I sit next to the dark haired man and sit up straight.
He looks at me before bending over a drawing done in charcoal.
Max turns on the radio and blares out something that went out of style ten years ago.
I roll my eyes and consider complaining because my headache's only getting worse from the endless drawls of "My Peggy Sue."
I watch Max stir the batter in a questionably clean bowl and…ugh… stick his filthy fingers in, and lick them.
I closed my eyes, pretending that I didn't just see that.
"Did you puke?" He asked.
They both turn to me for my response.
"Uh, no, I didn't."
"I did." He states proudly. "You know the best cure for hangovers?"
"Tea?" I suggest, thinking about how good a chamomile and blackberry blend would taste right now.
"Weed." I think he's joking, because I would never take home a druggie… err… a druggie, would never take me home. I'm not that insane.
"Excuse me?"
"Yeah." He takes something from under the kitchen sink and tosses it in the mix.
I wince, knowing that anything from under the sink was probably unsanitary, and knowing that it probably was a drug of some sort, most likely 'weed' as he put it.
He dumps the entire batter onto the frying pan and sits next to Jude and I.
"Whatcha drawin?" Max asks, and picks up a sliced apple and shoves it in his mouth.
"Uh, that, actually."
He chews slower, sympathetically. "Oh." He says, his mouth full of chewed apple. "Here." He sticks out his tongue and I turn away, not wanting to see his saliva filled, partly chewed apple.
Jude laughs and shoves him away.
"Hey baby, you want some?" Max asks, and I realize he's talking to me.
That was it, I had had enough.
"I need to use the washroom." I excuse my self and half run to the bathroom with strawberry soap.
Max stops me. "Wait, uhhh…" He forgot my name. Moron.
"Elizabeth."
"Elizabeth! Right. That's Jude's and Lucy's bathroom. Mine's over to the right."
I feel bad because I had used their shower, but shrug as I walk over to the room Max said was his bathroom.
My mouth drops open first, and then I slam my hands over my mouth and nose because of the smell.
There was no mirror, at all. The sink was filled with tiny blonde hairs, and… shaving cream scum… EW, god!
There were used tissues on the counter and across the floor, and they were certainly not the colour they were supposed to be.
And the toilet… oh my god, the toilet… It was beyond disgusting. You would think the flusher was broken, or something. The sides were painted the colour of tea, darker around the edges. And Max's… disgusting… vomit was sitting in the middle. It made me want to vomit.
I ran out, gasping for air. Max laughed.
"Oh yeah, sorry about that."
I used Jude and Lucy's bathroom without regret.
I was welcomed back to the table by Max cursing and hitting the frying pan on the counter, Jude laughing at him.
"You could have told me, jerk." He grunted, continuing to bang the pan on the counter.
"You're the one who said you could cook." He said between giggles.
I heard something like a rock hitting the counter, and then Max walked over to the table with three hockey pucks.
"Here you go." Max tosses me one and takes a bite out of his.
I look at it for a moment. Most of it is black, with some lighter brown around the inside. It has leaves, or what seemed like leaves, sticking out of it.
Then I realize two things, one, the leaves were hash. Two, I was expected to eat it.
This time, I really had enough.
"Okay, I have to go." I stand up.
"You don't want your pancake?"
I shake my head. "You know what? I don't."
"Okay, whatever." He reaches across the table and grabs mine and shoves it in his mouth. "They're really good."
I take one last look at him before walking to his bedroom to find my clothes.
look.at.all.the.lonely.people
"So you won't see him again?"
I shake my head. "Ugh, Loretta, he was a nightmare. It was a huge mistake."
She slams the door on the washing machine, the one with a dent and doesn't close properly unless you really slam it.
Compared to the rest of my life, that was a good day.
you.say.yes.i.say.no.
"Okay, listen." Loretta has her hands on my shoulders. "All they're looking for is someone who is hardworking and reliable. You're that, and more. You can do this."
I breathe in. "Okay, I can do this. I am Elizabeth Parker."
"That's it." She smiles. "Now go."
I walk into the interview room and sit down.
Two guys are grinning.
"Hi." I say, and their grins broaden.
"Hey, sit down." They pull up a chair. I sit down and fold a leg over top of the other one. "We have to ask you a question."
I look at both of them. "Okay..."
"Is it true that you're the Elizabeth Parker, from Mastersons?"
I nod. "Yes."
"And you ere supposed to be partner, but you were fired, so they put Phyl up for the job?"
"Uh…" I sigh. "Yes."
They laugh.
This wasn't what I was expecting.
"Sorry, I don't get what's so funny."
"You didn't hear what happened to her?" One asks, and the other one laughs.
"No…" I trail off to their laughter.
"They almost let her operate, and she went insane."
"What?"
"You lost your job to someone who… isn't there." He waved his index finger around his head.
I look down. "Oh."
"Don't feel bad." One says.
"Yeah, you're amazing here. People always look to you when they need a giggle."
"Amazing enough to get a job?"
They laugh. I get the point and leave.
bang.bang.shoot.shoot.
So now I'm sitting at Loretta's desk as she shifts through my papers.
"Your bills are piling up, Elizabeth."
I sigh. "Have you told them to check my credit?"
"More than once. You can't stay in that apartment. If you're evicted, you'll never get a loan again."
I heave a frustrated sigh. "Loretta, as my best friend and work manager, what is your suggestion for now… until I get a job?"
She shrugs. "Get a cheaper apartment?"
everywhere.knowing.that.love.
I hold my hand on my mouth AS Loretta moves all of my things. I stand by the window.
I'm watching the waves crash up against the statue of Liberty and my heart aches. I close my eyes. I can't believe I'm being forced out of my own home. The apartment I had earned with my money, my effort, my education… me… was gone.
"You okay?" I open my eyes to Loretta's voice and nod.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I lie.
"It's time to go."
such.a.dirty.old.man.
"Elizabeth, I got you a really nice place. It's a penthouse."
I hurry up beside her on the sidewalk and stride with confidence. My new life starts today.
She pushes open the door to a strangely familiar apartment, but I shrug it off and follow her.
As we're walking up the stairs, I can't help but notice that I had been there before. It was probably in a dream, or something. This was fate.
She knocked on the wooden door, and a tall woman with long curly hair answered the door.
"Hey there." She said, and I smiled.
"Hello. Elizabeth Parker." I stuck out my hand and she shook it, smiling.
"Come in, Elizabeth."
We walked into the living room, and I stopped. I looked around. My eyes were growing wider.
Loretta tapped me on the shoulder. "Elizabeth, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
I looked over at the kitchen. There were charcoal drawings everywhere. No…
My breathing increased majorly as we walked down the hall and I saw the bathroom with the strawberry shampoo… and then…
"This is Max's bathroom." She pointed at a closed door. "You'll have to share it with him."
No, no, no, no!!
I covered my face. "Loretta, I need to talk to you."
We walked into the living room and I talked in a hiss. "Loretta, what the hell were you thinking?"
She looked at me, confused. "Elizabeth, I thought you would like it. It's a spacious apartment, and you only have to share it with a few people…"
"A few people—Loretta, this is Max's apartment!"
She looked at me for a moment, and then asked, "The Max?"
I looked around quickly. "Yes! The Max! Ugh, Loretta!"
"Is everything okay?" The tall lady asked.
"Actually, I don't think that I can--"
"Yes, everything's fine." Loretta interrupted. She pulled me aside again and talked in a whisper. "Listen, Elizabeth. You have to get a hold on yourself, okay? This was the best thing that you can get, and it's the best that you'll ever get. He probably won't remember who you are. It was a one night stand. Just avoid him."
"You don't understand Loretta, he is a pig!" I hiss back.
"It doesn't matter!" She hissed back. "You have no money, Elizabeth. When you had a job, you could get anything. Now that you're job is gone, you're drowning. You cannot have a choice, anymore, Elizabeth. This is it."
I pressed my fingers on my temples. "Loretta…" I whispered. "I would rather be living in a box then here. Mice and cigarette butts are cleaner than him."
She put two steady hands on my shoulders. "Listen to me. You can do this. You've made it through everything else, right?"
I shrug and look at the floor.
"Who are you?" She asked, smiling.
I sigh. "Elizabeth." I respond flatly.
"Who are you?" She asks again.
"I am Elizabeth Parker." I said stronger, and she patted my shoulders.
"Good. Call me if anything happens, okay?"
I nod, and she leaves.
The door swings shut, and then opens again.
"You ready to meet your new flat mates?" She asks, and I am ready to yell NO in her face.
These are really long chapters, I apologize… Hopefully the next one isn't as long.
Peace and Love:
-Missy