I just realised I forgot the disclaimer for the first two chapters so…

DISCLAIMER: I do not own 24, I do not own the Beatles, I do not own anything in the story except of course the story.

The following takes place right before season 1. Events do not occur in real time. :-)

A DAY IN THE LIFEThe Beatles

Chapter 3 – Three Dollars

Three Dollars, 2005 – Starring Sarah Wynter as Amanda

MICHELLE

Today, I decided before even opening my eyes, is not a good day.

That thought came to me when I reached next to me and felt three one dollar bills.

I opened my eyes and stared blankly at the money. I saw a note next to it and decided I would read it later.

I'm not going to cry. I am NOT going to cry.

The three dollars came from Michael. Three dollars started the relationship.

They also ended it.

You say it could happen any day. You just never thought today would be the day.

TONY

In the middle of the night, I woke up only to find out it wasn't night: it was 7 in the morning.

I often made that mistake, working night shifts. Night had become my day and vice-versa.

I groggily got up and closed the shades before lying back down. On the other side of the bed, a woman mumbled and reached out to grab my arm.

I smiled. "Hey…"

She grumbled something along the lines of "Is it time to wake up yet?"

I responded to her question by flipping on my stomach and kissing her.

She immediately got the message and returned the fervour.

Unfortunately, having just come back from her business trip, she managed a few kisses before drifting off once more.

I chuckled. "I missed you too, Nina."

MICHELLE

Nice Chelle. You look reaaal sexy.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror, unpleased by the reddish blotches the scalding shower water had left all over my body. This was the result of an effort to erase Michael's touch from my skin.

Grabbing the moisturizer from the pharmaceutical shelf, I wobbled back towards the bedroom, today's bad news suddenly draining me.

Fine. Let's get this over with.

Carefully, I opened the note Michael had left me.

Michelle,

If you're reading this, you probably have noticed I left kind of early this morning. No, you're smart, I'm sure you know I left because (the next words were scribbled, as if Michael wanted to get the bad news done and over with) it's just not working. I mean, it's not your fault. It's my fault and it's ablso your work. You're always working and I wonder if... Anyways, if you ever want to talk or something, you know you can call me. You have my number.

I'm really sorry.

Love (well you know what I mean), Michael

PS: Did you find the three dollars:-D

I crumpled the letter and threw it on the floor.

Fucking coward. Doesn't even have the decency to do it in my face. And he thinks three fucking dollars are going to make a difference?

But then I remembered the smiley face at the end of the letter. As if it was going to make me feel better. Instead, it made me cry.

How a man I didn't love in the first place made me cry is a mystery to me. I just couldn't imagine what a man I loved could actually do to me.

TONY

After several attempts of falling asleep, I finally got up from bed. I walked silently across the room, taking a single glimpse of Nina before closing the door behind me.

God. She's beautiful.

I put on my coat and stepped out of the apartment. After much deliberation, I decided to go to a café where I could get fresh ground coffee that would wake me up.

On my way there, I crossed a jewellery store. Unable to resist the urge, I slipped in.

It's only for a few minutes. Maybe you'll find something for Ma.

But, deep down inside, I knew I wasn't really here for my mother.

MICHELLE

At work, things were unusually calm. That left me some 'alone time' to think. Until, of course, Carrie came barging in my office.

Uh Oh. Someone doesn't look too happy.

"Michelle!"

I fought to keep my temper under control. "Yes Carrie?"

She started rambling on and on about an assignment I was supposed to print for her but that I had forwarded to her instead and so on and so forth…

I interrupted her. "Carrie?"

"What, Michelle?"

"Do you make my life a living hell for fun?"

She looked at me for a moment then smiled sweetly. "Michelle, you're making your own life a living hell."

That's it, I thought. It's time for a change of scenery.

CARRIE

"Do you make my life a living hell for fun?"

I looked at Michelle.

Do I make your life a living hell for fun? Hmm… Good question.

"Michelle, you're making your own life a living hell." I paused. "Oh and by the way, next time you talk to me like that, I'll have to talk to Mr. Hammond about 'unacceptable behaviour' from one of my subordinates. We'll see what he thinks about that." With those final words and a small wink, I left her hanging there.

God, I love my job!

TONY

The cold cappuccino sat in front of me, untouched. The truth was, I was too ecstatic about my last purchase to actually swallow anything. Fumbling in my pocket, I reached for the small black box. I opened it and smiled at the silver bracelet lying erect on the velvet bottom.

When I had entered the store, I wasn't quite sure where I was going with this. As far as I was concerned, Nina was not the jewellery type and we had never actually given each other presents aside from the occasional date. We were more of the 'bed' type, if you know what I mean.

But, at that moment, I felt I was ready for more. I thought a silver bracelet would maybe change our relationship into something… more. Something better, maybe.

I grinned to myself and took a sip of cappuccino…

Only to spit it back out. I hadn't realised my cappuccino had become undrinkable.

A couple of clients in the café frowned at me as if I was a hoodlum or had no manners as I smiled at them, embarrassed.

Time to go back home and get a bit of sleep. We have a big day ahead of us.

At the moment I had thought that, I had no idea how big the day would actually turn out to be.

MICHELLE

The rest of the day passed slowly. As soon as I was done, I rushed out, wanting to avoid any conversation with Carrie or Hammond concerning my 'unacceptable behaviour'.

Driving back home, my thoughts went back to Michael.

Michael had been my boyfriend of three months. Around three weeks before the final split, things had started getting bad between us. The three dollars in all of this?

We met in a café when I lent him money one day for coffee. I knew, of course, that he would never give my money back but, hey, I was in a good mood and the guy obviously needed his caffeine. Next thing you know, he had somehow found me and was waiting for me in front of my apartment when I came back from work. And the rest, as they say, is history.

At first, I was really happy to have met a decent guy. He searched for me all over the city just to give me back my money (I suspected he had other motives) though as soon as we hooked up (which, really, wasn't that much later), I insisted that he not repay his debt. He probably thought he could move on just like that by leaving me a note with his repaid money.

Guess he isn't that decent. He's just like every other guy on this planet.

NINA

When I woke up, I felt very disoriented. Last thing I remembered, I was in Seattle. Afterwards, I got into the plane and then…

Am I in the plane?

I squinted in the darkness. Suddenly, it came to me.

Ah. I'm back home.

I rolled over and, stumbling over Tony, checked the clock.

Hmm… It's only eight. Wait, eight? EIGHT! Shit!

I shook Tony.

"Mmm, not yet."

"It's eight, Tony! Come on, up!" I slapped him and he finally woke up.

"What? Already?"

I frowned at him. "I should be the one asking you this. I told you to wake me up!"

In less than five minutes, we were out of bed and getting dressed. I was buttoning my shirt when Tony came over, kissed my shoulder delicately and hugged me from behind.

"Mmm, after work, Tony," I said, knowing perfectly my 'after work' would be in Germany and his, who knows?

TONY

The ride to work was uneventful. I kept on glancing at Nina's car, which was right in front of me. I thought of the bracelet again, glad I had left it home. If I had lugged it around with me at work, I might have not been able to resist giving it to her right on the spot and kissing her in front of everyone. And, god knows that was the last thing we wanted. Or, at least, the last thing she wanted. And that was the most important thing to me at the time.

At work, it was the usual: boring, nothing really important going on for the moment, lots of stuff to do.

Around eleven thirty, I headed to the coffee room, looking through my pocket for some loose change only to find a few dollar bills.

One… Two… Three. Enough for two coffees and a half.

Now, if only I could find a spare 75 cents in my wallet (a cup of coffee costs 1,25$)…

Suddenly, Nina stuck her head in.

"Tony, holding room one. Richard Walsh wants to see us."

Damn.

That usually meant something bad was going on and that we were going to have a very long day. Sighing, I paid for one cup and started walking towards the conference room, coffee in hand, hoping today's threat wouldn't be too challenging.