Would You Look At The Time (Book One)

Time between

     I woke up the next morning to the sound of my loud and obnoxious alarm buzzing in my ear. I slammed my fist against it, hoping it would break, and rolled out of bed. I waddled to the kitchen and made myself some caffienated tea and a piece of toast.

After I ate I pulled on an old t-shirt that was a plain baby pink and black skinny jeans. I had forgotten my clothes at the nightclub and I would have to get them tonight.

I combed my hair into a braid and stared at my bed longingly before shoving my feet into black flats. 

    I started my day off badly. I tripped on my way to the bus and dropped my phone, leaving a scrape across the upper left part of the screen. And because of this, I was almost late to the bus. The bus ride was also unfortunate since I had to uncomfortably stand between two teen boys who were practically at boob heighth. The cafe was the third to last stop and as the bus drove off behind me I realized I had left my phone in it. I raced after it and finally got to it after running three blocks. I then slowly jogged back to the cafe. I apologized to Rachel and tied my green apron around my waist. Because of my pink shirt underneath the green apron that read; 'Rachel's cafe, come to stay!' I looked like a watermelon. I sat behind the register for almost three hours before the first customer came in. He was a young man, probably in his late teens. His shirt read; 'Yale alumni' so I figured he was in his first year of college. He ordered a black coffee with no sugar and a toasted bagel with cream cheese. As he waited for his breakfast he sat at one of the deserted coffee tables and started typing away at a computer. His fingers glided across the keyboard so galiantly that it was practically an art form. He would look up every so often and I would smile at him. He would never smile back, he would just hunch further over and continue typing. I heard the ding of the bagel in the toaster and I grabbed it out, I tried to spread the cream cheese on the bagel the way he typed on his computer, gracefully. I then finished his coffee and walked out from behind the register to give it to him. I set it down at the table he was at, it took him a good three minutes to stop typing and realize that his food was ready. After scarfing his food like a pig he left, but not before putting a dollar in the tip jar. I smiled at him as he left, but yet again he didn't smile back. I pulled the dollar out and shoved it into my pocket.

     Finally, Fiona arrived and I was relieved of my duties. I hung my apron up and made sure to grab my phone before heading for the bus. The bus was less crowded during the late morning because most people were already at work, and so I got to sit down. After a fifteen minute drive I was finally exiting the bus and walking the extra block to get to the bookstore. As I entered the store the smell of books made me feel at home. I headed for the cash register and took over for Rafael. He smiled and we talked for a bit about our seperate lives before he headed out. He too was having issues making it by in New York. He was great at dancing and I never undertsood why he never auditioned for Broadway. He would jokingly reply;

     "They would never let a black guy like me into a famous production like Broadway," I didn't understand him, it was the 21st century, skin color wasn't an issue anymore...atleast in most of the world. I think he's just too afraid to audition. 

     After my shift was over I headed to the nightclub. This time I got there early, but that didn't stop Mike from yelling at me. 

     "I heard you were causing a customer trouble last night," I rolled my eyes and walked away.

     "Listen here little lady, if you don't follow the rules, I might as well as fire you,"

     "They were perverts," I replied.

     "You are a waitress at a high star nightclub, do you think I care if he was a pervert?"

     "I would hope you would!" I was getting angry now. How could he treat me like this, they were disgusting pigs and they didn't deserve my kindness. 

     "If I hear about you screwing up again. I'll fire you!" Mike yelled.

     "You don't need to fire me, cause I quit!" I yelled back. I grabbed my clothes from the night before and exited the just-opening nightclub. I walked home that night. It took an hour until I was finally home. I locked the door behind me when I entered my apartment. I pulled on my same fuzzy pajamas I had on the night before. I pulled my hair out of its braid and shoved it into a messy bun. I made top ramen and slurped at the noodles while watching The Avengers. It was early and I had never had time off, I wasn't exactly sure what to do. After I finished my ramen I headed to my room and sobbed into a pillow. The nightclub was the highest paying job I had, and I just quit. How stupid am I? After what seemed like forever of crying and sniffling into my pillow I decided to go visit my good friend Chelsea. I pulled on and old baggy sweatshirt and some black leggings before heading out, it was only six but it was getting cold.

     The bus was less crowded than any other time. No one was out this early. Everyone was at work or at a party. Chelsea's door was a cream color and it made a beautiful sound as I knocked on it. Chelsea answered seconds after and embraced me in a huge bear hug.

     "It's so nice to see you!" She said with a huge smile. She led me inside and started tea, not even asking me if I wanted some since she knew I would always say yes to tea. We sat around her coffee table in-front of the television sipping at our chamomile drinks. We chatted about our daily lives and experiences. I didn't tell her about last night, it just didn't seem like anything exciting compared to her life. Chelsea was an actress. A very talented one.  She wasn't in anything right now, which surprised me. After we chatted for three hours I decided to head home and read a book.

     The bus was now filled with business men and workers and I was yet again in an uncomfortable position. I was stuck between a window and a really smelly guy. I was grateful when the bus came to my stop. I walked down the street and passed by the Marvel studios. I was reminded of last night and the excitement that came along with it, but I was also reminded of the makeup auditions tomorrow, and since I had quit at the nightclub I really needed to get this job. So when  I finally got inside my apartment and was, yet again, in my fuzzy pajamas I decided to practice different kinds of makeup on myself. I don't have a very big ego, but damn, I was good. 

     I finally fell asleep after practicing for a good two hours. I fell asleep on my couch after I had wiped all the makeup off and had huddled into a blanket while watching the late night news.