Chereads / The tale of Marlene Hendrix / Chapter 3 - Decorating

Chapter 3 - Decorating

I make it home and my grandparents are already awake and eating breakfast.

"Well, there you are honey, come eat."

"I'm gonna go take a shower first, I just came over to say good morning"

"Ok well, how about after breakfast we go to the shops to decorate your room."

"Yeah, ok, let's do that." I smile and walk upstairs to go take a shower. While in the shower I just stare into the distance. My thoughts are antagonizing. The shower is quick, so I eat then gramps and I go to the shops and he lets me pick out whatever I want. I chose a grey and white aesthetic with photos and shelves filled with books

"We'll, do you like it?" He said looking around the room

"I love it thanks gramps." I turn and hug him

"No problem sweetheart." He said as we pulled away. " I think I might actually fit in here. Right as my grandfather walked out of the room I got a call.

"Hey Harp."

"Hey Mari, my shift ends in 30 mins wanna go out on the town you know catch up."

"Sure I'll love to, meet you at the restaurant in 15." I throw on some shoes walk downstairs and right before I walked out the door I yelled up the stairs to let my grandparents know I was going out.

"Be back by 12" I heard back. Then I walked out the door and made my way to Harper.

When I got there her shirt was about 5 minutes from over so I stayed with her and then we walked to her apartment she shares with her aunt.

"Let me change and then we can go."

"Okay." I look around me, nothing has changed in here. Harper changes in a few minutes and first thing we do is get some beignets. That is and always has been my favorite snack or dessert item. Everytime I got upset my mom would go get me one. Or she would make them but since she's not here anymore I don't get them as much. Eating them reminds me of her and that brought my mood down a little.

Harper saw that and said, " hey look there's a band playing." We walk into the restaurant and sit to watch the band. They're setting up and they seem to be having a kinda intense conversation. Then who I'm guessing is the lead singer speaks into the mic.

"Does anyone happen to know joe to play guitar our guitarist called sick."

"Do it!"

"No"

"Why"

" I'm not that good at guitar"

"Yes you are" she said and stood up

"Harper no!"

"She knows how to play!" Harper said pointing to me

"Harper sit down! No!" She takes my hand and pushes me up to the stage. I shake hands with the band, they hand me a guitar ask if I know how to play the songs their doing. It's only like 2 songs. We play 'somebody that you use to know' and 'Wonder wall'

We get a round of applause.

"Thank you!" The singer said

" You did great!"

"Thank you!"

"Thank you so much for saving our butts, we owe you one!" The bassist came up to me and said. He was light skin with curly hair, alluring hazel eyes and the best smile I've seen in my life.

"Nah it's no trouble."

"No seriously...come see our show next Friday night 8 o' clock at the music hall."

"I'll think about it." I said smiling then walked back to Harper

"Look who has a date with the hot band member!"

"Shut up it's not a date, let's go." I said and walked out

"Whatever you say." She said playfully. We stay out and dance down the street to the music people were playing on the corners of every street. We eventually made our way back to Harper's house.

"See you later Harp." I said still laughing from our silly dancing.

"See ya." she waved and went back inside. Since she was back inside safely I made my way home. As I was walking I felt like I was being watched so I walked slightly faster till I was home and through the door way. I was so confused and slightly scared. Was someone actually watching me or was I just paranoid?

"Hey honey, have fun?" Grandma asked me. I didn't answer her I was still lost in my own thoughts. Am I safe? Is this a continuous thing? Should I call the police?

"Honey, are you okay?" Grandma asked me

"Yeah, I'm fine." I replied finally coming out of my thoughts. "What was your question?"

"Did you have fun?" I immediately thought of that bassist from the band we went to see earlier. I decided to keep that bit to myself though at least until a little later.

"We had fun, went to see a band then danced down the streets to the musicians on the corners."

"That sounds fun, I remember when my friends and I use to do stuff like that til sun rise as kids." She was reminiscing

"That sounds nice grandma." I said smiling, then I yawned. "Off to bed you go." She smiled at me

"Goodnight grandma."

"Night hon."

-The Next Week-

It's my first day working at the Napoleon House. I'm excited to work with Harper, it was always our goal as kids to work together and do everything together for the rest of time. I know it sounds ridiculous but we were kids, what do you expect. Anyways, I walk into the bar/ restaurant and see Laura waiting for, I think, me.

"Hi Laura." I said walking up

"Hello, Mari," She said smiling back. "Here goes your apron and you name tag." She handed me the items and explained what I would need to do.

"All you're going to be doing since your, new here is serve a few tables and maybe, if we need you to, bus a few tables. Can you do that?" Sounds easy

"Of course."

"Alright well, your tables are 3, 9 and 14, you can start right away." She smiled brightly and let me get to it.

I walk over to one of the tables that were supposedly mine and ask them what they would like to drink.

"Hello guys, hope you've had a great day, do we know what we would like to drink?" It wa this middle aged couple

"Yes, please um I'll have a coke."The man says

"And you?" I said to the woman

"Oh I would like a strawberry lemonade, thank you."

"Ok, would you guys like some appetizers?"

"Can we have the potato wedges?"

"Yes, is that all for now?"

"Yes." They smile

"Alright, I'll be back with those and to take your order." I smile and walk back to the kitchen to give them the order. They make the order and I head back to give them the order.

"ok, are we ready to order?"

"Yes." They tell me what they want and I get them all settled, by time I'm done with them my next table is here and I help them out too. It was a female with ginger hair, freckles and glasses. It wasn't until I got to the table after that when I was actually surprised at the person in the chair. It was the bassist from last week.

"Hello, are you ready to ord- Hey." I cut myself off once I noticed who it was.

"Hey. Wasn't expecting to see you here" He said back smiling

"same. Um, are you ready to order?"

"Oh, yeah." He then tells me his order and I get him settled. Once he's down with his meal and asks for the check I give it to him. He pays and leaves a tip with a note.

"Thanks for the great service, see you Friday ;)" The note read. I was very grateful for the tip. Maybe I will got to the show, it'll be nice to see them perform again. Yeah, maybe I'll go. I'll go to get an outfit after my shift is over. I mean it is Wednesday and the show is Friday.

I end up buying something simple and cute from the store across the street. I got a button up flannel, a white tee to go under, some denim shorts and a gold wolf shaped hair clip. I go home with all he stuff and set it aside to be ready for Friday. Then, I got ready for bed and slipped into a peaceful slumber.