The next day I was sitting in the break room at work staring
into space when Amy popped her head round the door. “Scarlett, Michel’s calling
for you!” she smiled. I got up and walked towards the door. “Hey, what’s up?
You've been acting strange all day,” she said grabbing my arm and stopping me.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I replied trying to smile. I had been thinking about James A LOT all night and all day. It had been worse now Ace had gone because I had nothing to distract me apart from work which was crazy slow today. I had tried calling Billie but she sent me a text saying she was busy. It felt like our whole friendship group was beginning to fall apart and I really missed them. She looked concerned and then let go of my arm. I just didn't know how to feel. I wanted to cry but I hardly ever allowed myself to cry, especially not in front of people, I just didn't want to seem that weak, and also I was an ugly crier. But at the same time I was beginning to really like Ace and I wanted to be happy with what we had, or could have, I was so confused, it was like the whole James thing wasn't even real.
“Hey, what’s up?” I asked walking into Michael’s examining room. I then noticed the customer standing with a little jack Russell on the examining table in front of us.
“Can you just hold this little one down; I’m just giving him his flu shot.” Michael asked. I nodded and wrapped my hands around the little puppy, he was wriggly and normally I would be worried not to hurt him but today I just felt ruthless and held him down strong. After Michael was done I searched in the treat draw for something to give the puppy.
“What’s his name?” I asked the owner as i stroked the little puppy while Michael filled out some forms on the computer.
“Jack,” she smiled, giving the little puppy and stroke.
“Aw, because he’s a Jack Russell?” I smiled, like I hadn't heard that one before. She laughed and nodded.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I replied trying to smile. I had been thinking about James A LOT all night and all day. It had been worse now Ace had gone because I had nothing to distract me apart from work which was crazy slow today. I had tried calling Billie but she sent me a text saying she was busy. It felt like our whole friendship group was beginning to fall apart and I really missed them. She looked concerned and then let go of my arm. I just didn't know how to feel. I wanted to cry but I hardly ever allowed myself to cry, especially not in front of people, I just didn't want to seem that weak, and also I was an ugly crier. But at the same time I was beginning to really like Ace and I wanted to be happy with what we had, or could have, I was so confused, it was like the whole James thing wasn't even real.
“Hey, what’s up?” I asked walking into Michael’s examining room. I then noticed the customer standing with a little jack Russell on the examining table in front of us.
“Can you just hold this little one down; I’m just giving him his flu shot.” Michael asked. I nodded and wrapped my hands around the little puppy, he was wriggly and normally I would be worried not to hurt him but today I just felt ruthless and held him down strong. After Michael was done I searched in the treat draw for something to give the puppy.
“What’s his name?” I asked the owner as i stroked the little puppy while Michael filled out some forms on the computer.
“Jack,” she smiled, giving the little puppy and stroke.
“Aw, because he’s a Jack Russell?” I smiled, like I hadn't heard that one before. She laughed and nodded.
I then went back into the office and filled out the rest of
the forms for the owner (Amy was out on lunch and the rest of the reception
staff were still taking holiday leave) and booked her in for another
appointment for a different dog the following week. After she left I walked
back into the break room as the place was empty. Michael was standing
there making himself a cup of tea.
“Hey,” I smiled, “I've been meaning to ask you, how dating that girl turning out for you?” I was being a bit forward but I wasn't in a good mood today.
“Erm well yeah, going great I guess,” he shrugged, pouring in the milk.
“Well just so you know, I don’t think Charlotte would be impressed that your dating a girl young enough to be your daughter, I think it’s a pretty low blow actually considering how desperate you seemed to get her back... ”
“Wait what?”
“And also I don’t think it’s very professional, you even told me dating co-workers leads to complications and-“
“Wait hang on, slow down, what are you talking about?”
“You and Jenny!” I exclaimed. Suddenly he burst out laughing. I frowned.
“listen Scarlett, I know it might sound a little weird and stuff but…. Jenny IS my daughter.” My mouth dropped.
“You hired your daughter to work as a receptionist but didn't tell anyone?!” I burst. He nodded slowly.
“But... why?” I asked, cocking my head to the side.
“I didn't want anyone to know, its complicated, I had her when I was very young, but her mum let us stay in touch, I heard she needed job and I wanted to make up for not being around, also,” he added, “Charlotte doesn't even know I have a daughter…” I was completely speechless.
“I… I just-“
“Please don’t tell anyone, its actually quite funny you thought I would be dating someone that young!” he laughed. I laughed too and then I felt really guilty.
“You seem so casual about this?” I asked frowning.
“Well I trust you not to tell anyone…”
“Yeah but it’s just… wow, soo much to take in!” I laughed, suddenly the emotions of embarrassed and relieved and sad and excited all came together and I burst out crying. I wished the whole Michael thing was all a miss understanding too.
“Woah!” Michael said hugging me, “it’s fine! I understanding you might-“
“It’s not that, I… I can’t tell you” I sobbed.
“Ok, ok, it’s okay,” he said gently, rubbing my back as I let all the tears roll down my cheek and onto his shirt.
“I’m soo confused right now!” I wept, clinging on to him.
“Listen if you wanna talk about it I’m always here for you,” he smiled.
“My friend, James, he’s gone off with this man who looks like a drug addict I think he’s taking drugs with him, I just want to help him but I can’t!”
“What? When did this happen?” he asked, pushing me away from him and looking into my eyes.
“Friday night, I was in his apartment, he looked so different Michael, he wasn't James anymore.”
“Have you called the police?” he asked. I shook my head.
“What could we say? It’s up to him what he does.”
“Well you said you think drugs might be involved, you could call the police and say you think someone’s dealing up there, even if he gets arrested at least he’s out of danger.” I suddenly shook my head.
“I’m not grassing up one of my best friends!” I burst. He sighed and shrugged.
“Drugs are very dangerous Scarlett, your young you don’t realise the damaging effect it could have on him, sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.” I continued to shake my head.
“Don’t patronise me Michael, I’m old enough to know about drugs, I’m training to be a vet for god sake!”
“Then you should understand!”
“No! he’s my friend, he needs my help not a place in a prison cell, I can’t believe you’d even suggest me doing that!” I turned away and walked out the door. I was going on an early lunch.
“Hey,” I smiled, “I've been meaning to ask you, how dating that girl turning out for you?” I was being a bit forward but I wasn't in a good mood today.
“Erm well yeah, going great I guess,” he shrugged, pouring in the milk.
“Well just so you know, I don’t think Charlotte would be impressed that your dating a girl young enough to be your daughter, I think it’s a pretty low blow actually considering how desperate you seemed to get her back... ”
“Wait what?”
“And also I don’t think it’s very professional, you even told me dating co-workers leads to complications and-“
“Wait hang on, slow down, what are you talking about?”
“You and Jenny!” I exclaimed. Suddenly he burst out laughing. I frowned.
“listen Scarlett, I know it might sound a little weird and stuff but…. Jenny IS my daughter.” My mouth dropped.
“You hired your daughter to work as a receptionist but didn't tell anyone?!” I burst. He nodded slowly.
“But... why?” I asked, cocking my head to the side.
“I didn't want anyone to know, its complicated, I had her when I was very young, but her mum let us stay in touch, I heard she needed job and I wanted to make up for not being around, also,” he added, “Charlotte doesn't even know I have a daughter…” I was completely speechless.
“I… I just-“
“Please don’t tell anyone, its actually quite funny you thought I would be dating someone that young!” he laughed. I laughed too and then I felt really guilty.
“You seem so casual about this?” I asked frowning.
“Well I trust you not to tell anyone…”
“Yeah but it’s just… wow, soo much to take in!” I laughed, suddenly the emotions of embarrassed and relieved and sad and excited all came together and I burst out crying. I wished the whole Michael thing was all a miss understanding too.
“Woah!” Michael said hugging me, “it’s fine! I understanding you might-“
“It’s not that, I… I can’t tell you” I sobbed.
“Ok, ok, it’s okay,” he said gently, rubbing my back as I let all the tears roll down my cheek and onto his shirt.
“I’m soo confused right now!” I wept, clinging on to him.
“Listen if you wanna talk about it I’m always here for you,” he smiled.
“My friend, James, he’s gone off with this man who looks like a drug addict I think he’s taking drugs with him, I just want to help him but I can’t!”
“What? When did this happen?” he asked, pushing me away from him and looking into my eyes.
“Friday night, I was in his apartment, he looked so different Michael, he wasn't James anymore.”
“Have you called the police?” he asked. I shook my head.
“What could we say? It’s up to him what he does.”
“Well you said you think drugs might be involved, you could call the police and say you think someone’s dealing up there, even if he gets arrested at least he’s out of danger.” I suddenly shook my head.
“I’m not grassing up one of my best friends!” I burst. He sighed and shrugged.
“Drugs are very dangerous Scarlett, your young you don’t realise the damaging effect it could have on him, sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.” I continued to shake my head.
“Don’t patronise me Michael, I’m old enough to know about drugs, I’m training to be a vet for god sake!”
“Then you should understand!”
“No! he’s my friend, he needs my help not a place in a prison cell, I can’t believe you’d even suggest me doing that!” I turned away and walked out the door. I was going on an early lunch.
I came back into the surgery in an even worse mood. And it
certainly wasn't because it was a Monday. I carried on with my work with little
enthusiasm and moved like a zombie as I updated all the online phone books,
checking each customers and staff member’s number matched the ones on their
file. Why do the stupid receptionists have extra time off work?! I wanted to
scream, its not like they even needed it. As the time crept up to half seven I begun
to get ready to leave. I was never usually this desperate to leave work and
usually carried on working till much latter but today I was desperate for some
me time. I was just unlocking the door to my apartment when I heard someone calling
my name. I turned around to see Jane running down the corridor.
“Hey,” she beamed. Why did she always look so good? She was wearing a mini skirt which made her super long legs look even longer with a lilac jumper and her skin was flawless. And there was me with my thick hair tied back into a loose pony tail and my unflattering light blue work uniform on.
“Hey,” I smiled back.
“I just wanted to ask if you'd seen Tommy?” I frowned.
“You mean Matt?” I smiled.
“No!” she laughed, “my cat, his names Tommy, he isn't in the apartment, I'm really worried he got outside, hes a house cat you see, I've kept him inside ever since we got him at-“
“No, I'm sorry I haven’t seen him, but ill help you look if you want?” I suggested. Since working at the surgery Id spoken to lots of people who had lost their pets, I knew, and understood how worrying it could be.
“Oh, no no, you look tired, hes probably just got lost somewhere, he doesn't like change all that much…”
“If you cant find him tomorrow come over and ill help,” I smiled. She smiled back and thanked me. As she walked away i could hear her calling and clicking her fingers.
“Hey,” she beamed. Why did she always look so good? She was wearing a mini skirt which made her super long legs look even longer with a lilac jumper and her skin was flawless. And there was me with my thick hair tied back into a loose pony tail and my unflattering light blue work uniform on.
“Hey,” I smiled back.
“I just wanted to ask if you'd seen Tommy?” I frowned.
“You mean Matt?” I smiled.
“No!” she laughed, “my cat, his names Tommy, he isn't in the apartment, I'm really worried he got outside, hes a house cat you see, I've kept him inside ever since we got him at-“
“No, I'm sorry I haven’t seen him, but ill help you look if you want?” I suggested. Since working at the surgery Id spoken to lots of people who had lost their pets, I knew, and understood how worrying it could be.
“Oh, no no, you look tired, hes probably just got lost somewhere, he doesn't like change all that much…”
“If you cant find him tomorrow come over and ill help,” I smiled. She smiled back and thanked me. As she walked away i could hear her calling and clicking her fingers.
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