3: A Very Bad Suggestion

SERENA

"Willa, please tell me you're at home." I said, the minute she picked up.

"Yeah, just got back. What happened? You sound so stressed, and it's not even noon yet." Willa's calm voice sounded over the phone.

"Can't talk...right now," I said, my voice breaking amidst sniffles. "When I get to your house, please."

"Ohh, baby. Don't cry too much, I'll be right here waiting for you."

On my way to Willa's house, my mind drifted to what would be next for me. I was barely making any money from my clothes store to cater for my needs...and worse, my rent would be expiring by December, which was exactly three months from now. Today was September 1st. Gosh, I would not even be able to celebrate Christmas if I don't have a stable paying job before then. I've lived in El Cajon all my life and I knew almost every place including fashion houses and I fucking applied to every single one. If it wasn't bad luck, how could not even one single fashion house say yes to my application. My designs weren't bad... I fucking know my craft!

I was completely zoned out, not knowing when the cab stopped at Willa's house.

"Ma'am, we're here."

"Ohh, thank you." I dug my hand into my purse. "How much is the ride again?"

"Fifteen dollars ma'am."

"Fuck," I muttered a silent curse. I should have taken a bus instead, which costs only two dollars. Now, I was going to pay seven times that money for just a ride. I emptied my purse and what I had was just five dollars. Today should be one of my worst days. Now, I'm about to go through another embarrassing moment by apologizing to the driver as well as asking Willa for an extra ten dollars.

"Can you hold on for a second, please?"

"Sure, ma'am."

I called Willa again.

"I'm coming, baby."

"Can you come outside...with ten dollars, please?"

"I'll be right there in a sec."

My best friend and the only close person in my life was outside in less than a second.

"How much was your ride?"

"Fifteen dollars, and I've got five dollars."

She counted some money and handed it to the driver.

"Willa, you gave him..." She had given him the complete money instead.

"Let's go inside." She put her arm under mine.

The house Willa stayed in was a storey building, not sure of the exact number but it was past five stories... What I loved about this place was the fact there were elevators to help you to get to a higher storey, the rooms were fucking spacious. Willa's bedroom only, was three times bigger than my bedroom, kitchen and restroom combined. Let me not talk about her living room. This was where I had intended moving into if only I was accepted by Milano fashion house today.

"Willa, I'll give you back the fifteen..."

"You know me too well, Serena. Don't bother about it. Let's talk about you. So, why were you crying?"

Instead of giving her a reply, I went into her arms and started crying all over again.

"Let it all out, baby." She was rubbing my back as she led us to sit on the couch. "You weren't accepted at Milano?"

"Yes, yes, my life is so done for, Willa. I've got no future, no anything...just that dead ass boutique with most of the mannequins naked as fuck." I muttered, wiping my nose.

"Don't say that, Serena,"

"It's the sad reality, Willa. The only thing left for me at this point is to overdose on heroin. It's best that I'm no longer al..."

"Shut the hell up, Serena!" Willa bit out in a raised voice. Her sharp voice made me look at her face. Damn, she was really pissed. "Why the fuck would you have such sick thoughts, not to talk of you spewing them to my hearing?"

"I...I..." Nothing was coming to my head at this moment.

"You are not going to take your life because of those silly rejections. I want to let you know that those fashion houses lost a rare gem."

I knew she was saying all this as a way of consoling me. But that didn't change my current situation.

"As for your boutique, I will speak with my uncle again to give it another try..."

"No, no, Willa. You know how much your uncle invested and how he hasn't recovered a quarter of his investments. Please, I'll need another suggestion." If I was Willa's uncle, I wouldn't even dare to put another dime in that boutique.

"He's my favourite uncle, Serena."

"Willa, please."

"Alright fine. I saw some kind of fashion gig ad this morning." She said, bringing out her phone.

"A new fashion company? Is it in El Cajon?" I asked, because I was very certain I had applied to every single one.

She passed her phone to me without responding.

A brief glance at what was written on her phone, I was taken aback by what I had just read. Infact, I had to read it loud with my mouth, to be sure Willa had shown me the right info. "Fashion designers urgently needed at Frost Vipers clubhouse. We only need talented people that can make badass riding gear. Pay's real good. Find the application link below."

"I know I shouldn't have brought this up 'cause of..."

"They fucking killed my brother, Willa." I gave her back her phone. Yes, it was five years ago but the pain was still very fresh. They were also the reason my mom joined my brother 'cause her heart couldn't bear the pain.

"I haven't forgotten, Serena, but this is the only option left now, since you don't want my uncle's investments anymore. Look at the bright side..."

"There is no bright side, Willa." I was about to stand up from the couch when she held me back. How could she even suggest this to me?

"I know someone who worked for them at this same time last year. She was being paid ten thousand dollars every month for just making gloves. Now imagine what those that made leather vests and jackets would have earned."

"I don't care if they were being paid a million. This is a huge no for me."

The same people who killed my brother and tampered with the evidence. I would rather chew rocks for the rest of my miserable life.