♤ ➖𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏 | From Stumble to Stable

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨?

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"I don't think you're fully qualified for this job," With an obvious discomfort laced in her words, an older woman scratched the back of her head while a young girl's shoulders slumped down.

"It was my mistake too... so I'll pay you for your previous work but... you're fired."

Letting out a breath of disbelief, the young girl surrounded by fallen snacks and drinks stood up to dust herself. "I'm really sorry!"

Her words vocally mimicked the way her head lowered with her hair working as (H/C) curtains all the while she blinked away tears.

This was the fourth time this month that she has been fired.

"Here you go."

The older woman came back around and handed the girl an envelope with her name and the date. "Thank you for your work, (Y/N), hopefully you have better luck with the next job!" Though she meant to sound cheerful for the girl, her tone wasn't enough to drown the girl's worry away.

In the welcome of an amber glow and surrounded by the cold air, a figure walked with a droopy body, dragging her feet across the concrete path.

"Now what..."

It couldn't get worse for her, could it?

Stuffing the envelope in her bag, she hadn't noticed another figure walking out of a gym. The entrance door being swung open at the perfect time to make contact with the saddened girl square in the face.

WIth a soft quieted squeak coming from the back of the young girl's throat, the stranger uttered a soft disapproving gasp. "Oh no! Svetlana did it again."

Tears welled up in the eyes of the girl as she gently felt her nose after having been smacked by the heavy door. The stinging feeling almost suffocating.

"Are you okay?" Upon hearing the thick russian accent, with her eyes once again blink away her tears, the girl forced a smile on her face.

"I'm fine!"

The russian gymnast batted her long eyes at the girl for a while which concerned the girl who moved her head to the side. "Are you... Are you okay?"

In an instant the gymnast snapped her fingers excitedly, her face lighting up with a bright smile. "Svetlana remembers you!" She spoke in third person when clapping proudly, her sudden reactions baffled the girl though she just stood back with a small smile.

"You are that girl that helped Svetlana put on makeup! (Y/N)!"

"I'm sorry, what?"

The woman now figured out to be named Svetlana gracefully continued. "Back in High school! You helped re-apply makeup on Svetlana!"

"You can always use a card or maybe even a bandaid to help with your mascara... TADA!"

Realizing the memory she didn't know she had, the girl's lips widened into an 'O' shape before she smiled happily alongside the taller woman. "Now I remember! I hid you in the stall too!"

Celebrity at the high school memory, the russian happily clapped her hands together before embarking in another epiphany. Like before she snapped her fingers.

"Svetlana wishes to repay you for your kindness! How about we eat dinner together!"

"That's fine!" (Y/N)'s lips faltered a bit when hearing the other's suggestion but she fought back the lingering corners of her lips. "I don't think that's necessary at all!" She tried to wave it off with the flick of her hand yet the tall dark skinned woman wouldn't let it pass.

"Nonsense! My treat!" Without allowing for the girl to speak, she took charge and took her by the wrist and led her onward. "You and Svetlana can talk about our days!"

In a bit of protest, though she didn't pull her wrist away, (Y/N) spoke up. "Please you really don't have to, I was happy to help then and I'm ha-"

"Svetlana can only eat vegetarian dishes to keep her lean, is that ok?" Interrupting the girl, Svetlana flashed a polite smile over her shoulder that caused the girl to give up protesting.

"Hm. That's fine!"

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"And since then, people come in to get lessons from Svetlana!" Even when seated, the russian woman gracefully positioned her hands above her head in a stance, cheering her on (Y/N) clapped her hands with a bright smile.

"That's awesome Svetlana!" The (H/C) haired girl stared awestruck at the gymnast after revealing her whereabouts after high school.

"Thank you! Thank you!" She bowed as if she had just been mastered and performed a great trick before a huge audience. "How about you, (Y/N)?"

For a moment, silence erupted between the two girls, the sound of hosts and hostess's catering to the every need of customers plus the sound of chattering and clacking of the utensils all not being enough to hush the tension.

Despite that, (Y/N) showcased no sign of disturbance when her lips played a smile.

"I am living in a tent..."

Audibly, the russian woman let out a surprised gasp at the sudden solemn news.

"Don't worry! Really! It was my decision! I didn't want to be a disturbance to my grandmother and uncle and besides I have been working too!"

Contrary to reassuring the woman, (Y/N) only made her expression turn sorrowful. The simple expression of hers making it harder for her to keep the truth to herself.

"I just got fired from my fourth job this month." She uttered under her breath, avoiding eye contact.

"Oh honey..." Placing her hand on her cheek, the russian woman's eyes depicted not pity rather sympathy. Lingering in her own thoughts, it wasn't until she snapped her fingers like before that her mood drastically changed.

"How about you come live with Svetlana!"

"Huh?"

Extending her arms excitedly above her head, the russian woman eagerly goes on about her final decision. "Yeah! You can come live with me!"

Awkwardly laughing a little at the woman's enthusiasm, (Y/N) shook her head. "I can't do that! I can't barge into your home! I'm happy you treated me to a meal but... welcoming me to your home is too much!" With her hands waving the idea off the table, the young woman continued to laugh it off.

Thinking for another minute the russian posed proudly while seated down. "How about... you can cook and clean then! Just until you can get yourself off your feet, how about it?"

How bad COULD it really be?

"I will repay you when I finally can!"