Destiny's POV
This stupid Philadelphia city. These stupid cars. This stupid rain. "Aghhhhhhh!" I hate this rain. Why? Why me?! You might be wondering why I'm saying this. Well, let me explain. You see, I like to be a clean, neat, and decent looking girl. And today, I was on my way to a job interview, dressed neatly and ready to impress. But, of course, this rain had other plans for me. Even with an umbrella, I'm soaking wet from head to toe.
And don't even get me started on these city roads. They love storing water at the sides, just waiting to drench some poor soul. I was walking on the footpath, listening to my favorite music, humming along, feeling good until some idiot, in a hurry, didn't see me walking and decided to splash me as they sped by. Now I'm a wet mess.
And now, thanks to this, I'm going to be late for my interview. "Now what?" asked my subconscious mind. "Nothing, going back to the apartment to make a quick change of clothes," I grumbled.
I glanced at my wristwatch 8:30 a.m. Great, I've got half an hour to get there. Doing a quick calculation in my mind, I dashed back the way I came.
I jogged to my apartment, which is about a 10-minute walk from my destination. I live on the 5th floor of a decent building in a good area. No car yet, but I'm planning to get one this year. The neighbors are nice enough.
As I reached my floor, I fumbled with my keys, finally opening the door to my cozy little apartment. I rushed into the living room, locking the door behind me, and threw my bag on the couch. My apartment isn't fancy, but it's comfortable just the right size for me. The best part? My bed. It's my sanctuary, my favorite place in the world.
But today wasn't the day to enjoy it. I ran to my bedroom and quickly opened my closet, searching for something appropriate for my interview.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. "That's because of your laziness, Des," my inner self scolded.
"And why is that?" I snapped back.
"Idiot, you haven't washed your clothes since Monday," she retorted.
"Ohhhh," I mumbled in defeat. She's right. My laziness is my downfall, and now, I'm paying for it. Again, why me?!
I pulled out a pair of leggings and a top. Changing quickly, which was no small feat with clothes that stuck to my skin like glue, I managed to make myself somewhat presentable. I threw on some sneakers, grabbed my bag from the couch, and dashed out of the apartment, locking the door behind me.
Of course, now it's just drizzling. Perfect. I checked my watch 9:00 a.m. I should be at the interview by now. I ran with my umbrella, dodging and weaving through the crowd, muttering apologies as I bumped into people.
Finally, I reached the hotel where my interview was scheduled. I work here as a waitress, but today I was interviewing for a better position. Lucky for me, it's close to my apartment. Sometimes, I work behind the counter or help people find their reserved tables on the upper floors. Today, though, was supposed to be different. I was supposed to be moving up.
I made a beeline for the locker room, hoping to avoid my boss before he could ask why I was late. I stashed my bag in my locker and prepared to start my day. Thankfully, there's no dress code here, so I wasn't too worried about my makeshift outfit.
I walked into the kitchen, greeting the chefs with a quick "hi" and "hello." Then I spotted my best friend, Ava, standing near the door, peeking out through the small window.
A mischievous grin spread across my face. I crept up behind her, intending to scare her, but Ava is smarter than me. Just as I was about to push her, she jumped out of the way, leaving me to push the door open and tumble right outside, embarrassing myself in front of everyone.
"Thanks to your clumsiness," my inner self mocked.
"Shut up," I muttered.
I could hear Ava laughing behind me as I scrambled to my feet. The people at the tables turned to see what the commotion was. Before I could make a bigger fool of myself, I ran back inside, trying to calm my racing heart.
"Aww, my poor baby. Did she get scared and run inside?" Ava teased, rubbing my back soothingly.
I glared at her, giving her my best silent treatment. I shrugged off her hand and started to get to work. Ava is intelligent, smart, and caring. She has the most striking bluish-green eyes and blonde hair. Contrary to the stereotype about blondes, she's brilliant.
She quickly caught up to me, her laughter still bubbling. "I'm sorry, Destiny. But come on, I saw you coming in late. I saw your shadow, and I knew what you were up to. So, I jumped out of the way." She burst out laughing again.
"Alright, alright," she said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. "I'll buy you your favorite chocolate cake from your favorite store. Now, will you talk to me?"
I couldn't resist those puppy eyes of hers. Nodding, I said, "This is the last time, Ava. If you do this again, I'm finding a new best friend who'll treat me like a human."
She pouted at me, making me smile despite myself. "Okay, okay. Now, why were you late? The boss was mad, you know. You're lucky, though he had a meeting at 9:10, so he left just as you came in."
I sighed in relief. "It's a long story. On my way here, some stupid car splashed me with water from the side of the road. I got soaked and had to run back home for a quick change." I said, seeing Ava trying to stifle her laughter again. I glared at her, and she stopped.
"Karma's a bitch, you know. No one can stop what's going to happen," Ava said with a knowing nod. "Now, back to work before we get fired for slacking off. We can talk later. Chop chop!" She turned me around and pushed me toward the tables to start taking orders.
Shaking my head at her antics, I started my workday. Our shift runs from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
'OMG!' My inner self exclaimed.
'What? What happened?!' I asked, alarmed.
'How could you forget to introduce yourself?' She scolded.
'Oh, right!'
Sorry for the late introduction. My name is Destiny Sky Walker. I'm 24 years old and have completed my master's in business. I graduated last year but haven't landed a job in my field yet. I have good grades, so I'm not sure why I haven't been hired. While I wait for the right opportunity, I've been working with Ava. I make about $600 to $700 a month, which is okay for now.
Ava has been working here since she finished high school. She didn't have the financial support to continue her education, so she started working right away. The boss here is nice and gave her the job. She even helped me get hired. I've been enjoying the work so far.
Ava and I have been friends since 4th grade. We clicked instantly and have been inseparable ever since. She lives with her family in a modest home a bit far from work, but she manages. Her family is huge six kids, which is a big part of their financial struggles.
Her father is a mechanic at a small shop, and her mom works part time. They're barely making ends meet, and Ava helps out as much as she can. Being the eldest, she's saving up for her siblings' education. She's an amazing sister and friend.
Even when my parents offered her money, she refused to take it, not wanting to feel indebted. I love her like a sister.
As for my family, my mom, Elizabeth Rose Walker, is a lawyer, and my dad, David Davis Walker, is a doctor. They both earn well. After I finished high school, they gifted me the apartment I live in now. I completed my bachelor's degree with the help of scholarships and my parents. I also earned my master's degree with a scholarship. So, the money I'm earning now is enough for my needs.
Six months ago, I asked my parents to stop paying my rent, and now I'm running out of money. I really need to find a good job that pays well enough to cover the rent and my other expenses.