XPLR | Colby Brock

~136~

When I woke up, Mama was at the end of my bed, asleep, underneath the covers. When I felt her under the sheets, I lifted them up and looked at her. She stretched, rubbing her cheek against my leg. "Aw, good morning," I said, I can't help but smile at her. That was, until, she bit my leg. I jumped and sat up, saying, "Ow! Mama, that's mean!"

I pulled my legs out and stood up, glancing at the time. It's a Sunday now. I glanced at the time on my watch, and sighed. I have a shift with Rebecca, that bitch, this morning, and a shift tonight with Julie. I'm working a lot of hours, which I don't mind, but bills are due soon and I'm still running short on money. Guess we'll have to skip out on eating this week.

I never knew how hard it would be to live on my own. Back in Los Angeles, I was paying four hundred dollars a month to live. Now I'm paying nine hundred, and this apartment is a lot worse off than me and Elena's. And now a cat?

She's a kitten. She needs food more than I do. I can live off of left overs and cans, but Mama needs something real. I sat down at my vanity, and I jumped when a furry forehead bumped against my leg, and there was a distinctive, high pitched meow from below my desk. "What is it?" I asked softly. She moved away and managed to jump up onto my lap, where she sat and sniffed around the edge of the vanity.

"Are you hungry?" I asked her, petting her ears. She stood up on her back legs a little to greet my hand. "I don't have anything to feed you," I said. There was a knock at the door. The only people it could be were Logan or Alan. So I just said, "Just come in, I think it's open," I said. The door did open, but I heard a lock turn from the outside. It must be Logan, since I gave him a key.

"Good morning," he said, smiling, then he saw the litle creacher on my lap. "Woah," he said. "Who's this?" he asked, coming over to me and kneeling beside me. "This is Mama," I said, and the cat backed away and nearly fell off my lap, but I caught her. "Don't scare her," I chuckled. "Mama? Let me guess, Alan named her?" he asked with a chuckle. "Yep," I said with a smile. He pet Mama's ears gently and kissed her forehead, then he leaned in and kissed my lips. I'm still not used to it.

"She's adorable," he said before standing up and sitting on my unmade bed. "What do you have to do today?" he asked. "I'm working. I picked up and extra shift so I can make my bills this week," I said with a chuckle as Mama laid in my lap. I'm not very much of an animal person, but Mama curling up on my lap was sweet. It made me want to wrap my arms around her and hold her tight.

Logan frowned. "Okay," he said shortly. I looked at him in the mirror. "What?" I asked with a chuckle. He shrugged. "I was hoping we could do something today," he said. "Like what? Think it could wait until nine p.m. tonight?" I asked with a chuckle as I looked over my shoulder at him. "No. I was thinking something romantic," he laid back on my bed and looked up at the ceiling, "maybe a picnic in Central Park. A nice walk. Then, after that, we could head back to my place and..." he sat up a bit on his elbows and smirked at me. "Well, you know."

I rolled my eyes. "Well, if a nighttime walk in Central Park sounds good, we could do that," I said. I could use that kind of attention from a guy. "Whatever time I could get to see you," he smiled. "So I might actually get lucky tonight?" he asked with a bright smirk. I rolled my eyes. "I hate it when you say it like that. And no promises," I said, putting on some mascara on before I stood up to change into my uniform.

"It's okay," he said and shrugged, as Mama joined him on the bed and he pet her. "Friendly little thing," he said. "Sure is," I said, and motioned for him to close his eyes, which he did. I put on my bar uniform and skipped on my coat since it was getting warm outside in late April. "Can you do me a huge favor?" I asked him. "What?" Logan asked, standing up as he stood up and left Mama to have the bed to herself. I reached into my bag and found some money. "Can you... can you get the usual cat stuff for me and bring them back, since it's your day off?" I asked softly. "Want me to babysit too?" he teased. I shrugged and gave a curt nod. He chuckled and came towards me, taking the money and putting it in his pocket, then he wrapped his arms around me and kissed me.

"I'll see you tonight then," he said when he pulled away.

I walked away and downstairs.

The bar has been late on my paychecks for the past two weeks. And now I'm wishing that I hadn't gave those two five dollar bills to Logan to take care of Mama. And if it's going to be a lot more money to take care of Mama, I was wishing that Julie had taken Mama in instead of me.

Most of all, I just wish the bar would pay me.

I walked into the back of the bar, and I was met by a lot of annoyed glances. "Marcy," I said softly, to one of my colleagues, "What's going on?" I asked, looking around. She gave me a quick glance up and down, and said, "Someone's been stealing from the bar."

I paused. "Wait, you think it's me that's stealing?" I asked, following her whenever she walked away. "Rose Romano," our boss, Alexander, said. I looked over my shoulder at him as he motioned me into his office. "Alexander, Mr. Bell, you know I'm not like that," I said, "you know I'd never steal!"

"Rose, you're fired," is all he said.

I gasped. "What? What do you mean, I'm fired?"

"You're stealing from the company, Rose," he said, crossing his arms and leaning against his desk. "Stealing what?" I asked, using my hands to talk. "Alcohol. Money," he said. "Alcohol? Alexander, I don't even drink! And why would I steal money?" I asked. "Do you think that little of me?"

He shrugged. "There's no one else it could be," he said. I sighed, I could feel my anger getting the best of me, which was rare for me. I was always careful to control it. "We both know it's Rebecca, but you won't accuse her or fire her because there'll be no one else choking on your cock," I huffed and grabbed my bag, then turned to leave.

"And you owe me two paychecks!" I said, leaving. I'm glad Julie isn't here to see this. "No I don't, just live off what you stole!" He called after me as I stormed out.

Goddammit. Now what am I going to do?