Unpredictable

End Up Here Chapter 8

End Up Here Chapter 8

The past week has dragged by, and I've never been more thankful for the weekend. I've done countless interviews with internet bloggers, YouTube vloggers, and even a few magazines about my book. Each and every single interview blending into one clump of repeated questions. Where are you from? Have you always wanted to be a writer? How did you get started in writing? Where did the idea of 4:18AM come from?

I can no longer recall how many times I've told the story of the diner Allie and I used to work at. We both had just turned 18 and moved to America, New York City, to be exact. We were living in a shitty apartment with brick walls, mismatching furniture, and weird art all over. We both had two part time jobs, I was a cashier a convenience shop and a waitress at a diner with Allie. We would work at our crappy jobs to afford our rent and save the rest for our 'big break.' Yup, living the dream.

Allie was aiming to be a model at the time, while I wanted nothing more than to publish a book and get my writing out there. I had written hundreds of stories and little poems all throughout my school years and even had a few published for the local paper, but when I finally believed that I was good enough, I had convinced Allie to move to New York with me so we could leave our little town and chase our dreams in the big bad world. From the moment I knew I wanted to be a writer, I haven't stopped working for it.

Just like my career, 4:18AM wasn't born overnight. I think I have worked on that for a little over three years. Collecting moments in my life to write about and share with the world. My big break however, actually began when two people walked into the diner one night at the end of my shift. I was waiting for Allie to arrive for her shift so I could finish writing a side project I've been working on, soon to be called 4:18AM.

The woman took a seat across the man and brought out a laptop while the man held an iPad. The two obviously looked stress from what I assumed to be their work. Checking the time, I knew it would be a while before Allie would get here since she just texted me saying she's about to leave the apartment. I flipped the page of my notepad, abandoning my doodle of giant apples falling over New York City with the words 'Living the dream, dreading reality,' and made my way towards them, ready to take their orders.

As I got closer, I could hear their conversation. I knew it was bad to eavesdrop, but I couldn't help but hear since they were talking so loud.

"What are we gonna do, Tony? Sara expects a new article about New York City by tomorrow morning!"

"I don't know, Anne. All the writers are busy with the new project. This magazine is going to be published tomorrow and we delayed it, now our jobs are on the line!"

"Where are we gonna find someone with an article ready, a good article? Miracles don't just waltz up to you!"

"Hi, can I take your order?" I said with a smile as I stood in front of the two.

The man, Tony, rubbed a hand over his face and began talking, "Look, honey, sorry to be rude, but we're a little busy right now, can you come back in a few minu-," he stopped mid sentence when he glanced up and saw my doodle hanging over my notepad. "What's that?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I just like to draw when I'm not serving," I quickly ripped the page, ready to crumple up the doodle.

"No! Where did you get this idea?" he grabbed the page from my hand and stared at me, waiting for an explanation.

Just as I was about to answer, Allie burst through the doors in her uniform, "Ella, I'm so sorry I'm late! You can finish writing, I'll take over from here."