Heroin(e)

Chapter Thirteen

Sure enough, that soup did just the trick. The next morning I woke up fresh as a daisy. No fever, still a slight cough but no congestion. If I could just hide the cough it'd be like I wasn't sick at all. I could get to work and earn money again. I downed the rest of the cold medicine from the cabinet and chugged down a couple glasses of water. I hated to turn the heating off; Scout and I both loved it so. 

Maybe just one more day.

When evening rolled around I showered and changed into a pair of black sweatpants and a matching sweatshirt. I'd get glammed up once I got there. Scout was once again in a burrito of blankets and I watched him sleep with adoration. "Good boy," I said before slipping out the door. 

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"Feeling  better, Loulou?" Celine asked as I passed her desk. I could feel the eyes of the other girls boring into me. I tried to ignore them. I wanted to put my fiasco of the other day behind me.

"Much better, Celine," I said, giving her my best smile. She returned one. 

"Great! I haven't got anything for you since I wasn't sure you'd be coming," she explained showing me the clipboard. "But there are still a few open spots if you want."

"Give me all of them," I said and Celine nodded, penciling me in. 

"Seen Jeanie yet?" Margot asked, coming to get some water. She did not look thrilled.

"Oh no...." I said, my shoulders slumping. "What's up?"

"She's very pleased with herself," Margot said taking a drink. "AC/DC played a show last night. Jeanie got a ticket."

My heart pounded. The same concert the boys had gone to rehearsal for? Before showing up to my apartment? "Oh really?" I asked calmly. "Did she have a good time?"

"Ask her yourself." Margot stepped aside, allowing me to see Jeanie. She didn't walk, she strutted. She didn't smile, she smirked. She didn't speak, she bragged. We weren't colleagues, we were satellites. Jeanie saw me and pranced right up. 

"You look happy," I commented, pretending not to know a thing. 

"Why shouldn't I be?" she boasted. "I got front row tickets to see AC/DC last night!"

"Good for you," I said with a smile. Then I turned to walk away. Jeanie put a hand on my shoulder. 

"Aren't you going to ask how they were?" she asked. I could tell she was just dying to tell everyone within a hundred foot radius about her night. 

"I've already seen them," I said, not giving in to Jeanie's desires of seeing me jealous. Why should I be? The entire band came over and ate dinner with me. I was tempted to rub it in her face but I held back. "I know they're a great band."

"They're the best band, Marino," she said before sighing dreamily. "And they're gorgeous! You didn't tell me how good they look up close like that!"

I grabbed a bottle of water from the bin. It was almost comical the way Jeanie was about to climax right there on the spot. I kept my distance in case things got messy. "Must have slipped my mind," I said. "Did you go backstage?"

She huffed. "No, backstage passes were sold out. And no, nobody asked for me like they did for you." I smiled to myself as I drank. "I know they'd love me, though," she went on. "That bass player is something else....if they could just meet me they'd want me for sure."

I choked on my drink. Jeanie flipped me off and walked away while I doubled over laughing. 

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