did what any annoying younger sister would do if they felt the need to help… she made things worse.
"So Alex, did you find a job yet?" Kara spoke through a mouth full of food.
Alex choked mid-sip.
Eliza and Jeremiah both looked up out of curiosity. Alex stared back at them like a deer in headlights.
"Kara honey, that's none of your business." Eliza chided.
"Well hold now." Jeremiah interrupted. "Your sister brings up a timely question Alex, I'm sure we'd all love to hear your future plans."
Alex gulped down the remaining tea, placing her glass down on the table.
"Well thank you for asking Kara." Alex tossed Kara a look of death. "It's funny you should ask because actually-"
"You're moving home!" Eliza clapped her hands together happily. "Oh Alex, this will be so great, having us all together again."
Alex could hear Kara choke down a laugh.
Suddenly the space around the table became uneasy.
"Judging by the regret in her face, my bet is that she wasn't coming here to tell us she's staying Eliza." Jeremiah pointed out.
Eliza's face dropped.
"Mom.. Dad." Alex grabbed her parent's attention. "I got a job!" She squeaked excitedly.
"YES!" Kara jerked out of her seat causing the entire deck to shake. "I mean, way to go Alex, I knew you could do it." Kara's face turned a bright shade of red which she attempted to hide by sliding her glasses up her nose.
Alex snorted at her sister but when she turned to her parents, they didn't look as thrilled. Surprised maybe but not in a happy way.
"And your employer?" Eliza quirked an eyebrow.
"Sawyer Fence Restoration" Alex sat up straight.
"I'm sorry?" Jeremiah laced his fingers together, leaning his elbows on the table.
"They needed a new inventory manager." Alex explained nervously. "Sawyer Fence Restoration, the owner lives just next door."
"Joe?" Jeremiah questioned.
"Well yes, Joe is the owner but-" Jeremiah cut his daughter off mid explanation.
"Joe is sick." He said coldly.
"Yes I know but the business is currently being run by his wife Nina and daughter Maggie." Alex pointed next door. "I met them on Saturday."
"You're not going to work for a company whose owner could keel over and die at any moment." Jeremiah stayed still like stone.
"Jeremiah!" Eliza gasped at her husband.
"Dad!" Alex was appalled by her father's careless words.
Kara looked at her father like she'd seen a ghost.
"I'm not saying anything that isn't true." Jeremiah reasoned.
"Well I am certainly old enough to make this decision on my own." Alex shrugged, leaning back in her chair, her attitude ready to make an appearance.
"You will not waste your time at a dead end job." Jeremiah plucked the folded napkin from his lap and tossed it on the table before standing. "You're moving back home and going back to school and that's final. If you quit school, you quit your future."
"But dad that's not fair, you told Alex if she found a job she could stay in her apartment." Kara interjected.
"Stay out of this Kara!" Jeremiah kept his glare on Alex.
"Don't get mad at Kara!" Alex pushed herself out of her seat to square up with her father.
"Oh I could never be mad at Kara, because Kara would never pull a stupid stunt such as this!"
The air in the room completely deflated. The words that Alex had always suspected but never heard were officially out in the universe. Alex could never live up to Kara in the eyes of her parents. She was to them, a failure.
"I see." Alex nodded. She pushed away from the table and made her way to leave.
"Alex!" Her mother pleaded for her to stay, grabbing her arm to act as an anchor.
"No mom, take my apartment I don't care but I will not be moving back home." Alex stated firmly. "And if I ever go back to school it will be on my terms, when I'm ready."
"Don't go." Eliza whispered quietly.
"If she goes I'm going with her!" Kara threatened.
"No." Alex snapped. "Mom let me go."
"Alex, please." Eliza begged.
Alex looked up from her mother's hand on her arm to her father's stone face staring at the spot she'd just occupied.
"Let me go." Her jaw clenched. "I have work tomorrow."
With that said she jerked her arm out of her mother's embrace and made her exit.
Let me know if ya'll are on this journey with me!