Learning Curves

ten.

THUNDER boomed outside her window, startling Audrey awake. Unlike the last time she was awoken by a storm, there was no Baron to snuggle up against. Waking up a little, she realized the storm outside had knocked her power out. Wondering what time it was, she reached for her phone, discovering the power had been out long enough to keep her phone from charging, finding it dead. Five minutes in, and she was already having a shit day.

Feeling her way into the kitchen, Audrey strained to see the one clock in her home that hadn't been knocked out in the storm, but it had no good news for her. It was after nine in the morning, making her late for breakfast with the gang, but worse yet, late for work. Rushing back into her room, she tried her best to get dressed in the dark, using a small flashlight to help a little, stuffing another outfit into her bag before heading out.

She was terribly late, but she was terribly in need of a cup of coffee. With no way to contact anyone at the PC, she figured she might as well stop into the station close to home, and get a cup of coffee. She couldn't help the time, but coffee might help her mood.

A couple minutes later, the smell of hazelnut greeted her nose, brightening her day just a little, taking a few sips of the warm liquid. She wondered what everyone at work was thinking, a little surprised no one came knocking on her door that morning, making sure nothing had happened to her.

Pulling out of the station, she was about to turn onto the road when a small white car zoomed in front of her, cutting her off. Audrey slammed on her brakes in an attempt to keep from hitting the car, but nothing could stop her full coffee cup from slipping out of her hands, the lid coming off, splashing her and the front of her car. Gripping the steering wheel tightly, she did her best to keep it together and head to work, when all she wanted was to crawl into a corner and hide.

xxx

Physically, Baron had made it to work, but his mind was still wandering, wondering where his girlfriend was. It wasn't like her to be this hard to get a hold of, it wasn't like her to skip out on planned events. He couldn't eat, worry curbing his appetite. Bayley tried to ease him, saying maybe she just overslept, or forgot, and headed to work instead.

Worry grew into a pebble in his stomach when she didn't answer his texts or calls. She wasn't answering anyone, something very unlike Audrey. Maybe her phone was in her bag, maybe it was on silent, Corey tried explaining away. Maybe wasn't helping Baron right now.

Her truck wasn't in the parking lot when they got to work, that pebble growing by the second. He should have been paying attention to the lecture Coach Brookside was giving, but he continued to stare out the rain soaked window, trying to see through sheets of water, any sign of his girl. When the meeting ended, he called again, getting the voicemail he'd all but memorized at this point.

"It's me again. Wondering where you are, if you're okay. Call me back, text me, something. Worried about you, honey." Hanging up, he noticed he had a new text waiting for him.

[Mojo] lil bit just got here, looks upset. Regal took her to his office. she okay, bro?

Baron didn't respond, because he didn't really know himself.

xxx

Audrey looked like a hot mess, heart beating ninety to nothing when she was stopped by General Manager William Regal, following him into his office. Barely giving him the chance to sit, apologies started blurting out.

"Mr. Regal, I'm so sorry about being late this morning. I don't usually make it a habit to be late to work-" his hand raised, and like a small school girl, Audrey hushed, cowering back in her seat.