Black & White (Colorful Sequel | H.S)|✔️

27

E l l i e

"Daff, can I come in?" I ask softly as I knock on the hardwood door to her office. She grumbles something incoherent and I take that as an invitation. I walk in and smile at her.

She doesn't return it. In fact, she looks miserable.

"Daff... what's wrong?" I frown out of genuine concern. That confuses the hell out of me because last time I checked, I wanted her to be miserable until she died. So why am I so worried now?

"I could ask the same of you. You look like shit."

I hold back an eye roll, mostly because I'm so shocked. Never in a day of working for the great Daffodil have I seen her like this. She's usually icy and composed. Now she just looks like death...

"You're scaring me now," I say slowly as I eye her pale face and tied back hair. She never ties her hair! She claims it makes her look like a man. It's probably the one Hollywood trend she'll never try.

"Just get me some coffee or something," she huffs while massaging her temples. I do as she says because she truly looks like she can bite my head off.

I back out of her office, horrified to turn my back on her. She scoffs as I close the door but I'm too busy running to Daniel. As soon as I reach his desk, I grasp his arm like I'm drowning and he's a lifeboat.

"Jesus! You scared me!"

"Sorry," I rush out. "But this is important. Daffodil doesn't look like Daffodil right now."

"What're you saying?"

"Her hair's tied!"

His mouth forms an 'o' shape. "Oh, so it's bad."

"Super bad," I confirm. "She looks like the people she'd usually turn to stone."

"So... the statues?"

I roll my eyes. "Who cares, Danny! I'm more scared for our wellbeing. What if she kills us? There would be no witnesses."

"Wrong. Janet at reception always waves when I leave. If I don't come down, I think she'd figure out that something's wrong."

"Yeah, for you! She never sees me come down! They'll probably find your body and then stop looking for me!"

"Well, then you should stop spending nights here."

Damn it! "You know, dying doesn't sound too bad..."

"Ellie."

I throw up my hands in surrender. "Alright! I have to make a coffee run, although I might end up running by a juice place and grabbing her a cleanse. What kind of shot would she need to make herself feel better?"

"Well, did she look sick?"

"Probably. I don't know! I don't have a reference!" I frustratedly groan before leaning against his desk. He rolls back his chair so he can look at me better. "I can handle Medusa mode but I'm at a total loss right now."

"She'll be fine. Just grab whatever she demanded and see how it goes. She can't get mad at you for doing your job."

Seeing that he has a point, I pat his head and make my way to the Starbucks across the street. The barista greets me and starts making the drink without having me repeat the order. In fact, there's a sticky note behind the register that has it written down so it's perfect.

"Add in an iced coffee. Vanilla please," I add for myself. I haven't slept in twenty-seven hours. I need this.

The barista smiles and makes my order. "Rough day, huh?"