Part V: To See and Not To Be Seen

On the same day – a few hours earlier.

„Gillian would you hurry up in there. I need to get ready for work." Rachel knocked on the bathroom door. "This is my first week there and I really don't want to be late.

"I'll be out in a second" Gillian had been in the bathroom for over two hours and Rachel was getting nervous because she had to be at work in less than 30 minutes and she hadn't even taken a shower, yet. Although she didn't feel well at all, she still wanted to be there on time. Her stomach was upset and she had a headache, but it certainly wouldn't leave a good impression if she'd call in sick the first week. Actually she'd been feeling like this before in the last two months. Ever since she visited the museum, that day she met Christopher. She probably caught a cold that wouldn't break through, of course she needed to go to the doctor, since she'd been struggling with this for so long, but first she needed to get to work.

'If I'm not feeling better by tomorrow, I'll go to the doctor' Rachel promised herself like so many times before. Strangely this feeling disappeared within a day and everything was fine again.

Finally Gillian came out wrapped in a towel.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Rachel." She threw the towel in the corner and disappeared in the walk-in-closet. Rachel shook her head and entered the bathroom. It always took Gillian forever to get ready. She would start a fashion-show until she finally decided what to wear. The bathroom was a total mess. A huge collection of underwear was spread out on the floor, the bathtub was still filled with water and her make-up blocked the sink.

"Gillian!"

"I know, I know." After a few minutes she stepped out from the closet and headed towards the bathroom. "Take a look, do you think I can wear this?" She was wearing a short, very tight red dress with a push-up bra underneath.

"Sure, if you want him to talk to your breasts all evening, this will do it."

"You are right." She disappeared in the closet again.

Rachel had just stepped into the shower, when Gillian came back. This time she was wearing a long black skirt and a blue polo neck sweater. "How about that?"

Rachel looked from behind the shower curtain and rubbed the soap out of her eyes. "Well, you definitely go from one extreme into the next. This looks…. prude."

"Mmh, you're right again." Once again she threw off her clothes and ran back to the closet.

After another five minutes and a huge pile of clothes on Gillian's bed, she came back.

"Ok. I think I've got it." Now she was wearing a boot cut jeans and a black long sleeved boatneck shirt.

"Looks fine to me." Rachel put on her work-outfit. Thank god she didn't have to go trough all of this. She was a waitress at a club that also served as restaurant and bar. Although she had just started, she loved it there and she made much better money than in the place she worked before. This was more upscale and therefore the tips were higher.

"Good. Now I need to find some shoes!"

'Oh, God. This will take another hour.' Rachel thought while she put on her jacket.

"Just remember, Honey. It's November and very cold outside. So don't put on your new sandals." Gillian was a total fashion-freak. She'd spend fortunes on clothes, shoes, accessories and make-up, yet still complained that she had nothing to wear.

"Gillian, I'm going to work. Are you two meeting there?".

"Yes. That way you can tell me what you think of him. Are you feeling better?"

"No, not really."

"Promise me, you'll take care of yourself and that you will go to the doctor tomorrow."

"Sure."

Rachel took her scarf and left the apartment she shared with Gillian. They had been roommates for over two years now and they had become best friends. Rachel liked her life in New York. It had been her own choice to move into this city and to be a waitress.

If it were her fathers' decision, though she'd be working for him in the UNO. He was ambassador of his homeland Kenia and for him it was always clear that Rachel would join him someday. Rachel's mom was from Boston and so she was born and raised there. Although Rachel's father travelled a lot, her mom always wanted her to become a good and solid education and not to be torn from one city to the next. While her father was on the road, they would stay home in Boston and Rachel had the opportunity to visit one of the best schools in the country. On the holidays they usually visited her father in Kenia and helped him on his campaigns.

Rachel's future was pretty much set. After college she was suppose to work for the UNO. Her father had already made arrangements for her, but nobody ever asked Rachel what she really wanted. She wasn't made for that kind of life. She didn't want all the responsibility. She didn't want to lead the live her father did. She wanted to live in a big city and be someone "unimportant" and not her father's daughter. She wanted to make her own decisions and live her own life with no expectations from other people she couldn't fulfil anyway. Although they got in a big fight when she left to move to New York, she never regretted her decision. Someday she would go back home, she missed her family a lot.

For now she had to be at work in less than ten minutes. Although she only lived a couple of blocks away, she decided to take a cap. She arrived there just in time.

"Rachel, you look awful. Are you feeling okay?" Her manager Jill was a very nice lady. She was always concerned about her employees, that was another reason why Rachel loved the work here.

"Actually I'm not feeling well, but I'm sure it will pass once I started working."

"Ok, but let me know if it's getting worse, alright?"

Rachel nodded and left to the kitchen to take over her shift. This night wouldn't be easy.

Gillian arrived at 9.30. She had changed her clothes again and was now wearing black pants and a short blue sweater that showed her belly button as she moved. Rachel had to smile because this was so typical for her.

"So, you changed your wardrobe again?!"

"Yes. I thought this would look better. Don't you think? Please tell me it's ok."

"Of course it is. Have you seen him yet?"

"No, his friend wanted to pick me up and introduce us. I'm so nervous Rachel."

„Rachel. Can you bring table nine the check, please." One of the waiters shouted from behind the bar.

"I'm sorry, Sweetie. Work calls. Let me know how it goes." She gave Gillian a hug.

"I will. Thanks."

Just as Rachel headed back to the bar, she saw a guy come up to Gillian. She could swear she had seen him before, but couldn't put him anywhere. Oh well, she saw so many people during her shift that she couldn't possibly remember every face.

She watched Gillian and the guy disappear around the corner. They didn't sit in her section, so she couldn't make out how the other one looked like that Gillian was suppose to meet.

For now she didn't have time to look after Gillian anyway. The rush hour had started and there were a lot of hungry people that wanted to be served.

After one hour she could hardly breath anymore. She felt incredibly dizzy and had to sit down. Her head was spinning and her cheeks were burning.

"Alright, Rachel. That's enough for today. I want you to go home and get some rest. Jack will take over your section." Jill had been watching her the whole evening and saw how she was struggling to keep herself up.

Rachel wanted to reply an answer but she didn't have the energy. All she wanted was to get out of here as fast as possible and to get some fresh air.

"Thank you Jill. I make it up, I promise." She crabbed her coat and headed to the exit. Before she left, she threw one last glimpse at Gillian. Unfortunately she couldn't make out the guy's face, because he was sitting with his back towards her but since Gillian was laughing and giggling the whole time, he seemed to be nice.

'I'm sure she'll tell me all about him tomorrow.' Rachel thought. Of course she should have said goodbye but she was too weak. Gillian would understand. She only wanted to go home, take a hot bath and go to sleep. Tomorrow was her day off, she could sleep in and relax and hopefully feel better…

To be continued.