Ugly(47)

Walking in to work, I see Stacey’s already here and standing to the side of one of the registers talking to one of the other girls. I hang back, giving them both privacy until they’ve finished talking. Stacey turns to walk away and she looks at me and indicates with her head to follow her.

“Stacey, can I talk to you for a moment?” I ask.

“Up in my office, Lily. Not down here.” The way she says it, I feel like I’ve done something wrong.

Walking behind her, I go over the last few days here in my head. I try to replay all my interactions with the customers; if I was rude to anyone, or if I said something to anyone who could’ve taken it as rude.

She goes into her office and sits down behind her desk and says, “Close the door.”

A shudder of cold washes over me, as if she’s going to pink slip me. “Have I done something wrong?” I ask, the tension in my body bursting through in the way I ask.

“What? No, you’ve done nothing wrong at all. But I did get a call from Chris, and then I got a call from Trent.”

“I didn’t do anything,” I automatically respond.

“No you didn’t. Both of them are very upset that you didn’t go home last night. They seem to think you’ve broken it off with Trent.”

“It’s something I need to discuss with Trent.” It’s not her business, and nor will I talk to her about it.

“You do realize I’m a very good friend of Chris and if he calls me unhappy, then I try and make him happy. Not to mention, his son, your boyfriend has called here in a total panic because he believes you’ve left him. This is my store, and if they call me, then yes, it’s something you can discuss with me. From what Chris and Trent told me, you were rude and accused Trent of cheating on you.”

“What?” I feel my shoulders slump that Trent would even say something to my boss. “It’s not how it happened.”

“Then sit down, and tell me so we can work through it and you can stop this childish behavior and return to your boyfriend.”

I sit on the chair and knit my hands together. “I’m not going back. And I wanted to talk to you and ask you if you can recommend me to a store near the college for a job.”

“You’re not going back? Why would I recommend a brat who likes to create problems? And don’t think I don’t know about the night you tried to come on to Shayne’s boyfriend and had him drive you home.”

“What? I don’t know who’s telling you these things but again, that’s not how it happened.”

“Then you better tell me what happened last night and hurry up because your shift starts in a few moments. The longer you take, the less you’ll get paid because it’s eating into your hours. And if I’m satisfied with what you tell me, only then will I recommend you to the store.” She sits back and crosses her arms in front of her.

I’ve got no choice, I have to tell her because if I don’t then not only do I lose out on my hours here, but she won’t refer me to the store near campus.

When I finish telling Stacey what happened, she simply shifts in her seat before considering what to say. “So you’re saying all this happened because you believed her over your boyfriend?”

“He stuck up for her.”

“Your boyfriend, who you live with and brings you to work, and protects you and I hear even gave you a phone. The same guy?” She emphasizes the words, looking at me as if I’m not getting her point.

“He was angry I even said anything. What am I supposed to do? Sit there and let her say things to me and not ask about them?”

“He’s your boyfriend. He’s the man in the relationship and you should stick by him, no matter what.”

That’s such archaic thinking, especially considering he’s not in the right. “That’s not fair. She bombarded me, saying she’s had sex with my boyfriend, and then the three of them left me with the bill to pay, and made a scene so it humiliated me.”

“You deserve to be humiliated, because you’re in the wrong. Think about it, Lily. Really think about it. Why would Trent want you around if all he’s going to do is cheat on you?” When she puts it like that, it makes sense. “And why would he go to that trouble of protecting you and looking after you if all he’s going to do is screw around?” Her point is valid.

I dart my eyes away from hers, and focus on a lone paper clip on her desk. “I didn’t think of it that way.”

“Not to mention actually go to the trouble of organizing a date to start with, at The White Swan no less. A beautiful restaurant where the dishes are some of the best in the state. It may have turned to shit, but do you think it’s fair to blame him over miscommunication? And not only that, but over something someone else said, over which he has no control? That’s not the type of girl you are, Lily.”