Enraptured(8)

I'll pick you up at eleven. Be ready.

I can drive myself. I texted back. I didn't need an escort - despite the fact I wanted one.

I'm driving, Ella. Be ready at 10:00.

Fine.

I tossed the phone on the bed as I kicked the blankets from my body. I was awake so I might as well get my butt up and be productive. I threw my hair up in a messy bun and set about to clean up my apartment. By the time 10:30am rolled around, my space was spotless. Even my laundry was done. I padded across the kitchen floor to the fridge and pulled out one of the two yogurt containers I'd bought the night before. They would tide me over until I got my cheque on Monday. I poured the pink cherry flavored yogurt into a bowl and texted Dee.

Gym?

When?

In a half hour? I hoped to God she would say yes. I was so nervous for my interview and I knew there was no way I could sit in my apartment and wait for the night. I would end up pulling out my hair. I needed to settle my nerves a bit and I had faith the gym would do just that.

Meet you there, Chick.

Great! I replied quickly. I jumped off the loveseat I'd plopped down on with my bowl and darted for my closet. I tugged on a pair of yoga pants and a tank top. I didn't bother showering or making myself look pretty the way I knew Dee would. It didn't matter what I did before going to the gym, I was always a disaster after working out. Somehow Dee maintained her phenomenal appearance even after working out and sweating buckets. She was lucky like that. But then again she was just plain gorgeous.

***

I pulled into the parking lot of the gym and scanned the stalls for Dee's car. She wasn't here yet and as I sat back and looked at the time, I felt an uneasy feeling about going into work tonight. There was no part of me that looked forward to going into the tanning salon and the fact that Tara cut my hours just to spite me made me sizzle with frustration.

On impulse, I dug my phone from my bag and dialed the salon. "Tara's Tanning,"

"Hi Tara, it's Ella." I waited for her to reply but she didn't. That only made me more determined to do what I was about to do regardless of how stupidly careless it might be. "I won't be in tonight."

"Pardon me?" She scoffed. I had a feeling she was picking at her acrylic nails.

"I believe you heard me, but I'll repeat myself." I was smiling from ear to ear. "I won't be in tonight. As a matter of fact, I won't be in at all. I quit."

"You can't just quit, Ella." She huffed.

"I can and I did." I felt like I was dancing on cloud nine. "I'll be in to pick up my cheque."

"Don't use me as a reference. I won't give you a good one."

"I wasn't planning on it." And with those words, I hung up just as Dee was pulling into the parking space beside me.

I dropped my phone into my bag and stepped from the car on wobbly knees. The burst of adrenaline I'd felt while telling Tara off was spiraling down a thousand miles an hour and my sensitive nerves were taking the hit. "Hey," Dee waved. "So glad you texted me. I had nachos with Kyle last night and feel like I've gained five pounds."

"You're ridiculous."

She set a warning glare on me. "I'm serious."

"I know you are." I laughed. She was a good distraction. "That's what's so ridiculous."

She rolled her eyes and I measured my breaths. I just quit my job without a for sure back-up. Shit! What the hell had I been thinking?

"So," she looped her arm through mine. "Kyle tells me you're going for the interview…he's worried you're going to back out."

"Tell him he doesn't have to worry." I said determinedly.

Dee looked at me through quizzical eyes. "Why doesn't he have to worry?"

I took in a deep breath and looked up at the sky. "I just quit my job."

Dee squealed. "You didn't!"

Shit. I felt queasy. "I did."

Dee started jumping up and down beside me and because our arms were linked, I was forced into the ridiculous celebratory dance girly-girls succumbed to. "You quit the bitch shack." She sang, tugging on my arm. "Come on, Ella! Celebrate with me."

"Dee, quitting was seriously irresponsible." I swallowed my nerves but they came bubbling back to the surface. "I should have waited until I had the job at the club."

"Oh, whatever." She shrugged it off. "You'll get the job."

"How do you know?" I was fully aware I sounded mousey, but I was panicking a little.

"Because you're amazing, Chick. You can do anything you set your mind to."

I nodded. "Well, I've set my mind on a work out. Let's go."

I practically had to drag Dee into the gym. She was so excited and that was only serving to make me all the more nervous. I headed right for the elliptical. I needed to blow off some steam before I was set to flames. I didn't know what I'd been thinking when I decided to up and quit. Oh right, I hadn't been thinking. I had never been one who handled stress well and I just shoved myself into the most stressful situation I possibly could have.