Just An Ordinary Girl ~A Johnny Depp Story~

The She-Devil Returns

The first thing I noticed as I reached my familiar apartment was the door. Last time I'd seen it it had been hanging limply, one of the hinges broken, with several large dents and splinters of wood where Luke had punched it so vigorously. But looking at it now, it was in almost eerily good condition, the door handle glinting, polished to perfection, at me. I unlocked my door and stepped inside, feeling nervous, almost waiting for Luke to appear through the darkness, grinning horribly. I fumbled for the light switch quickly and my heart rate slowed down to normal as I found myself alone. My eyes glanced quickly over my furniture and paused as I spotted a piece of paper laying on the kitchen table. I walked over and picked it up, unfolding it.
Thought I'd fix up your door for you. You're welcome!
Johnny x
I grinned, shaking my head in disbelief. So that was how it got fixed. I sighed and collapsed into my sofa, still clutching Johnny's note in my hand. Perhaps I would stick to my word and call him a lot just for that. I gently lay it down next to my phone and frowned as I noticed the red light flickering at me, signaling I had a message.
I pressed the button and lay back in the sofa, but jumped up almost immediately as a shrill, excited voice rang out.
"Hiiii Alice, it's moi! Er...Kate," she added, and I could tell she was grinning, as per usual. All Kate ever did was grin or laugh. "Well, I'm in town right now, so I was just wondering when I could drop by and what ice-cream I should bring," she giggled. "Now you might be thinking, "What?!" but everyone knows that you need ice-cream for a good catch-up! Okay, so call me on my mobile! I can't wait to see you I want to know everything that's been going on! Hugs!"
I chuckled to myself as the message ended. She was so weird, but that was kind of why I liked her. My grin faded however as I heard the beginning of the next message.
"Alice," came Lucy's muffled voice. "I...I'm so sorry to bother you and everything, but...where have you been? I...I'm just worried about you. Where are you? Please call me and let me know you're okay."
I moaned guiltily, burying my head in a cushion. She'd been crying when she'd left that message, I knew it. I glanced at my clock and sighed. It was about time I was getting back to work anyway. I'd explain it all to her then.
As expected, Lucy practically threw herself on me as soon as I stepped in the cafe.
"Alice, I-" She gasped, but I shushed her.
"Lu, look, I'm really sorry I haven't told you all the stuff that's been going on with me recently but honestly, there's nothing to tell and there's nothing to worry about okay? I just needed to be on my own a bit and that's why I didn't call you-"
"Alice! Okay! But-"
"No, no, listen," I said, cutting her off once more. "It was completely inconsiderate of me and I'm sorry," I said, biting my lip anxiously, expecting her to be angry or disbelieving but her face just stayed worried and pained, her blue eyes wide.
"Yeah, Alice, okay! I forgive you and I'm glad you're back to normal and everything! But that's not the point right now, what's important is what Jude has done!" She blurted quickly.
"What has Jude done?" I asked warily.
"Well...seeing as you've been off work so much recently, she was getting more and more annoyed. And then she said she wasn't having it anymore and picked up the phone and she..." she faded out chewing her lip worriedly.
"No!" I moaned. "She didn't, did she? She didn't call-"
"What are you two doing just standing there?!" came a high snooty voice from the doorway.
Meet Veronica, my boss and the original she-devil.
We turned around to see her in all her glory, a small gray haired woman, clutching a moss-colored handbag tightly to her forearm with several thin fingers adorned with chunky gold rings. She glared at me and Lucy, wrinkling her pointy nose in distaste as if we were lesser mortals, too lowly for her divine attention. Her sharp green eyes glanced around the cafe, the expression of disgust growing stronger still.
"Hello, Veronica," Lucy and I grimaced in unison. She simply stared at us before beginning to stroll causally around the room examining the spotless tables and chairs and making comments such as, "Not clean enough!" and "Ugh, these napkins are ghastly!"
Lucy and I avoided each others eyes tactfully, both of us knowing full well that she had chosen them herself but not daring to contradict her.
"Oh! Veronica! H-hello!" Jude cried shrilly, appearing at our sides. "Your...your hair looks lovely! Have you done something to it?" Jude asked. Veronica twisted her lips upwards in a limp smile.
"Why thank you Jude, yes I have!" she replied, smirking, satisfied with the compliment. Lucy nudged me in the ribs.
"Wha-oh! Oh yeah, it looks...lovely," I told her lamely, though in my opinion Veronica looked far from lovely. She merely shot me a withering look.
"You!" she barked suddenly, snapping her fingers in Lucy's direction. "You go and get me a coffee. Now! Don't just dilly-dally around!" she said rudely.
"Yes sir," Lucy muttered under her breath, and then slapped her hand over her mouth in shock, glancing nervously at Veronica, but luckily she didn't seem to have noticed. I felt my chest vibrating with the effort of stifling the giggles that were about to erupt out of me, and tried desperately to keep a straight face as Lucy slipped into the back room to make the coffee.
"And you girl, come here. I need to talk to you," she said sternly. I hurried over and stood in front of her as she surveyed me seriously.
"Do you know why I am here?" she asked.
"No," I lied blankly. She continued to gaze at me, looking irritated.
"Well, I received an interesting call from Jude today...hold on," she said, glancing over my shoulder into the kitchen. "Hurry up with my coffee, Lisa...you're flapping about back there like you're doing the birdie song!" she said irritably to which I had to stifle a second series of giggles. "As I was saying. I received an interesting call from Jude today...do you happen to know what this call was about?" she asked.
"No idea," I lied once more.
"This call was about how you have failed to turn up to work practically all of this week!" she said furiously, waiting for some sort of response. I wasn't about to give her one though.
"Insolent girl," she said suddenly, shaking her head. "I don't pay you to take time off work whenever it suits you!" she cried, pausing as Lucy put her cup down in front of her.
"About time, Lisa," she said, snatching it up.
"Her name's Lucy, not bloody Lisa!" I cried before I could help myself. Veronica looked up at me, nostrils flared.
"I'll call her what I like, missy-" she began, but I cut her off loudly.
"No, you'll call her by her name! You know what, I quit," I sighed, untying my apron. "I can't be bothered with you, or Jude, or this stupid job! We never even have any customers anyway! This is just a waste of everyone's time," I said, dropping it in Veronica's lap. She simply stared up at me, surprised at my outburst, opening and closing her mouth like a goldfish.
"Me too!" Lucy cried timidly from my side. I stared at her.
"Lu, don't be stupid, you don't have to give up just because I have!" I protested guiltily. She stared at me determinedly.
"Yes I do! To hell with this scummy little cafe," she smiled chucking her apron onto Veronica's lap also. I grinned.
"Shall we?" I asked, offering her my arm.
"Don't mind if I do," she replied, mirroring my grin, and we strutted off out of the cafe leaving Jude and Veronica behind us.