Drunken Love

Chapter Three

Three

I open my eyes to the bright sunlight coming through the windows and turn to look at my alarm clock gasping to see it is 9:00 and I'm late for my usual morning class I teach for Mrs. Williams at 9:30. I quickly get up, grab my glasses and go to my dresser digging for some clean clothes. I finally find some workout pants and pull them on knowing I do not have time for a shower and pull on a sports bra grabbing a t-shirt. I run across the hall and brush my teeth grabbing my contact box.

"Really?" I groan seeing I do not have any contacts left in the box and just put my glasses back on. I tie my hair back tightly and go back to my room to grab the gym bag I use every day shoving my laptop in it as well as a few books for school later in the day. I grab an extra pair of gym shorts and my dance shoes shoving them on top of my stuff. I sit down on the bed to pull on my tennis shoes grabbing my phone from my nightstand and quickly get back up to rush past Mel in the hall.

"Aren't you late?" She asks and follows me in the kitchen.

"Yes!" I exclaim grabbing a water and Gatorade then protein bar to eat on the way to the studio. "Hopefully I can make it before everyone gets there. You don't have any classes today?"

"Not until after lunch. You?" She looks at me and I grab my keys from the table by the door.

"Same. Meet for lunch?" I put my bag over my shoulders and look at her opening the door.

"Sure and Tori, catch!" Mel says and tosses me my wallet I always forget on the table.

I catch it quickly and put it in the pocket with my phone giving her a grateful look. "Thanks, Mel and I'll text you."

I go to hit the elevator button and groan when it doesn't come right away heading to the stairs to take two at a time. I practically run down the street to the nearest subway station and sigh in relief when I am able to catch the train just in time trying to catch my breath. I stay standing since I need to get out for the next train and I hope that will be on time for that train as well.

I open my protein bar and take a big bite chewing as I look at my phone for the train times frowning unsure that I'll make the next one in time. I send a quick text to Mrs. Williams explaining that my alarm didn't go off and that I'm on my way now. I put my phone up and quickly get off the train when it stops running to get to the next one.

"No, no, no!" I groan when my train takes off right in front of me and I push my hands in my hair running up the stairs that will take me back above ground. I look around and see a few taxis around which might be faster than running.

"Taxi!" I yell and go to the edge of the sidewalk luckily getting one's attention. I get in quickly and look at the driver. "190 Amsterdam Avenue and please hurry."

"Late for something, huh?" The guy asks in a very Brooklyn heavy accent and turns onto the road.

"Yeah, majorly late." I mutter and look at the time on the dash that reads 9:12a.m. I rub my face and sigh knowing I am usually there by 8:00 or 8:30.

Please don't fire me. I think and watch where the cab driver is heading and he goes past Juilliard then turns on West 68th Street. I get out my wallet to pay him in a few minutes and he turns on to Amsterdam Avenue stopping in front of the studio.

"That'll be $6.36, darling." The driver says and I look at my cash with a groan only having a five-dollar bill and no change.

"Do you take debit cards?" I ask and think this is the worst day I've had in a while.

He nods and I hand him the card hoping there is enough in my account for this. I thank him quickly and take my card back getting to grab my bag out. I walk behind the taxi and head in the studio seeing my teenage students from a nearby school are all doing their stretches. I see Mrs. Williams at the front of the class and I quickly go up to her putting my bag down.