2
A snore that didn't seem possible to create had shocked me into a conscious state. Mouth wide open, on my side with bed sheets choking the life out of my numb body. I waited patiently for my eyes to focus on my closed window, and with every improvement I groaned in pain, rolling onto my other side. Where, another mild pool of drool and red lipstick awaited me. Even though my window had been cloaked by a layer of thin grey curtains, the dull light that shined through still burned my corneas. And with every small movement, my head made it pretty clear that I had destroyed myself last night. I moaned out in a pathetic attempt to call my mother; who was states away, to come and care for her sick daughter. "Oh, hold on. I hear sleeping beauty waking up." I heard a voice echo from the other side of the apartment. Her bare feet smacking against the wooden floor as she grew closer and closer to my wide open door. When she appeared, she was dressed in a dark grey shirt with a creature from Where The Wild Things Are dancing on it's front, a smooth light brown cardigan, and black leggings. Looking cheerful and bright as she skipped to my side, with her Blackberry pressed tightly to her shoulder. "How are you feeling?" "That's a stupid question.." I mumbled. She grinned cutely before pulling the phone back up to her ear. "Yeah, I get it-" "Who is it?" "Dad." She whispered with a painful eye roll. Marcus; her father, was the true owner of Electric Underground. Monèt's relationship with her father was definitely a strange one.. But, in most cases, you couldn't stick the two in the same room together unless there was a zoo keeper to tranquilize one or the other if things got too heated. "Look, dad, I have to-yes-I know!" I clamped my hands lamely over my ears and pouted. "Dad-I have to let you go. I have to play nurse.-Alright, bye." She quickly ended the call and turned back to me.
"I didn't think you had it in you.. Well, no, I knew you did. I just didn't know how many drinks it would take to get it out-" "Get what out..?" "Well, after a few drinks, you wandered out onto the dance floor-" "You were supposed to be watching me!" "I was! I was protecting you from afar. Plus, the guy you were dancing with seemed to want the job too." I frowned, and gave her a mild glare "What?" "And I gave my number to some guy." I repeated myself in a less harsh tone, but more in bewilderment. Mon wasn't the type of person to hand out her number to just anyone. "What was his name?" "Kaleb! ..Or Kyle. One of those." She answered bashfully. "Those don't even sound alike!" "Well I'll find out tonight, won't I?" She wiggled her phone in my face. "Why aren't you in this much pain?" "Well, for one, I didn't down as many drinks as you did. Nor did I dance. Booze, loud music, and dancing is a recipe for horribleness. Now up! You don't expect me to take care of the shop all by my lonesome, do you? Besides, you've slept most of the day away anyway." "..Did I really?" "I've been in your place many times.. So I let you sleep." I grinned widely, reached up and pulled her into a tight embrace. "You really are amazing." "Yeah, yeah. I love you too." She patted my back softly, then pulled away. "But you smell awful." "Wow.." I slumped back onto my bed. "Way to kill the moment." She stood up, adjusting her now scrunched up clothes and made her way out. "I've left you some medicine on the counter, and a freshly toasted poptart. If I come up here, and find it in the garbage, I will force it down your throat." She threatened with a smile. "Get cleaned up and come soak up the beautiful day!" And I did just that. On my own time of course.
After she left, I literally crawled out of my bed and inched towards the bathroom across the hall, where I sloppily cleaned myself up. Removing the awful smell of smoke and dried sweat in the slowest way possible. I was worried that if I moved too quickly my head would throb in anger. Taking a hammer and smashing it around carelessly, shouting at the top of his lungs that he detested me and my stupid choices. I had lazily pulled a long dark grey sweater over myself, hauled up some lace leggings and added Monèt's boots from yesterday. Today was the day I couldn't give a shit about my appearance, and it was painfully noticeable in my pale face. I devoured the poptart in haste, followed by the pain killers she had set next to the colorful treat, and skipped down the stairs in fake enthusiasm. Hoping if I acted happy enough, it would sink in and become real. But somewhere in the back of my mind, I doubted my plan. A pained expression stretched over my face as the store's music filled my ears. The most obnoxious, and horrible music I've heard in a long run. "Don't stop! Make it pop! DJ blow my speakers up!" Mon sang loudly. "Damn you." I muttered. My friend paused in her strange tribal looking dance and eyed me in true confusion. "Huh?" "And damn this woman to hell!" I shouted. Throwing my arms up high over my head. Acting as if the speakers were in fact replaced by the alcoholic, glittered blond; Ke$ha. "Hey! Have you forgotten that this is my day? A.k.a, my turn?" My arms fell limp at my side with a frown. "No.. I didn't forget. I just hopped I wouldn't have to listen to this shit on a hangover." "Well, consider me a dream crusher." She grinned and continued to dance her way through the store. Swiftly dodging the wandering bodies of our customers.
The busy morning had thankfully died down as evening approached. Some form of commotion down the street had pulled business away from me. And in my state, I wasn't doing much complaining. Whatever was taking all of my customers, good for them. They can have them for the night. "Kaleb." Monèt squeaked as she twirled into the room with her bright blue socks skidding across the white tile. "What?" "His name! I was right the first time." "He called?" "That he did! Say's he wants to see me again. And since..you haven't thrown up in a few hours, I was hoping..I could..maybe get the rest of the night off?" "Sure." I heaved up a small stack of heavy unpacked boxes, quickly assisted by a mildly worried Mon. "Are you sure?" "As long as you're home at a decent hour, young lady." I grinned stupidly. "And no drinking." "Well damn, there goes my night." She joked as she began to pull on her black converses. Using my short frame to hold herself steady. "So, what are you going to do while I'm away? And if you say go on the computer, I may have to hit you." "I'm not sure yet..but it definitely wont be this." "But it's not even seven yet.. I like your thinking, kid." She said with a smirk. "Well what's the point? Notice anything missing from this place?" She panned around slowly, examining the familiar scene that we walked into every morning. It's white floor, and matching walls covered in colorful and abstract paintings. "Ryan Reynolds." Ignoring her statement, I walked over towards the wide open doors, and waited patiently for her to join me. "You know! A cut-out!" "Yeah, because we obviously sell movies." "Well his wife is a singer, isn't she?" I shrugged. "I don't keep track. Shit, we might even have her record now and I wouldn't know about it. Now, if you please." I held my hand out kindly guiding her out. "Eager to get rid of me, eh?" "Eager to lock these damn doors. Have your key?" "Silly question, of course I do!" She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before walking out into the barely lit evening. "Don't miss me too much!" "No sex on the first date!" The look on her face was priceless as I closed the door between us. A mix between disgust, confusion, and utter terror. Sure, Mon liked to drool over men from afar, but anything beyond cuddles and kissing was just not her thing. For now.
"Goodnight world." I pulled the smooth curtains over the entire front of the store after locking all of the windows and doors, and made my way back up to my home. My sweet, sweet sanctuary. Yeah, sure, I did feel a bit guilty for practically kicking her out. But when an opportunity presents itself, I jump at it. Not that I hate being around Monèt. In fact, if I'm away from her too long I fall into a fetal position until she returns. But everyone needs their alone time. And I spent the majority of my time on my Moderna Piano. It sat in the corner of our small living room, beckoning anyone to come closer with it's shining mahogany wood and sparkling keys. Besides the store, it is the most taken care of object in my life. You could argue that I was a tad bit O.C about it. But hell, it was an expensive gift. There was no way in hell I'd let all their hard work go to waste. I took my rightful place on it's matching stool, and lifted it's cover. Running my fingers along it's keys as I reached for a few music sheets. I tugged out my current project from it's neatly tucked away space and rested it up against the piano. Analyzing each note carefully, I let my fingers dance on the keys slowly. Allowing my small home to echo with the amateur sound of All The Right Moves. I had previously spent most of my spare time perfecting this song, and when I finally had, I decided to challenge myself, and play it without eyes, and more so on soul. And apparently, my soul was crude with a side of potty mouth. "Fuck!" I smashed my finger roughly down on the sharp key I had accidentally hit for the third time. "Not you!" I shouted at the inanimate object. "Stop jumping under my fingers, or I'll personally remove you!"
In my strange shouting fest, I had quite the flashback of my teen years. Threatening men left and right because I found their species utterly disgusting as they talked about ones tits. I continued once more, still glaring down at the devilish white key. "I hope-" I panicked at the new voice. "you're not talking about the piano I bought you?" A tall man, with naturally dull grey unkempt hair and a sweater to match stood in my doorway. "M-Marcus! I-how did you-?" "You forget, this is still my store." He grinned as he twirled a key ring on his long finger. "What are you doing down there?" Finally, I had taken notice to where I now rested. My leg's were draped over the stool I had taken down with me, and my back stitched to the couch with sore wrists holding up the sudden weight. "You scared the shit out of me! You could have called." "I did! Didn't Monèt mention it?" "No." I grumbled in pain as I stood back up. With the help of Marcus of course. "Speaking of my daughter, where is she?" "She's on a date." He seemed taken aback with my response. "A date? With who?" "Some guy named Kaleb she met at the club last night." "A stranger!" he sighed in frustration, repeatedly running his fingers through his already messy hair. "God, she worries me." "She can take care of herself. She's a big girl." "An irresponsible one." "Man.." I chuckled as I picked the stool back up, placing it tightly against the piano. "With that kind of talk, it's no surprise you two don't get along." "I'm only looking out for her." I muttered something harsh under my breath. Something involving profanities and the use of his name. "So, what are you doing here anyway?" "I had an announcement-" "Oh no.. You're not going to have another kid..are you?" he chuckled softly. "As if my hips could handle that. No, it's about the shop. But I was hoping Monèt could be here..-" "Oh come out with it. I'll tell her when she gets home." "Which will be when?" He asked with haste. Practically stumbling over his own words. "Okay, okay!" He sputtered as I delivered him a mild glare. "Tomorrow, around three? I've arranged a meet and greet." "T-tomorrow? So soon? But I haven't prepared anything!" He placed a calm hand on my shoulder, then gave me a small comforting shake. "Relax! I've got it all sorted out. All you two have to do is work in the shop like nothing's happening.. And, well, tend to them."
"Tend to them? What? Am I dealing with human beings or apes?" "Humans, definitely. But I'm sure you'll call them apes." "And do they have both hands?" "Now, Em, I know where you're going with this..but it's important that we make a good-" "Impression." I mumbled as I stalked off into our kitchen. "Blah, blah, blah. Want something to drink?" "Oh, no, no. I'll be on my way now." I raced after him and threw myself between him and the stairway, arms extended and pressing firmly against the wall. "Not so fast. Who is it?" "Oh..just a silly local band. You'll both like them. They're arrogant." "And what the hell is that supposed to mean?" "Nothing!" he dodged under my arm swiftly, and trotted down the stairs. "Toodles!" As I glared at the back of his head, diving out of the door and out of site, my mind raced. What idiots would I have to deal with tomorrow? ..More importantly, what was I going to wear? An event such as this has only happened one other time. Paramore had stopped by for a short CD signing, and I stupidly dressed myself for the day in something that could be mistaken as homeless attire. And sure enough, cameras were flashing, and you could catch Monèt and I working in the background. I refused to let that happen again.