Wow, thanks everybody! Specifically IslandGirl892 for giving me a much needed confidence boost on the content, Icefeather for insulting Kia owners everywhere xD, HersheyChoco101 for feeling the heat wave pain, CAPJHMPAgirl for always being there, and Hannah for laughing at my snark. I love you guys – thanks so much for reviewing!
This chapter's a little slow, but I'm going to try to bust out another one soon. If you know me as a writer, my updates are sporadic and a story may disappear and then suddenly come back with ten chapters after a month of down time. I'll try to not be so annoying this time and update more routinely. So let's plan on that!
A for Effort
"This is the last time."
Denny scoffed. "Ha! Yeah, we both know that's a lie. For all your grumpiness and dark aura, you're a pushover, Vaughn. You'll give me a ride to work whenever I ask you to."
Vaughn grumbled under his breath, swinging the wheel roughly to the right. The mustard-colored junk car nearly hopped the city curb.
"Hey, speaking of pushovers," Denny smiled, hanging on tight to the seat. As per usual, he coped with Vaughn's reckless driving. "How's Candace? You ask her out yet?"
"No," Vaughn bitterly muttered, peering through the flashing windshield wipers as rain pelted the foggy glass. He loved a good summer rain, but it wasn't much to see in a city like this one. It just made everything look greyer. Duller.
Denny shook his dark, curly head. He was a contrast to his best friend in every way. "Man, you've gotta get on that! Next thing you know, she'll be swept away by some douche bag. Or realize she'd rather be a lesbian."
Vaughn looked over at his aqua-clad friend with a disbelieving glare. "What?"
Denny shrugged, staring ahead out the window. The car lurched since Vaughn wasn't paying attention. "It's like what they say. It's always the quiet ones…"
The front wheel caught the sidewalk and shook both passengers. Vaughn quickly swiveled the wheel around counter clockwise to get back onto the road.
"Christ, man! You know, I have to get my own ride – you really can't drive!" Denny tried to laugh off the situation with his bright smile, watching the angry pedestrians yelling behind them.
"You get a license?" Vaughn rolled his eyes, switching on his turn signal and stopping short at the red light. "That sounds about as insane as your girlfriend."
"Hey!" Denny defended, raising a finger. "Lanna's a nice girl!"
"She's psychotic…" he said, hitting the gas as the light turned green.
"She's just really stressed out," he explained. "You would be too if you were in showbiz."
"Denny. Lanna's a YouTuber."
"…Shut up…" Denny mumbled.
He didn't press it further. It wasn't long before Vaughn pulled the old beater up to the curb and parked. The rain thundered down in torrents above their heads. Vaughn looked up through the sunroof at the dark clouds and splashing raindrops, glad he wore a black shirt today.
Denny straightened his apron and pulled his matching aqua colored ball cap on and sighed. "Well, back to work!"
"Don't kill anything today," Vaughn gave the friendly reminder, shifting back into drive.
"That was one time!" Denny opened the car door, the sound of rain drowning out most of his retort. The door slammed behind him, and he gave a thankful wave before running through the automatic doors.
Vaughn pulled away from the aquarium, chuckling at the memory of his friend fishing in one of the salt water exhibits. How'd he get off with just a warning?!
Vaughn shook his wet hair out like a golden retriever the minute he stepped into the lobby. It was quiet and empty – a bad sign. But since Vaughn didn't give a shit, he casually walked over to the soda machine.
A poorly scrawled 'Out of Order' was taped over the Coca-Cola logo. Vaughn looked over the choices and nonchalantly rapped his knuckles on the hollow machine.
There wasn't an immediate response. Vaughn wrung some of the water out of his shirt cuff and pounded on the vending machine with his fist. "Terry, we've got a deal. I don't tell anyone that you emptied this thing so you can hide in it, and you give me free coke. Pay up; I'm running late again."
A red can emerged in the product basin. Vaughn smirked and popped the top open, walking towards the elevator.
"Blackmailer!" The disgruntled machine barked.
Vaughn tasted the drink, wrinkling his nose at its room temperature. "You have a good day, Terry."
"Oh, screw off…" the voice muttered.
The elevator moved slowly, its gears and pulleys cranking like an old roller coaster. Vaughn was juggling excuses in his head for his tardiness, but like always, decided silence was the best answer. The elevator jerked to a stop on floor three, and the doors took their merry time opening to let him out.
Vaughn was surprised to hear… almost nothing. There was the steady thrum of fingers typing away at keyboards, and every now and again, an alert would ring on somebody's monitor. Everyone's noses were deep in their work. The doors leading to Luke and Tina's and Louis and Candace's offices were propped open. With the rain streaming down the only window behind Gill's desk and the fluorescents making the room uncomfortably bright above them, Vaughn was feeling the office was grimmer than usual.
Candace looked up and smiled at Vaughn. She was wearing two braids in her hair – it was his favorite hair style of hers. He held up a stiff hand to wave, but she was already back to work. Alice completely ignored him as he went by her desk. Across from her, Dan was wide awake and scribbling corrections to the latest brochure. The red headband he always wore around his shaggy black hair was missing, and he was looking professional with a full suit and tie. Without looking, Dan held his hand out which Vaughn hit in passing. At least one thing wasn't too different.
Vaughn opened his briefcase and pulled out a report for Molly. He set it on the reception desk. "Did you talk to Rod about the Harmonica brochure? It's due in—"
She was glaring hard at him from her seat. Her hair was done up in a smart updo, and she was wearing her nicest blue blouse. She even had make-up.
"Did somebody die…?" He ventured a guess.
"You're late!" Molly whispered harshly, snatching the papers from him.
"That never happens," Vaughn remarked sarcastically.
"Vaughn, are you crazy?!" Molly asked. "How could you forget – we have performance reviews!"
Vaughn paused. He looked around at the office. Even Rod, his desk stuck between Allen and Alice – poor guy – was wearing a small frown, staring fixedly at his computer screen. Allen had a hand in his hair, concentrating on a stack of papers in front of him. He felt eyes on him and looked up, giving Vaughn a smirk. He tapped his watch.
Vaughn turned back to Molly. "Today?"
"Yes! Duh…" Molly grumbled, settling back to her computer.
Vaughn waited for her to realize. Apparently, she needed a hint. "You know what else was today?"
Molly pursed her lips in confusion. She opened her mouth to ask, but her eyes went wide when she remembered. "You didn't though—?"
"It was your idea," Vaughn said.
"Oh my God," Molly held a hand over her mouth, stifling a laugh. She took a minute to contain herself before she straightened her posture. "Well… this'll be interesting."
Vaughn shrugged and headed to his desk. Everyone's phony work ethic finally made some sense now. There was talk of lay-offs. Since the plan to turn the air off was taken care of by the union, revenue was back to being an issue. The weakest link was sure to go this review season. And Gill would be looking for any excuse to throw someone on the cutting block. But to Vaughn's relief, Gill wasn't sitting ominously across from him. Had he already-?
Hamilton's office door swung open. As if anyone couldn't look busier, they did as Hamilton emerged with Gill sauntering behind him, a smug look on his face. Hamilton clapped his hands. The sound echoed. "Heeello, everybody! What a day, hm? So… wet!"
Everybody squirmed.
Hamilton smiled at Gill, giving his shoulder a pat as he took a seat back at his desk. "Great job, Gill! Keep up the good work. Though, try to smile more – you'll never get laid."
Gill blinked stupidly as his co-workers attempted not to laugh at him.
"Well, I just wanted to remind everyone that performance reviews are today! Woohoo!" Hamilton announced happily in the silence.
Since no one was sharing his enthusiasm, Rod attempted to win some brownie points. "Woo!"
Hamilton pointed at him. "That's the spirit! Well! There are two ways we can do this. You can come and privately hear the results of your assessment in my office, or I can just come tell it to your face! Alright. First come first serve!"
Before Vaughn could even think about getting it over with, Allen had scrambled out of his chair and sprinted his way to Hamilton's office. He took a deep breath, hand on his hip. "I'll, uh, just get out of your hair then right away."
"Ah! Excellent! Step right in," Hamilton ushered the red head inside, and they disappeared.
Vaughn picked up his headset and was about to get started on the inevitable missed calls when he caught Gill's snarky smile. "What?"
Gill folded his hands on his desk, still smirking evilly. "I'm just anticipating your indictment."
"My indictment?" Vaughn raised a disinterested eyebrow, shifting through the papers on his cluttered desk. He found a stray pen, shook it hard, and took notes from the messages streaming into his earpiece.
"Late again! You thought I wouldn't notice," Gill claimed victoriously. "My scouting isn't for nothing…"
Vaughn found it easy to picture Gill hiding in the ficas or in an empty cardboard box, following people around the office thinking he was actually incognito. Though he never expected he'd admit to doing it.
"And I've reported you to Mr. Hamilton! Count the hours, Vaughn. I've always told you your tardiness would be your downfall!" Gill said. He opened the bottom drawer of his desk, and Vaughn held his poker face.
"Phew!" Allen sighed, ruffling a pale hand through his hair. He took off his glasses, superficially cleaning them on his cuff. "I knew I had nothing to worry about!"
"Sure," Alice muttered from across the room. "That's why you ran in there with your tail between your legs."
"What is this?" Gill asked, looking up for the first time from the crowded drawer. He was more shocked than angry… for the time being. "What is this?!"
Molly's eyes flicked over to Vaughn's desk, but she didn't dare chance another misgiving glance as she feigned surprise.
"What's what?" Allen asked with a sassy hand on his hip. "If you're mad at the person who dressed you this morning, then I don't blame you. Knickerbockers and a sweater vest? What grade are you in?"
Gill ignored the jab at his current outfit and opened the drawer wider. "Someone's put food in my desk!"
"A gift…?" Rod ventured, peeking up over his cubicle wall.
"Hardly!" Gill shouted, pulling out one of many. "Spinach and mayonnaise sandwiches?!"
"Hey, can I have one?" Luke called from his office door. Tina was on her tip toes to see over him. She snapped a picture and giggled.
"Who did this?" Gill stood, ignoring the request.
Vaughn knew there were twenty-eight sandwiches squished into that drawer. But there was no reason for him to say so. Unless someone asked him, of course. He looked back down at his work, deciding to play it without a fight.
Gill's eyes were locked on Vaughn, his face turning darker shades of red. "Someone thinks this is funny, hm? Because of my car? Well, I'll have you all know that was disgusting, and this is incredibly childish."
"Childish?" Hamilton tried not to sound too excited, swinging back into the room. "Er, I mean – Vaughn, would you like to go next?"
"Sure," Vaughn set down his pen. "You can just tell me here—"
"Mr. Hamilton!" Gill took advantage of the appearance of authority. "Someone put sandwiches in my drawer!"
Hamilton paused. "What a… pleasant surprise?"
"As an immature prank! I'll have to clean the whole drawer out – it's a terrible mess," Gill corrected, tightening the bolo around his neck.
Hamilton waited in the quiet. Vaughn wasn't quite sure if he was still pondering the idea or if he was somewhere completely different. Like Candyland.
Gill needed a sense of urgency from him. He kept his eyes on Vaughn. "Mr. Hamilton, someone vandalized my desk. They should be disciplined!"
"Why're you looking at me?" Vaughn challenged darkly, tossing the headset down as he stood.
"I know it's you!" Gill accused. "That time when all of my pens were replaced with crayons? When my mouse was replaced with a pile of jam? When my lunch was replaced with a box of tampons?"
"That was classic!" Dan laughed, slapping his knee.
Gill fumed. "When a rancid sandwich was thrown on my car…!"
"Do you have proof that Vaughn did these things?" Hamilton asked with curiosity.
Molly's nonchalance had cracked as her face was consumed with worry. She never thought their stupid pranks could threaten their jobs. She looked like she was about to say something, but she stopped herself. Allen was eagerly watching both Vaughn and Gill like he was at a tennis match.
Gill opened his mouth, but he closed it and clenched his fist. "I just know! Who else would antagonize me?"
"I would!" Luke volunteered, raising his hand in the air.
"I hate you," Alice offered, also raising her hand. "Does that count?"
Instead of displaying anger, Hamilton was smiling wider and wider. He suddenly let out a loud laugh, slapping Vaughn on the shoulder. "Ha, aren't you a hoot?! Keep up the good work, Vaughn. Ah, you'd be my favorite if you had breasts."
Gill was gaping in horror that Hamilton didn't seem to care for his troubles. Vaughn was thinking over that last comment. "Uh… Thank you, sir."
"Well, that was fun!" Hamilton clapped his hands again. "Who's next?"
As the boss ventured around to talk to Rod, Vaughn and Gill returned to their seats. Gill was glaring him down as if he could drive pins into him by doing so. "This isn't over, Vaughn… I'll collect the evidence. One day, you will pay…"
"Sure thing, knickerbockers," Vaughn rolled his eyes, and set his feet up on his desk.
Luke appeared and began demanding sandwiches. Tina continued to snap annoying pictures. As they argued, Vaughn relaxed in his swivel chair and picked up his forgotten can of soda.