You're fired.
Even a week later, those words still stung. Lori worked at Gus's game and grill for a little over a year and a half.
Her termination was not entirely unwarranted. Lori could acknowledge that her performance was suffering. The arcade was exhausting, and it was clear that customer service wasn't going to be one of her strengths.
Lori had been relying on the money from that job to finance her college dreams. Now her dream of becoming a corporate lawyer was in jeopardy. She still needed to acquire an undergraduate degree first, then she would need to pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
All of this costs money, and even with scholarships and loans, Lori's dream is getting farther and farther from reality, which terrifies her.
Lori searched for a new job fervently in her free time after school, she tried the mall, movie theater and almost all of the fast food places and so far one of them had called her back.
Things weren't looking great, so Lori wanted to call Bobby but thought better. Their breakup was still too fresh in her memories, and while they parted on good terms, Lori wasn't ready to talk to him.
Lori stopped at the mall to drown her sorrows in iced coffee; it was then that she happened to run into her friend Jackie.
Jackie was a tall slender Asian girl, with tan skin and straight waist-long black hair held back by a pink headband. She was wearing light purple eye shadow, and a white long-sleeved shirt with a pink and magenta ruffled and dark purple boots.
Lori felt slightly self-conscious about how underdressed she looked compared to Jackie, who was wearing a simple blue tank top, shorts, and flip-flops.
" Hey Lori"!
Jackie waved for Lori to join her at the table, and she followed, holding her iced coffee.
" How have you been, Jackie"?
Jackie took a sip of her drink before answering. "I'm doing good. Had a killer test in Chem, but I'm pretty sure I aced it."
" How about you"?
Lori winced and looked down at her drink. "I lost my job, and it's been hard to find a new one. It's so stressful."
Jackie nodded sympathetically, as Lori continued speaking.
"I've applied almost everywhere, but I don't know if Guss is bad-mouthing me when they call for a reference"...
Jackie placed a hand on her shoulder, " You'll find something Lori"...
Lori smiled softly and took a long drink, savoring the sweet coffee flavor heaven, Jackie leaned forward with a mischievous smile. "I've got some major dirt. You know, goody-two-shoes Carol... She's got a Sonly fan's account."
Lori almost chocked on her drink, " are you serious"!
Jackie scooted closer and pulled out her phone. She pulled up the Sonly fan's app, Lori raised an eyebrow while Jackie searched around. Before she pulled up someone's page.
And there she was, Carol fucking pingrey.
Pictures of Carol in various states of undress and preforming numerous sexual acts on herself, Lori was outraged.
Not because she thought Carol was being used...the opposite is honest. Lori was envious of what Carol was doing; the bimbo was probably making major bank. And here was Lori trying to do it the normal way.
" Can you believe it...I don't know how she can degrade herself like that...right Lori"?
Lori shook her head and schooled her expression, "Yeah...she literally has no self-respect."
Jackie laughed, " How pathetic".