Morning comes a little faster for my liking. I groan loudly feeling a splitting headache. I cried myself to sleep last night. I sobbed like a baby into my pillow muffling any noise coming from me. I needn't overwhelm my host with my emotions. Hopefully he didn't hear anything come from my room last evening.
I might have dozed off then. I don't remember so much about last night. I slowly rise up from the bed my eyes flinching at the brightness of the room forcing an ouch from me. I was suffering the consequences of not closing my curtains last night.
I am still wearing my clothes from yesterday. This morning, the pair of jeans and the A line top feel a little too tight. I need to get out them as soon as possible. But first of all, I need to pee.
I walk to the bathroom hurrying into the toilet to pee. A sigh escapes my lips on the last drops of urine. My head is still pounding so I hold my head in despair. I need some aspirin.
Flashing the toilet, I move to the bathroom. I should be at the diner in an hour or less. I hadn't checked my phone to see. Guessing with the glaring sunlight through the window, it must be eight. I have to be at the diner by nine if I didn't want problems with Phil, my employer.
I ignore how I look into the mirror knowing I feel even more miserable. I wiggle out of my clothes before I step into the shower breathing out a sigh of relief at the warm water cascading down my muscles.
Back at Old Herman's apartments, one would be lucky to find warm water. It was always on and off and nothing has been done to improve the water supply despite several complaints. I am surprised to find a huge supply of things in the bathroom. Someone is always ready.
I try not to think if Devan usually borrows his spare bedroom to people. The shampoo and other bathroom items look recently restocked. I bask in the smell of the lavender shampoo washing my hair thoroughly feeling the headache almost relax. I wash my body to satisfaction before I clothe myself with a towel and walk back to the room.
I pull up the first things I see when I open my suitcase. I hadn't bothered to unpack much last evening. Setting for a pair of jeans and an olive tank top, I walk downstairs hoping to avoid Devan as much as possible. I don't know what to explain about last night.
There is no trace of Devan in the living room and in the kitchen. There is only a post it note on the fridge about coffee. Interesting.
I quickly pour myself a cup as I look through his cabinets. They look well stocked but I don't think I have time for more than a cup of coffee.
Thankfully the diner is a few kilometers from Devan's place.
"Good morning." I greet Phil. He only mutters something incomprehensible before he walks back to the kitchen. I frown.
"Don't mind him." Sal, my friend and coworker mutters.
"Good morning. What crawled up Phil's butt this morning?"
"Good morning darling."
"Same old. I bet you ten dollars Maddie broke up with him." Sal mutters.
"No!" I yelp.
"It was about time. He didn't deserve her." Sal shrugs. There are always speculations with Sal but she has never been wrong. Being a thirty four single mother has its perks I guess. She has intuition for these things. But then again, Maddie was too good for Phil. Even I have to agree with Sal on this one.
"Are you okay honey?" Sal watches me with concern.
"I have a headache."
"Ow. I think I have some aspirin in my bag." she says.
"Really? That would be wonderful." I follow Sal to the back. She comes back with a bottle of aspirin after a minute of rummaging through her back.
"Ta-da. Found it."
"And before you give me that look. I am always ready sue me."
"Defensive much?" I tease.
"I can return..."
"Please." I stop her action to put the bottle back. I really need the pain reliever so bad if I have to go through the day today.
Sal pours me two tablets before she returns her bottle back to her back for safety.
"What are you women gossiping about this early morning. Don't you have jobs to do?" Phil glares from the door. Sal and I quickly scurry to our stations muttering our apologies.
Phil's diner is a common destination for most locals and a few tourists. It safe to say that it's busy most times.
"I am going to take my break." I announce to Phil.
Standing on my feet for hours makes me look forward to my breaks and some fresh air. I haul myself on the chair in the break room craning my neck for knots.
"You okay baby girl?" Sal's face peers through the door. I nod. Immediately my phone goes off. I quickly retrieve it from my apron to check for the caller ID. New number.
I answer the phone hesitantly.
"Hello."
"Good morning Miss Jacobs. My name is Douglas Stratton calling from Rubical. I would love to inform you about your interview that is scheduled this Wednesday at 9am."
"Miss Jacobs?"
I didn't realise I had gone silent until Douglas' voice breaks me out of my reverie.
"Sorry. I heard what you just said."
"Okay. Are you in position to make it this Wednesday?"
"Yes."
"Great. Looking forward to meet you."
And then he hangs up. And my heart beats at an uncontrollable pace.
"You're scaring me now Nels. What happened?" Sal asks curiosly.
"I have a job interview." I answer unbelievablely.
"That's a good thing right?" Sal arches a brow.
"I have a job interview." I whisper to myself this time.
"Congratulations."
"Not yet." I say.
"I haven't gotten the job yet."
"Yet is the key word honey. As much as I love your ass here. You deserve so much better than this place has to give."
"Sal,"
"I mean it. You're going to go to this interview and ace it because you are a smart girl and you deserve it."
I stare at Sal feeling her words deeply into my chest.
"Come here." she pulls me into a hug.
"I love you Sal."
"Love you too." she murmurs against my hair.
Somehow the universe is working in my favour. Out of all the companies I applied to, I get a call from Rubical. I was hesitant putting my application in the first place knowing Rubical was an elite tech company.
"I should go back before Phil chews my head off. He's in a mood today."
"Right."
"See you later dear."
I settle back into the chair feeling my face break into a smile. I need the job at Rubical. Wednesday will never see me coming.