No Rest for the Wicked

6

"Shoot, I'm never going to get to work on time now." I said, dashing about the foyer looking for my keys.

"Why not? Your day doesn't start for another two hours." Thomas pointed out.

"I'm usually gone by now, but I overslept. I've just been kinda tired lately. Luckily I'm not late very often, so Eve might grant me a mercy." I said, looking under the coat rack. "I skipped the shower this morning and I took a granola bar. I'll just put on some scented lotion in the car."

"What's all the comotion about?" Lucille asked me, emerging from the living room.

"Oh, hi, Lucille, you're looking well this morning." I said, snatching my keys that apparently fell off their hook. "Okay, I gotta go, so I'll see you when I get back."

The door slammed shut behind me.

***

"You okay, Kira? You smell like you slept in coconuts." Eve asked once I burst into the pharmacy.

"Yeah, I just overslept a hair this morning and didn't have time to shower. I put some lotion on my hands... And my temples... And my neck."

"You haven't been late a day since you got here, you can relax a bit."

"I'm on a 4 month streak, I'm not about to break it."

"Did you win the perfect attendance award in grade school?" Lizzie asked, wiping down the counter.

"We didn't have it at my school." I replied, shoving my stuff in the closet.

"God, you even look tired. What's with the dark circles?"

"I must have missed them."

"With makeup?"

"Yeah. I was rushing."

"Well, okay. Anyways, guess what?" Eve asked.

"Yeah?" Lizzie asked.

"Our tally board is at 96. We're almost to a hundred."

"Awesome! Only four more bozos till drinks!" I replied, taking a long drink from my water bottle.

"Never thought I'd see the day that I wanted some creep asking for you to come in." Lizzie said.

"I agree. I really need a pick-me-up." I said, smiling.

"Focus on the work day, ladies. If we get to a hundred, great. If not, don't moan and groan about it." Eve said sternly.

"Yes, mum." Lizzie replied sarcastically.

***

"... And come back when you actually need ibuprofen." Lizzie called after the guy leaving the store in a huff.

"Hey, check it out, it's five. Time to make the journey home." I said, pointing to the clock.

"Aaaaaand I'm proud to announce that we have officially hit one hundred!" Eve said, making the last cross on the tally board.

"Huzzah! Drinks in two days." Lizzie said triumphantly as she closed the drive thru window.

"Hey, I had a crazy idea." I said, grabbing my bag.

"And that is?" Eve asked.

"You all should come to my place on Friday. I haven't had company yet and you guys are my closest friends here." I said.

"You mean... Us? In Allerdale Hall?" Lizzie almost squaked.

"Sure. It's completely safe. Bring whatever the hell you want to drink, we'll make an evening of it as soon as we get off work on Friday. I just need time to clean the place."

And make sure Thomas and Lucille don't try to barge in. I added silently to myself.

"I'm all for it. I've never been in a haunted house before." Lizzie said brightly.

"Hilarious." I replied with a short, sarcastic laugh.

"I'll bring one of my good wines." Eve said as she shut the employee door and locked it.

"Can't wait for it." I said.

***

"So I just need you two to possibly stay hidden and upstairs. Just for a few hours." I said, throwing away the take-out cartons from tonight's dinner.

"I'm not so sure about this. We haven't had visitors other than you in forever." Thomas said nervously.

"It'll be fine. We'll stay in the living room the whole time and I'll not get drunk enough to let something slip." I vowed.

"If you're certain." Lucille said, inclining her pale face in acknowledgement.

(Sorry this is shorter, it's more of a transition chapter :3)