When The Little Mockingbirds Sing Their Mockingbird Lies

Chapter 3: Co-workers and Cat Pictures (Re-written)

Naomi groaned and opened her eyes. She felt sick. She would start working under the damned Uchiha today and the anxiety was eating away at her. She covered her eyes with her arm. She wished she could just stay in bed all day. She wished she could go see her mother. But she had to go in and appease the brat. She wondered if he would allow her to continue working from home on Saturdays. Probably not. She highly doubted he had a he would have the kindness to allow that of her. She would just have to see her mother tomorrow, when the hours were shorter. She took a deep breath and let out a quiet groan. Her cellphone rang, increasing the volume of her groan to be loud enough to match the annoying ringing tone. She picked up the phone and hummed tiredly into the receiver.

"Good morning my fine secretarial friend! You better get up if you want to be on time for your new job!"

"I know, I know. That's why I don't want to get up."

"Oh come on now. Don't be like that, you'll be fine. You were promoted for a reason." Naomi chuckled dryly in morbid humor. She was hired for a reason alright; a reason called blackmail. She sighed and forced herself from the warmth of her bed.

"Alright, I'm up."

"Great! I'll be at the office in an hour! I expect to see you there!" Her peppy friend hung up before she could argue. She sighed and shook her head. She was tired but she would never hear the end of it if Sakura got to work before her. She couldn't stop the small sigh that escaped her and she bit down on her lip. She wanted to see her mother. But it seemed like the Saturday afternoons with her mother were over. She shook her head to rid her mind of the depressing notions but a different train of thought took its place. What the hell was she supposed to say to her mother about this whole mess? She had to keep her in the dark more than anyone else. She groaned as she left the room, going through he morning routine in a zombie-like state, and drove to work with only enough consciousness to be relatively safe on the road.

She arrived at seven fifteen, five minutes before Sakura usually arrived. She wished there was less of a wait for the older woman to get there. She didn't want to be left alone with her thoughts right now, not when she could feel the heavy shadow of depression clawing up from the pit of her stomach. It seemed as though the heavens were much more forgiving that day, because her friend arrived a moment later. She smiled at her friend in relief.

"Thank the gods you're here."

"What happened? Was there someone here?"

"No. Just me...and my thoughts."

"First day nerves?"

"I suppose."

"You look like you didn't sleep well."

"I didn't really."

"Is it about your mother?" Sakura questioned. To this she didn't respond. Sakura placed her hand on her shoulder and she placed her hand over top her friend's. The two stood in silence for another moment before she pulled away with a sad smile.

"Let's go inside. We don't want to be late."

"Naomi...alright. If you need to talk...you know you can always talk to me."

"Yeah...I know." Sakura hugged her friend and the two went inside. For the first time they said goodbye in the elevator as they would no longer be working on the same floor. She rode the rest of the way up alone. To her surprise the other employees weren't there yet, but the Uchiha was waiting for her at the doors to his office. She approached him with caution, which clearly amused him much to her annoyance.

"Why are we the only ones here?"

"Such an accusing tone."

"Just tell me why no one is here Uchiha!" She yelled, backing toward the elevator again. He laughed, a short, haughty snicker. He shook his head and walked over to the desk beside him. He lifted something from a box there. It was a picture frame, neatly wrapped up to avoid damage during the trip up from the third floor.