We're Not Related Anymore...

Hi

Maddie: Present Day

I've been so busy since I started working that I don't realize how much time has passed until I get the wedding invitation in the mail. 

It's a beautiful piece of paper with cursive writing that announces I'm cordially invited to witness the upcoming nuptials of one Bethany Rowland to a Joshua Culkin. 

Great, I think as I shove it under the microwave. RSVPing will be tomorrow's problem. I like that I have the excuse to see my brother so soon again but taking into account the reason makes my excitement dwindle. 

The fact that he will be getting married at twenty-one? How do you even know who you are at that age? Never mind know who the person that you'll spend the rest of your life with is. That's much too young. And to Betty... of all people? 

My mouth twists into a frown as I lumber into the lounge. I've been going through some of the restaurant's accounts. Shelia alluded the other day that the restaurant is looking for a new manager after one of the guys took a job out of town. Ever since then, she's been showing me the ropes in the hopes they'll take her advice and give me the position. 

I'm very excited about it, even if it's just a possibility. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life but I love the idea of running a restaurant. Maybe, one day, I'll even have my own. 

I'm just about to settle into the couch when I hear my phone ring. "Please, no," I whine getting up. We've been short-staffed lately and even though I've already worked eight days straight, I know they'll ask me to come in if it's busy today. 

Luckily, it's just a call from Shelley. By the time I find my phone charging in the bedroom, she's rung off. She sends me a text a split second later. 

Stein: Butt dial! sorry...

We've been keeping in contact since I left. She's the only one who does. I never got so much as a text back from Jacob. It still hurts to think about it. 

I've been on a roller coaster of emotions about it. I've thought about apologizing again. Then I get angry that he ignored my message in the first place. Then I accept the fact that I was mean to him and if he wants space, I'll give it to him. But after circling on and on about what to do, I eventually blocked and deleted his number so that I didn't have to think about it. 

Right now, I type back a few laughing emojis to Shelley. She sends me another text but I don't read it as a call from the restaurant comes in. 

"No," I cry and answer. 

"We need you!" Lindsay shouts into the phone and I pull it away from my ear. "It's like everyone and their fricking grandma woke up and decided they wanted Italian!" She hangs up and I start cursing people the whole time I get ready for work. 

I just wanted one day off. Just one day, is that so much to ask?

I take the bus to work since it's still early enough in the day. I've put my hair up into a baseball cap and will not take it off. I'm so tired of working that I just want to be a fly on the wall, attracting no notice. 

The bus ride over is short. As I get out, I glare at the overflowing restaurant. Surely people could've decided on the Pasta place down the street? 

I enter the restaurant through the back. As I bypass the kitchen and sneak in through the stock room,  I murmur my angry 'hello's to the people who greet me. Knowing Lindsay usually mans the bar in the afternoon, I go there. My frown deepens when I see my roommate practically on top of the bar so she can talk to a guy on the other side. I swear, if she's called me in to help so that she has more time to flirt, I will murder her.