Give It A Try

Introducing Artemis

"Twelve... thirteen... fourteen... fif- Ah! Fuck," I groaned.

Mike, my personal trainer, stood over me, laughing. I glared and stood up, shoving him a little, and rubbing my neck.

"I told you to powder your hands," he said and I rolled my eyes.

"I don't need to powder my hands. I was just distracted."

"By what? Your reflection?"

"No. Your hideous body odor!"

He laughed more and tossed me a shower. "Eh, we'll finish there for the day. Hit the showers and I'll see you later."

I flipped him off but we both laughed as I took a quick shower. It was 10:30 and I drove back home in my black Mercedes, frowning. I wasn't distracted by my reflection or anyone's body odor. Honestly, it was the girl at the diner from last night that I had been thinking about.

She had fallen asleep when we left and didn't even wake up when we left. She was thin, dangerously thin, and dressed in nothing but faded jeans and a tattered sweater with shoes that looked days away from falling apart.

When I walked in, I narrowed my eyes. My mom was sitting at the kitchen table, papers spread out in front of her. I sighed and opened the fridge to start my lunch. She was muttering to herself and her light brown hair was on end.

"I'm getting too old for this," she mumbled as I sat down.

"So pass it on," I said and she glared.

"You know why I can't do that, Artemis," she snapped.

I stabbed at my lettuce. "Mom-"

"Kilgore Productions has been around too long for you to ruin it," she said and I sighed, talking along with her speech in my head. "We are a family owned business, Artemis. You are 27 years old and you need to be more focused on the company instead of going to clubs and-and-and hooking up with whores."

"Hey!" I said. "I don't hook up with whores! I haven't been with a woman in two years."

"And look how well that one turned out," she said and I dropped my fork, glaring at her. Her shoulders fell. "Oh, God, Artemis. I'm sorry. I didn't-"

"I'm going for coffee," I said, snatching up my keys. "You want anything?"

"No," she said sadly.

I slammed the front door shut and jogged to my car. I hadn't grabbed my jacket; I was too furious. How dare she bring up Amanda?

I shook my head vigorously and instead focused on coffee. I hadn't been to The Wholy Grind in many years. My dad died six years ago and, since then, I had to take an active role. The most I've been able to do is run in, grab my coffee to-go from James, switching cash, then leave all while on the phone. It'd be nice to just sit and relax.

I pulled in. It looked the same except for a hideous looking white van in the back. I curled my lip but went in quickly to get out of the cold air. I yawned and looked at the menu while I waited for the person in front of me to stop their order.

When I walked up, I saw the last person I expected to see.

It was the girl from the diner. Only she didn't look as peaky as she did the night before. She was still pale and had dark circles under her eyes but she looked as if she had a good meal. She looked at me when the door opened and I shuddered.

"Get a decent jacket," she sneered and James's eyes widened.

"Deidre," he hissed.

"It's okay," I said smoothly. "At least I have one that's not in tatters."