-The Assistant-

-Back home-

Julia's best friend, Cassie, got the whole analysis of her day when Julia got home at 5.30.

... "OMG what a scumbag", Cassie said through the phone after Julia was finished describing her day to her. Cassie never really liked Alex, she never said why but it is probably because of his demeanour and how he acts.
"I'm so mad about this stupid 'promotion'", Julia said.
"Ugh, I wish I was there with you we could totally fuck with him", Cassie told her. "Haha yeah I wish you were here too...", she trailed off. After a few moments of silence Cassie said "well I better go, it's getting late and I've got class early tomorrow. Goodnight Julia". "Okay, bye Cassie, sleep well", Julia replied.

The sound of the end tone filled the room, every corner. Julia so desperately missed her best friend, but unfortunately she lived states away. They were inseparable in high school, then Cassie's family moved from Washington DC to Wisconsin. Julia still lives in Washington DC, surrounded by high school memories. She didn't always live in Washington DC, before high school she lived in Illinois, where she grew up with her mother and sister (Ava). She had a pretty rough childhood, her father was never around, abandoned them when Julia was 4. Her father was a drunk and never cared for them. Julia never really knew her dad and she didn't want to know him, to her he is dead. Julia's mom worked two jobs to support her family so she also wasn't around much but she always tried. Julia's sister, Ava, was three years younger so she didn't even know their father. Julia was always supportive and basically raised Ava as her mom was nearly always working. They developed a strong bond over the years until their mother fell sick when Julia was only 14. It was cancer, stage 4. Her cancer was terminal and she died a month later. The two were put into the hands of social services. Julia was sent to Maryland (Washington DC) and Ava was sent to Utah. They were separated. Julia started high school depressed, but fortunately met Cassie. They immediately clicked. The rest is history.

Julia flopped back onto her, messed but comfy, mountain of pillows and blankets. "I really should clean this room", she thought, so that's what she did. Cleaning always cleared her mind, calmed her down. She hadn't had the time to clean in a could days so there was plenty to do, change her bedsheets, vacuum, dust etc etc. First Julia put on sweatpants and a tank top then put in her headphones and pressed play on her playlist. Music is her therapy, she loved it. She started with her bed, stripping off the sheets and throwing them into the washing machine in the utility room. She returned to her room with the vacuum, then picked all her clothes and laundry off the floor and folded them and put them in her closet. She started vacuuming, reaching every corner. Cleaning her space felt like cleaning her brain. She finished vacuuming and started on her desk. She did makeup and all sorts here so it was often messy. Julia likes makeup even though she has a pretty face she likes to wear it. Once she finished her desk, she retrieved clean bed sheets from the closet and started with the pillows and duvet. The fitted sheet was the worst but she always seemed to manage. Once all the bed sheets were on she lit her favourite candle, flopped back onto her bed and rested her eyes.

After a couple minutes of rest, her stomach let her know it was time to eat with a gurgle. She got up from her bed and shut off her music. Then she headed to the kitchen where her roommate, Conan, was standing in pyjama bottoms and a tight fitted tank top. She didn't deny that he was good looking, he just wasn't her type.
'Hey Julia, what's up?', he asked as she entered the kitchen. He was cooking chicken. "Oooh chicken. YUM!", she thought. Although she was suddenly aware of her outfit and how she looked, messy hair from cleaning.
"Oh not much I was just cleaning", she replied.
"Hah I'm not surprised", he joked. Sometimes he could be a pain in the ass but sometimes he was alright.
"Hah yeah, what are you making anyway?", she asked, hinting to him that she wanted some.
"Oh I'm making fried chicken, do you want some?", he asked. "Oh I don't know, is there enough?", she asked humbly. "Yeah of course, there's more than enough for the both of us", he said. "Well in that case I'll have a little bit", she smiled.

She sat at the breakfast bar and pulled out her phone. Julia sat scrolling on Instagram, looking at her other (less close) friend' pages. She had a small circle of friends of 4; Cassie, Emma and Ruby. She met Emma and Ruby in college and she isn't as close with them as she is with Cassie. As she sat scrolling through pictures of them both, Conan set a plate of chicken and wedges in front of her.
"Thanks, this looks delicious", Julia told him.
"No problem", he replied.

Julia was starving, she didn't eat in work that day because of how frustrated she was with Alex. She set down her phone and dug into the food in front of her. Conan said his farewells and left to his room. Probably to game with his friends, she thought. He acted like a child even though he was 26. The food wasn't half bad and Julia was very grateful for him cooking, it made up for him eating her leftovers. It's strange though, he's not normally this kind, but she wasn't going to complain.

After she finished the plate, she washed her dishes and headed back to her bedroom. It smelled like fresh flowers due to the candle, nothing like a clean room. It was around 7.30pm by now and she didn't feel like doing much. Although she hadn't journaled in a while so she decided to take out her journal and write about her day.

Today was.... chaotic. I woke up LATE and I ended up being late for work, which Alex DID NOT approve of. He got on the elevator when I arrived... fucking awkward. Then he asked me to see him at 11 I was shitting it. Then the worst happened he told me I was, WAS going to get a promotion to be his assistant but because I was late ONE TIME I don't get it. I could really use the money too UGH! I understand why his other assistant left now. Although he smells good ngl. I just wish he wasn't so good looking like it just makes him that bit harder to hate. It looks like he works out to be honest, he's got nice broad shoulders. EW! Stop Julia he's your boss. Hot boss. STOP. ANYWAY moving on, when I came home I talked with Cassie, I really miss her. Then Conan was making food and offered me some WTF! Well I guess he was just making enough anyway. Okay well that's everything that happened today...

She closed her journal and decided to start the books she's been putting off reading because she was so busy. 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Brontë, a classic she has yet to read. Julia has always loved books ever since her addiction to 'Harry Potter' in 5th grade.

She got a good halfway through the book before she sat it down to wash her face and brush her teeth. It was 10pm when she got to bed and she was exhausted, so she had an early night. Before sleeping Julia quadruple checked that her alarm was set for 8AM and not PM. When she was assured she wouldn't be late the next day she turned off her phone and rolled over to sleep.

Just like all the other nights he head swam with thoughts..., thoughts of Alex...intrusive thoughts. She couldn't deny he was gorgeous, all the women in close proximity is always all over him but he acts indifferent. He has crazy self control. Julia tried to remember if he had a girlfriend or wife but she has never seen him with a woman who could fit that description, ever. It gave her a hint of butterflies while thinking about him, she didn't know why- well she kinda did- but... . Then before she knew it she was drifting off to a well-needed sleep.