Orphanage AU: Lams

Chapter 3: Take the Money

Heere is our first new POV, of which I hope there will be more. But not from EVERYBODY. Just a few. We'll see.

---Eliza's POV---

I heard the cash register ring and waited for Sally to finish with Usnavi.

"With cinnamon," he reminded Sally anxiously.

"When have we ever forgotten Vanessa's cinnamon?" She asked teasingly, raising an eyebrow.

Usnavi thanked Sally, scooping his two coffees off the counter, and Sally turned around towards me, looking equal parts sheepish and defiant.

"Sally-"

"You were talking to Alex, no one was taking Usnavi's order!"

"Sally, just because Alex and I helped you with Thomas doesn't mean you're obliged to help me. I really have to pay you for your work." I pulled a couple bills from the cash register, including the $10 Alex had slid me a couple minutes ago.

Sally looked horrified. "No, really, Eliza, it's the least I can do to thank you-"

I shook my head with an endearing smile as Maria slipped in behind me, giving me a quick peck on the cheek.

"Oh, don't tell me you two are at it again." She groaned, looking at me.

"Maria, tell Eliza that helping someone out of an abusive relationship is something you should do everything you can to pay back." Sally told my girlfriend firmly, looking directly at me.

"Maria, tell Sally that anyone decent will do everything they can to help their friend if they're getting beaten and mistreated and cheated on by their partner and it's just honoring the golden rule."

"See," Maria shifted cautiously, looking back and forth between me and Sally and backing up a couple steps, "I agree with you both." Maria smiled and swooped in for a kiss.

Her soft red lips hit my pink ones gently and I kissed eagerly back, shyly deepening the kiss. She closed her eyes and I felt her lashes brush my face as I did the same, gently running my fingers through her soft hair.

Cough.

We shot away from each other in the blink of an eye, and whirled around to see a middle aged blonde woman, quirking an eyebrow.

"Heidi!" We exclaimed simultaneously, in the same shrilly embarrassed voice.

Sally, of course, saved us yet again. "The usual?"

Heidi nodded. "You girls are the sweetest couple."

"You two go sort this out, I'll handle the coffee," Maria told us decidedly.

How can I deny her anything? I wondered dreamily, glancing at her full lips. Quickly, I grabbed Sally and pulled her into the back, sighing.

"Here, take the money." I demanded. She just looked at me and shook her head. "Sally, take the money!"

She held her hands up in a not me gesture. "I don't want your money. I worked here just for you, keep your money."

I groaned. "Sally listen, please just take the money, you're making me feel guilty, take the money." I was practically shoving it into her hands.

"Girl, you know you need me here, I come through for you, every time." She gave me a look, reminding me of my earlier talk with Alex, when she took over. "Just in time."

I sighed. "You really did come through for me," I admitted finally. She beamed, hazel eyes lighting up. "There's only one more thing you need to do for me," I added slyly.

She perked up.

"Take the money."

"We can all use it," Maria offered, making us both jump. "Angie can take the kids to buy little welcome gifts for the new guy." We turned to look at her. "Thank you, thank you," she proclaimed pretentiously. "I am a genius, no?"

"No." I replied with a smirk. "Who's attending the counter?"

I burst out laughing as she gasped, her amber eyes wide. "Ooops..." She answered meekly, dashing back out.

"I'll give Angelica the money," Sally offered eagerly, once more anxious to be helpful.

"Sure." I handed her the money.

---Sally's POV---

I counted the money in my hand as I walked toward the corner table where Angie was sipping tea with Peggy.

Eliza was far too nice to me, really. I truly felt indebted to her and Alex after they helped me out with Thom- Jefferson.

I knew I owed Alex more than Eliza, but to be honest, I was afraid that if I did something for Alex I would give Thomas more of an excuse to beat him up- not that he needed an excuse.

To make up for it, I worked overboard to do things for Eliza.

"OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD," Angelica screeched, grabbing Peggy's arm dramatically and squeezing it until it turned white, "She finally took the money!"

Peggy simply gaped. Then she narrowed her eyes. "You didn't, did you?"

"Nah," I laughed, "Of course not." Both Schuyler sisters gave a disappointed sigh. "The money's for you, Angie. You're supposed to give it to your kids to get little gifts for the new guy."

"Alright," she conceded, albeit reluctantly. "Fine. But someday you're going to have to accept payment."

"Yeah, Sally, how are you going to live?" Peggy chimed in. Dammit, she was kind of cute. Her brown hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail and she wore a yellow Miranda T-shirt that was far too big for her. Who the heck manages to look good in yellow?

Crap Sally, you need to watch yourself. No eyeing girls in public. Nobody knew I was pan. I needed to keep it that way. Jeffershit was always looking for people to beat up; if someone knew he was pan, he'd immediately come the the conclusion that I liked Eliza. Nobody. Touches. Eliza.

I thought back to when she helped me.

Eliza had been in the back rooms so Thomas must have thought the store was empty. Except, of course, for me.

Thomas had stormed in, slamming me forcefully against the countertop, the marble cold against my skin. Soon-to-be-bruises peppered my skin.

Then, Eliza rushed in from the back rooms, probably having heard Thomas's voice.

"Hey!" She yelled. "Don't treat her like that!"

Eliza'd fixed me up, but Thomas wasn't gone. He'd find me soon enough and Eliza couldn't protect me forever.

Alex came, and tried to get him to stop, but he came out beaten worse than I'd ever been. The purple bruises that littered his thin frame was more than enough to make both me and Eliza beg him not to go back.

The police, of course, were too preoccupied to help a back woman out of an abusive relationship. They had to make sure the black 10-year-old children playing on the slide of the elementary school playground weren't harassing the respectable white men. Of course, they think "making sure" is done best with bullets.

Alex, of course, turned to writing. After reading his pleading letter, the government finally decided to intervene.

Thomas took up a much healthier bond with James Madison, who he apparently couldn't bear to hurt, although he still refused to admit they were more than friends. He wouldn't accept who he was, but anyone could see he definitely had it for James.

Peggy, actually, was pretty cute, my head singsonged slyly. Technically, we could happen, but I didn't think I'd ever be able to come out as pan.

Hey, what? That actually didn't turn out badly, am I right? I had to have a little Marliza. Should I update more often? I'm currently trying once a week...

Anyways, see ya!

- . . . .me?