The Fates We Are Given
Chapter Two
Elsa stared at the selection of pencils with pursed lips and narrowed eyes. Sure she was at dollar tree and everything there was a dollar, but did everything have to be so cheap looking? She grabbed a pack of pencils that were hanging to her left and scrutinized them, and then hung them back up. Those pencils wouldn't have stood a chance with how she would handle them.
"Is a pack of decent pencils really too much to ask?" She said angrily to herself as she grabbed another pack of pencils to her left and scrutinized them as well, and then realized they were the same ones she was just looking at. She rolls her eyes and shook her head and proceeded to put them back on the hook. She turned slightly towards the right and grabbed a different pack this time.
"These are even worse than the other ones." Elsa sighed heavily as she put that pack back and snatched the ones on her left then grabbed a couple sketch pads from the shelf and walked towards the checkouts. She came up to the young male cashier and put down her pencils and sketch pads on the conveyor belt, waiting for him to ring her up. He was slightly taller than her, medium build with shoulder length brown hair and a long scar going across the left side of his jaw. He wore a green casual shirt that had a name tag that read "Silas", with a pair of faded blue jeans. He smiles brightly at her.
"And did you find everything ok mam?" He flashed his yellowish teeth to her as he smiled.
"Yes I did, thank you." She responded as she fumbled around with the inside of her purse searching for her wallet. She pulled it out and took out a few bills then stashed her wallet back inside her purse.
"Great!" Silas exclaimed as he rung up her items and proceeded to bag them. "That will be $3.21 please."
Elsa handed him the bills in her hand and took the change she was owed. "Thanks." She said as she took her bag and proceeded to the exit. The cashier nodded his head and smirked at her.
"Have a good day." He stated as she walked out and into the city streets.
Elsa opened the front door of the apartment complex and walked through heading towards the elevators. She hit the button to go up and waited for the doors to open. And then came that feeling again… like she was being watched. She turned her head to the left and scanned carefully. Two walls full of mail boxes for the residents, a fake palm tree, and a faux leather chair in the corner. She turned to her right and just saw the glass door that lead back outside and people walking by. Nothing there, nothing out of the ordinary. So why did she feel so uncomfortable?
A small ding and the elevator doors opening made her jump slightly. She stepped into the elevator and hit the button for her mothers floor, the doors closing a moment later. That feeling didn't
go away though like she was hoping it would have. The ride up in the elevator seemed to take forever, all the while that feeling never left.
"Hello?" Elsa asked as she turned left, then turned to her right. She was completely alone. She turned back towards the elevator doors and closed her eyes, sighing heavily and taking a deep breath.
"Stop it, Elsa. You are just imagining things, that's it. There is nobody following you, and certainly nobody watching you, get a grip." She exhaled and mentally chided herself. But that still didn't stop her from making a bee line straight to her moms apartment when the elevator doors opened, shoving the key in the doorknob and twisting it to open the door. She all but ran in and slammed the door shut, flipping the deadbolt and locking it.
She stepped back and looked at the door for a moment. The feeling was gone, now that she was safe in her mothers apartment. Running her fingers through her hair she walked away from the door and into her bedroom, throwing her purse and bag of pencils and sketch books onto the bed. She was about to walk into the kitchen when her cell phone started to ring. Walking towards the bed and rummaging through her purse she pulled out her phone, seeing her moms picture on the front screen she pressed the answer key.
"Hey mom." She stated, trying to sound as calm as she could. No need to worry her over something she probably just imagined.
"Hey sweetheart. Everything all right?" Kelly asked warily.
"Yeah mom, everything is fine." Elsa walked out of her bedroom and into the kitchen. She opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water, closing the fridge. "How's everything going? Any new leads on the cases yet?"
"Unfortunately no, not yet. I just wanted to call you and let you know that I think it's going to be another long night. Pertaining to a new case we just picked up this morning." Elsa could hear the heaviness in her moms voice. Whatever this new case was, it had really upset her mother. Elsa didn't like it one bit.
"It's all right mom. I get it, I understand." Elsa paused for a moment before she continued. "I actually decided to take your advice."
"On what?" Her mom asked. Kelly's voice now sounded intrigued, a better alternative to how she had sounded just moments ago.
"I'm going to go apply at the club." Elsa walked back into her bedroom, set her water bottle onto her vanity and went straight to her closet.
"Are you now? Well that is a nice surprise. Are you going to sing, are you going to dance?" Kelly asked.
"Honestly mom… whatever position they offer to me I'll take it. I could always move up from there, you know." Elsa began looking through her clothes.
"Well call me after your interview and let me know how everything went, ok? If I don't answer right away just give me a couple of minutes and I will call you back when I can. I love you, good luck!" Elsa smiled slightly.
"I love you too, I will mom. Bye for now, give Shane my love. I'll call you later." Elsa hung up and threw her phone onto the bed. Landing onto it with a quiet plop.
She turned back to her closet and continued to go through it. She pulled out a pair of black leather leggings and a nice white dress shirt that showed a little cleavage and hugged her frame. She threw them on the bed and began to undress. While changing she couldn't help but feel annoyed with herself on how she behaved earlier.
There had been absolutely nobody around her, and she had pretty much acted like a frightened deer. Just stared around for a few seconds and ran blindly. For all she knew now she had probably just imagined it. And besides, when the hell was she afraid of anything? She was born and raised in LA, where anything and everything happened.
"Just scaring yourself Elsa. No need to freak out over something you imagined." she finished getting dressed and walked over to her vanity to touch up her makeup and style her hair. "Just focus on the here and now. You got to get this job, and get your own damn place again." She proceeded to part her hair into three sections and began to french braid her hair, angling it down towards her right side. Using a small clear band at the end, tying it together.
Staring at herself for a moment in the mirror, she couldn't help but wish she had done things a little differently in life. She had a great upbringing, had everything she ever wanted. Had gotten straight A's all through her school life, had great friends, had a loving mother… And then she had gone and done something incredibly stupid.
She looked down towards her inner right arm where it bent at her elbow. The track marks barely still visible, but they were there all the same. About two years ago she had started using meth, that was when her life had fallen apart. A high school friend of hers had thrown a party and her cousin had shown up with the stuff.
They had kept pressuring her to try it until she had finally caved in. Being the daughter of a LAPD officer one would have thought she should have known better. Well she did know better, but that didn't stop her from becoming an addict and always trying to chase her next fix. She had done well for a while to hide it from her mom and Shane. But the amount of weight she had lost and her major mood swings had caught her mothers attention. They had fought that night, and after hours of screaming, crying, and making up, Elsa finally admitted herself into rehab. And now here she was nearly a year later, clean and sober with no job… and living with her mom and little brother.
"Could always be worse." Elsa told herself. "You could be dead, or still stuck in that life. Time to make something of yourself and show mom you can be successful. Shane has been through way worse and look at him now. You are not worthless… now just keep telling yourself that."
Elsa looked at herself in the mirror vanity one last time and got up to grab a pair of four inch black heels. She slid them on, strapped them around her ankles and grabbed her purse off her bed. Walking out her bedroom she shut her door and checked the time on her phone.
"Ok so two o'clock… about a fifteen minute cab ride. No way I am walking that long in these heels right now." Elsa walked to the front door, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor. She grabbed the doorknob but paused before unlocking it.
What if she hadn't imagined somebody watching her? Her hand tightened around the doorknob as the thought stopped her in her tracks. Her palms becoming sweaty as unwelcome thoughts invaded her mind. Her mothers career in a way did make her some sort of target; if anyone who her mother had helped put away decided to get back at her that was. Elsa just couldn't see that happening though. While Kelly Fellowes had put away some of the most dangerous people in LA, it was highly unlikely any action would be taken against her.
Elsa shook her head and unlocked the door. She opened it and took one step out the apartment and assessed the immediate area. She didn't see anything nor did she feel like she was being watched at all. She turned slightly to shut and lock the door then walked towards the elevator and stood there by the closed doors. She still didn't feel as if anything was watching her. She silently scathed herself as she pressed the down button on the elevator.
"Elsa, you are such an idiot sometimes." She muttered silently. The bell chimed for the elevator and the doors opened to allow Elsa inside. "You imagined the whole damn thing. What has gotten into you lately?" She stepped inside the elevator and hit the button for the ground level, the doors closing and begun to lower.
As the elevator descended Elsa stared at herself in the long mirror that ran along horizontally inside. She looked good, she thought. Hell, she knew she did. Her big green eyes brought out more by the eyeliner, giving her a doe eyed look. Her small button nose, the angled jaw, soft pink lips and slender neck. Her optimism started to rise a little more. She could do this… had to do this. She needed this job. She wanted more than that for herself, but this was just the start to that journey.
"I am a woman phenomenally. Phenomenal woman." She stated with confidence as the bell chimed and the elevator doors opened and allowed her to make her way out the front of the complex and into the busy city streets. With renewed confidence she hailed down a cab, hopped inside and gave them the address of the club.
Elsa felt like she was about to pass out any second now, could feel her mouth start to salivate and felt her body temperature start to rise. Here she was sitting at the bar of the club with the owner who was silently scrutinizing her application. The club she was dying to work at, and now felt she never would.
The owner was an older lady named Chanel Johnston, she was of African American heritage. Her shoulder length brown hair was slightly wavy and seemed to fit her round face perfectly. She wore a long gray jumpsuit that hugged her frame nicely. She wore silver gladiator sandals that wrapped around her ankles, and had some very nice manicured toes. Her fingernails were recently done up too. Elsa was only just slightly envious of her curves… well maybe just a little bit more envious than that. She was still trying to put on some weight and while she looked mostly normal, she wished for a couple
extra pounds here and there. The owner Chanel Johnston finally looked up at Elsa with pursed lips and searching eyes. Elsa swallowed the lump in her through and tried to breathe as steady as she could.
"So Elsa," Chanel began while sizing the younger woman up. "While I am very impressed with your resume… I'm just not sure if I should hire you. I mean I don't really think I need to hire anyone right now." She looked around her club and Elsa did as well. There were a few girls up on stage practicing for the next show while a couple guys were going over some audio for the routines. Across from them behind the bar there were a couple guys cleaning glasses and organizing. Also a young brunette female cleaning the tables on the floor around the stage.
Elsa's heart sank and she blinked back the threat of tears. It always ended like this, every single time. What was the point of even trying anymore if this was how it always ended for her?
"Screw it, I'm not getting the job anyway." Elsa thought bitterly to herself.
Ms Johnston… I really need a job. Like yesterday." Elsa looked her right in the eyes. "If I don't get this then…" Elsa couldn't even get the words out. She was just so upset and bitter. Nobody seemed to want to giver her a shot at trying anything. She looked down at the bar and her vision clouded slightly.
Chanel the owner quietly watched Elsa for a moment. She couldn't help but start to feel bad for the young woman sitting across from her. But the fact was she didn't really need another employee, she was fully staffed. She was about to conclude the interview when the slight scarring on Elsa's right arm catches her eye. Her eyes widened only slightly as she took in Elsa's appearance once again.
"How long have you been clean?" Chanel asked and Elsa felt her face and chest grow hot. Crossing her arms, Elsa hesitated before answering.
"About a year now." Elsa couldn't even look at the owner in the eyes, opting to stare at the wall behind her instead. "I've been slowly trying to rebuild my life. I made a stupid mistake and I paid for it. I went to rehab and got clean and I now live with my mother and younger brother." Elsa sighed heavily and finally looked at Chanel. "I just want my life back."
Chanel looked back down at the job application briefly then back at Elsa. "I wanna offer you a position here. But let me be clear, if I catch you high on anything other than life you are done here. Do you understand?"
Elsa just sat there for a moment completely dumbfounded, her bottom jaw falling slack. But then caught herself. "You're serious? You're giving me a job? I-I don't know what to say honestly… thank you."
"Just don't let me regret this and that'll be thanks enough. Now," Chanel stood up and pushed her chair in, Elsa following her suit. "Let's talk about your new duties as an employee." Chanel held out her right hand and Elsa shook it, sealing the deal.
Elsa all but pranced up the steps of the LAPD precinct, eager to tell her mother and Shane the good news. Once she stepped inside the building she passed the front desk and waved to the male
officer that was on duty at the moment. Her excitement must have shown because he smiled brightly back at her before returning to his current task. The precinct was busy today from what she could see. Several officers walked by with an older, handcuffed, seemingly drunk man who was yelling incoherently. A few officers seemed to be having a meeting and going over some case file that was quite large in Elsa's own opinion.
She was too excited to wait for the elevator so she ran up to the sixth floor where her mothers office was. She stepped through the threshold and came upon a nice sized room where there a few cubicles huddled up in one corner, she saw Lieutenant Drew Shaffer staring out the glass window seemingly deep in though. He was an older officer with a buzzed hair cut, his brown hair frosted with grays. A cup of coffee grasped in both his hands.
He also happened to be her mothers boyfriend. And unlike Elsa's father, Drew actually treated her mother they way she deserved to be treated. He was a widowed man with a couple children around her and Shane's ages and had been with the LAPD for the last twenty years. Elsa loved the man like a father, if any man deserved that title it was him. He saw her from his peripheral vision and turned towards her smiling.
"Well there she is! Hey, how's it going?" He embraced her in a quick hug and took a step backwards. "I heard you had a job interview today."
She flashed him a small smile. "Yes I did, just a little bit ago actually. I came to tell my mother and Shane about my new job."Her emphasis on the word "new", grabbed his attention.
"Wait, so you got it? Oh wow, congrats Elsa!" He hugged her again, this time about crushing her rib cage. "I'm very proud of you sis." Elsa wheezed lowly.
"Cant. Breathe… ribs… being squished Shaffer." She felt she might really pass out this time. He released her and patted her on one of her shoulders.
"Sorry, I got a little excited. Your mom and brother are in her office right now. Not too sure what they are talking about, but it sounds pretty serious." Lieutenant Shaffer nodded his head to the left towards her mothers office. Sure enough, voices could be faintly heard. He took a sip of his coffee while staring a hole in the closed door.
Elsa shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "Who knows anymore? Any new leads on those cases at all?" She frowned when he shook his head no. "Well, something has to come up soon about it. Just hopefully not another victim dead in an abandoned house." Elsa made her way in front of her moms door and stood there for a minute before knocking lightly and opening the door, closing it after she stepped inside.
And here is chapter two for you guys! As I stated at the end of the first chapter it's going to start a bit slow but here within the next couple of chapters we will begin to see our story really start and I am so excited to start writing it :) I'm going to try and update weekly but being a working mom with a special needs child my days are pretty busy. Please R
