Betrayed

The 'New' Kitchen Helper

"HARPER!"

I was jolted awake by the loud booming voice. Gabriel was still in my bed and I rushed to grab my clothes on the ground to dress.

"Harper!" the voice came again. This time I recognised it as Matteo's. Gabriel must have recognised it too as he groaned and pulled the covers over his head.

"Be right there Matty" I called out pulling my hair back into a ponytail and trying to look decent. I heard the screen door open and my friend stepped in as I pulled the door to my room shut.

"Baby Girl!" He called out with a joyful smile on his face. He pulled me into an embrace and I returned the warm affection "I missed you so much Harper!" he announced, "You look good, home was good for you!"

"Oh I'm so happy to see you Matteo!" I said excitedly. "How's it been around here the last few months?"

"Well we are all starving and couldn't wait for you to come back!"

"Your new cook isn't good?" I asked, concerned. I looked over to my roommate's things wondering what sort of woman she was.

"Not really... I'm not sure what the boss was thinking when he hired her, especially with the way she was last year" he said, shaking his head. I frowned at him trying to make sense of what he was saying.

"Last year? I was here last year Matty"

"I know"

"Well what do you mean by her performance last year?" I said, creasing my brow.

"Remember last year, the student, Maria..." he let his words hang in the air and waited for me to put the pieces together.

"Maria?" I exclaimed. "She has been here since March?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, you didn't know?" Matteo asked, "I thought Gabe had talked this through with you"

"Well he hasn't" I said, anxious for Matteo to leave so that I could have that very discussion with Gabriel in person.

"Ah, well I'm glad you're back bestie, I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast yeah?"

"Yeah, it's good to be back! See you tomorrow." I said in a fake cheery voice. As soon as the door closed, I stomped over to the bedroom.

"Really, Gabriel?"

"What?" he asked, confused.

"You replaced me with Maria?"

"I didn't replace you," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Why didn't you want me here in March?" I whined.

"I wasn't sure you were going to come back. Maria offered to help us out for three months and she signed the contract, you called me three days later. I couldn't tell her I didn't need her anymore," he said logically. I bit my lip whilst I was deep in thought.

"You didn't think about calling me?" I asked sadly.

"Fuck, I thought about calling you the minute you left, to insist you come back. But you told me you were going to think about it." he said, running a hand down his face.

"She will be here all summer?" I pouted.

"Yes she is here until the end of the season and she said she would gladly follow your directives when you got here. Now come on" he said as he lifted up the blanket, inviting me back into the tiny bed.

"When is she coming back?"

"Two days, we only have half the men tomorrow, but I have a crew of new men coming on Wednesday for a bit of an orientation. We will be at full capacity next week." I walked over to the bed and rolled into Gabe's arms.