'We have already set up a schedule for the month. Sorry, but there are no available shifts that you can take,' Melanie says, looking at me with shitty regret. I hate it. If she'd taken some effort, she could have found a couple of shifts next week, but...
'It's OK, I understand,' I say with a tight smile. Tight is a keyword here. Judging by Mel's wrinkled face, I didn't say anything special.
I leave the boss's office in a terrible mood. I was refused a bank loan, there are no free shifts in the restaurant, and my friends do not have enough money. It's a matter of fact that I am up to my eyeballs in shit, and I have no idea how to get out of this stinky substance. Should I go to Sicily and ask a mafia boss to lend me some money?
Even smiling moneybags in the hall do not put me in a better mood. They don't tip much, just a few pounds, and I would hardly get about fifty pounds by the middle of the shift. I feel terrible until a familiar face appears in the doorway.
Damn it! What the hell is she doing here? She's looking gorgeous – a luxury fur jacket, high heel boots, and a tiny Chanel purse. A successful man in an expensive suit accompanies her. They walk arm-in-arm to a reserved table not far from the service area.
Damn Alice Lasky! My personal headache from high school. What if she sees me? I remember her teasing me for accidentally stepping on a piece of shit, and now she's going to make fun of me for my white apron and floor-length skirt, not to mention my signature hairstyle.
'Could you wait on that table?' I ask Susan, the only person I can count on in the restaurant, as she passes by.
'Your acquaintances?'
'That's not the word for it.'
I go to the service area to wait for the next customer. Thank God, she didn't seem to notice me. The shift runs smoothly, although I occasionally glance at my former classmate and stay away of the table to avoid being seen. I hope they leave soon, since I don't want any problems at my only well-paid job, but they will occur if Alice Lasky sees me in the waitress uniform.
However, this couple is in no hurry. They slowly look through the menu, stare at each other, and talk like good friends. At first glance, you cannot find any fault. They look like a perfect couple until you notice a ring on the man's finger and Alice's left foot in a patent-leather high heel boot that is neatly arranged between feet of her companion.
Well, that's not my business. Hell with it. I have to do my job.
I quickly integrate into the restaurant environment: I put on my customer-oriented smile, as required by etiquette, bring and take away dishes without any incidents, as my shift is gradually coming to an end. My legs are aching, just like always. I wish I could just go to bed and get some sleep. The longer the better. Sweet dreams.
'Guess what... A couple has had a bit of nooky in WC!' Susan says in the excited voice, drawing everyone's attention in the cramped staff room.
'Games of the rich. Another parody of the 'Fifty shades'?' Amanda asks, pulling her sweater on.
'You have no idea. The poor girl was barely alive. You know, that's a bit odd. They left a decent tip but had sex in the WC, as if there were no motels around. By the way, Lo, thanks for the table!' Susan waves a fan of currency. Three hundred pounds. Holy smokes! I should have wiped the slate clean and behaved like a professional.
'Look who's there, stinky Lo!' Alice shouts from behind the bushes. Are you going to have a shower when you get a boyfriend, or your Humbert will be all right with your stinky ass?'
No way! I will never forget this bitch!
I put on my jacket and get out of the locker room. Damn, a new hole appeared in the pocket from the outside. The jacket won't protect me from chilly wind. The snow has recently fallen to kids delight, but it will surely melt tomorrow. I'll buy a new jacket after Adam's recovery.
'Hey Lo!' Susan catches me almost at the exit. 'Take it,' she hands over the tip she's earned.
'What? No, you shouldn't.'
'You need money. Come on, take it,' she puts the money into my pocket. That's a bad idea. Bills can fly every which way.
'Thank you,' her sudden generosity makes me smile. Some people unwittingly help you without even knowing that you are in need, but, anyway, it makes me feel better.
Well, I should get out of here. I'll get to my room, go to bed, and forget this terrible day, at least until the next morning when all the pile-up problems will fall upon me. Besides...
'Sorry, it looks like I left my purse in the restaurant...'
Guess who I'm running into at the doorway of a restaurant? No, this is not a mafia boss ready to lend me fifteen thousand!
'Holy Jesus! Dolores Brown! Hi there!' Alice throws her arms around my neck and pulls me into a hug. What? Why does she look happy? Alice Lasky gives me a hug! Am I sleeping? This is something new.
'Hi there, Alice!'
'I didn't expect to see you here!'
Is she drawling on purpose, or do I feel this way because tiredness after the long shift begins to take over me? At least she didn't have a chance to see me in the waitress uniform and laugh at me in the restaurant! Well, OK, I've got enough hugs. It's time to get out of here until she starts teasing me.
'Do you work here?' Her gray eyes are shining with curiosity. 'I saw you serving customers.'
Damn it! I thought that I had been safe and successfully escaped her attention. How could she notice me?
'Yes, I work here as you can see.'
'Is your shift over? How about having a drink? Come on, I'll give you a ride home.'
Just imagine this picture in your mind: The girl who once called me the smelly nymphet smiles at me in a friendly manner and invites me to have a drink. Am I awake? Or is this just a dream?
'Well...'
'Come on! The limo is waiting!' she pulls me to the exit.
I hardly believe in her sincerity and good intentions, until I see a luxurious white Hummer by the entrance. Alice gives me a broad smile. The dark-skinned driver politely opens the door, waiting for us. However, Alice is in no hurry to get into the car. She is looking at me attentively.
'Come on! Why are you so shy?'
I am not shy. My brother is dying in the hospital, I am short of money and terribly tired after the shift. Lord, I am done, I worked like a dog. And she wants me to hang out.
'You know, I am tired to death, I can barely hold my eyes open. Let's have a drink next time!'
'No problem, we can have a drink in the car. I have a bottle of champagne. Come on, get into the car!'
OK, I am sold. I get into the luxury vehicle at my own risk. For some reason, it looks like a nightclub on wheels. The lights are radiating all the colors of the rainbow, and dancing music is coming from speakers in the corners. We drive off but I can hardly feel it. It is impossible to sense whether the driver hits the gas or brake. I'd eagerly live in this limo.
'Where do you live?'
I give you the address of a hostel on the outskirts of London. It's a good neighborhood, but it's for common people, not for the rich like Alice.
Alice gets a bottle of Dom Perignon from under the seat, hands it to the driver, and a few moments later he gives her back the uncorked bottle. Alice pours sparkling liquid into the glasses and says solemnly:
'Well, let's drink to our meeting!'
Sure, I missed you so much darling. We are big friends! I am a beggar with a bunch of problems, and she is a rich lady with a straight posture and a well-to-do boyfriend. I doubt that they are married since she doesn't have a wedding ring on her left hand. But she is get used to fine wine that costs my month salary per bottle.
I sip the wine and immediately get drunk, while Alice swigs off her glass and still looks sober.
'What a buzz. William is a nice boy,' the girl says in a relaxed voice, shoving her blond hair back.
'Hope you don't mean the Duke of Cambridge.'
'Hope is all we have,' she winks at me with her perfectly made-up right eye. 'Relax, I am kidding. Anyway, William is sweet. He lent me this nice limo.'
'I thought it's your vehicle.'
In response, she just bursts out laughing, her feet are high, almost on the seat, and a neat soft purple dress hiked up. Never thought that it sound like a joke.
'I haven't made enough money yet.'
'Then... Does William maintain you? Or maybe...'
'Look, if you want to satisfy your curiosity, ask me directly. Yes, I'm dating William, and he's giving me lavish gifts,' she points at the luxury interior of the limousine.
'Oh, you are just dating, aren't you? I thought he is married.'
Yes, I still remember the gold ring on his finger.
'Actually, it's not your business. Why do you ask? Are you envious of me?'
God, is she serious? Does she enjoy showing off and bragging to a poor loser? Does Alice try to claim that she lives a luxury life while lousy people work hard to survive? Or she is kidding?
The stern face of Mrs. Thompson, sick face of Adam, and sympathetic face of Dr. Connor are flashing in my mind. And the news of my brother's complications makes me more angry and desperate. The slight booziness is immediately fading away, replacing with rage.
'Stop the car,' I say to the blondie, and she states at me in disbelief. According to movies, there must be a button to activate a speaker phone to communicate with a driver. Where can it be? I cannot find it.
'What's wrong?'
'I told you to stop the car! I don't want to stay here.'
'Easy now! Don't get your panties in a bunch,' she says, stroking my shoulders. I don't push her aside just for the sake of decency. 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.'
'It's great that you still remember.'
Alice freezes for a while. Perhaps she remembers why they started calling me smelly Lolita. Judging by the furrowed brow and faded smile on her dolly's face, these memories haven't disappeared from her bright head yet.
'I admit it's my fault then as now. Sorry,' she says suddenly. 'Let's just relax and enjoy our lives.'
'Enjoy life? Really?' I finally lose my temper. 'My brother is in the hospital, I'll be expelled from the University soon, and I have time to eat only in a restaurant and maybe drink tea in a Dorm! I need a big bunch of money by the end of the month, and I have no idea what bank to rob to save my brother's life!' I start shouting without noticing it, and Alice's face falls a full inch, but I don't care. 'I am screwed! If he dies... just like my parents... If I stay...'
Damn it! A stupid lump in my throat! Why are you stuck there at the worst possible moment? Why do emotions overwhelm me, and I nestle my face in the shoulder of a girl who I've hated since my childhood and sob like a baby? I never cried. Never! Even at my parents' funeral, I, unlike Adam, didn't shed a tear. Well, maybe I cried, but just a little.
I survived that grief, but now I feel like my world is falling apart...
I feel soft hands stroking my head while I am sniffing into Alice Lasky's gorgeous dress. She probably did the right thing by taking off her newfangled vest. My tears would destroy the fur, and I should pay for it for the rest of my life.
'Cry, it will make you feel better,' she whispers, rocking me like a baby.
'No, it won't...'
'If you pull yourself together now, I'll tell you where you can quickly get the money.'
What? Money? Quickly? Could she borrow some money from her Cambridge prince? But all the questions should be left behind.
I try to stop sniffing, wipe my eyes with a napkin from my bag, and stare at Alice. Once I hated and cursed that girl, but now she is my only hope to save Adam.
'What should I do?'
Alice surveys me from head to foot, but this time her glance is not excited as it was when we met but appraising. Her eyes are scanning me like a metal detector.
'You have a pretty face, a nice slender figure,' she mumbles under her breath. 'Charlie, change of plans. Drive us to my place.'
'Wait! Where are we going?'
'We go to make a bunch of money.'