Heart Strings

1 - Can things get any worse?

Chapter 1

"I'm sorry, but we are going to have to let you go."

I swear my jaw actually unhinged with how far down it just dropped in surprise. "B-But why?", was all I could manage to get out.

"Well Ms. Bramer, seeing as you were the last one hired onto this team, due to budget cuts, you will have to be the first one let off. I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you."

All I can do is stare in utter shock at the older lady before me. I always assumed that Mrs. Gellar was at once a decent human being, but with her giving me the news that will literally ruin my life right now, I'm having a hard time seeing her as anything but Satan itself.

"Isn't there anything you can do? I can't lose this job! You don't understand! I... I really really ne-need this job," I manage to get out as tears starting forming in my eyes. Trying to blink them back, I look at her hopelessly.

Mrs. Gellar sighs and takes her glasses off. She gives me a soft smile that causes the edges of her eyes to crinkle, the only thing on her face that actually shows off her age. "I'm truly sorry Quinn. I tried. I did everything I could to put this off. I've managed to keep it off from happening a month ago, but there is nothing I can do now. The only thing I can do for you now is ensure you have a great reference from me. I really am sorry, you know I've always liked you."

Seeing as she knows why I so desperately needed this job, I guess I can believe she is telling the truth. I refuse to believe that anyone can be that cruel. I bow my head and tears actually start to fall as I stand up. "Thank you. For everything.", I say, heading towards the door.

"Good luck, I hope you can find your way to happiness, you definitely deserve it." is all I hear as I close the door behind me.

"It seems the world has other plans. What the fuck am I going to do now?", muttering to myself as I trudge my way back to my desk to pack my things.

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"Have I mentioned how much I hate Mondays?", I say crossly through a mouthful of ice cream. There is something about Cookie Dough ice cream that can mend even a broken heart. Thinking about how horrible my day went, I sat there glaring into the bowl that is now empty.

"You're lucky there is no ice cream left in that bowl, it would probably combust under the heat of that glare," Cam sat there with a goofy look on her face.

Now turning my glare to my best friend, I can't help but feel envy. She had everything I didn't. A family who absolutely adored her, her dream job, and a general all around stable life. In saying that, her family did treat me as one of their own, which I can never be more thankful for as it has gotten me through the hardest time of my life.

"Look, do you want me to cancel on Max tonight? I'm sure he would understand and with the way you look right now, I don't quite trust you," she said with slight humor on her face.

Knowing that Cam would drop her blind date tonight to come sit with me while I mope is one of the main reasons I love her. "No, no, don't do that. I know how excited you are to meet him." She just continues to stare at me with the psychoanalyzing look she has that gives me the willies everytime.

"I'm serious Cam, I knew today would be a bad day. I just knew it! First my alarm didn't go off, maybe or maybe not is because I forgot to set it last night, then since I was late I missed my train, which resulted in me getting on the wrong train! I was late for work just to realize I forgot my lunch. So after sitting there all day hungry as a fricken hippo, I got called into Mrs. Gellar's office just to be canned! THEN to top everything off, on my way out of the building, my heel on my shoe snapped off, my favorite pair by the way, and I tripped and broke my favorite mug that was in the box of my stuff." I pull the blanket over my head and hide in my cocoon, not seeing her reaction.

It isn't until I hear her giggling at me do I poke my head out of my safety bundle. At the look of my hair sticking out like Einstein from the blanket, Cam erupts into full blown laughter. Pitifully trying to increase my glare at her, she only laughs harder, now having full blown tears on her face. "Cam! This isn't funny! What am I going to do!" I cry out throwing myself back onto the couch.

Slowly composing herself, she manages "Ok, Ok I'm sorry. Look, besides being the literal poster child for bad luck today, I might be able to help". I may have only known the fireball that is known as Camryn Mcintyre for a year now, and with knowing how she operates, I have to say i'm genuinely worried about the smirk on her face.

"Do I even want to know?"