Misbehave // Alex Gaskarth

Chapter Four ~ Premonitions

Song: R U Mine? - Artic Monkeys 

~*~

If the circumstances were any different, I don't think I would have accepted that job offering at Melrose Diner. That's the thing though; the circumstances weren't different. I knew better than letting some rude boy stop me from doing something. Refusing the job offer because of a man went against everything my mother taught me. To survive in this world, a woman had to be smart, sharp, and sexy. The three S's for short. That's exactly why I sucked it up and accepted the offer when the manager called me. I also knew that things wouldn't be so bad since Alex would be working the day shift as kitchen chef while I worked the night shift as a waitress. My work days were Monday through Thursday and I had to be there by six in the afternoon and the time out was two in the morning.

Honestly, I felt guilty because I knew I wouldn't be able to spend that much time with Myra anymore. But I think she understood why I decided to take up two jobs. We didn't have a lot of money saved up and I wanted to make sure she was always bathed, fed and healthy. It was my responsibility to raise her the way I knew our mother would have.

The phone suddenly rang and I sprinted up from the couch to answer it. Myra had this thing where she took naps before eating dinner. If she ever woke up before a two hour nap, she'd be extremely grumpy and in a bad mood. That's why I almost slipped in the kitchen while I was running and picked up the phone. "Hello?" I answered.

"Love, it's so good to hear your voice again!" The sound of my grandmother, Rosa's soft voice echoed gently through the line. I breathed heavily, the thought of my grandmother made my heart clench. I announced my plans to leave so suddenly and I knew it wasn't fair to her. But I needed a change of scenery, I needed something different. The memories that stayed in London were to much to bare. I was tired of the pitiful looks our neighbors gave me- the sympathetic stares, sad eyes and constant gossip. It was too much to handle.

Nanna coughed weakly into the line, the sound instantly pulled me out of my daze. The unfortunate trait that my mother and I inherited from Nanna was our weak bodies. To be more specific, we got sick very often and sometimes it was difficult to do things. My weak body is the main reason I never did any sports in school, it was extremely difficult and I got tired too quickly. Eventually, the teachers would put me out during P.E. Being put to the side slowly made me become an outcast during gym. Some people were mad at me because I didn't have to do much exercise, but they didn't understand that I'd faint after running two laps around the track.

Ever since I could walk, I would be the one to take care of Nanna whenever she fell ill. I used to sit by her bed all day and cater her needs. I did this not because I had to do or felt obliged to, but because I wanted to. I loved helping people and nursing my Nanna back to health made me feel needed and useful. But I couldn't help her anymore because I was thousands of miles away from her in a different country.

"Nanna," I began, gripping the end of the phone, "are you sick again?"

"Oh, dear," Nanna laughed quietly into the line, "Valeria warned me not to call you because you'd worry." Valeria was the only other member of our family left. Well, at least that I knew of. Unlike my Nanna, mother and I; Valeria had a strong body. Even though she was physically the strongest, everyone knew my mother was the most able. Valeria wasn't living in London, but she decided to stay with Nanna a bit when I announced that Myra and I were leaving.

"But don't worry about me, Abella," Nanna said quietly, "How are things in the states? Have you looked into publishing your book yet?" She asked, excitement laced her tone. "Oh, I can't wait to read it!"

Sighing, I leaned against the kitchen counter and ran my fingers through my slightly damp hair. I had showered about an hour before the call so my hair was still a bit wet. "No, Nanna," I replied with a soft chuckle, "I need to write a book before even thinking about publishing one, remember?" I was planning on starting a story soon, but not until Myra and I got settled in Baltimore. "And things are going surprisingly well here. I already got two jobs; one at a bookstore downtown and another at a diner across from the bookstore."