Finding Hope in Blue

Chapter 3: Blue

Constance Wu as Raquelle Shi

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Cymbeline's POV:

After explaining to Raquelle about everything, she threatened to harm Rafael, to which I declined.

We stayed home all day, helping Dominique pack, watching a bunch of stupid movies, and eating till we felt sick.

"I want to do something," I told them.

"Like?"

"Something different. Like get a piercing or a tattoo or plastic surgery," I offered.

"How about something small and easy to change in case you regret it?" Raquelle laughed.

"Dying my hair," I said with finality.

Silence. They sat in thought.

"What color?"

I thought for a moment. Something really different. Bright.

"How about blue?" I could picture it already. An icy, maybe bright blue?

"Let's do it. I think the change could be good for you," Raquelle sat up.

We filed into Raquelle's car and she drove us to Target. We found the hair dye section easily.

"Which one do I get?" I looked through the hundreds of different hair dyes.

"The blue one," Raquelle said simply.

"Wow, thanks Sherlock. I meant the brand dumbass," I say, making her smile humorously.

"Get a random one. Nobody here knows shit about hair dye," Dominique took a box off the shelf.

"Well, that makes me feel safe knowing you guys are going to be handling my hair," I murmured sarcastically. I plucked one off the shelf that had a color I could see myself in. It was baby blue, leaning towards sky blue.

I flicked my blonde hair over my shoulder and told the girls I was ready to pay. They followed me to the cashier and I paid for the small box. After we got home, I sat on a kitchen chair and let my two best friends work their magic.

The dye was cold on my scalp. It made me shiver and tingle.

"Are you sure you're doing this correctly? If it comes out patchy and gross, I am never letting you go near me ever again," I threaten harmlessly, concern evident in my voice.

"Oh quit your whining. We're the ones who have complete control here," Raquelle smirked. She was having fun with this. I frowned. This was going to be a disaster.

~~

It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Maybe a little lighter than I had hoped, but I liked it. It was different and that's what I wanted.

Rafael wasn't going to affect me. He wouldn't. I'm the new me.

It was the next day and I had work. I hadn't even thought about work or what my boss would do.

I dressed up in a frilly gray dress and matched it with a pair of ankle boots. I said my goodbyes to Dominique and Raquelle and drove off to my work. I worked as a sales woman at a clothing store. I was pretty good at it too, I think. I loved helping customers find their sense of fashion. It was always fun.

"Hey Andy," I waved to my boss as I settled into the store and put my nametag on.

"Hello... Cymbeline? I like the hair. Suits you," Andy motioned towards my head. I grinned and thanked her.

"Listen, I would like to talk to you later. How about around your break time?" she continued after I situated myself by the door. I nodded and she walked away. Andy wanted to talk to me. About what?

Lately she has been being super friendly. She was being nicer to me than she had been in the last 2 years. Could I be getting a promotion?

I thought about it. The idea did not seem impossible. In fact, it seemed reasonable.

Throughout the day, I helped customers and couldn't help but think about Andy and her words every chance I got. By the time it was my break, I was rushing over to her with excitement bubbling in me.

This was it. I didn't need Rafael. A new hair color, my friends careers taking off, getting a promotion. Who needed a boyfriend anyway?

Even though I thought about this, my eyes teared up at the thought of Raf. He was still my first love. My first everything.

Andy glanced my way and led me to the back of the store.

I sat down on a chair and waited for her to speak.

"Cym, you know I love you. You know that I know that you're such a loyal employee. This decision has been tough, but I believe that it is what's in the company's best interest that we let you go," she said with finality. She waited. Her words hit me like a train.

"What?"

"Our sales have been going down recently a-and," but I cut her off. How could she do this to me?

"I'm sorry. What?" I said again. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe her. After 2 years of working under her, she decides to do this to me?

"Customers have been saying that you 'helped' them by telling them how to buy clothes efficiently. You're making our sales go down. We're spending more than we're earning," Andy explained.

"I don't do that. They ask for my help and I tell them to pick something that fits their style the best while keeping a logical mind about how much they spend. I should be getting a promotion if anything!" I yelled. My blood was boiling.

"You work in sales, that's exactly why I am firing you. You're not supposed to help them spend their money logically- you have to sell the most expensive items! It's a business," her face hardened. She was firing me. Hearing the words said aloud froze me in place.

I breathed hard. She glared. I turned away first. Damn her. Damn this entire store. Damn this company. The clothes were ugly as shit anyway.

I ripped the nametag from my dress and slammed it on the desk. I sped out of the room and gathered my belongings, storming out of the store as I did.

Fuck this. At the entrance of the store, just as I was stuffing shit into my purse, I roughly bumped into another person.

I turned to the guy.

"Learn to walk, will you! God, everybody on this planet really knows how to fuck up my life," I groaned. He rose an eyebrow at me and squinted as if to get a better look at me.

"I hate to argue with an obvious damsel in distress, but I believe it is you that has bumped into me. I wasn't the one who was looking deep into Mary Poppins' bag o' wonders," he motioned towards my purse. I glared at him. Who was he to tell me I was wrong?

He's just like everyone else on this stupid planet.

I wanted to say something clever back. To spit in his face and relish every second. But the longer I glared into his dark brown eyes, the more empty my head became. Instead of saying anything, I scoffed, shook my head, and stormed away.

Ugh, people!