lay it on me.

ooo /// chapter one / good friday.

///

Fridays were always a good day for Scottie Santos. She would come in early with her boss, the editor-in-chief of magazine The Good Life, Ms. Donna Grenson, and do whatever was needed in the morning before the other workers came in for the day. Setting up the boardroom prior to important meetings, putting the coffee to brew in the breakroom, checking emails and voicemails was all a part of a regular, daily routine. When all that was finished, Scottie ran back down to her car and made a quick stop at the smoothie shop down the street.

Beach Bum, a tropical smoothie shop. Bright, saturated, beachy colors. Lagoon blue, kiwi green, banana boat yellow, hibiscus vermillion. The backsplash tiles are shades of glossy blues and greens, like sea glass. There's simple stroke ocean waves lining the wall and counter. Hibiscus and palm tree silhouettes are everywhere. There's these big, close-up shots of wet fruits as art, like 2000's Subway interior.

Scottie waited around aimlessly, shifting back and forth on her feet while checking the weather app because she was too embarrassed to open her Instagram feed in public. She stuck her thumb under the strap of her crossbody satchel and adjusted it before fixing the questionably low-cut square neckline of her dark brown pencil dress. She wasn't sure how she should stand. Cross one ankle over the other and lean against something? No. Open stance while shifting back and forth on her feet? Just as weird. Scottie brings her phone closer towards her and refreshed the weather app like something was going to change.

"One Passion Fruit Plumada, One Strawberry-Kiwi Bikini, and one... Ginger and Greens cold-pressed juice for... Scottie!" The Beach Bum employee said as they placed the drink carrier on the counter and some stickers.

Scottie looked up from her phone and stuck it in her satchel as she walked up towards the counter. Three drinks in a tray, she hated three drinks in one tray. The uneven number always made it so the tray would sort of teeter haphazardly in her hand as she moved around. Scottie put one hand on top of the lids to hold the stickers in place as she awkwardly scooted the drink tray into her other hand. She pulled away from the counter and gave the employee a smile, flashing her braces. "Have a great day!"

The employee, who was rather expressionless, dull in working, straightened up and gave a thankful smile. They are obviously taken by surprise that a customer was able to wish a good day before they did, or even wish a good day at all. "Oh, yeah..." They started out. "Thank you, have a great day as well!"

Scottie's shoulders relaxed as she gave a closed-mouth smile. 'I'm a good person.' Scottie tells herself in her head. Not cockily or anything, just ... reassuring herself. She then hurried out towards the street, backing up into the door as she pushed it open. As she exited and walked down the sidewalk to her car, Scottie awkwardly shoved the stickers into her satchel.

It was a 90's yellow Geo Metro, a shitty looking car, honestly, but uniquely Scottie. There were pins stuck onto the the ceiling of the car, a condensed collection that started where the windshield end and leads just past the front seats, following an upside-down triangle pattern. A pink crucifix from the Miss A store at the mall hung from the rearview mirror. A swaying hula girl figurine was perched on top of the dashboard along with an embroidered tapestry across it, as well.

Scottie sat the drinks on the passenger seat then awkwardly crossed to the driver's seat, closing the door behind her. She didn't like to enter her car from the driver's side. What if a car hit her while she was trying to get in?! It's a struggle, honestly. She was swearing under her breath as she did so... Scottie gave an unnecessary squeal as she tumbled into the seat and laughed at herself. Finally having sat down, she put her seatbelt on, started the car, and began connecting her phone to the stereo. Scottie put both hands at ten-and-two and just sat there for a moment. She takes a deep breath and then gives a single nod of her head. "Let's do this!"