This chapter's longer than the rest...
Missing?!
“Hello, Alicia.” It turns out, Alicia’s desk was placed right next to mine. Today Alicia’s bob was pinned back on both sides of her face. She wore a short green ruffled dress and white pumps.
“Hi, Avril! Can I ask you a question?” She stopped typing and turned to me with her big dough blue eyes. I set my coffee down on my desk and plopped down in my chair, stretching my arms.
“Hmm?” I asked, scooting up to my desk to take a sip of my coffee. It was six in the morning and I was tired as all get out.
“Is this formal enough?” She asked, twirling in her chair. That was odd, obviously she was. Did she just want a compliment?
“Eh, it can pass for it.” I shrugged. She was formal to an extent. It was nearing winter and she was in a summer green dress - exotic.
“Thank you.” Her voice was quiet again, “What story do you have?” She peered over her cubical.
“Actually I’m writing an article about Louis Vuitton.” I reclined in my chair as my computer loaded.
“Oh… sir hasn’t given me a story yet.” Alicia sighed.
“Sir never gave me this - I’m doing it to make him possibly promote me. Wait - then what are you typing?” I peered over her cubical this time.
“Just researching some ‘today topics’ on the posts’ website. I see that you are a very popular journalist.” Alicia was scrolling through my headline stories.
“No, I’m just good at what I do.” I stated, wheeling my chair back in front of my desk. I entered the chat room that Candice, Bianca and I created. While Candice sat on the other side of the studio, Bianca across the hall, and me here, we were able to chat easily but still getting work down. When I entered, Candice was the only one on. I typed her a hello and then switched pages to my document I was working on the day before.
“Well, that’s good. When does your article need to be sent in to editing?” Alicia seemed to have a lot of questions that should be self explanatory or else not even needed to be asked.
“We have until the next issue comes out, which is next Sunday. I need this in by tonight so I can start on my real article that Sir assigned me.” I typed away on the screen when a message appeared from Candice. She responded to the hello then asked where Bianca was. I told her I didn’t know and that maybe she’s busy. I felt Alicia’s eyes on the chat and I quickly closed out of it.
“What was that?” She quietly asked, still peering over my cubical. She was starting to get annoying.
“Nothing, just a chat that Bianca, Candice, and I share. That’s all.” I really wanted to get this article done in the next thirty minutes, but with Alicia and her questions it would probably take me close to forty-five.
“How come only Candice is in? Where’s Bianca?” Alicia kept up with the questions. Where Bianca worked, she wasn’t at a computer all day like Candice and I are, so it’s reasonable if she isn’t on. How come Alicia was completely oblivious to this fact?
“Not sure. Say - how old are you again?” I looked over at her, still typing at my document.
“…twenty-two. Why?” She looked confused. ‘So why don’t you act it?’ I thought, but I smiled and just told her I was wondering. “Oh, okay what about you?”
“I’m twenty-four.” I stated, thinking about my birthday that was coming up in December.
“Oh, two years older than me…” Alicia said this as if she was disappointed. I shrugged it off and continued on my document.
When I finished, I pushed out of my chair and started to walk out of the room. Alicia’s eyes were on me the whole time as if I was some sort of god to her. I laughed to myself as I pushed past the glass doors, out the hallway, and opening the editors room. I glided by many lit up tables, dark rooms, and machines when I finally reached the printers, copiers, and faxes in the back. When I had my article in my hands, I turned to go find Bianca.
“Right here!” I turned to see her correcting with a bright blue pen, one hand absentmindedly in the air to direct me over. I smiled and walked over, my heels feeling different since I’ve been sitting all day. I slid into the stool next to her, ducking my head so that it didn’t hit the low ceiling light above.
“My article’s done.” I chirped, proud. “I’m amazed too, with that new born baby asking questions every other minute, I thought I was going to get this done in an hour!” I teased about Alicia. Bianca laughed, still correcting the papers. Even with her glasses on, I could tell she wasn’t looking. “So anyways, I just wanted to give this to you. But if you’re too busy with others then I’ll hand it over to someone else.”
“No!” Bianca’s head shot up. “No, it’s fine. Set it down. I’m just really worried about not getting these corrections done in time. I feel like a high school teacher grading papers!” Bianca huffed. Out of all the rows of tables in the dimly lit room, I could spot Candice’s pink hair from the corner of my eye.
“Hello, everyone.” Candice chirped, sitting on the stool in front of us. “Bianca, why weren’t you in chat earlier?”
“Does it look like I have a computer anywhere by?” Bianca peered over her glasses, looking dumbfounded at Candice. Candice laughed, realizing why.
“How can you stand Alicia, Avril?” Candice started, leaning over the table so others wouldn’t hear. “She came up to me after you left and wouldn’t stop with the stupid questions! It wasn’t until I told her to get a guide that she stopped!” I laughed at how Candice handled the situation and shook my head, Bianca chuckling next to me.
“She is pretty annoying and quiet.” Bianca mumbled, erasing and rewriting words with her pencil now. I ignored their talk of Alicia and turned to Candice.
“Did you finish your article?” I asked.
“The one on the lawyer and his affair with his client?” She asked, holding up printed papers.
“Yeah - the client that cheated on her husband with his attorney.” I confirmed. I got the point that if it was printed out, it was done. Bianca shook her head in disapproval.
“This city, I swear to god sometimes I can’t stand it.” Candice and I smiled, Bianca still venting.
“Well, I have to get back before Sir finds us doing nothing.” I started to get off the stool.
“Wait!” Bianca stopped me. I turned around and she pointed at my article. I snapped my fingers, remembering to give her the paper.
I carried out my fourth tray of food, the crab house packed tonight. It was Friday and it was my last night of the week. I had the weekend off from both work since I finished all my articles for the post to be published on Sunday.
“Avril, you have a telephone call, Sweetie.” Ellen told me as I was halfway to my next table, the food balancing on my hand.
“Okay, Ellen! Put it on hold!” I called back, pushing towards the table. “Here you go.” I smiled down at the family of five who was ready to dig into their crab cakes and clam chowder. “Is there anything else I can get you?” I got my pen and pad ready. I felt a dribble of sweat start to make its way down above my eye.
“No, we’re okay. Thank you.” The mother kindly told me. I nodded and walked off to the kitchen, the tray under my arm. I wiped of the sweat with my forearm, entering the kitchen.
“Ellen? Which phone is it?” I called out at Ellen who chopped up lettuce.
“In the back, by the lobsters!” She yelled back, still chopping. I pushed past the busy cooks and waiters until I reached the red phone in the back.
“Hello?” I answered, curious as to who was calling me.
“Avril? It’s Bianca.” I recognized Bianca’s voice.
“Oh, hi. What are you calling me here for? Is something wrong?” Concern fled my voice - no one really called me here except for two reasons. One, only two people knew I worked here, that was Candice and Bianca. Two, they only called in emergency’s besides the time Candice wanted to know the house special.
“Well, yes actually.” Bianca’s voice dropped.
“What is it?” I urged, looking out at the tables making sure my customers weren’t annoyed from my delayed presence.
“It’s your article, the one on Luis Vuitton - it’s missing.”
“Missing?!” I shot out, shocked.
“Yes. Fred was collecting everything tonight and he said that he had your article in his hands, he set it in the portfolio folder, walked out to get his keys. Then when he came back he searched through one last time and it wasn’t there.” Bianca explained, seeming stressed. I can’t take care of this now!
“Listen Bianca, I need you to help find that article or it’s my ass! I would help but it’s a full house tonight.” I turned my back to everyone, getting ready to hang up.
“Okay, I’ll try my best. Good luck with the full house.” She said very dryly, then hung up. I let the receiver drop on it’s hanger then walked out to take care of my customers. This just ruined my night.
I plopped down on the bar, my bucket of silver wear next to me and tons of napkins on my lap ready to be rolled up. Tonight was hectic and I even got to orders messed up resulting me in a low tip. My missing article has been on my mind all night long - how could I afford to lose an article when the paper was being published in two days? It took me about five to even get the whole thing together! I sighed, took out my carefully straightened hair and let it plop down on my shoulders, running my hand through it.
“You better put that mess back up before Charlie see’s it and lectures you about getting hair in food.” The bartender winked, wiping down the bar. I laughed and flicked out a napkin, placing a knife, fork and spoon in. I rolled it up carefully and the wrapped a band around it before placing it in the empty bucket.
“I’m going home, Avril. Make sure Charlie locks up the kitchen.” I waved at Ellen as she headed out the door with her fall coat. I turned back to my wrappings when I realized something - I could lose my job if that article isn’t found.
. I really want to know what happened to her article. I'm thinking Alicia had something to do with it ... Can't wait to read the follow-up piece. Keep writing!!