I didn't realize but by the time I came out of my thinking we'd reached RBC and by we, I mean me and the voice in my head.
"Let's go inside"
"But why?"
"Just go, trust me we need this" And so I trusted her and went inside.
"Now what?" I can't believe that I was asking the voice for directions.
"Now, we'll go and talk to Antonio, Ruby's husband to see if he needs some help"
I saw Antonio standing behind the counter and giving instructions to the workers. Looked like they were short on staff, but how did that voice inside my head knew about this? I wouldn't know.
"Hi" at my voice Antonio turned around and smiled at me.
"Hello, sweetheart. What can I do for you?"
"Umm... I just wanted to ask if you were looking to hire some people" my question made Antonio raise his eyebrows.
It was stupid. We shouldn't have done that. I spoke to Accalia.
"wait..."
"Well, my dear we do have a spot for a person. Are you looking for a Job"
"I mean... yeah. Kind of" he raised his eyebrows while his lips twitched.
"let me know when you're sure" with that he turned around.
"come on speak up shi, we cannot turn this down. A lot of our future depends on this"
"what the hell are you talking about?"
"just trust me okay, now don't waste your time and catch that old man"
"I'm sure. I need this job" Antonio turned and looked at me probably wondering what a nutcase I am.
"Well, in that case take that Apron and start working. Brittany will guide you" with that he turned around and left for the kitchen.
In no time I learned the ropes of being a waitress through the café, Brittany was a real help and I think I might have gained myself another friend. Not like existing ones are of any help.
"you know you're not bad with this stuff, I mean you learned pretty quickly about everything" Brittany said while taking a puff from her cigarette.
"You want some?"
"No, thank you. And it's nothing big. I'm sure I did mess up one or two times" I smiled remembering the orders I had messed up and how smoothly Brittany had come to my rescue.
"it was nothing, everyone makes a little mistake darling, so what now?"
"What do you mean?"
"well, the café is closed for the day. So where are you gonna go?" at her words, I realized I really didn't wanna go to the dorm and Chance's place was also a No. Speaking of Chance, I retrieve my phone and see that I missed 8 calls and five voice messages from Chance. As I scroll through them, there are two missed calls from Rae as well as a text asking my whereabouts. Huh...concerned friends my ass.
"Well?" Brittany's question brings me to the question of where shall I go?
"umm...."
"if you want, we can go to this party my friend is having"
"Party sounds nice, though where is it?" Accalia snorts, "Are you seriously going to a party, what if she's a murderer? Where are your cautious thoughts?"
"Do you have a better plan? Do you know anything because of which we should doubt her?"
"umm.. what?" Brittany asks.
"Oh, nothing...nothing at all" "you are right, party does sound nice. Who knows we might find a hot guy there who'll help us in forgetting that stupid Alpha?" though I didn't like her motivation to go to this party, it felt nice to think about it.
"It's at his new flat, come on I'll drive"
"Sure, let's go"
"Yup, let's roll the party Baby...Wohoo". At her excitement, I couldn't help but laugh.
The music is loud and can be heard from a few blocks away. Brittany enters the house with confidence of knowing the place upside down with me behind her. She drops her keys in the bowl and goes straight to kiss a guy in the living room.
I look around to avoid the complete PDA in front of me. Most of the people are dancing or drinking or doing both. The house isn't that big but it's enough to accommodate a lot of people. It also has a swimming pool as I can see a few people coming from the other side with drenched hair and less clothes.
Brittany calls my name...I guess she's done with her boy for now.
"Shia, this is Jorden...my guy and Jorden, this is Shia...she just started working at the restaurant"
"Hey, nice to meet you. Jorden" Accalia is silent. I don't know if that's good or bad because she's been quite talkative recently and I feel weird for wanting an inner voice more than the voice of real people.
"Shia...hmmm why do I feel that I've heard this name. Have we met before?" I frown at him.
"Not that I can remember" Do you remember anything? I try asking Accalia but she still doesn't answer.
"well, help yourself. Please feel free and enjoy the party" with that he picks up Brittany and leaves for upstairs probably to find an empty and do the dirty. Not that Brittany owed me or something but I still would've liked her to stay for a bit with me. So much for a party huh. Accalia's voice gives me a relief. So, you're there I thought you abandoned me a while ago.
Now why would you think that? Because you weren't replying?
Oh did you miss my voice, Shi. Why were you not replying? Accalia.
Accalia takes a pause, not replying again. I get distracted by a distinctive smell of citrus and cinnamon which feels home to my heart and I don't know how or why but I move towards it and what I see is enough to stop me from breathing.