OPEN LATE ;; PENGUIN

1.1

" Hey. You need to wake up. " I gasped loudly as Margo just stood beside me and watched.

" I slept?! " I asked in a bittersweet tone.

" Yeah. You did. For a while, actually. " she smiled slightly. " it's nice to actually wake up before you for once. I got you Starbucks. " she pulled out a small bag and a frappe from behind her back.

" Thanks. " I panted, starting to sit up straight on my bed as she gave me the bag. " you got some for yourself too right? " she nodded, then started to grin.

" You were right about lemon cake. " I smiled back, looking in the bag to find a slice of said lemon cake. I assumed she also got one herself. You see, Margo was social. Margo was also addicted to dieting and fasting.

" Did I go to sleep on my own? " she nodded, sitting down on her bed diagonal from mine. I know, wasn't my idea with a huge apartment. But she insisted, and it was on a day where I wouldn't argue.

" Slept like a babe. " I looked at her. She had dirty blonde hair, and she always wore black leggings with black high tops. I looked down at myself. I always wore light blue jean with holes in the knees and Nikes. I looked back up at her. She wore a lot of makeup ( it looked good on her) with a black tang top, with a hoodie under a leather jacket. I didn't wear a lot of makeup ( I looked better with out it ), and I always wore a soft and long wool, gray cardigan with a black short sleeved shirt. And I always had some necklace on. Margo didn't believe in necklaces.

" So. What happened to the restaurant? " I blushed. I forgot about that.

" Uh...would you have any idea of who Oswald Cobblepot is? " she gasped slowly.

" You didn't. " she was now grinning even more, somehow.

" Do you know who he is...? " I repeated.

" Yes. Of course. King of Gotham. The creepy guy that I introduced you to? " I blushed again, harder this time.

" Oops. " she rolled her eyes and chuckled, pulling out a pack of cigarettes from her jacket pocket.

" You won't mind right? " she asked without pausing, pulling out her lighter also and getting ready to push the smoke from her mouth into the air. I sighed.

" When do I mind? " then, almost on a cue the doorbell rang. Margo and I just looked at each other. No smoking in the apartment--a strange landlord rule that she always dodged. " I'll get it. " I told her as she only nodded, and got up off the bed. I walked down the hallway to the door, and looked through the door. No one was there...

I opened the door, and looked around until I found a box laying on the doormat.

" Is it safe? " Margo asked, starting to walk out and putting her coat on the rack we kept in the living room.

" Um...yeah... " I grabbed the box and closed the door.

" What's that? " she asked, taking another draw.

" I don't know...we're about to find out. " I looked closely at the address it came from. I recognized it--it was the same address as Oswald's.

" Is that Oswald guy? " I breathed in and out slowly.

" Yeah. It is. " I put the box on the coffee table then got the knife from the kitchen. I started to cut open the box as Margo watched over me. I took another deep breath and opened the box. Two things and two things only could be
seen right away. Cash, and an envelope with the name Oswald's in cursive. I ignored the cash and opened the letter, starting to read it out loud to Margo.

" Due to the unfortunate events of Matin's Borderline Restaurant, and the generosity of Oswald Cobblepot, you Margo Page are offered a shadowing day to see if you would like to join the staff & or crew of Oswald's nightclub. Here is 3,000 dollars in advance to help with any problems.
Sincerely,
E.
P.S. : smoking will be prohibited. "

" Pssh. " she laughed and took another draw. " 'No smoking' is my opposite of a mating call. " I looked at her seriously and sighed.

" Margo you probably need this job... "

" Why? " she asked, wrapping one of her arms around her waist to support her other arm, holding her cigarette. " isn't he already paying you enough? "

" There is no such thing as too much money... "

" Hmm. " she looked over to the box and grabbed the money. She pulled out one of the thousands and gave it to me. She smiled. " you're right. If you want me to I will. You can keep the thousand for new clothes... " I faked a smile as she turned on her heel--

And took another draw.