Hi guys! So today I think I'll go ahead and bring the drama for you lovely people. There's another character I'm adding to the mix who has history with our beautiful Allison. Most of you know her and may be a bit surprised. There will be trouble in paradise for Alliana, lets see if their relationship is strong enough to stand the rain. There are no bad guys in this fic; (Well any bad guys who we care about.) just good people who make the wrong choices. So here goes.
This week has been hell on wheels for me. I picked up a few extra shifts at the diner with Cal not expecting my supervisor Sean at Snap & Go photography to be an ass far more then usual and rearrange my schedule entirely to his benefit. I wouldn't have mind, but now my date night with Mariana on Friday couldn't happen and I knew she wouldn't be all to thrilled about it. And to top it off one of the counselors were fired from the rec center for misconduct or something along those lines, so what was suppose to be a twice a month thing turned into another full time job.
I haven't seen Mari in a little over a week with my workload and class. Hell I haven't seen myself in days. I'm mean I literally haven't looked in a mirror in days. My body's on autopilot; get up for school, work, work again, work again, and then I spend my nights trying to salvage what few brain cells I have left to accomplish at least a portion of the mountain of papers and exerts I have to write. By the end of the night I'm dead to the world and life is completely drained from me. I know I'm biting off more then I can chew but I need this; my jobs are keeping a roof over my head and its too late to drop my classes. Classes may I add that I will have to pay for if I withdraw. I'm on the verge of insanity and the only thing saving me right now is the constant texts and phone calls from Mariana.
That girl is my saving grace and I feel like complete crap because if I was being honest I've been a less then stellar girlfriend. Its summer most kids my age are spending their mornings lazing on the beach and their nights getting plastered at parties without a care for tomorrow, or the day after that, or the day after that. But not I. Not responsibly independent Allison.
It's half past 5 and I enter my apartment silently cursing myself. I'm half an hour late for my shift at Snap & Go and I haven't done laundry for a week so my work uniform is probably festering under the very huge pile in the corner of my room. Running in my bedroom I trip and fall face first over the end railing of my bed. "Dammit!" Getting up I wince at the sudden pain that shot through my side, lifting my shirt I see slight bruising to my ribcage. Yeah that was definitely going to leave a nasty mark. Great just great! "ARGHHHHHHH!" I let out a frustrated growl and I know I'm done for the day. I can't do it. Searching for my phone through the array of papers and clothes on my bed I call Snap & Go.
"Thank you for calling Snap & Go. This is Beverly. How can I help you today?" My overly perky co-worker sang in the phone. I swear she was the only one of us who actually likes this job.
"Hey Bev. Its Allison. Is Sean in?" I glance nervously at the time. I know I'm late and I know Sean wont be too happy about it. Although I can guarantee he's locked in his Dad's office playing another round of solitaire while chatting away on some sketchy dating site.
"Allison! Yes he's in. But he said not to disturb him at the moment. Something about paperwork." I sense the discomfort in her tone and immediately I know what "paperwork" he claims to be doing.
"Really? That's just gross. I'm sorry you have to be there for that. But this just makes things easier for me. So would you mind passing the message I wont be coming in today. Something came up." I smile at my silent victory and my perfect timing.
I hear the groan on the other line from my less then pleased co-worker. "Come on Al my shift was suppose to end half an hour ago. I really don't want to stay and I really don't want to interrupt his spank session he's having right now."
I laugh at the complete three sixty of Bev's attitude. It amazed me how she could be all perky and jolly one moment and then all curt and blatant the next. "I know and I'm sorry but I cant come in and I'd prefer not to speak with him. You know he'll expect me to explain myself and I really don't want to talk to him while he's preoccupied. So please do this for me….." I go into whine mode and I'm sure she can see the pout I'm sporting.
"Ugh! Fine but you owe me big time! Tell Mariana I said hi and ill see her next week." With that she hangs up the phone before I can even thank her.
Glancing around my room I know I should probably get some homework in, or do some laundry; hell I should probably clean up my apartment, I'm sure the dust bunnies are having a field day. But I haven't had a night off in a week and I've been missing Mariana terribly. Its almost sickening how much so. Looking at the clock on my nightstand I see its fifteen minutes past six. Dinner should be starting soon at the Fosters and I'd like to stop at the store to get Mariana some flowers before I go over there. The flowers will be a nice surprise and it'll help ease the bomb of cancelling yet another date night. Moving to my closet I rummage about my things trying to find something to put on after I take a much needed shower, when my phone starts buzzing again. Expecting it to be Sean inquiring about why I decided to call out I answer without looking at the ID. "Hello?"
"Allison thank god you answered. Are you busy?" My attitude immediately changes. I should've looked at my caller ID. "Yea I kind of am. What do you want Lou?"
"I really need to talk to you." Her voice sounded rushed and impatient. "Can I come over?"
Searching for my sneakers I grumble in slight irritation. I hadn't spoken to her for months, and then she mysteriously pops up after she hears "through the grapevine" that I'm no longer single. Typical Lou. "Actually I'm headed out."
"Please I really need you right now." I run my hands roughly through my hair. I shouldn't be surprised, Lou always expected me to drop things on a dime whenever she called. Like she still held that much importance to me.
Exhaling sharply I try desperately to control my annoyance that's quickly boiling to anger. "I can't right now I'm sorry really. Later? Tonight? I have plans and this is last minute Lou. I'll call you later OK?" With that I hang up and head for my shower hoping that it'll wash off some of the built up tension and stress from the unexpected phone call.
Out the shower and dressed I peer at my watch, fifteen minutes until seven; I'd showered, dressed, and comb out my hair in record time. I grab my keys and walk out locking up and heading to the store. Pulling into the parking lot I spot Brandon walking through the entrance. "Brandon!" He turns searching and spots me immediately. Locking up I run over to catch him. "Hey dude. What you doing here? Dinner's in a few right?"
"I could ask you the same thing. I thought you were working tonight?" He raises his eyebrows in question.
"Well if you must know. I called out, thought I'd surprise Mariana with flowers and a bow."
"A bow? What's the bow for?"
"To put on me of course. Surprise with flowers and a gift…I'm the gift. Get it?" The dumbfounded look I'm given causes a me to chuckle.
"Yeah. I guess that's romantic. Anyways tonight's movie night I'm just picking up some more snacks. You know how mama is on junk food so I have to supply the good stu-."
"Allison!"
Brandon and I both turn abruptly at the intruder. My face falls instantaneously. This cant be happening right now. Lou strides over to us a friend I don't recognize in tow. "Hey! Funny running into you here." Her eyes give me a once over before switching to Brandon a look of confusion clearly across her face. I peer over to Brandon who seems dazed and I'm mentally cursing the cosmic gods for putting me in this situation. Last thing I needed was for Lou to start running her mouth supplying information I'd definitely need explanations for. I had to put an end to this encounter fast and by the look on Brandon's face he would obviously be of no help. Great! Just freaking great! Grabbing Brandon by the collar I throw a quick "can't talk right now I'll call". Before I drag him into the store. Avoidance that was the best technique I could muster off the top of my head.
So is Lou going to get Allison caught up? And for those that are wondering Lou is the character from the show. I do love her and her voice and I wanted to work her in here in some way. I hope you guys are enjoying everything thus far. RR please
