Vertebrae (In Progress)

Chapter 3: Return?

 What is with that annoying alarm clock? I am positive that it hates me. I stretched my arm out and mashed it in as was customary. It stopped beeping, but this time the clock didn't blink out. I sat up and checked it. Some one had fixed it. It was 7 am. And it was Tuesday. How was I home?

 I got up and started to freshen up. I still had a shift to run. I'd have to deal with this mystery afterwards. Good news is that I only work until lunch which means that I can join Karis then. Maybe she knows something?

 I started to freshen up, brushing my teeth and hair but not with the same implement. Before I changed into my uniform, I checked the base of my neck. Yep, that crazy metal contraption was still there. I glanced at it in the mirror but didn't pay too much attention to it. I would find out more later. I tied my apron on over my pink button-up and searched for the comb. I felt a rustle in my hair and glanced up. Nothing... Maybe I'm becoming paranoid like Karis?

 I glanced back up in the mirror and gasped. My hair was all in place. My jaw dropped. What? Whaaaaaat??? How had this happened. I accepted it quickly and pushed my headband into place. I didn't have time to ponder another mystery. I'd have to make breakfast and feed Stinky still.

 I heard a noise in the kitchen. I came in to see waffles in the kitchen on a plate. I backed up to the wall in shock.

  "Hello? Is anyone else in here?" I called.

  "Other than me? Naw." Oh, my gosh. That voice is the most annoying thing in the universe. Probably why it shot out in a meteorite. Its planet didn't even want it.

 I shoved the voice down in my head and grabbed a waffle. I inspected it for poison or any irregular things. None. I munched the waffle ungratefully and went to feed Stinky. I found food in his aquarium already. I ground my teeth.

  "How do you do that?" I asked aloud.

  "I don't. Well, I do, but you did," came the reply.

  "Well, stop it! I don't like my equilibrium abrupted unless I am interrupting it."

  "But you are the one interrupting it..."

 I ignored this and continued getting ready. I was out the door by 7:09 am and arrived before my shift began.

  "Willa?" JoJo noticed me. "I heard you were in the hospital? Are you alright?"

  "Yes," I smiled. She wouldn't need much explanation.

  "Well, be grateful that you were off yesterday. Oh, and happy birthday, you get a raise of 50 cents."

 I was shocked. "Me?"

  "Well, who else had a birthday two days ago?"

  "Paolo?"

  "No, his was two months ago."

  "Oh. Thank you! That means so much to me!"

 JoJo waved me away and I got to work. I worked until 11:30 am and then walked down to Genghis Corp. I rode the elevator until I had reached the third floor. Karis was at front desk.

  "Genghis Corp, my name is Karis Hotchins. How may I help you?" She asked without looking up.

  "I'm looking for the bestest friend in the whole wide world," I said with a fake British accent.

 Karis' eyes shot up to me at that.

  "WILLA! YOU'RE OKAY!!!" She jumped up from her desk and wrapped me in a hug. I hugged her back.

  "Yes, I am," I said in a constricted voice. "I think. But I won't be if you don't let me breathe, Ms. Anaconda."

 Karis let me go. "What happened?"