Gus's Possession

Chapter 2: Mossa

Franny let out a deep sigh as she stared down at the frying bread. The steam and warmth radiating over her like a hot blanket. Her eyelids drooped as her body relaxed, feeling sleep deprived from the previous night.

By the time her and Beth arrived home, it was four thirty in the morning. They were up and back at the cafe by nine the next day to open up for the breakfast crowd. Franny had wanted to open earlier but Beth refused to get out of bed until eight. Claiming if she did not get at least four hours of sleep that she would cause a workplace accident.

"Remember I'm only staying for another hour?" Beth said, placing some dirty plates into the industrial sized sink.

She sighed, remembering that Beth had plans to finish up a semester project with a girl from their class. Beth and Franny had learned long ago that they could not work on school projects together. Franny was overbearing and anal while Beth wanted everything to have a certain aesthetic. It would always end up in crying and screaming.

"Okay, just make sure that Margret knows" Franny said.

Margret was a sweet woman in her mid fifties that used to be a regular at the cafe. She would bring her son in every week and Franny would mark down the price on their meals. One day Margret came in looking distressed and complained of needing extra work. Franny immediately asked her to come in a few days a week for some extra help. The girls were desperate for some relief anyways.

"Already told her, like you already reminded me to five times" Beth replied, scrubbing hard to remove a jelly stain off of a plate.

Franny frowned, seeing the bags under Beth's eyes. The usually bright blonde looked duller and a small frustrated frown was plastered on her lips.

"Why don't you just go take a short nap at the apartment and I can finish up here?" Franny gently said, walking up to Beth.

Beth dropped the dish and scrubber into the tub of water.

"Stop...I hate when you do that" she said.

"What?" Franny chuckled, "Try to be nice to you?"

"You suffer in order to help everyone else" Beth replied, a sincerity in her tone.

She hated and admired how hard Franny worked. At times she wished Franny would find some form of guilty pleasure. She wanted her friend to be a little selfish and do something bad for once in her life. Something only out of sheer desire and human nature.

"I know you're tired too" Beth said, noticing Franny's lowered eyelids.

Franny shrugged, "I'm fine, I promise" she smiled at Beth.

Beth sighed, knowing Franny would force her to go home anyway. Plus, she couldn't ignore how worried she was that her partner and her wouldn't finish their project on time. Knowing they would probably be up all night to finish it.

"You promise me?" Beth quietly said, staring into Franny's eyes.

"I promise you" Franny chuckled.

"Plus, my partner and I already finished our project like a week ago" she shrugged.

"Of course, you did" Beth laughed, rolling her eyes.

"I'm onto the term paper for Mr. Goro now" Franny added, pushing Beth out of the way with her hip.

"Okay, well don't stay too late" Beth said, taking off her apron.

"I won't, I won't. Now go home" Franny demanded, smiling as she grabbed a wash rag.

Margret walked into the kitchen carrying a tray of dirty dishes. Beth threw on her jean jacket, brushing the stray dirt off of her pants as she grabbed the car keys.