Dakota Diaries

Chapter 1 - Slapped

Dakota stood on the curb in her work uniform, her arms folded as she idly smoked cigarette. The words of her former boss rang through her mind. 'You're fired!' She flinched at the familiar words, a reminder of her flaws, of her inability to hold a job or hold her tongue.

She scowled, her blood red lips twisted in disgust as she glanced down at her scuffed black Vans. She kicked autumn leaves around her feet, the wind slapped her like ice. She grumbled under her breath about how much she hated Melbourne winters and shuddered.

Dakota wasn't always like this, unreliable and hungover. With heavy bags under her blue eyes and hickeys that laced her neck like tattoo's. Her false eyelashes were smothered with mascara and face powdered to hide her flaws, her makeup was perfect but still couldn't banish the flush of unease on her cheeks.

It was midday, she was supposed to finish her shift at the supermarket at four, well, that didn't last long. You have to stop getting fired, Dakota. She groaned, sucking on the cigarette and instead of listening to her thoughts, focused on the orange tip of that brightened as she inhaled the noxious smoke.

Traffic passed her by, tyres grating against the worn tarmac and grey clouds hung like filthy fairy floss in the sky, she smiled to herself. I showed him.

An eight our shift was halted when Dakota took it upon herself to teach her 'handsy' boss a lesson in etiquette. In her defence, she did try to keep her mouth shut as she worked away stacking the shelves and chewing hot pink gum. She hummed to Britney Spears on the radio, mindlessly blowing bubbles that popped loudly and startled a group of older women walking by. She did try, didn't I?

It took three sexist remarks from her boss and two unjustified grasps of her ass for Dakota to snap. She slapped him. Yes, it wasn't her brightest moment but Dakota Fox was known for her temper.

A temper, when unleashed, that was more frightening then a face off with a bunch of angry One Direction fans defending their idols from the gross remarks of society. Dakota Fox was tall, slender and often overlooked but her beautiful face held a beautifully wicked mind and her tongue was like a vipers'. People knew not to cross her, why? She was an A-Grade bitch with a capital 'B.'

When her hand connected with his face her eyes widened but she didn't shy away from screaming at him, calling him out on his wandering hands and loose tongue. Needless to say everyone else in the vicinity either dropped their groceries or their jaws. Dakota didn't shy away from controversy, nor did she care if everyone was watching. The world is a stage, your stage.

Her boss, Michael Langley, had an equally uncontrollable temper, she could see the twitch in his stiff lip when he was forced to restrain himself from punching the smirk off her face. Being a boss, however, had it's downfalls and one of them was-if he wanted to keep his job he had to simply fire Dakota. Instead of slapping her silly, his eyes narrowed as he suppressed the dragons fire that swelled in his belly the moment an eighteen year old brat, called him out. He clenched his shaking fists, knuckles turning white as he told her she was 'done' but she just laughed in his face.

Didn't your mother ever tell you not to laugh in people's faces? Yes.

'I wouldn't want to work for a pig like you,' she hissed through gritted teeth. Dakota then turned on her heels she stormed out of the supermarket, a few cheers followed her dramatic exit and wafted between the electronic doors.

Now, though, the air was cold and rain began to drop from the gloomy sky above. She felt her cheeks redden at the realisation she had lost another job because of her temper and her twin sister, Daisy was going to kill her.

Dakota flicked the filter of the cigarette at her feet and scanned the road for any sign of her friend's car before focusing on butting out the glowing embers amidst the deep red leaves. A puddle in the gutter caught her eye and she leant over, glancing at her reflection. Maybe Daisy is right, maybe I am changing?