ISOLATED

c h a p t e r 4 3

Chapter 43

Asking for time off because of Natalia's wedding and the whole preparation process when you've just been working at the place for less than 2 months is stressful. It's been almost 4 months since Genesis got shot and also almost 4 months since she last saw Gael. Natalia and Hannah moved back to New York 2 months ago and since then it's just been Genesis on her own feet.

It didn't take long before she had a routine down; wake up at 5:30 in the morning, fix hair and makeup, and at 6:30 she was set and ready to open the small coffee place she now had a job at. She didn't make much, but she had just enough to pay rent and get by.

She didn't live her dream foodie lifestyle, but at least she was alive and she was having normal meals.

The coffee place was run by one person and there were only two employees under her including Genesis, besides that, there was nobody else. The only thing that sucks the most about that, is the fact that there's not some kind of online system that'll allow Genesis to ask permission for her trip to New York to be with Natalia.

"Penelope?" Genesis blinks nervously and she ties her hair up in a ponytail after she took it out because of nerves. It's not like Penelope is an intimidating person, she's actually really sweet and is always welcoming towards Genesis. Within the short time that she's worked here, Penelope taught Ginny everything she knew about coffee.

Nobody in the coffee place is intimidating, especially since it's just Penelope, Genesis, and Kemal, the Turkish guy who introduced Penelope to the wonderful world that is Turkish Coffee. Genesis had never tried it until her first day of work here, the only time Kemal was ever intimidating was when he made her try that coffee. After that, he turned out to be the nicest guy in the world.

"Yes, Ginny?" Penelope answers, looking over at the girl. "My friend in New York is getting married, is it okay for me to take two weeks off?" Genesis's heart is pounding in her chest as if Penelope is about to say no. "Yeah, of course," Penelope says, "When are you leaving?" Genesis checks the date on her watch and then takes a deep breath. "In two weeks," Genesis says.

Penelope laughs and looks at the coffee machine, waiting for it to fill up a cup and then she gives it to the customer. "I'm not a scary boss, I don't know what you're used to," she starts. Genesis laughs and looks at her feet.

Gael is what she's used to.

"I know," she says and she leans against the counter, "Thank you for this, Pen." Penelope smiles back and continues back to coffee. Genesis puts her best foot forward the rest of the day, working her ass off to make sure Penelope doesn't regret giving her freshest employee the time off.

♡

"What am I supposed to pack?" Genesis asks. Her phone is on Facetime with the two girls she's about to be reunited with. "I have your bridesmaid dress, so you just need clothes for the other days," Natalia says, exhausted from everything already. Genesis insisted to pay for her own trip so the flight is at 5 in the morning and she's flying economy with spirit airlines.

This means that she's packing at 7 PM after her last shift. "I'm excited to see you guys again," Genesis admits. She's claimed that she was fine but obviously, she never was considering how close she was with the two girls and how far away they are now. Texting them nonstop wasn't really getting the satisfaction she needed.

"Me too," Hannah says, her camera shuts off again and Genesis knows that she's probably texting, Ginny's supposed to stay at Hannah and James's place, and then she'd go back so Hannah's been busy preparing everything. Genesis hasn't thought of how she was going to deal with Gael yet, but she knows that she can make plans in her head but seeing the man will probably toss them out the window altogether.