Hello my dear comrades in Comrade.
Wow. I honestly didn't expect the level of positive response that this story has gotten, but wow nonetheless.
I would like to thank russia2774, Mitriroselove and Dead Revolution for taking the time to review and all the masses of people who have followed or favourited this story. I am truly honored and blessed by your generosity: thank you. In answer to your question Dead Revolution, the inspiration for this did come from Dukhless but only like the very start so I am not stealing the plot or anything :3
Speaking of, I hadn't realised how many of you had seen Dukhless; it really was a great film and I flipping loved Danila's acting in it and it was lovely to know that so many of you shared this opinion :)
Sorry to ramble, onto introducing Rose...
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy or anything surrounding it (but I do own this plot :D)
RPOV
I hoped the smile I wore looked convincing. It wasn't that I did not care, but listening to your best friend rant about her wedding plans at 7:00am on a Tuesday morning kinda puts your own life in perspective.
"…and the flowers will have to be- Rose? Are you listening?" Lissa's voice snapped me back to the world of the living.
"Sorry I…" I looked down and found that the unclean table before me had never been so interesting.
"Oh Rose." Lissa sighed putting down her pen onto her notepad. "I'm being insincere again, aren't I?" Lissa and I had been best friends since pre-school: I had made a spectacle of myself with some impressive throwing skills and some… colourful language. Ever since then, we have been inseparable. Lissa was always the good girl; she did her homework, constantly worried of failure and judgement, and shone like a rare diamond. It was no surprise that her boyfriend, a chef who worked at Shadow Kiss, had popped the question so soon after graduation: Lissa was an angel. Then again, it was not surprise that he popped the question considering as the two were absolutely perfect for one another, it was almost sickening.
I, on the other hand, was a little different.
If Lissa was the good girl, I was the bad. I was the Loki to her Thor, the avalanche to her snowflake. And what had a life of disobedience and mockery got me? I was a working waitress still waiting for the day that my Prince Charming would ran through those rusty, old doors and beg me to marry him. But even I knew that that was impossible.
"Never Lis," I assured her, stopping myself from letting my mind drift too far. "I hope Sparky knows what he is getting into; those seven kids aren't going to feed themselves." Lissa and I had once planned entire lives and this was what six-year-old Lis had wanted.
Nineteen-year-old Lis just rolled her eyes and went back to writing notes in her notebook. I chuckled to myself before wiping clean the last of the tables and picking up Lissa's discarded latte mug. I took one last glance at her smiling face. She was truly content in her fortunate life. Even so young, she had climbed her way to the top of the success ladder and I couldn't be prouder. She her now, with how the morning sun cast golden highlights over her platinum locks and tinted her normally pale complexion to look almost tanned, let loose a warm and soothing feeling that melted into my body. She was my best friend for a reason and seeing her so happy, and in love, had a ripple effect on me.
I chuckled again before summoning the strength to go into the kitchen.
"Hathaway!" Ah. Good morning Stan. Nice to see you too. "Wipe that grin of you face and sort these dishes." Stan Alto was my grumpy, spiteful boss who honestly looked homicidal this particular morning.
I gave him an over-exaggerated bow which sent more rays of rage out of his body. He angrily thrust his finger to point at the sink and I swaggered over to it, gaining great satisfaction in hearing him mutter a long list of unpleasant descriptions. Whilst I hated my job, I absolutely revelled in pissing off Stan, knowing full well that my job was safe due to the painfully low numbers. Christian, Lissa's husband-to-be, was among one of the only chefs about. The other waitresses consisted of Mia Rinaldi, Jillian Mastrano and Sydney Sage who were all in a similar boat to myself: e.g desperate.
Then there were the two cleaners: Mason Ashford and Eddie Castile. Those two always had something to be happy about and spent most of the time joking around. Stan – we were meant to address him as Mr Alto but no-one ever did – hibernated most of the time and when he did come out, it was usually to yell at us to… do the dishes, as a 'random' example. *nervous cough*
Anyway, 'dish duty', as it was fondly known, wasn't all that bad. As a bonus, you got a little time to yourself which is always good, especially when particularly difficult customers really get under your skin.
The remains of Lissa's coffee were poured down the sink, much to Sydney's displeasure, and I set to work scrubbing last night's pans. For some despicable and unholy reason, there was a party that booked a table for twenty-five. I know, even Stan was shocked. Anyway, this party was inclusive to college boys having a rowdy 'get together' and two of them – whose names, I learnt, were Jesse and Ralf – had managed to worm Mia back to their place but like I said before, she was desperate.
I, however, did not partake in any… extra activities and simply observed from afar which turned out to be just as entertaining. What was not bloody entertaining was the fact that they had all order curry. Thus, the place stank and Christian worked on overload, using all the big pans and filling them with the staining, red substance that wanted to remain firmly glued to the inside of the pan, no matter how I scrubbed.
Refusing to be beaten by a curry, I battled on only to overhear Stan yelling, but strangely enough, not at me.
"What do you mean they didn't approve?!" I didn't hear the response but they must have said something to pull some nerve as Stan didn't often let that undignified snort leave his person regularly.
"I don't give a shit." He replied again after a hefty grunt."No, you watch your language and stop speaking fucking nonsense to me!" I heard a beep followed by a loud clattering, as through someone had thrown a small, solid object at a wall. Having deduced that Stan had been on the recently deceased phone, I tried to rack my brain for what could have evoked such a fearsome reaction.
After ten more minutes of futile thinking and intense pan-cleaning, Stan emerged from his office holding a box of cigarettes. He gave me one cold stare before storming his way out the back door. Taking this as an opportunity, I dropped the curry-coated pan and ran into the office before the door locked me out. Hearing the safe click, I began nosing through the disorganised tip that was Stan's office. I was about to give up when I saw what the problem was. There, next to a copy of the Radio Times, was a letter that brought my already unstable world crashing down:
Tatiana Marina Ivashkov
Ms.
06 Dhampiric Court
New York, 14587
Stanley Horatio Alto
Mr.
Shadow Kiss Inn
02 Frostbound Avenue
New York, 12478
Monday 8th November
Dear Mr Alto,
Regrettably, we are forced to remind you of your company's current outstanding balance of $4, 234,237.87 that you owe to the state. Enclosed is a statement of account for your reference.
Please arrange for the payment of this account to be made within the next three months. Failure to comply with this demand will result in forcibly shutting down your co-operation and all and any equipment will be repossessed back to the state.
This is the final notice of payment and all overdue debts must be paid by the outlined deadlines. Due to your ignorance of the previous statements, your actions are now being monitored and all and any payments now must be made.
Regards,
Tatiana Marina Ivashkov
Head of State
Well, shit.
Hello again. Just a technical point, I apologize if the letter written above is inaccurate. Having never received one and being the plucky Brit I am, I am slightly unaware of the conventions of these letters and how 'ZIP Codes' work so if that offended anyone, I am truly sorry.
Anywho, I hope you enjoyed part 2 and that I haven;t scared too many of you away with inability to be concise when writing.
Just a wee point plot-wise, Shadow Kiss is the name of the pub (I don't know if it is called something different wherever you guys are) thing that Rose works at. Lissa, in this story, doesn't work there but is there a lot for the purposes of the plot. Any other queries or uncertainties, don't hesitate (first lesson ;) ... no? okay...)to ask. I am happy to speak to anybody :D
Also apologies for the amount of swearing and profanities in this chapter and in indeed what will be the rest of the story. I don't swear often (if ever) so I really am none the wiser with the social edict on the topic but I believe modern society - and Rose Hathaway - dictate that a little cursing is in order. I'm waffling again, I'll stop. Sorry.
As ever, all the best
Mariarty