Burnouts

And Your Enemies Closer

Scene 1: The Helmsley Hotel

Heather Blakely

"Oh, sweetie, you're not wearing that are you?" My mother sighs when she sees me.

"...it's the uniform." I furrow my eyebrows as I look down at my pleated skirt.

"Not that, the jacket, darling." She comes over to pull it down my shoulders before handing me another one. "There, that one is better."

"Thanks, mom," I sigh and roll my eyes.

I can't remember a time where I wasn't dressing to impress her. I wear diamond earrings just to go to class and wear thigh high stockings with heels so she doesn't think I look bland.

I don't know who died and made her queen of the fashion world, but I wish they'd overthrow her already.

"Are you off to school now, Heather?" My mother calls out as she stands in the kitchen pouring the first of many cups of coffee.

"Yes, and I won't be back right away. I'm going shopping with Alison." She wants something new for her date, and I still have yet to put a dress on hold for the autumn ball.

"Keep the receipt, you might not like what you buy as much as you think you do."

In other words: I might make you return the things I don't approve of.

I ignore her and head for the door, grabbing a muffin and a sealed cup of tea before I got there.

The only good thing about overbearing parents is that there's a fifty percent chance you won't be like them when you have kids. The other fifty percent is the chance of you being exactly like them. God bless the future generations if that's true.

I take the elevator down to the lobby and am greeted by the welcoming faces of Edna at the desk and Gustav by the door.

"Good morning, Ms. Heather," Edna says sweetly.

"Good morning," I smiled.

"Your car is here, Ms. Heather." Gustav holds open the door for me before following me out and opening the car door as well. "Have a nice day at school, please."

I nod, "I'll try, but only if you promise not to let these old, bitter people walk all over you today."

He chuckled before closing the car door and waving me off as I was driven away.

The drivers in New York have a habit of not speaking but subtly glancing at you from the rearview mirror. Through the years, that's just given me the habit of pretending I'm the only one in the car.

I ate half the muffin and wrapped up the rest before storing it in my bag. The tea was only slightly cooled down by the time the car stopped but I didn't mind. It's always nice to have something to drink during class.

I didn't bother with saying thank you before I got out of the car and the man hardly gave me a chance to grab my bag before he drove off.

Despite the morning irritancy, there's still a chance my day will go well.

So I thought...before I walked down the hall and saw how pissy Audrey looked.