Hollingwood University

Chapter 4

The next morning, I woke up with a small head ache...you all saw that coming right? I'm sure my hangover though wasn't as bad as what Erica had. Why? Because when I woke up this morning, I saw her with her laptop on her bed, and munching on chocolate malt balls. She was wearing baggy clothes, and her hair was very messy. I sat up and stretched.

"Morning," I yawned. Erica looked up at me.

"Morning Lulu. Good sleep?" she asked while handing me a packet. Ibuprofen. Perfect.

"Yeah thanks," I replied and downed a pill. My aching head started to cease.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"Ten to nine." she replied. That wasn't good.

"What!?" I asked. Erica cringed at my loud voice.

"Yeah, it's ten to nine. Why?" she asked. Oh my god!

"I start work today! I have to be there in ten minutes, I slept in!" I exclaimed and hopped out of bed. I grabbed a grey cropped sweater, a black skirt, and a pair of converse. I took a shower, brushed my teeth and hair, got dressed, and skedaddled out the door.

I'm sure Erica looked at me like some kind of crazy person, but I didn't care. Today was my first day at the diner! Yes, I got a job as a waitress at the school diner.

The diner was really nice, with black marble floors and teal blue walls. The tables were wood and carved into circles, with very nice dark brown chairs seated at them. There was a a bar with stools set up, and a kitchen just behind. A man approached me. He had salt and pepper hair, a very plump figure, and he was wearing a yellow shirt and a white apron.

"Well, hello there Ms, table for one?" he asked.

"No, I'm actually a new employee," I handed him the application and acceptance form I filled out. He scanned it over, and his smile turned into a frown.

"Ms. Evereux, you're late," he said, leading me into the back.

"I know, I know I'm sorry...I got held up in traffic," I lied. The man grabbed an apron and threw it at me.

"Now because it's your first day I'll let you off, but if you show up late again, consider yourself jobless," he said.

"Yes sir," I replied and put on the apron. It fit perfectly over my skirt. The man then led me back out into the crowd of the breakfast rush.

"You can start by cleaning off tables and setting them up for the next customer. You have your food-safe license right?" he asked.

"Yeah, that was in the recommendation from my last employer. I worked at a coffee shop for six months before I came here," I replied. He didn't reply and walked off into the kitchen. Well, rude much.

"Don't mind Porter love, he's a natural born grouch," Someone said. I turned around and came face-to-face with an African-American girl. She looked around my age, with wavy dark brown hair, and almond shaped eyes. She was wearing the same diner apron as me.

"I'm Sami Moorson. You must be the new bus girl," she said.

"Lucy Evereux. Pleasure to meet you," I said and shook her hand.

"Right back at you love, now just stick with me and you'll be promoted to assistant manager by the end of the week," she said.

"Really?"

"No, you need three years seniority to at least be in the running," I liked this girl already.

-

The day flew by, and before I knew it I was being asked out for a drink by Sami. I accepted of course. She took me to this little pub down the road from Hollingwood. It was a cute little bar, with wooden plank floors and yellow walls. There was a bar plopped right in the center, with people surrounding it on wooden stools. The inside smelled like glaze and cigarettes, mixed with the hazy scent of vodka. Sami led me to the bar, where she ordered us two pints of beer. I've had beer before, but I only snuck a couple of sips from Ryan's open-and-left Bud Light cans.