Alex left thinking Marissa didn't love her. Few years later they meet again, they have to work in the same place in LA. Marissa is now engaged to Ryan. Alex goes for the get some, get gone routine. Appearances from old friends and new ones.
Don't own anything.
Thoughts are in italic.
Flashbacks are in bold.
Chapter 7
They stay in silence for some time, but the brunette couldn't take the tension that Alex's sentence had left them with.
"So, did you go back to your parents' house?
"Yeah, moved back in. Went back to high school, I actually stayed long enough to graduate. But I couldn't stay with my parents anymore, they kinda tried to understand that I like both girls and boys, but it was still weird. They would become tense and quiet every time I said a girl's name. But it's better now. I see them every once in a while, we spend holydays together. Mom even asks now if I have a boyfriend or a girlfriend."
"Well, do you?"
"No."
"How many have you had since we…. That night?" Marissa didn't want to bring up the breakup.
"None."
"Alex, come on!"
"I didn't have anything serious"
"Nothing serious doesn't mean nothing"
"Well, a girl has needs."
"Oh"
"Yeah."
"And how did you get your job at the Joy Ride?" Marissa said trying to get off the awkward subject.
"After I finished high school, I knew I didn't want to go to college, I had had enough studying to last a lifetime, so I got a job as a waitress in a club here, just to buy me time to figure out what I wanted, and then I got promoted to manager. One day, Morgan showed up telling me how I was doing a wonderful job at the club, and invited me to be the manager of this new club he was gonna open. I accepted, and now I'm here."
"So you were in from the beginning"
"Yeah."
"What happened to those other managers? I mean 3, in less than 6 months?"
"It was with good reason. First one, Megan, thought that as there were 2 managers, she didn't have to show up, second, Edward, was, no, is Morgan's nephew, that why he was hired. But the boy was as stupid as a door, he couldn't be left in change. Third, Mark, would steal anything he could put his hands on. And I mean anything. And there was you. And I don't think you have big shoes to fill."
"Thank God."
"Why? I mean, you are a trustworthy, intelligent, outgoing, sweet, beautiful woman." Okay, Alex, now you said way more than you should.
"Thanks" Marissa looked down, trying to hide her blush, which the blonde misunderstood as a signal that she was out of line.
"So I've been meaning to talk to you about the closing thing. When can you do it?"
"Anytime, you see usually I don't plan ahead what I'm gonna do at 6 in the morning."
"Neither do I, so how about you take Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and I get Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays?"
"Alright. But how about this first week, we do it together? Just so I get the hand of it."
"I can do that"
"Thanks."
"No problem. Something else I wanted to talk to you about: the club's theme."
"What about it?"
"We have to change it soon."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean we have to change the club's theme."
"Why?"
"Because it's already old." Marissa looked liked she had no idea what Alex was talking about. "Morgan didn't tell you, did he?"
"Told me what?"
"The reason why the Joy Ride is the hottest club in LA is because it's always new. We change the decoration every 2 weeks."
"Two weeks? Isn't that a bit two much?"
"No, not really. People stay in line for hours to see what's new, before we change it again."
"Isn't that kinda expensive?"
"Not really, we pretty much don't pay for the new decoration, they are offered to us, it's good publicity for the stores, our themes always appear in a bunch of magazines"
"What about the employees' costumes?"
"All free."
"And why don't we wear it too?"
"Because I absolutely refuse to use something like that. But, please, if you have inexplicable urge to do so, don't let me stop you."
"Funny. What about now? Why aren't these waiters dressed as Greek goods?"
"During lunch, we try to keep decorations to a minimum. Look around, most things from last night are gone to fit the tables. Besides daytime waiters prefer to dress up as penguins."
"So now that I know about the changing themes, what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Yeah, well, when it's time to change it, everyone gives a suggestion and I choose the best one, now that you are here, I guess we will choose it together."
"Okay, and when do we do it?"
"Next Sunday, before customers arrive. So if you have a suggestion, bring it. And don't be shy about it. Believe me, there are always one that's worse than yours."
"I'll see what I can do"
"Alright"
"Are we done talking about work?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Why? Am I boring you?"
"No, it's just that there is something else I wanted to talk to you about."
"And what's that?" Marissa didn't respond, she just smiled a smile I-know-something-you-don't and looked at Alex. "What? Do I have something on my face?"
"Nope, but you got something on your head." Immediately the blonde begun to pass her hands on her head, trying to find whatever it was the brunette had been talking about. "And it's PINK"
"You know, you had me scared for a moment there." The shorter girl said as she chucked.
"Alex, your hair is pink"
"Well, I told you I look really good in pink. Besides, it's not all pink, only where it was purple."
"I liked it better when it was purple."
"Hey stop whinnying, it's not like it's gonna stay like this forever"
"Why?"
"I'll change it some other someday, when I get bored of this one."
"You mean you change your hair color when you feel like it?"
"Yeah, pretty much"
"What if you regret it?"
"I never do."
"Really? And what colors has it been?"
"Let's see, purple, red, green, black, orange, white, blue and now it's pink."
"You really like to change it."
"Yeah, I do. And I'm not the only one that changed the hair."
"I didn't do anything with mine."
"It's longer, wave-shaped. It looks really good."
"Thanks."
"Sure. So are you done?" Alex didn't want lunch to end, but she knew they had stayed there for too long.
"Yeah."
"Me too. Shall we go?"
"We shall"
As they got up from their chairs, Rick approached, seeming a little nervous, Marissa had really scared him.
"Ladies."
"Oh, hi there, how can we help you?" Alex responded.
"Should I bring your check?"
"No, that won't be necessary." Marissa let the blonde do all the talking, she was having too much fun watching.
"But ma'am, this is a restaurant."
"Yes, I'm well aware of it."
"But when we eat at a restaurant, usually, we pay , Ms…."
"Kelly. Alex Kelly"
"Alex Kelly as in Alexandra Beatrice Kelly, my boss?"
"Yes, that's right." Marissa was having a hard time controlling her laughter at the face on the new waiter. "Are you new?"
"Yes, Ms. Kelly. And I must apologize for my behavior earlier and right now."
"Do you?"
"Yes, please I had no idea who you were. I had no intention of offending you. Or any other customer for that matter, I'm very respectful with the customers"
"I'm sure you are. Since you are new here, I want you to meet someone else that's new here too, this is Marissa Cooper, the new manager."
"Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Cooper."
"You too" And reading his name on his shirt "Rick" He didn't seemed too pleased that his new boss had been giving evil glares earlier.
"So, Rick" Alex continued "Marissa and I need to leave, but I assure you, you will be hearing from us. Bye."
The girls controlled their laughter until they passed through the door. Outside, they bust out laughing, hugging their bellies, trying not to fall on the floor.
"Did you see his face? Alex, he was sure you would fire him."
"Yeah, he looked like he was about to get on his knees and beg."
"You really scared him, poor guy."
"Hey,you were the one that didn't like him." The girls begun to make their way toward the cars.
"Me?"
"Yeah, you are the one that sent him the stay-the-hell-away look"
"He was annoying, didn't let us talk"
"I guess. So, I see you tonight."
"Okay, see ya."
Each drove to their house. And when Alex got home, she went strait to bed, and fell into a peaceful sleep, filled with dreams of a certain brunette.
Finally, lunch is over. Now I'm not sure what should happen next, I'm taking suggestions.
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