Chapter Two- The Exemplary Employee

Monday, August 26, 2013
03:13 AM
Ashton Apartments
Alhambra, CA

His internal alarm clock forced him to wake up.

Jonathan 'Joe' Johnny Tuturro leaped off the top bunk, mindful of the two resting on the lower half, in need of his morning pick me up.

He scrounged his mama's purse and found her cigarettes. He took one and escaped to his balcony that's seen better days. He grasped the lighter resting on the dusty table and lit the stick. He inhaled, the 6,000 chemicals entered his lungs, tarring them, but his body became ignited. He exhaled, then inhaled again. As the paper burned into ashes, he watched the obsidian sky, not one cloud in sight, no hint that the morning was coming any time soon. His weekdays were like this, up way too early, in bed way too late. He flicked the remnants, then continued until just the filter remained.

He reentered the small two bedroom, one bathroom apartment he shared with his mama, abuelo, abuela and little sister, and headed back to the bathroom. He needed to get rid of the carcinogenic smell and become squeaky clean for the day. He turned the shower on, then stepped in when it was warm enough. While cleaning his lanky body, he thought about everything he needed to do today. First, work at Badillo de Café, second, get over to the university to begin fall semester, and third, start the new job he acquired recently. To be honest, he wanted to shout loudly, ¡Hasta la vista, sueño!. He wasn't going to get any, any time soon. Done, he wiped himself off, secured his lower half with a towel, then returned to the bedroom.

He attempted to be as quiet as a mouse and invisible as a ghost. He didn't want to wake his mom and sister. He gently slid hangers, picking out a clean, company shirt, and a pair of dark pants. He maneuvered in the dark room the best he could. He felt around for the dresser, opened a drawer. His eyes bugged out, he extracted one of his mama's bras, not a pair of boxers. He groaned inaudibly. He returned the article of clothing, went to a different drawer and grabbed an underwear and an under tee. Deciding it was best, he dressed in the living room.

He put his clothes on quickly, since his ride to work would be coming soon. His backpack was packed, his shoes were finally slipped on, and he rechecked to see if he had everything. He didn't. His phone still was in the room. He went to get it, but heard footsteps pattering.

His tired 8 year old sister, Lily, short for Liliana, her dark tresses a complete mess and her nightgown barely on her shoulders, held his phone and phone charger in her hands. "Johnny, don't forget these," she reminded him around a yawn.

"Lily, what are you doing up," he asked, crouching in front of her. His hands planted on her hips softly. "It's too early for you to be up."

"I couldn't sleep... you kept moving around too much," she told him, as she rubbed her eye with her free hand to get them steady.

He adored his little sister and treated her like his own. She was his motivation; she deserved the world if he could give it to her. He kissed her cheek and took the items from her hand. "Gracias, but you should head to bed, so you can be rested for school."

She looked at him sadly. "What if I get teased again?"

He shook his head. "If they do, you let me know, and I'll handle it," he promised her. "I doubt they'll say anything to you for the rest of the week and the weeks to come. Remember those new outfits and shoes I got you?"

Her eyes and face brightened, nodding. When he presented the hip shirts, colorful jeans and leggings, a pair of sneakers and flats, she modeled the clothes. Her brother, who was her father figure, told her she was the prettiest girl he's ever seen, and that made her feel good about herself. She launched her tiny body in his arms, almost knocking him to the ground. If she hadn't told him already, that was her thanks.

He chuckled softly and brought her closer to him. He embraced her tighter. His phone rang, so he released her. He answered. "iHola!"

"Yo soy de la planta baja."

His ride was here.

"Voy a estar abajo en una pequeña."

"Sí."

He got on his two feet and hugged her once more. "Be a good girl, I probably won't see you until tonight."

She frowned. She didn't like that. "Can you bring home some of the panaderias?"

"You got it! Now, go back to bed." He watched her head back, and he grabbed his stuff and zoomed out of there. He entered the car that was waiting for him.

"Buenos días," one of his bosses greeted him.

"Good morning, Señor Badillo."

"Just call me Juan, you know that."

"It sounds repetitive," he admitted, "since, your wife calls me Juan."

"Don't mind Kelly," he flipped his blinker to make a right turn. "She's always wanted a son, but after Maia, the doctors told her she couldn't bare another child," he rambled.

Johnny listened for the first five minutes, then tuned him out.

He thought about his life. He was a son, a brother, a grandson, a college student, a cashier and baker, and starting tonight another title would be added. He was only 20 years old too.

His mother had him when she was 14, and she took on the both roles. He's never met his dad. All he knew about him was he was older with a family of his own, and his mom was 'the side chick'. His grandparents that lives with them helped as much as they could, but they got sick and had to stop working. His mom became the sole provider, but without a high school education, she did menial jobs to make ends meet. She wasn't home often, which made him sad. When his mother found out she was pregnant with Lily, and she chose to keep her because she's always wanted a little girl, knowing damn well her father didn't want to be involved, there was more financial strain.

He remembered the times they relocated to crime ridden neighborhoods, where the gang activity even had the cops scared, the days when there was no power and even had to go without water. They struggled. He tried to help by recycling cans, walking dogs and washing cars. He also reminisced about the incessant teasing from his peers about his hand-me-down clothes, the fact he stunk because he couldn't take a shower for a couple of days, and they claimed his mother was a whore.

Kids were so cruel.

As soon as he began high school, that's when things for him and his family started to get a little better. His mother got a job as a hotel housekeeper, and his grandparents went on disability. They moved to a better neighborhood too. School wise, he excelled and formed friendships with peers that didn't judge him, and, at the age of 17, was hired at the cafe he still worked at. He graduated with high honors and was granted a full ride scholarship to Graceland University, which made his mother cry tears of joy.

On the other hand, some months were rougher than the others, and he was in dire need of a car. With his work hours shortening because of school, he needed to compensate with an additional job.

"She looks at you as a son, you know," Juan revealed.

"Yeah, I know, and I thank you both for giving me a chance."

"You're welcome; we'd be a fool not to hire you. You're the best employee we have," his boss confessed.

"Really?"

"Yes; that's why we are willing to work around your course schedule and pick you up early in the morning, so you can make it to work... we see a lot of potential in you." He parked the car outside of the shoppe. "Whenever you get your business degree, I'll make you a partner. I promise you that, and I always keep my promises."

"I know, Juan," Johnny smiled. "Thanks again."

7:17 AM
Badillo de Café
Los Angeles, CA

For the past few minutes, Johnny had been talking to a racially ambiguous customer he's never seen before. He looked at the man with interest, since, in his opinion, the guy seemed hella chill. If he hadn't already taken World Religions, an elective he enjoyed last semester thanks to a mighty fine woman, then he would taken it with him. The customer asked about Professor Sarkissian leaving the university.

Johnny didn't think anything of it. He heard the ding, placed an oven mitt on and grabbed the tray. He answered the question, while placing the panaderias in the display cases. "No, but she was engaged. Maybe, she wanted to be a housewife, or her soon to be husband told her to quit. If I was him, I'd be self conscious too. The dudes on campus always flirt with the teachers, treating them like cougars and shi..." He smiled cheekily all of a sudden, when Kelly, Juan's wife and other boss, came out from the back. "¡Buenos días," he said his hello.

"¡Buenos días, Juan!"

And, there she went reciting the Hispanic version of his name, which made him cringe sometimes. Just like Professor Sarkissian, who he nicknamed the Armenian Sweetheart, Señora Badillo was a looker. He could never see her as a mother-figure because he's fantasized about having sex with her in the back office. Guilt pangs hit his body because he respected her husband.

As she spoke to the guy, his name was Paul, Johnny finished his task. He placed the empty tray and tongs back in their appropriate spots and took the mitt off. He glanced at the clock. His first class started at 11:00 AM, which meant he needed to be out of there by 9:30, 10 at the latest, in order to catch the bus that will take him to school on time.

"Juan," Kelly needed to speak with him. He gave her his undivided attention. "Go ahead and take off at 9:30."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah; I know how the bus system is," she replied with the best intentions for him. She was about to step away, but thought about it. "If you really need to, you can take my car."

That was a kind offer, but he declined. It was enough for them to work with his hectic school schedule, and they were also giving him morning rides, but allowing him to drive their cars was a little too charity-ish. He supposed it was his pride getting in the way, so he declined, opting for the bus, since he's spent money on a bus pass.

She nodded, already knowing he wouldn't take her offer.

Johnny and Kelly heard Paul say his goodbye. The two waved at him. In the second, their mouths contorted at the possibility of an accident. When the coast was clear, no one harmed or a mess made, they exhaled a breath they didn't know they were holding in. His boss patted his back, then left to handle office matters.

"Good morning, welcome to Badillo de Cafe, my name is Johnny, what can I get for..." his voice trailed, after looking at the female patron. His jaw almost became unhinged. "Hell-o," he deepened his voice and sounded a bit flirtatious. She was tall, long blonde hair, haunting green eyes, and her body was curvy fit. An ethereal glow encompassed her too, and he only thought goddesses owned that feature. Though he dated Latinas mostly, he was beginning to think it may be time to branch out.

She giggled. "Good morning to you too, Johnny." Looking at the menu, she nibbled her bottom lip slightly. Her eyes, then, leveled with his. "How old are you?"

He wasn't sure how to take that. "I'm 20, why?" If she was older, he was into cougars, especially if they looked like her.

"You're cute," she complimented, "but, I'm a little older than you... and I just got out of a relationship."

Undeterred, he tried again. "Do you need a shoulder to cry on? If you do, then I'm your man."

She shook her head once more. "You're cute, like really you are, but I'm not into dating right now." He accepted that, and she placed her order afterward.

A couple of hours later, it was almost time for Johnny to go. He purchased some of his sister's favorite sweets. He gave the brown box emblazoned with the company logo to Kelly, asking her to keep it until he could pick it up in the afternoon, and she agreed. He, then, dressed into a different shirt, spritzed on some cologne and clocked out officially. With his backpack securely on his back, he walked the one block to the nearest bus stop and began to wait.

The screeching of tires with a grand pop suddenly shifted his attention. His head craned to see where the sounds were coming from. He saw a woman step out of her lopsided car. A parade filled with Spanish words spewed from her mouth, as she checked the damage. It was obvious one of her car's tires popped. The city bus arrived, parking on the curb, and he had to make a decision.

Either get on that bus or help the woman that needed assistance.

When it was clear, he crossed the street, heading her way. He wouldn't feel right to leave her hanging. No one else seemed to care, since they continued with their lives. He could always take Kelly's offer anyway.

"¡Carlito, hijo de puta! I could KILL you right now! Wait until Papa hears about this," she shouted into her cell phone, seething. "Fuck you!" She hung up her phone. Frustrated out of her mind, she kicked a perfectly good tire with her heeled boot. She hobbled at the impact. She twisted her body to see someone had been watching her. "What do you want? You think this is funny or something?!"

He released a small snicker, thinking her tough-girl act was cute and an act. "No, I'm sorry." He gestured towards her white, Infiniti G37 coupe. "Um, I can put the spare on for you."

"And what do you expect in return," she spit an imaginary tack his way. She quirked a brow, expecting an answer.

"A thank you," he replied slightly taken aback. To be honest, he was surprised by her. Dressed in a loose sweater, black leggings and heeled boots with her hair and makeup done, he didn't think she was iron clad, but she was, and that was alluring. The girl from earlier was gorgeous, but the girl in front of him was 'wifey material'. "So can I?"

With a glare, she crossed her arms heatedly and her tongue clicked the roof of her mouth. She thought about using the pepper spray she carried around, but didn't. "Fine." She unlocked her car's trunk, permitting him to help. For a little, she watched him, then returned to her business.

Johnny scavenged her trunk for tools first, but he didn't find any. Come to think of it, he couldn't pinpoint a spare either. He patiently waited to update her, but she was busy tapping on her phone. He looked at the time. "Shit..."

She heard him. "What's wrong?" He told her the issues that have arisen, including his."That pendejo," she growled. She placed an important phone call. A minute later, she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Wait until I FUCKING tell Charlie! That asshole will get his," she swore.

He let her release her pent up frustration and found her to be a little. Not wanting to be a burden to her and remain in one piece, he bid her adieu. He had to get going, but he heard her call for him. He furrowed his brows and faced her again. "Yeah?"

"Where you going," she asked him.

"Um, I need to catch the bus to head to school."

"Where do you go," she queried curiously.

"Graceland University," he replied. "You got there too?"

"Do you need a ride?"

He didn't know what to think of her. One minute, she was swearing like a sailor and assumed he was a creep, trying to get in her pants. The next minute, she sounded interested in him and offered him a ride. Somewhat apprehensive, he ended up taking the offer.

A GMC Denali stopped in front of them, a few minutes later. She beckoned for him to enter, but he rushed for one of the back doors, so he could open it for her.

"And they say chivalry is dead," she stated and hopped in.

He sat in the back with her.

"¿Quién este?" The driver interrogated.

Johnny was about to introduce himself, but she prevented him from doing so. "Él es mi amigo." He made eye contact with her, befuddled by her action. She shook her head, choosing not to explain. "¡Conducir ahora!"

He understood and spoke Spanish fluently.

Did she not think about that?

10:17 AM
Graceland University
Los Angeles, CA

The whole ride, no one spoke, and the radio remained off.

Arriving on campus, he waited for her on the curb. Inquiries filled his mind. He wanted to ask them, but she pushed the air, begging for him to be out of hearing distance. He hesitated, but the driver's murderous glare made him do so. The SUV drove off, and she returned to him, his face glossing with confusion.

"Uh, isn't that your ride? What about your car with the flat," those were two of the questions he had in mind.

"Don't worry about it; it'll be taken care of," she responded, while mowing through the crowd of people with ease with determination in her steps.

Her mysteriousness, he wasn't sure if that was sexy or a bout of paranoia. She seemed to know this campus fairly well, but he's never seen her around.

"What's your name," he questioned, realizing he didn't know.

Like a typical female, her phone was her life line. Her fingers tickled the screen. "Guess," she challenged, her eyes on her phone not him.

He looked at her like she was crazy. "¿Que?" Now, he was starting to think she was immature, and, wildly enough, he wanted the bitch he first met.

She nodded her pretty little head, directing them to the quad near the social sciences building. "Habla español..." She stopped by a bench, where there was a smoking sign. She took out a metal case filled with her favorite kind of cancer sticks. "¿Quieres uno?"

Usually, he smoked one a day, but he couldn't resist her, so he obliged. He watched her sensually strike their cigarettes with the flame from her purple lighter. Arousal hit him like a two ton truck suddenly. He took his and began to smoke with her. "Suenas sorprendido."

"A little," she exhaled. "I'm Lucia." She held her hand out for him.

He shook hands with her. "Just Lucia," he asked.

Again, she nodded. "Just Lucia... what about you?" Her lips turned upward into a smile.

It was the prettiest smile he's ever seen too. "Me llamo Johnny."

"Just Johnny," she asked with a bit of charm. "I like you; you're sweet and was willing to help even though you don't know me. That says a lot."

"Well, of course. Mama siempre decia que ayudar a una mujer en necesidad," he informed.

"Your mom's smart." She continued smoking and checking her phone. "Come on Charlie, where the hell are you..."

"Charlie's not the guy in the car," another one of his questions.

She laughed really hard like it was the funniest thing she heard in her life. "There she is," she announced. "Charlie!"

Johnny quickly found out Charlie was a woman. He watched her approach, and she barely came to his chest but exuded an intimidating quality. The women broke away from him. He tried to figure out their relationship. Maybe, best friends, cousins, lovers? He didn't know. He saw Charlie took what looked like car keys from her bag and handed them over to Lucia, and whatever Lucia told Charlie left a sour taste in her mouth.

Lucia walked back to him. "Thanks for trying to change my flat, even though you couldn't because of my brother's an asshole... we should hang out one day. Give me your phone number."

He told her his number readily, and she plugged it into her phone. She hugged him goodbye, and he hadn't realized it, but she smelled heavenly. His eyes stayed on her, as she left.

Then, an infuriated Charlie entered his eyesight. "My sister likes you," she revealed.

"Is that a bad thing," Johnny wondered earnestly because of her facial expression.

"I'm still trying to figure that out," she answered. "Just know, if you hurt her, I'll kill you." She walked off.

Johnny processed what she said and how she said it. She was so nonchalant, but it sounded like a threat. He strode in her direction. They were strangers, there was no need for animosity. If anything, she should be thanking him because he tried to help her sister. "Hey," he yelled, following her. "Hey," he repeated, but she ignored him. He stopped, when she did.

He saw a man and woman of African American descent.

"What about you, huh," Charlie snapped at the guy.

"What," he asked, and Johnny sympathized with him completely.

"Charlie," the woman called her name in an attempt to soothe her. "Dale's nice. We were just talking; he wanted to know where the social sciences' building was."

"Your name is Dale," Charlie asked him.

Johnny was being nosy and listened in.

"Dale Jakes, but I sometimes go by Jakes or DJ. My brother calls me DJ actually," he informed. "Who's this," he pointed at Johnny.

Johnny guessed it was a tactic to take the heat off of him, and he would've done the exact same thing. He didn't hate the guy for doing that. Nope, not at all.

"It doesn't matter who he is, but I'm telling you," Charlie stepped up to Jakes, "if you hurt Cassandra, and if you," she tossed daggers Johnny's way, "hurt Lucia, I'll chop both your dicks off with my hands and feed it to my canes."

"Charlie," Cassandra hissed, embarrassed. "I'm so sorry for my friend. It was nice to meet you Dale. Hopefully, we'll see each other around," she apologized on Charlie's behalf, then smiled at Dale. She dragged her friend away. "Have you eaten yet?"

The baker/college student became even more confused. The way she pronounced the last menacing word from her mouth sounded like 'KAH-nehs', which, he knew, in Italian meant dogs. He scratched his head. Was Lucia Italian then?

"Did she threaten you too," Dale questioned.

"Yeah, she did man," Johnny laughed, watching them disappear. He believed the coast was clear to speak to the man. "Nice to meet you Dale."

"What's your name kid," Dale shook hands with him. Johnny told him. "Well, Johnny, you look like a nice kid... you stay out of her warpath, and I'm sure you'll survive in the world." He gave some advice that wasn't half bad.

Johnny took it in stride. He looked at the time. "Well, I have to head that way. Nice to meet you." He ran off.

He couldn't help but think this was the oddest morning ever.

04:23 PM

He was inside the student union, eating a burger meal and drinking an energy drink. He's been out of his business class for close to an hour. He smiled to himself, thinking back to class. Paige, the blonde customer from this morning, was one of his classmates. During an icebreaker game he found out she used to live in Korea. He apologized for coming on too strong, and she apologized to him for acting like a bitch.

There was one sane female in the world.

The two combative sisters hostile sisters crossed his mind too. He hoped Lucia was going to call or text him.

"Already studying?"

Johnny picked his head up. It was Paul. "Oh hey," he shook hands with him cordially.

"Just call me Briggs." He looked at the papers sprawled in front of him with curiosity. "Maps?"

"Something like that," he responded. "I start a new job tonight, and I'm thinking of the quickest way to get there." He grabbed his drink and chugged, swallowing. He elaborated further. "I think for my first night I need to call a cab." He sighed, concluding he didn't think about the transportation part all the way through. "I also have to return to my other job, pick up the food for my sister, drop that off at home, then head to West Covina."

"You don't have a car," Paul queried.

"No, I don't. I've been saving for one, but something always comes up," he didn't want to divulge too much.

"Need a ride?"

Johnny contorted his face at the offer. That sounded a bit dorky and uncool. He chuckled awkwardly. "No, that's too weird. You're a faculty member, I'm a student... isn't that like fraternization or something."

'You're not in any of my classes, so think of it like a friend helping a friend," he pointed out. "You're in a dilemma, I just thought you needed some help, and I was willing to give you some."

The college student gave in after pondering about it. There was no harm, and the commute time would be shorter. "And you don't mind taking me to my job and house?" Briggs shook his head, and that amazed Johnny. Cool points in his book.

The two guys exited the and headed to the faculty parking lot.

"So, where do you start tonight," Paul wondered.

Johnny hadn't told anyone about his new stint just yet. He didn't want anyone to think otherwise of him. Then again, it was just a job, a way to make money, and it was legal. "Silver Sins," he revealed.

Paul cocked his head.

"It's a strip club."

Next Chapter- Mike Warren, the Seceding Son