Hard Knock Life ch. 5
I have a love/hate, mostly hate, relationship with working at the diner on campus as it helps pays bills and take care of my sister but it's long hours when I don't have classes on my feet while dealing a wide variety of customers. The types of customers I hate dealing with are the frat boys that think that they're God's gift to women to the millennials with their high demands as it makes all the more ready to leave this place once the year's over. The sooner that it's over, the sooner that I can move to LA to start paying my due and become a DJ but unfortunately I have to prove to Daddy Dearest that I actually gave college a shot before I can actually do anything. Least the tips aren't bad. The last couple days have been a bit tense with Posen riding us harder than normal, acting more like a drill sergeant as she barks out orders and being more critical of every little things that doesn't work out in her favor.
We got into it more than once about her attitude but I can't figure out what the hell change as the law student wasn't this bad on the first day of practice but I'm trying not to let it get to me as I try to focus on getting the orders to the customers. I look over at the counter to see Emily doing her homework as I wish that I didn't have to work so I could take her to the park to get some fresh air but the both of us are stuck for the next couple of hours when the tiny bell rings meaning that someone just walk into the diner. I look to see that it's Jesse who's waves happily as I roll my eyes at the composer as the boy's been trying to get me to go out with him since Hood night but I made it painfully clear that I wasn't interested in dating him or any guy for that matter. Once he got the idea and found out that I don't like movies, he's made it a point to have a movie marathon with me but I don't see the points as the endings are too predicable for me.
For some reason Emily finds him hilarious and it's the only reason why he makes it pass the front door as he sits downs next to her, ruffling her hair before making some stupid joke involving putting two glasses to his face. Aubrey wouldn't probably kill me if she saw me with a Treble but at the moment I don't really care. That rule about Bellas and Trebles hooking up is so stupid but none of them are my type and even if I didn't have a dick, I wouldn't hook up with them. As usual the Treble tries to get me to do a movie marathon with him and like all the other times, I turn him down while giving the reason why I don't watch movies before some snobbish trust fund jerk snaps his fingers at me to get my attention. I bite the inside of my tongue to stop myself from making some snide comment because I can't afford to lose this job no matter how much I wanted to tell him off but thankfully after ringing up my last three customers, I was told that I could have the rest of the day off.
I quickly change out of my uniform before my stuff and Emily before getting back to the apartment to drop our stuff then heading towards the park. The nerd happily makes a beeline for the swings as I sit on the grass not too far away to watch her having fun for once and I love seeing her this carefree without a worry in the world as I'm a bit envious but life doesn't work out that way. Jesse's still with me but thankfully he takes the hint that I didn't feel like talking as he lays on his back, staring up at the sky before gesturing for me to lie back as clouds roll by, reminding of a time when Mom and me would pointing what look like to us. I haven't done a lot o cloud watching in a long time and I just doesn't feel right doing it without her here as the composer point out a dragon shaped cloud flies through the air, breathing fire to terrorize lowly villagers.
I laugh in spite of myself because it sounded ridiculous as the Treble tells me that it's good to see me smile as I scowl at him just because as he shakes his head at me when a shadow looms over me, looking up to see Chloe standing over the two of us with a curious look on her face.
"Hey Chloe"
"Hey Beca" Chloe said smiling happily at me before giving Jesse a tight-lipped smile. "Swanson"
"Hey Beale, well I didn't that I'm gonna go. See ya around, Beca" Jesse said pushing himself off of the ground.
"See ya Jesse" I said as Chloe takes his spot next to me. "Okay, I've been running into you a lot lately. I'm almost starting to think that you're stalking me, Beale"
"What can I say? I'm drawn to you but I wasn't stalking you this time. I ran into you purely by luck as I was on my routine run and I saw you out the corner off of my eye so I thought that I should say hi" Chloe said smiling.
"This time? That's just creepy even for you, Beale" I laugh good-naturedly.
I plop myself up on my elbows, looking in her appearance to notice that she's wearing form-fitting black leggings and a hot pink sports bra with her redhead tied up in a ponytail as the pre-med student normally looks good but she looks downright hot. My eyes are stuck on the amount of cleavage on display before looking into her eyes to see the songstress smirking smugly at my obvious, knowing full well that I was ogling as I cough embarrassed, turning my attention to watching my sister playing. The nerd notice that Chloe was here before jumping off of the swing, running over toward us then launching herself into the redhead's open arms.
"Hey little one, how are you?" Chloe asked nuzzling her face into Emily's hair.
"Good, I missed you" Emily giggles.
"I missed you too. I haven't seen you since yesterday" Chloe said hugging Emily. "That's too long to go without seeing your precious face"
"Oh my god, you two are acting like you haven't seen each other in months" I said rolling my eyes at their ridiculousness.
"Don't be jealous, Becs. I've missed you too and your beautiful face" Chloe said kissing my cheek.
I blush slightly, looking at the med student who doesn't see nothing with what she did as she turns her attention back to Emily who recounts her schoolyard tales like it was something out of a storybook. The songstress doesn't look like she was half paying attention to my sister but hanging onto every word while adding commentary or asking the occasional question here and there as not a lot of people bother to get to know her. I know that both co-captain have made it point to get know me better as they claim that they want but I can't being hesitant about trusting them as I'm wary with my heart although I'm even more wary of Emily getting too attach to the wrong people. My sister means the world to me as it been the two of us for the longest time as I had to be both parents as well as the big sister to her so sometimes it's hard to draw the line.
I don't want her to be as wary and distrustful of others as I think that I'm enough for the both of us but it's hard not to be when people have proven that they could hurt you when you let them in. I snap out of my thoughts when I'm made to look into a pair of hypnotizing baby blue eyes, looking at me with concern and worry as my cheek's lightly caressed, asking if I was okay before pressing a lingering kiss on my forehead.
"Look I know that Bree has been a bit difficult lately" Chloe starts off.
"That's an understatement" I scoff lightly.
"She wants things to be perfect and she's under a lot of pressure so she stresses out, she tends to stress vomits"
"That sucks but really gross" I said frowning slightly.
"Yeah it is but as a lot of it comes from her Dad because he expects her to achieve perfection in every aspect of her life so she works extremely hard to get his approval and he's coming in about a week" Chloe sighs, running her hand through her hair. "It doesn't help that our first performance is around the same time so she wants to be prepare, to show that she's doing in a leadership position"
"Wow, I had no idea" I said feeling bad for Aubrey.
"Do you know what would really help Bree relax?"
"Smoking a lot of weed" I said smirking jokingly.
"I'm being serious here" Chloe said smacking my arm lightly.
"So was I"
"Okay smartass but honestly if you come over for dinner and a movie, it might help relax her"
"How is me coming gonna help her? The last few times that we've been in a room together, we've doing nothing but argue so a bit counterproductive to me" I said raising an raised eyebrow.
"Yes, during Bella practice but if it's at our apartment then there's nothing to argue about" Chloe said smiling.
"I don't know Chloe-"
"Please Beca, I know that Bree would be happy to see you and it's only dinner. If you don't feel comfortable at any time then you can leave" Chloe said pouting.
That pout combined with batting her long eyelashes at me should be considered illegal and outlawed as I feel my resolve to deny the girl crumbling before agreeing before bulldozed onto the glass by an overly excited redhead. A few of passers-by were giving us odd looks but the med student couldn't be bothered as she nuzzles her face into my neck, smiling despite myself.
"Okay, okay now get off me, you weirdo" I said tapping her hip.
"Why? I'm perfectly comfortable where I'm at" Chloe said resting her body weight on me.
"Because this is really weird and a few parents are giving us weird, dirty looks"
Chloe looks up to see some of the mothers staring and whispering about us I assume as the older girl waves happily at them, causing to frown disapprovingly before rolling off me. I swear that this girl is crazy. Now there women think that I'm probably deviant with no morals. The med student takes my phone placing her number in it before sending off a text so she would have my number so she could give me her and Aubrey's address so we could iron out the details about dinner. I notice a hot dog stand nearby as my stomach rumbles in response, pushing myself off the ground to grab three hot dogs with the works, napkins and three water bottles before handing one to the songstress then calling Emily over. She slides down the slides before running over, happily taking the hot dog and water bottle then taking a huge bite, getting mustard and ketchup all over her face as Chloe takes a napkin, wiping her face clean. The three just sat in silence, enjoying each other's company as I think that I could get used to this although I'm on the fence if this is good thing or not but I guess that's something to worry about later.
~Nicole The Dragon Rider signing off
End of ch. 5