Chapter 3

I feel nervousness wash through me as I advance closer to Marie's Tasty Buds where I work. As I stand at the doorway, I swallow hard, straining with mild effort as I did.

I give a short silent prayer to the gods.

Please, don't let me get in trouble for arriving late. I will give anything to be safe from Ms. Bell.

Then quietly, but with precise pre-caution, I push the doors open, and the first thing that greets me asides the faces of the customers eating away as usual, oblivion as to what was about to happens, was an angry pair of eyes under winged glasses that belonged to a stout, long brunette woman. Ms. Bell.

My prayers have gone unanswered again. The gods have forsaken me again.

I make to close the distance between us but before I could take a few steps towards her, the stout woman who owns and manages the cafeteria for twelve years ever since the early demise of her husband, half-ran, half-drags her feet towards me, as though ready to lunge at me any moment from now.

I curse the gods under my breathe in discreet and planted a fake smile on my face, hoping it would thaw her anger. But then again, my efforts go in vain as she shoots me a bloodied look.

“Why in the bloody name of the moon goddess are you resuming work this late, Alexis?” Her voice thunders vehemently across the cafeteria before I could even offer any form of greeting to save my pathetic ass.

Okay, now I’m really in.

Ms. Bell only swears by the bloody name of the moon goddess whenever she is furious. Jist like now.

“I. . . I . . . am really sorry about that, Ms. Be.” I stutter awfully. My hands are tangled, fidgeting with each other at my lower abdomen. “I am really sorry, that won't happen again.” I offer the apology, knowing fully well that it was a completely useless move right now.

“Oh, I sure know you’re serious, girl. I still need some bloody explanations from you right this minute!” She is almost yelling now, her teeth clenched and gritting hard. I know she is only controlling herself because she didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention to us.

“I was serving detention.” I say quietly, trying, but desperately failing to avoid her gaze. And when I noted her silence and skeptical frown I quickly add, “I promise, I’m not lying.”

In an instant, she took my hand into hers and walks me away from the entrance where I’ve been standing and shrinking like an idiot. She takes us to the accounting counter, a skeptical frown frozen on her face.

“Of course, I know you aren’t lying, Alex. But tell me, why?”

I clear my throat. I understand her question and the reason behind her appalled expression. I have never been on detention before. In fact, as a scholarship privileged student, I was never meant to be on detention. Never ever!

It is all Lori's fault. That bitch.

“I fought with someone.” My reply is blunt and precise.

I am sure it came as a shock to her. I could have said anything else to save my butt, but I didn't want lie to her. She has been good to me. So, preparing myself inwardly, I wait for her response with my heart in my mouth.

Ms. Bell's jaws almost went slack and her glasses now seemed slightly askew.

“I am really sorry about that, Ms. Bell.” I say and pause again. I can feel my insides turning to jelly, daring me to cry, but I try to fight it back. The look of disappointment on Ms. Bell's face break me internally.

With a now almost skippy voice, I continue, “She just wouldn’t let me be. I had no intention to hit her in the first place.”

“You have to learn to control your emotions, Alex….”

I didn't let her finish and I jump right in again, taking the last few words away from her mouth.

“I tired, Ms. Bell. I swear I did.” But Ms. Bell wasn't having it. Even as I try to explain it to her, she shakes her head in disapproval.

“I know you did. But that doesn’t mean you have to give them the satisfaction of losing your temper.” When she realizes I was going to yap some more about how all this isn't any of my fault, she sighs heavily and takes my hands into hers. Her palms felt warm and wrinkles are slightly beautifying her delicate skin. For some bizarre reason, that made me emotional. Old age is taking over.

I try really hard not to blink, because if I did, tears would roll down my cheeks. I feel guilty for letting her down and everyone else too. She is like my mother, after Grandma Rivera, of course.

I should never let any of them down.

“Listen, baby. In life, there’s going to be hardships and trials. The worst is yet to come. The best is yet to come. This is why you have to learn to control your control the way you feel towards these trials as they come by. These trials prepare you for the worst that are yet to come. This is a test from the gods and failing it means failing life’s test, and reducing yourself to being a puppet, controlled by the strings called emotions.” She sounds like she is speaking from experience, but who am I to judge, right?

“I’m really sorry, Ms. Bell. I tried.” I squeeze her hands into mine, seeking whatever comfort was there. My place of rest and solitude.

“Shhhh, child.” She coos, caressing and rearranging my completely white hairs. “I know you tried, Alex. I know you did. None of these was your fault. I just want you to try harder, okay? For yourself and for every one of us.”

I nod in agreement and I bring my hand to my face to press her hand to my face as I snuggled my cheeks into her hand and kissed the inside of her palm, then squeeze her hand again.

“Okay, Ms. Bell.”

“Is that a promise?” She gives me a small wry smile which I return with a stronger reassuring one.

“Yes, Ms. Bell. It's a promise, I swear.”

“Good.”

She begins to walk away and gives instructions as she did,

“Chop, chop. Time to get back to work, girl.”

The facial expression on my face is in smiles now. Everything didn't exactly go as bad as I had feared. In fact, it came out pretty good.

Without much hesitation, I nimble inside the changing room to change into my work cloth, which I had packed in my bag pack earlier today.

Ms. Bell and Granda Rivera are like one person in two bodies. Both gave me unending and undying motherly love and affection. Something I lacked as a child. Both gave me similar advice, and both had naughty ill-mannered kids.

Just like Ms. Bell’s only daughter; Paisley.

From the mirror, I can see her standing right behind me, her eyes staring coldly at me from behind. Her arms are crossed across bosom. Perky, beautiful and sexy boobs. It is weird admitting that, but it was the truth.

I do not have sexual interests in women like everyone else thinks I do but I cannot help but admit she's got the looks.

Her lips are firm and pursed in arrogance and she is wearing an annoying bright pink cropped top and too-short skirt, looking undeniably and exceptionally pretty. At her sides are her minions, Riley and Gretchen. They are an exact replica of Paisley. They are all wearing almost the same outfits. Glowing radiating pink. Looking exquisite, demanding and formidable.

“Hey, Alexis.” Paisley's voice travels through a parallel wave, coming out really beautiful and exotic.

Jezz! Why do these girls get to look this pretty? They are the true definition of 'trouble never looked so pretty.'

I exhale deeply and spin around slowly and carefully to face them. I raise a questioning brow at the trio. These girls remind me so much of Lori and her minions at this instance. I feel a little bit worried and wonder how she would be doing at the school's hospital wing now.

Somehow, I hope Donovan doesn’t see me as a dangerous and violent peron after what occured at school today.

Wait…why do I still care about him?

“Hi, Paisley. Hello, Gretchen. Good day to you, Riley.” I wish they can sense the mockery and sarcasm in my tone.

“Oh, cut that crap, will you? We don’t give a flying UFO ship about your pleasantries. Save it for your pathetic self.” Paisley waves my greeting with a hand and I swallow the rage already building up in my heart.

I flipping broke Babe's nose. This little chesty idiot wouldn't be a problem. But I would be letting Ms. Bell down and I wouldn't want that.

I roll my eyes in reply. Emma, just like Babe, never gets tired of throwing pointless shades at me, even though they know it always comes back to them in three folds.

“Oh, okay.” I turn my back against them and proceed to take off my shirt right in front of them, leaving only my pink bra on. I hope it annoys them well enough.

“I heard you fought with a girl and got detention.” It was Paisley's voice again.

I slip my shirt on and begin to button it, without giving her a reply.

“Cat’s got your tongue now, Alex? Answer the goddamed question, stupid.” Gretchen fired at me.

She sounds stupid. I can not help but let out a sly grin.

“Well, Yes. I did fight with a girl.” I try as much as possible to sound annoying and irritating.

“I bet she beat you to hell, didn’t she?” Paisley has a cunning smile on her face.

I give her the same smile in response.

Oh, how I wish she knows how wrong she is.

“Wrong, Emma. Very very wrong. Truth is. . .” I pause for dramatic effect. “I gave her a hard punch that made her nose bleed blood like running water. Same thing I’m going to do to you, if you don't disband your minions and scram."

Emma scoffs, but I can swear I see fear in her eyes.

“Well, you know where that would land you, don’t you? Mom will fire you soon as you lay your disgusting hands on me.”

I raise a brow again and step two feet closer to them, watching them with daring eyes as they back away just as I step closer.

“Want to try me?” I ask and the horror in their faces rose. It gives me unprecedented joy.

“Let’s leave this psychopath, already. She’s not worth our time.” They cat walked away at Paisley's words, with Paisley flinging her long wavy brunette hair to her shoulder. Long-haired. Just like Lori's.

I sigh again. Even though I promised to control my emotions, that did not compromise me using my words to defend myself.

I slip on my trouser and sneakers, then adjusted my blouse, watching myself in the mirror transform from a boring student in hoodies and distressed denim jeans, to a waitress in white blouse and burgundy trouser.

I smoothen my trouser and turn on my heels walking out of the changing room to the main hall where I would be attending to customers as a teenage waiter. My usual routine every single day.