Black Mesh

"So you're just going to leave, just like that?"

"I'm sorry, mama. This is my fifth job in the past two years. I'll see you later." Mariana gave Angelica a kiss on her forehead.

Mariana took her bag and rushed down the street to Club Creations. She knew her boss, Atilio, would be angry if she arrived even one minute late.

Did she think about her job, her life, her place? Was there aggravation like a jagged rock stabbing the soft tissue of her heart, heavy and painful?

She looked up, accusingly at the gods, blaming them for a cantankerous employer who, at the first opportunity, knew what to say to make anyone feel un-special (if that's even a word), undeserving of love or respect, unintelligent, unskilled, and un-pretty.

And if the prospect of grueling work and constant belittlement wasn't enough, Mariana knew that this was one of those nights she might lose her temper, hard as she tried not to, and cause the lights to go out in the kitchen. She really tried not to, but she always was "too sensitive," according to Angelica.

"Get the lead out of your shoes, Mariana. Felipe does not wait in my club. You're 25 (Mariana lied on the job application). You should know better, or do I need to teach you how to serve tables?"

"Atilio, I can't get drinks when there are 27 people in front of the bar ordering."

"Then why does Priscilla have them?"

Mariana opened her mouth and closed it again, unable to speak. Priscilla Cortina was 14 and Atilio's favorite, because she looked for any opportunity to make the other employees look bad.

Mariana felt it then. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths, waiting for the anger to subside.

That little bitch. I could slice her into bits right now. She fancies Atilio, an old fart who doesn't even wash his face right. I wish I could leave right now. But Anglica can't afford me right now. Maxime said there was a fund for book and robes, but I don't need her filthy money. Why should I take it? So that those snobby little sluts can rub it in that I'm not rich enough or "French" enough. One fist in Priscilla's face, just one is worth life in Azkaban or Penademuerte right down the street. I wonder how she would fare against my powers. She knows nothing. Just one Cruciatus. Just one. On the little punk bitch. No. It's not worth it. I should stop thinking this. She's defenseless. I could kill her. When I Sectumsempraed Jolina Bourdier, Maxime suspended me for a week and made me clean the bathrooms with my toothbrush. And I was going to stitch her back up. I mean, she wasn't even bleeding that bad. Who cares now? I'm ditching that shithole and going to Hogwarts, where the greats are from.

"Mariana? Welcome to earth."

"Huh? Oh! Draco? Oh my god it's been years!"

"One, to be exact."

"How have you been?" Mariana gave Draco a suffocating hug. The Malfoys went to Spain every year for three weeks, and now that Lucius was absent there was still no exception.

"We may not stay very long, my mother and I."

"Oh, Draco! I'm so sorry-I have no words- I can't believe your father's in Azkaban! Whatever you need, just let me know." Mariana talked as she prepared the order for table 5.

"Thanks, Mariana. I'm staying at the El Trubador. Doing anything after 2?" Draco stared into his ginger ale.

"Besides closing this dump (because it is my honored privilege) nothing, so I should be out by 2:30." Mariana walked with a giant tray over to table 5.

Draco and Mariana were friends since childhood because of the Malfoys' yearly summer visits to Ibiza. During the rest of the year, Draco and Mariana wrote to each other about happenings in school and at home.

"You know Mariana, the one thing I love about you is your amazing ability to mingle with the customers. You are so charismatic. Shame you can't do something about that uniform. Then maybe we can make you attractive." Atilio stared Mariana up and down.

Mariana had had her fill. There goes job number five.

"What did you say to me? How dare you! Listen bastard, I don't need your fucking abuse. Every night I work my ass off here to earn my money and you treat me and everyone else who is not a kiss-ass like shit. Now you try to harass me? Get you dirty eyes off of me, you nasty-(slap)-old-(slap)-FART-(double slap)!"

Mariana stormed out to the back locker room, grabbed her things, punched Priscilla in the face ("He's right, you could wear a tighter shirt"), and walked back out to the bar, officially quit her job, spat in Atilio's face, and stormed out to a bemused yet impressed Draco waiting in front to walk her home.

A/N: Pleeze Review. I. Need. Feedback. I hope you are all liking what I have so far. This is experimental for me and I don't know what I'm good at. I always like to review writers' fanfics because I feel it shows them that I care.