Behind The Scenes

[Chapter Five]

Chapter 5

Emily was not one to let things go.

Not even two minutes after my shift ended she began throwing question after question at me. 'What were you doing with him?', 'Why didn't you tell me?', 'Please tell me you got his number.'

More than once on the walk home I had tried to explain that I was just talking to Ryan on my break, nothing more, and that she didn't really need to read any more into it.

She was adamant however, that I was withholding details. It was when I told her, for quite possibly the fifth time, that nothing more than a friendship would emerge from this situation that she finally let the subject drop, although I did expect to hear about it again sooner or later.

My shift the following day was less eventful, and with no sudden appearance from Ryan, I was left to act as though nothing strange had happened the day previous. Despite the odd smirk or teasing comment thrown my way by Colette, it was an alright day, and it seemed that the more comfortable I got working behind the counter, the more I was picking up. By the end of my second shift I had successfully figured out where a majority of the buttons on the till rested, as well as successfully made a few drinks with little to no assistance.

As Sunday came to an end and the new week began, school really started up. The first week was a teaser of what the semester would bring, and as I went to bed Wednesday night feeling utterly exhausted from the three assignments I had stayed up to finish, I figured it would only get worse. Seeing that it was almost two in the morning as I closed my eyes, I fell asleep calmly, knowing that Thursday would come with a day off; a day to spend with Abbie.

"Momma," I heard Abbie's voice whine from upstairs the next afternoon as I sat in the living room studying for a test scheduled for the following day.

Looking down at my open books, I sighed, abandoning the notes I had been taking. "Coming Abbie," I replied loudly, standing up from my place on the sofa as I quickly headed upstairs, peeking into Abbie's bedroom where I had left her to play. "What is it baby?"

My eyes latched onto her small body, leaning next to her dresser, as she tried to reach on top of it. "Necklace," she stated simply.

Shaking my head with amusement, I walked over to where she was still attempting to reach, picking up the small ice cream necklace I had bought her for her third birthday. "Now why do you need this?" I asked, crouching down in front of her as I dangled it the chain in the air.

"Polly needs a necklace," she replied, smiling widely as she picked up the doll that had been resting by her feet.

"Well," I started, unclasping the chain before reaching behind Abbie's neck, "I think Polly looks beautiful just the way she is, but you my dearie, would look amazing with this necklace on."

I rested my hands by her sides as she brought her small ones up to feel the necklace that now hung loosely around her neck. "Do I look pwetty now momma?" she asked, looking down at the necklace with a smile.

"You look very pretty Abbie," I replied with a soft smile, poking her nose gently as she a high-pitched giggle escaped my little girl. "So, are you hungry?"

"Hungry?" she asked, her small head tilting sideways slightly in confusion.

I nodded, standing up slowly. "Yeah, I was thinking about making some grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch, how does that sound?"

A toothy grin appeared on her face as I mentioned one of her favourite meals. "Gwilled cheese!" she exclaimed excitedly, grabbing onto my hand as she attempted to pull me into the hallway.