Forbidden

Chapter 1: Brooklyn

Thursday, February 21

Opening the bank app on my phone, I check my account balance one more time. Six hundred seventy-three dollars and eleven cents. Seeing the balance gives me a sort of relief. It's not much, but it's enough to pay the rent, which is six hundred dollars, and the twenty-five dollar late fee. With just forty-eight eleven left I should have just enough to get gas and something to cook for dinner tonight.

Stepping out of my beat-up two thousand one grey Pontiac Sunfire, I walk toward the grocery store that pays me the measly check every two weeks. When I walk in I already know it's going to be one of those days when my eyes land on one of the most annoying person walking straight towards me.

My eyes dart around wondering if it would look too crazy if I just ran off in the other direction. I sigh when he steps right up to me and I know it's too late to make my escape. "You're late," Mike says, who also happens to be the store manager.

"No, I'm not. I was on the schedule for nine," I say frowning.

"I changed the schedule last night before you left. You were supposed to open at six."

"Well, I didn't know. I took a picture of the schedule and everything." My eyes flick from him to the crowded grocery store. Lord please take the wheel and make this man child move away from me. I need my job.

"It's your responsibility to check before you leave."

I hate him. He's the worst boss I have ever had, and I have had plenty. "So what do you want me to do?" I ask, almost rolling my eyes, but catching myself. I need this job. My rent can't get paid if I don't have a job.

"Go work at the customer service desk." He says waving his hand in the direction of the customer service desk, which has a very long line.

Nodding, I rush off to the back to clock in not letting him get another word in. The first thing I do after clocking in is to check the schedule again. I see where he changed my time with another girl. This is some BS. Mike switched my schedule with Tracy's schedule. Tracy, his little girlfriend that gets to come and go as she pleases. 

They think it's some great kept secret that no one knows about but everyone does. I even saw them one night kissing in the stock room among other things.

Sighing, I shake off the anger that is bubbling up and make my way to the customer service desk. There are still about ten people in line waiting. They have Ms. Carlson working up here. She's sweet as she can be, but she's too slow to be working up here. Logging in on the registry beside her, I start helping the customer and get the line down in twelve minutes.

"Brooklyn, can you work my shift tomorrow?" Tracy, the boss's little girlfriend asks, walking up beside a tall woman I'm helping.

"No," I state flatly. I never gave her my attention, but I'm sure she's glaring.

"But I don't have anyone to keep my kids," Tracy says and I can hear the slight whine in her voice.

"That's not my problem. I've already been in here for six days straight. I'm tired...so sorry but - no." I don't care if she begs. I deserve a day off. I need a day off. I'm mentally exhausted and I just want to pay my rent this evening and lay around my tiny apartment and not do anything.

When I finally finish with my last customer, I finally give her my full attention. She's staring at me like she can't believe I just told her ass no. So I stare back. She better walk away and get out of my face. I'm not in the mood. After what seems like a full five minutes of us staring at each other she finally walks stomp away. I shake my head and smile a little.