Together Again / Brendon Urie

7. Adler

7 years later

I sit on my couch, finally done unloading the truck and have a moment of relaxation before my doorbell rings forcing me to get up. Lucky for me it's just the pizza I ordered. I tip the man and place it on my counter. My, kitchen counter.

I graduated from culinary school 3 years ago after a 4 year internship, started an entry level cooking position and now I'm going to be head chef at a restaurant in Nashville. The best part? It got me out of Las Vegas. Away from everyone. Sure I could have worked in a hotel, restaurants, or casino easily, but that's not what I wanted to do. I am going to be running my own kitchen, my own staff, my own menu. Sure I still have a manager of the facility, but the kitchen is mine. Blair is a nurse, she is actually in a prestigious program in Canada and I'm happy for her but to say we didn't drift apart would be a lie. I'm kind of on my own by this point. My dad is the only person I have left. We talk everyday and I taught him snapchat so he can do that also. I sent him a pic of my pizza as my first meal and he laughed. "I should have known." He replied.

"Hey, I just moved in. Groceries don't just magically appear!" We laughed and he informed me he was going to work and had to go. Now it's just me. Me and this pizza, me and Netflix.

I have a week to settle in so I shop around Nashville. I don't actually buy anything but I get to know my local area real well and what stores are nearby. I spend my days mainly unpacking, what little belongings I do own. I go grocery shopping, and buy some new work clothes also. I'm sitting at home and just browsing through my phone. It's times like these I really miss Bentley. He passed away a couple years ago, from old age. The poor dude just fell asleep and never woke up. I swear that's the way I want to go. I bite my nails and when I realize this I snap out of it and look down at my nail beds. I haven't bitten my nails since, well, high school. Seeing as I have no nails left to paint for work, I head out to get a new set put on.

I sit in the chair as the worker does her thing. I get lost in thought, which is fine because they don't really talk unless you initiate conversation. "What color?" She asks in her thick accent. This makes me think of a movie I saw where they fake the accent completely just to keep the facade alive and indulge people's inhibitions when they go to a beauty salon, like outside of work they speak perfect english. "Oh, um black." I reply and she scrunches her face. "You too pretty for black nail, how about this colour?" She suggests a light purple and I shrug. "Sure, sounds good." I'm not opposed to color, just black is easier and goes with everything, but I guess since it is Spring I should add some color huh?

I got gel so my nails are good and ready to go by the time I leave. I get in my car and realize it's now 7pm. Well I guess I better turn in for the night, I have a long and momentous day tomorrow. First day at the new job. I get home, wash my hands and face, brush my teeth, change into my sleeping clothes and put my hair into a pony tail. I check Facebook, twitter, and Instagram in bed before moving onto my personal email and lastly my work email.

One new message.

I open the inbox and see it is from my soon to be, new boss.

Arrive by 7am to go over opening morning tasks, bring your social security card, photo ID, and proof of residency.

Ps: I like my coffee black
-B

Well that's very presumptuous of her. She listed an address below for The Yellow Porch as if I don't already have it. I plug my phone in for the night, make sure I have 4 alarms set in case the other three fail to go off. I'm a light sleeper, I'll wake up, but I'm paranoid my phone will fail me and I'll be late. I slowly drift off, then wake up a couple hours later because I hear a noise. I jump out of bed and head into the hallway. There's nothing there, the apartment is sealed but I hear someone outside. I go over to the door and look through my peep hole. A couple across the hall are making out and trying to get in the door. They finally succeed and it slams behind them rattling the walls a little. I sigh, double check my locks and go back to bed. "Tomorrow is going to be a rough day if I don't get some sleep." I mumble to myself and drag my feet back to bed.

I wake up on my first alarm and stare at the dark ceiling. I reluctantly get up to take a shower, I'm not a morning shower person. It's too sudden and I stay in there way too long because I don't want to get out. I understand some people use it to wake up, but I just want to fall asleep under the water. After again reluctantly getting out, I dress quickly to avoid the chill and start working on my hair. I blow dry it, secure it in a bun and move to make up. I don't wear much but my go to is brown eyeliner, mascara and light natural eye shadow, to go with my brown eyes. I also wear my black pencil skirt and a white blouse matched with black flats. I will be receiving my uniform there, so this will have to do. I make sure I have the correct papers and take a look in the hallway mirror before heading out.

The drive there is about 20 minutes, 30 with traffic. Which this early there really isn't much, its 6:15am. I arrive by 6:35am to my dismay and sit in my car patiently. I'm scrolling through my phone when I see a Tesla pull up a couple spaces down, almost behind the building. Who the fuck? It's dark but I see a gentleman get out, he's average height, slender, in a pair of black slacks and white button up shirt. His hair is dark and swept to the side and he wears a pair of matching thick frame square glasses. I watch as he types in his phone and walks towards the front doors. He slides his phone into his pants and I catch a glimpse of gold, gold rings on his left hand, more then one too. Man's married. He puts his booklet under his armpit and searches for his keys. He finds the right one, successfully unlocking the door and enters the vestibule unarming the security system. I watch as he disappears and wait until the lights are on before stepping out of my own car.

I gather my belongings smooth my skirt, grab my cardigan, lock my car and make sure my phone is on vibrate. I walk quietly to the front entrance and take in my surroundings as make it through the vestibule. The place is spotless, very clean and feels like a home. Burnt orange, red and olive green walls add a burst of color surrounded by round tables covered in dark table cloths adorned with matching cloth napkins. Teak colored hardwood floors and a bar at the back to add to its space. I take a few steps in and then I'm drawn away by a voice. "Addie?" A very distinctive voice although it's much lower then I remember. I look up towards the direction where the voice came from and I'm met with a matching pair of dark brown eyes.