First (James Yammouni)

Chapter 4

The next morning I had repeated my routine from the morning before, getting ready and all dolled up, but this time it was for work. Marie told me that I didn't need a uniform, as long as I wore a short sleeved shirt that didn't have any writing or pictures on it I would be fine. I dressed myself in a pair of blue jean shorts along with a button up blue blouse with sleeves that went to my elbows and I opted for my boots instead of flats. I put my hair into a ponytail without even brushing it and decided against makeup today and headed out the door.

Once I got there I was put to work immediately, since Marie was apparently busy today and I had to make three batches of her homemade secret recipe cookies with a never ending list of ingredients and an impossible recipe to follow. I was exhausted by the time I was done and business had slowed down, and almost all of the orders were filled. Just as I sat down the bell attached to the door rang, signaling that someone had just come in. I groaned to myself and looked up, my eyes meeting a familiar pair of brown ones.

"James" I said, surprised that he was actually here.

"Emma" he said, walking up to the counter.

"What are you here for"

"Well, I'd like some of those cookies you brought home yesterday"

"Oh" I said, slightly embarrassed that I had completely forgot I was working.

"Do you want one batch? Or two maybe?" I asked.

"One will be fine" he said "Brittany really liked them, she wanted some more"

"You mean that girl from last night?" I asked.

He nodded his head.

"She was nice" I smiled at him. "She seems like a good girl"

He just nodded his head again while I rang him up for the cookies. He paid for them and then sat down patiently while I went to the back to get some ready. Luckily there was a batch fresh out of the oven so all that I had to do was put them in the cardboard box with the signature logo on the top of it.

I brought him the cookies, and he thanked me before he left. I watched as through the window as he climbed into his car and pulled off, out of sight.

The day was busy, but not as busy as it had been before. There were orders here and there but I was capable of keeping up. Marie was in her office for most of the day filling out paperwork that she said needed to get done, so I was left to do most of the work.

Closing time finally came, and I found myself actually kind of sad to go home. I didn't really talk to anyone in the house and Marie had been my only source of communication the few days I've been here. So I ended up packing my things up as slowly as possible in an attempt to avoid another quiet night alone in my room.

I got all my stuff and put it in a truck. It was Friday night and I didn't have to work until Monday morning. I drove back to the house, sighing once I pulled up in the long driveway.

There were cars parked all over, there were cars parked in the lawn, scattered all over the place like whoever drove them was in a hurry and didn't care where they parked. I hopped out of my truck and from outside I could hear loud dance music blaring through the house. I walke through the front door and there were bodies everywhere.

People were dancing and talking loudly, but their voices were almost inaudible over the loud music. Red solo cups were in the hands of almost everyone in the room, filled with alcohol, no doubt.

I walked into the kitchen where there were even more bodies, but these ones were scantily clad and sitting around the table playing strip poker. Empty cups and bottles scattered the floor, and the room was filled with suffocating smoke from cigarettes. There was a couple making out in the far corner of the room, and a few were probably already upstairs.

I tried to push my way through the dozens of bodies but a strong hand wrapped around my arm and pulled me back.

"I've never sent you around here before" said a tall blond man, who's face was very unfamiliar.

"That's cause you don't know me" I said, prying my arm from his grasp.

"Wait!" He called, chasing after me and stopping me again. "What's your name?"

His breath hit my face, it was an unpleasant mixture of booze and God knows what else, the smell of it almost made me gag.

"You don't need to know" I said, ripping my arm out of his hand again and running up the stairs. Thankfully he didn't follow me, and the music was still as clear upstairs as it was downstairs.

There was a smaller amount of people up here, mostly couples who were making out heavily in the hallway. I opened the door to my room and turned my light on, screaming in the process.