Ensconce

Chapter 1: The Timing Isn't Right

AMAPOLA dipped her head in thanks in the direction of the car that let her cross the street. Then she trudged to the side entrance of the café, hopefully Hasmik was already in the back kneading the dough. Maybe she was done and Amapola would only have to soak the trays in the sink and maybe even give the oven a quick cleaning, before the long baking day. Or maybe...

Amapola shook her head as she opened the door and sighed at what she witnessed.

Or maybe...Hasmik had had a rough night and somehow wound up on the bakery countertop blissfully snoring in her clothes from last night. Amapola pulled down her hood to go about her usual routine to open up the bakery and wake up Hasmik. She had just set down her jacket when she heard Hasmik groan.

"Uhhhh.....what the--" Amapola tried to reach Hasmik but was too late, and she smacked hard onto the cool hardwood floors.

"I'm okay..." Amapola shook her head and got an ice pack from the freezer, handing it to dazed Hasmik.

"You would thinnnnk..." Hasmik started then fell silent. "Ah fuck...seriously, Hasmik? You let yourself go this low for some loser that won't even go down on you? Come on, now girl."

Amapola let her talk to herself as she did every morning. Hasmik believed that the only way she could learn from her mistakes was to reprimand herself. A practice that didn't seem to be working because Amapola usually found Hasmik trashed in the morning more than once a week. And while she worried, she knew that at the moment the best she could do was simply support her friend before she was ready to admit she had a problem.

"I just let myself get too attached too quick you know? The timing is just not right. He still needs to grow up and use his head. And learn to give head! Haha. Head. Hahahaha! Ow...my head." She groaned. "But trust me, Amapola, that is the last that we are both going to see of that limp-dicked hippie pleb! You mark my words! Ughhh."

Amapola sighed.

"I'm going to turn the news on...And get you some advil." Amapola gently patted Hasmik's unkempt hair.

"You do that, babe. A ham and cheese croissant would be lovely too."

Amapola gave her a thumbs up and walked to the front of the store. She turned on the television in the top corner of the café and then went about inspecting the cleanliness of the lobby and double-checking stock.

"Last night, the streets were once again lit up with a message by mystery street artist, Scarlet Phoenix. This time calling out the CEO and owner of Domain Industries for partaking in a sex trafficking ring. We have word that Scarlet Phoenix has sent hundreds of emails, documents and other data to entrusted journalists across the globe in an effort to bring the story to light and bring justice to our fair city. We have reached out to Domain Industries but have not yet received a comment. While we cannot confirm the truth of these accusations: #flamedomain is trending on Twitter, in response to last night's display. Users appear to urge Domain's CEO to come clean by 'flaming' him with fire puns and memes made to appear like Scarlet Phoenix..."

Amapola wiped down the counter and began to grind the coffee beans. She then turned on the coffee brewer.

"You know, let me stop you right there. This Scarlet Phoenix or The Scarlet Phoenix or Big Red Bird whatever, needs to be the one to come clean." Amapola looked up at the screen to see a pundit give his take on the story.

"I've known CEO Andrews for decades and he is a businessman that is present in the community and a key figure in our politics. He can't hide! Why would he even risk being a part of this trafficking ring? It's preposterous! He has always been an upright citizen creating jobs for the many even when our market crashed a few years ago. He took that initiative!"