(Yep its the restraunt on my happy home paradise resort)
I see it's message and lie back on my bed. I'm exhausted. Even though I haven't done much today but worry.
I really hope it's gonna work with her. I can't afford to lose any more time.
Whatever I do. Whoever I end up partnering with. I cannot tell them what my job is. I can't risk it.
(timeskip?)
(Yes please)
Candy drifted in and out of sleep several times that night, too nervous to sleep properly. Finally, she awoke, though still tired. She scrambled for her phone sleepily, trying to find the time. As soon as she saw the time, she scrambled out of bed, panic already arising in her.
It took her awhile to get her thoughts coherent, to put together what she needed to do. First step: shower. Due to her long hair and tail, she knew it would take forever and that she'd have to hurry and skip most of her routine if she wanted to get there on time with dry fur. It took thirty minutes in front of a space heater to fully dry her hair, on top of the twenty minutes she'd managed in the shower. This left her very little time to get her things and run out the door and into the car.
When she got in, she checked her gas levels, and was relieved to see that she still had some left. The bad news? She was almost out. Just enough to get to The Jitterbug, but there wouldn't be enough left to get back. It sighed. It looked like it was going to have to ask for help after all.
Somehow, all things considered, Candy managed to get to The Jitterbug only five minutes late.
I had fallen asleep, quietly, quickly. Deeply breathing. Scaresly dreaming. Resting. Just resting. No nightmares about that. No nightmares at all. Only to be woken up by the screeching of my alarm clock.
Lovely.(yayy my real dramatic ass writing style!!)
I got up and brushed my teeth. They always feel too gross after I wake up. Then I took a shower. I will not be the stinky girl who looks for a partner online. Not today. Not ever.
The clothes I pick out aren't that diffrent than my usual. Graphic t-shirt. Black skirt. Shoes. Before I leave I pull my hair up into a ponytail. I don't like it when it touches the back of my neck. It gives me major sensory discomfort. So I normally pull it up to avoid that.
I arrive at The Jitterbug on time. Get a table for 2. And wait. I don't mind it.
(I ment to respond to this a few days ago but something happened with my dogs and I had to deal with it)
(np!)
Having arrived only slightly out of breath, Candy looked around nervously, hoping she'd be able to spot her new handler easily. She wasn't dressed that differently than usual—she hardly had any variation in her clothing. She bit her lip, trying to gauge which of the people in the restaurant could possibly be who she was looking for? Fortunately, there only seemed to be one girl with blonde hair, so star hoped she was walking up to the right person.
Still being unable to recall the girl's name, she managed instead, "Um… I'm Candy…?" Originally intended to be a statement, it ended up coming out as more of a question. Quickly, she added, in case the name wasn't familiar, "…the girl who's supposed to be your stand-in for the gala…?"
I stand up and shake your hand with a smile. "Yes thank you. I'm Jessica. Please call me Jess."
Stars a catgirl? I wasn't expecting that. But it's ok. Looks mean little to nothing to me. I just need somebody to get me into this gala.
I sit back down in my chair. "I'm sorry to inform you Candy but there was a miscommunication about payment. I'll be able to pay you upwards of 6k. The only downside is that you will have to wait till after the gala to receive it." I shake my head. (I Def didn't think she was only getting paid 5k and not 15k like I said earlier!!) "I'm willing to cover anything you need before then. It's my fault for the miscommunication."
Candy carefully took a seat, nodding.
…wait. Increase in pay? She blinked a few times, trying to wrap her head around this. And… and…
Suddenly her chest felt tight, and a knot was forming in her stomach. No way. No way was this happening. And no way could she accept such a deal.
I'm sorry, but at this time I cannot accept your offer.
The words were on the tip of her tongue, so why couldn't she get them out? If Jess found out that she didn't have the gas to get back home, there was a high chance she'd offer to pay for the tow and gas herself, and even a drive home… it was all too much. There was no way she could accept that. After all, to admit vulnerability… was to invite pain. She wouldn't take any chances, let alone with Jess. Even so, the words wouldn't leave her mouth, and all that came out was, "Thank you…"
Candy went quiet after that, too busy trying to process and make sense of this new information, and scrambling to find a way to refuse the monetary needs when they arose to speak much.