Princess {Currently Being Updated}

Chapter 5

I hear the morning alarm go off. It was hard to hear, since my body was aching louder than the alarm. I had just gotten to the point of sleep where everything just yawned into place, fully soaking in that heaviness that comes with sleep. I reached my phone to have the blinding light encourage my eyes to move. The screen read 4:30 am.

No!

In a moment, pure terror seized me. I jolt up from the bed, which is actually just a couch, and fly to the ground and managed to skillfully hit my head on the corner of the coffee table right before landing.

"That was rude." I cradled my head and trip three times on my sheets before finally making it into the bathroom. My hair was now a red tornado to be feared.

"So, braid? No, messy bun. Eyeliner and mascara. Here we go." I rushed through the mandatory morning ritual that we all keep but literally does me no good because people say I stink anyways.

I bolt out the door and run to the coffee shop barely five minutes early. Fortunately, I was working with Tyler again. He was always early. I couldn't understand if it was because he had nothing else to do or because he needed a girlfriend. I opened the door and ran to the back to set my things and checked the register, already ready and clocked in about fifteen minutes ago.

"Tyler, you need a hobby." I greeted.

I heard a ruckus from the deep belly of the storage.

"Such a clutz." I rolled my eyes and started on my own coffee drink.

"Bethany." I turned around and saw him kick back one of the crates that he apparently stepped into and could hear the rattle of the glass of the tea drinks we had.

"Easy, Tiger. Are you okay?" I could see it in his face, in his eyes.

"Before the management gets here," he started, but stopped and rubbed his eyes. "God, Bethany, I'm so sorry."

"What?"

"They're firing you." He tugged at his hair.

"What? What for?" I could feel my heart rate increase.

"Remember that new management that I mentioned last time?"

I nodded.

"I don't know much, by they spoke with the shift manager over the phone last night. There's a lot of new things going on, but it's the shadiest shit I've ever heard of. They're only firing you. 'Budget cuts' my ass. The only thing that they're getting rid of is you and the coffee and tea brands." He looked me over, searching for an emotional response. Something to tend to.

Not from me. I nodded, soaking this information in.

They're cracking down on you now. They want to starve you out. Run you out of funds.

No, they don't. There's no way to know for sure if this is a direct attack on me. It's easy to take things personal. Tyler was a beloved friend and someone in a similar situation. He got off easy because he was attractive. As close friends as we are, he's probably taking this personally on my account.

Be rational.

"Well, they can't fire me just for disliking me. I think that would be considered discrimination."

"And how exactly are you going to pay for that law suit?"

"Point taken." I nodded.

"Drink's on me." He winked but I could see this really hurt him too. "But hey, you still have your other two jobs?" He cocked his head sideways, as if his puppy face could break my polished cool.