Backstage ➳ Madnessa

-5

Madelaines POV

"Vanessa, can you take this to that guy over there?" I asked Vanessa as I handed her a coffee and pointed to a guy at the back of the café.

I was scooting around like crazy, taking peoples orders and making the orders and delivering the orders.

"Um, sure?.." Vanessa says, walking away to give the guy his coffee. She walks back and sits at a stool. I reach over and hand her another two cups of coffee and tell her to take them over to some people outside the café. "Damn, should've just stayed at home" She said, shaking her head as she walks off.

I ignore it and get back to working around the coffee house.

"Okay, Madelaine you need to slow it down" Vanessa said, sitting down at a stool. I shook my head and kept working.

"I'm fine, I get off in two hours, and then I can slow it down okay?" I say, still moving around frantically, not making eye contact.

"seriously, stop, you're going to wear yourself out, have you even had anything to eat or drink today other than breakfast?" She asks, looking serious. I stop immediately and slam my hands down on the counter top and look her in the eyes.

"Vanessa, I have been doing this for a long time and I know what I am doing, I can handle this, I get a break in like half an hour anyway, so whatever" I say, beginning to work again.

She shakes her head at me and stands up, holding her hands out, I place a tray in her hands and she walks off to various tables handing out coffees and food. Vanessa walks back and gets ready to deliver more coffees but before she could take the tray she got a phone call.

"Sorry, I'll be quick" She apologised, walking outside and taking the call.

Vanessas POV

I walked back up to Mads ready to deliver more coffees, I reached out to grab the tray but before I could my phone starting ringing. I took my phone out of my pocket and pressed answer.

"Sorry, I'll be quick" I apologised, running outside to take the call. I saw the contact said my manager so I answered hoping it was for Riverdale.

"Hey" I said .

"Hi, Vanessa!" My manager said.

"What do you have for me?" I asked.

"David Rapaport, the casting direct for Riverdale, said he loved your audition, and that you did great! Unfortunately, you didn't get the part of Josie McCoy. I'm sorry, Vanessa" He said. I was a little disappointed.

"Oh okay, thank you. Bye" I said.

"Bye, Vanessa" My manager said and with that I hung up and put my phone back in my pocket. I took a deep breath and headed back into the café with a smile on my face, not wanting to concern Madelaine.

I walked back up to Mads and was about to take a tray but then she stopped me.

"I'm on my break now, lets go get lunch" She said, taking my hand and dragging me to my car.

can you guess where she made me take us? Veggie Grill.

Once we got to Veggie Grill we ordered and sat down at a table. Our food had just come to the table and started eating it, it was something I've never had before, Madelaine made me try it and I don't know what to think about it.

"What do you think?" Mads asked me.

"It's alright, I'd probably get it again" I said, putting another mouthful of the food into my mouth.

"Fair enough," She said, taking a sip of her water. "So, who was that on the phone earlier?" She asks.

"My manager-" I blurted out without thinking, I quickly stopped myself.

"Oh! What did he say? Was it about Riverdale?" Mads asks excitedly, she was basically beaming with hope and excitement. I cleared my throat and looked away from her.

"N-no it was about another job, I haven't gotten the call from Riverdale yet" I say, sounding disappointed. Mads reached over and grabbed my hand.

"Hey, you're going to get the call, and you're going to get the part, just hang in there. I'll be here with you the entire time" She said, rubbing her thumb over the back of my hand.

I smile up at her and grab her other hand, intertwining our fingers.

"Thanks, babe. I know you're going to get the part too, and I'm here with you the entire time too" I say, I let go of one of her hands and take a sip of my tea. We kept holding hands until Madelaine's phone started ringing, she took her hand away from mine, I left mine where it was.

"Sorry" She said and took the call. I sighed and got back to my tea, listening to what she was saying.

"Hello?" She said.

"What? But I just went on my break and I'm meant to get off in like an hour" I heard her say.

"Well where are Ashley and Donika? They're meant to be on tonight" She said sounding annoyed.

"You can't do this to me, come on get someone else in, I've got plans tonight" Madelaine sighs and scratches her head in annoyance.

"Fine, I'll be back after my break" She sighs and hangs up, placing her head in her hands.

"Was that work?" I ask even though I know it was. She nods her head and removes her hands from over her eyes.

"They want me to pick up another shift because Ashley and Donika are both 'sick'" She said, her voice sounding shaky.

"Why did you say yes?" I ask.

"Because they offered to raise this weeks pay if I did and I need the money" She said, taking a sip of her tea and looking like a wreck. She's worked a double-shift like everyday this week, she must be exhausted. I can see her tearing up.

"I'm exhausted, Vanessa" She says, letting out a shaky breath.

Called it...

"I have gone to work everyday this week expecting to do my job and get out and instead I've been dumped with a double-shift every fucking day, and it's not like I can say no, I need the money" She's crying by the time she's finished talking.

I get up and sit next to her, hugging her and stroking her hair and back. We hug for a few minutes and then she pulls away, not looking at me. I reach my hand out and wipe a tear from the side of her face. She begins crying again and I pull her back to me for another hug.

"Shh, it's okay, it's alright, I'm here. I'm gonna come back to work with you okay, it's okay" I say, hugging her tighter.

"It's going to be another three and a half hours, Vanessa, just go home, I'll be fine" She says.

"No, I don't care how long it is, I'm coming back with you. Like I said earlier, I have nothing better to do, and I'd rather spend time with you anywhere, than be alone" I said, standing up and grabbing her hand. We walked back to the car, hand-in-hand and I drove us back to the coffee house.

A/n: so this chapter isn't the best but I tried, I hope you still liked it though. Also I can't be bothered proof-reading so if there's spelling mistakes, oops ✨💕