Once again, I do not own Twilight or its affiliates.
Song Rec: Clocks by Coldplay
"I got you two specials." Is the first thing Ang tells me as I take my place across from her at our usual table. Tico's Tacos, home of the best damn Mexican food in Washington. "You looked like you needed 'em this morning." I shuffle into the booth and search around my purse for nothing in particular, effectively ignoring her expectant stare. "You gonna tell me what happened?"
No. "Where is my damn Purell? It was here this morning." I say instead. It's a total lie; we both know hand sanitizer gives me rashes.
"Bella, you're stalling." No shit. "What happened this morning? All I know is that five minutes after you left you came running back in dripping in coffee." she pauses to take a sip of her Margarita. "Fill me in!"
I don't really know why I don't want to tell her, she is my best friend. Embarrassment maybe? Denial? Or maybe because every time I think of green eyes I want to go on a rampage and backhand everyone in sight, pretending it's his unnaturally sexy face.
I'm kidding. Kinda.
I make sure to keep my face blank as I stare at the wall behind her head. How would I even start? With the chick that held the door open for me back at Sue's and her creepy stare? Bumping into green eyes the first time? My undeniable attraction to him? Him being shoved into me the second time? Marie?
"Can I get you a refill on that Angela?" I don't bother looking over at the waitress, my mind still spinning from my thoughts.
"Actually, I want to try-" Ang starts.
"I lost my job." I blurt out, cutting Ang off mid sentence. My eyes are glued to the peeling sombrero wallpaper lining the wall across from me. It's silent.
Great timing Bella. You could've waited until after you'd ordered a drink, stupid, but no. You had to shout it out to the world.
"Can you give us a minute?" Ang asks the waitress quietly.
"Of course," she replies timidly, her hand reaching out to my shoulder. "I'm very sorry mija." I meet her eyes and smile. Mindy has been working here ever since we established taco Tuesday three years ago. She's an older woman, maybe in her late fifties, and always floats us a free plate of nachos. Said I remind her of her daughter, Laura, who is in the military. "I'll get you your nachos. And maybe something a bit stronger than that coke." she motions to the drink Ang got me.
"Thank you." I tell her timidly, picking at my chipping nail polish. Nervous habit.
"We've all been there." with another shoulder squeeze and a wink, she disappears into the kitchen.
I let out a deep breath and return my attention to Angela, whose eyebrows are upturned in concern. "Are you alright?" she asks, her voice soft.
I nod.
"What happened?" she asks after a pause. I shrug. "You don't know, or you don't want to tell me?"
"I don't know where to start."
"How about the beginning?" she suggests. My eyes return to the wall. She must sense my discomfort. "We can talk about it later." That's why I love Angela. Well, one of the many reasons. She doesn't pry.
"I got knocked down. On the sidewalk. Everyone was huddled under the covers on the buildings."
She sighs. "I don't know why they don't just get a fucking umbrella." my thoughts exactly. "Did you see who it was?"
"I don't know." I lie.
I can tell she doesn't believe me by the look on her face. "A stranger knocked you over. What then?"
"Of course the coffee flew out of my hands. Anyone within a two foot radius was in the splash zone. Ruined my outfit, soaked my hair..." I stop and grab Ang's margarita, draining the rest of it. Dammit Tico, stop watering down your booze. "I rushed back to Sue's; you know, got the replacement coffee and ran like hell back to the office."
"Did you make it?" she asks after a brief silence.
I raise my eyebrow, "Do you really think I'd be boring you with my pity party if I did?" she sticks her tongue out in response. "I knew I'd be late. I just hoped everyone else would be too, I guess."
"Deep breaths Bella. You've been here for four years. They won't fire you." I try in vain to reassure myself. "They can't." Attempting to push the hair out of my face as I climb the steps to the office, I feel like a lamb going into a lion's den.
"Morning Miss Bella." Ryan, our front desk-man greets. Even his cheery voice isn't enough to calm my nerves.
"Hey." I attempt a smile. "Are they..."
"In the conference room. They got here just a few minutes ago." I can tell by the lack of emotion in his voice and the way his eyes dart nervously around the room that the boss's have been here for more than 'just a few minutes.' "Good luck," he whispers as I pass him on the way down the hall.
"No amount of luck could have saved me from Aro. He was furious." I shudder as I remember the way his eyes, his beady eyes, turned almost black with rage as I entered the conference room ten minutes late.
It's dead silent. Why aren't they saying anything? Seven pairs of eyes follow my every move as I set the cups down on the mahogany table. I think back to my earlier thought of being a lamb in a lion's den. By the feral look in their eyes, my comparison wasn't too far off.
"The coffee you ordered sir." I direct my comment to Aro, though my eyes pass over all seven men briefly. "It's from Sue's, I hope that's-"
"Isabella." Aro's voice is calm and cold. Too calm, actually. Where's the screaming?
"Yes sir?"
"Where have you been?"
"Well sir, I was-"
"What kind of trash do you have working for you Aro?" Marcus pipes in. "Does she not own shoes?" Glancing at my bare feet.
"I had to run-"
"We do have a reputation to uphold." Caius adds, "What would potential customers think if they came in and were greeted by this?" he points a chubby finger at me.
"I can explain," I cut in, although I know it's too late. The great 'Caius Volturi' has spoken. "There was an accident-"
"Isabella," Aro chastises me, "I think it's about time you packed your things. I've been meaning to speak with you about your position here for awhile now. I don't think Volturi Law has a place for you anymore." Liar.
"Damn right," Caius mutters under his breath. By under his breath, I mean loud enough for everyone in the room to hear
"You won't cause a scene now, will you Miss Swan?" Aro asks with mock sympathy, his eyes boring into mine, silently pleading with me to go quietly.
Sorry, buddy. You can only treat people like shit for so long before karma hits ya'. And let me tell you, she's a bitch. "Of course Sir." I tell him politely and plaster a sickeningly sweet smile on my face. "If you don't mind me doing one thing before I go?" I don't wait for a response as I grab a coffee off the table and tear the lid off. "There's something I've always wanted to do."
"I took great pleasure in watching Caius's fat little face being drenched in coffee." I tell Ang with an amused smile. Best damn part of my week.
"Priceless," Angela giggles. "What I wouldn't give to see that."
I smirk, "It was pretty freakin' awesome."
"Isabella!" Aro yells, his calm facade slipping into a mask of anger. "Isabella Swan!" he starts to turn red and I'm pretty sure he popped a blood vessel in there somewhere,
"Chin up old man," I tell him as I pass, "You'll make yourself grey." I turn back and watch with absolute satisfaction as the Crack pack scramble around to find a napkin or tissue to wipe Caius's face off.
"Oh my god," Angela wheezes, trying to calm herself down from her laughing fit, "I'm tearing up!" she wipes her eyes. "I mean, it's totally not funny, but- But it's fucking hilarious!" her laughter is contagious and I find myself cracking a smile despite being a part of the whatever percent of other unemployed people out there.
"It is! They treated you like shit! They totally deserved what they got."
"I just hope he doesn't press charges." I tell her as I chew on my lip. Another nervous habit.
"Well, is he okay?" she frowns.
"I don't know. I dumped a luke-warm beverage on an eighty something man's head. Caius fucking Volturi's head nonetheless. He owns a law firm. He has some of the best lawyers working under his belt; I doubt he'd have to be seriously injured to sue me for it."
"You could always plead insanity." she suggests.
"Because I'm so insane." I roll my eyes,
"Eh, it's arguable."
"How're you ladies doing?" Mindy asks, setting an extra large plate of nachos and salsa in front of us.
"Much better now," I tell her as I grab my rum and coke from her tray.
"Good," another shoulder squeeze, "I'll tell Mark to hurry it up with your food."
"Thanks Mindy," I tell her in between sips. "I just don't know what I'm gonna do." I tell Ang and grab a nacho. Mm, cheesy jalapeño deliciousness.
"About what?"
"Bills. Food. Clothes. Gas money. You know, the basics."
"Bella," she rolls her eyes, "You live in the shittiest apartment complex known to man, how much could your rent really be?"
"More than I'm making with no job."
She sighs deeply. "Bella, you have over a hundred thousand dollars sitting in the bank." she lowers her voice. "I know you're saving it for your restaurant, but-"
"Bakery, Ang. I'm going to open a bakery."
"Are you?" she prompts. "Your Nana passed away nine years ago, and you've been saving that money ever since. If it hasn't happened yet, maybe it never will."
"Yes, it will." I tell her forcefully. I'm not sure who I'm trying to convince, her or myself. She's right; the money has been sitting there so long. Why? It's just never been the right time, the right place. And, if I'm being completely honest, I'm scared as shit. Opening my own business? What if it flops? People hate it? I'm a suck baker? Then what? There goes nine years of saving and dreaming.
"Calm down," she holds her hands up in surrender. "I'm just saying this as your friend. You could just take a little money out. Get yourself into a nicer, safer, apartment. Use it for bills and shit until you're ready to really open up a shop."
"Yeah, Ang, you start out using just a little bit. Next month, just a little more. And a little more. Before you know it, it's gone. Poof, like that." I snap my fingers to reiterate my point.
"Bella-"
"No, Angela." I tell her firmly. "The money stays where it is."
Angela nods tersely. I can tell she wants to argue, but she decides against it. "So what are you going to do?"
"Find a job."
She snorts. "Trust me hon, that's easier said than done. I'm lucky I got my position at Sue's." her eyes light up and she slams her hand down on the table. "I'm a genius!" she squeals. "I'll get you a job at Sue's!"
"What?" my voice sounds whiny, even to my own ears.
"It's brilliant! Sue's wanted to fire Lauren since the day she hired her."
"Ew, Mallory works at Sue's?"
"Yep," she pops the 'p'. "You've probably never noticed since she hardly ever shows up."
"Talk about a nasty ho." I shudder.
"Bella, it would be perfect. Sue would get a hard worker, and you would get an easy job and restaurant experience. It's a win-win."
"I don't know, Ang." I sigh, unsure. "I've only ever worked in office jobs, you know? And I'm not exactly a people person."
"You just have to follow the golden rule, the customer is always right."
"But what about when they're not?" I argue.
"They always are."
"But-"
"Always, Bella." she takes a sip of her drink as Mindy sets our plates in front of us. Mmm tacos. "I'll talk to Sue about it tomorrow."
"Thanks Ang." I tell her honestly. "So how's Ben?" I change the subject. I decide not to tell her about the whole Marie thing. She knows I have a twin, and that we don't get along. That's it. I never told her the whole story. I've never told anyone.
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