clockwork || hemmings a.u.

two hours late

My alarm clock rings at exactly 7:12. Then it rings again and again, then I realise it isn't my alarm clock at all, it's my phone. I scramble to get glasses on the bridge of my nose in order to see who could possibly be calling so early in the morning. When my eyes can see the small screen, my boss' name flashes and I'm rapidly accepting the call.
"Harper it's nice of you to pick up." My boss snaps, I know her well enough to know that she isn't mad at all, just tired so early in the morning, "Be here at nine instead. The band manager thought I said ten, when I clearly said eleven forty-five, so they are coming at ten," she sighed dramatically, "but any who, please be here on time, you know I hate tardiness." And I was left with dial tone.

I guess I'm awake now. My head was pounding reminding me that I haven't had coffee yet this morning. Just as my pot is beginning to brew, a dazed Clay walks in to our kitchen. We just grumble a good morning to each other and avoid talking until we are half way through our coffees.

"So," Clay sips his drink, "Why are you up so early? I thought you didn't have to be in until ten today?"

"Veronica called and said that the band is coming at ten so I have to be there by nine. Although when Roni says nine, she really means eight thirty."

Clay laughed then pushed my ass off the couch, "Well then bae you better go get ready."

"Bae?" I groaned and took an extremely fast shower, and got dressed in leggings, a Green Day tee shirt, with a black and green flannel over, and black leather booties to match.

I raced out the door glaring at my watch that blared 8:14 and speed walked to the studio. The doors opened with me in them at exactly 8:29 and I was immediately bombarded with an intern asking if I wanted anything on her Starbucks run. I got a plain hot chocolate, not in the mood for anything extravagant to happen during this shoot.

As soon as I walked into the room holding all the equipment and backdrops, Veronica strutted up in her heels, a worrisome look upon her features. Roni opened her perfectly painted lips, "I hope you knew on the phone that I was being so-"

"Bitchy because you were stressed and it wasn't even seven thirty in the morning? Yeah I knew." I laughed at her fussing.

"I was going to say uptight, but bitchy works too." Roni was the coolest boss, she was only 29 years old and she didn't care what we really did as long as it was organised and logical, "Go check that the set is correctly placed, I had an intern do it." Then she pressed a phone to her ear and started rattling off commands.

I check to make sure the cameras were in working order, and also secure the backdrop because that was not hung correctly. I shake my wrist until I can read the face of my watch and realise the band should be here any minute. I look up in horror to realise I don't know the name of the band.

Just then yet another intern walks past me, I stop him in with a forearm and ask, "Hey, what band is coming today?"
He chuckles nervously, "Um, I don't know. 4 Minutes of Winter or something like that." I nod and allow him to complete the mundane task he was asked to carry out.

The coffee intern brings me my hot chocolate and I sit on the ground waiting for the band to show up.

I check my watch, 10:13, no band, Veronica is standing by the door.

10:27, Veronica is chewing her nails, nervously checking her watch every few seconds.

10:49, pacing has been taken up by Roni with a glare sent to the door every few times she passes it.

11:14, by now Roni has pulled a chair to the entrance and she sits on the edge waiting.

11:36, no band in sight, just an aggravated boss.