The Ugly Friend?

Repairing Time

Brooke sat in her bed near the phone. She played the messages over and over again. Her father's voice rang into her ears sounding like sweet music. Her father was gone and she was a complete mess, but she still had to go to work that morning.

Brooke got up out of bed and put on a simple shirt and jacket. Along with it, she threw on some random pants. She vowed to herself to not care what anyone thought of her anymore because it didn't matter. She had lost her father and everything that mattered was gone.,.. or so it felt like.

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Brooke walked into work lazily. She was worn out and tired of all the drama, and she was most definitely not in the mood to go to her crazy job. As soon as she walked into her unit, she saw Mark there. He was smiling being his usual happy self. That lifted Brooke's mood a lot more, but she was still down in the dumps. She walked over to her desk like a zombie and sat down.

Mark approached her first," Hey, Brooke. Nice to see you at work after your long break. Are you going to tell me what that was about?"

"Maybe later," she said with devastation lining her every word. Mark didn't push her because he sensed how sad she was. 'Thank you!' she thanked Mark in her head.

"Okay then. I will let you get to your work... I guess I will see you at lunch," he dismissed himself. Brooke watched him walk over to her station. She felt horrible that the way she was feeling was affecting her friend as well. However, she still managed to find her way to her desk and work.

"Hey, cutie. How's it going?" she heard a male voice. She didn't look up because she was sure that he wasn't talking to her. She felt a cold hand on her shoulder that made her jump. "Brooke? Did you not hear me talking to you?" Ben Smith spoke once more.

"Oh, hey, Ben. I'm sorry, but I'm not really in the mood today," she said. Her hands found there way to her temples and she massaged them.

Ben looked at her worriedly. He was genuinely concerned about the state she was currently in. "Are you okay?" he couldn't help but ask.

She looked at him from the corner of her eyes. "Huh? Oh yea, I should be fine by lunch. I'll see you there," she said. She was trying to get him out of her hair.

He reluctantly agreed and walked off to his desk and got to work. Brooke let out a huge sigh and was happy that all the conversations were through for the beginning of the work day... or so she thought.

She noticed a woman coming from her right. The way she walked told everyone that she was fierce and confident. She wore all white, like an angel. The mean look on her face indicated that she had a problem.

"Who do you think you are?" the mysterious stranger asked. Brooke just looked up at her from the corner of her eye. She gave her a look that said,' really? Just when I got a chance to rest my mouth?' " I have been with Mark for over a year now and you want to come here and take him?" she asked.

"What? No! I'm not even pretty enough for Mark, but you are. I can't believe he never told me he had a girlfriend. Now that I think about it... you two do make a cute couple,"she said. She didn't want to argue with anyone, so she decided to kill this bitch with kindness.

"Well... He isn't exactly my boyfriend, but we have been 'talking' for over a year. Next thing I know, you come along and he doesn't talk to me anymore," she said. "You know what? You are damn right you are not pretty enough for him! Your not pretty enough for that nasty skinny cat lurking in the trash at the back of the building," she screamed for almost everyone to a hear.

Brooke could feel the tears falling down her face. "At least you're honest. That's good. You speak your mind," Brooke said as she stood up and looked around. Everyone was looking at her. Either laughing or looking sorry for her.