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“Oh, just another of those homeless messengers of our Lord Jesus Christ,” replies Rita with sarcasm.
Marcel almost completely ignores her, he turns to address me. “It’s a pity you were busy this lunch time,” he says, on the surface his voice is friendly, but what lies beneath, well, that really is the question. “I’ll have to try and free up some time for tomorrow, or perhaps Friday,” he continues, “so that we can make a proper start on our little project.”
I look at Rita for a moment, bot
h of us knowing that Marcel is someone I’m going to have to start trying to avoid. Unfortunately, I don’t think our loaded glances escape the eyes of those present. I look at Marcel quickly, and then at Gabriel. Yeah, they definitely noticed.
“Nice to see you again, love,” says Finn in an overly happy voice, he seems delighted to be witnessing this tension that doesn’t involve him. Oh the joys of being a spectator. “I should have guessed you two would know each other,” he continues taking in myself and Rita together, “the morbid twins, that’s what I’ll have to call you now that you’re a twosome.”
My eyes turn to Finn for the first time. “Excuse me?” I ask in a snappy tone, his little jibes about me are beginning to get old, and this is only the second time I’ve met him.
“Don’t mind Van Helsing over there,” says Rita with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Or do you prefer Buffy?” she finishes with a laugh. I can’t help but to smirk.
Finn grins back at her, unfazed. “Call me whatever you like, darlin’, there are worse names out there.”
I take in the sight of Finn standing there with Marcel by his side, and get the funny feeling I’ve been the topic of conversation amongst them.
“So,” says Rita with folded arms. “What’s this, some sort of boys club?” and she gestures at the three of them.
“Finn came to inform myself and Gabriel of an important development,” says Marcel, “although the very fact that it is important means it is none of your concern, Rita.”
His harshness irks me, and I narrow my eyes in sheer irritation. I’m surprised by my own words when I say, in an icy tone, “Don’t talk to her like that.” Gabriel’s green eyes peer at me, similarly surprised by my reaction.
Marcel laughs. “What’s it to you how I talk to her,” he replies. “You know her what, a week? You have no clue of the kind of woman you are befriending, Tegan.”
I don’t know where my sudden anger comes from, maybe it’s a build-up of being told what to do these past couple of weeks. Hell, maybe I’m just hot-headed. Nonetheless, I continue to speak out. “Don’t tell me what I know and don’t know, it doesn’t matter how long I’ve known her, and to be honest it’s none of your business. But speak to her in that undermining tone again and you’ll see just how much you don’t want to offend me.”
Marcel’s laugh deepens, holds a hint of anger. “Are you threatening me, little girl? Are you stupid? You know what I am, and yet you presume to spout threats?”
“Listen, everyone just calm down,” Gabriel interrupts, the voice of reason, pulling Marcel aside and whispering something quickly in his ear. Finn appears delighted with the drama. I sigh.
“You’re just loving this, aren’t you?” I say to him.
He smiles widely, showing straight white teeth. “Yeah, just a little bit.”
“Are you forgetting who it was that saved your life not too long ago?” I spit.
Finn’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “If I remember correctly, you were all too quick to declare you had no decisive part in that incident.”
Rita nudges me, and tells me quietly. “Don’t bother defending me, Marcel’s been treating me like crap for years. It’s water off a duck’s back, really, don’t fall out with him over me. I’m sure you need this job.” Her voice quietly urging me to calm down, to be practical. And yeah, she’s right, I do need this job. But do I want it? Is it worth selling out for? Becoming my bosses’ guinea pig? Probably not. I think I’ve just had an epiphany. This crap really isn’t worth it.
Marcel steps forward then, after speaking with Gabriel in hushed tones. “I apologise, Tegan, I was out of line.”
“It’s not me you should be apologising to, Marcel, I’m not the one you’ve been rude to since day one.” At this I link my arm through Rita’s, to show exactly whose side I’m on. There’s something in Gabriel’s expression that tells me he respects me more for sticking to my guns and not giving in to Marcel. It doesn’t make any sense, since he was clearly the one who advised Marcel to apologise.
Marcel coughs, but doesn’t venture to make amends with Rita.
“Oh God, are you so bigoted you can’t even attempt to be civil to her? You know what, I don’t want to work for someone like you Marcel. You can stick your job where the sun doesn’t shine. I’d rather starve than work for a stuck up elitist.”
“You can’t just quit,” Marcel hisses. “We have an arrangement.”
“We do? I don’t remember signing anything, so quite frankly you can go shove your arrangement somewhere nasty. Come on Rita,” I say, turning to leave the shop. Rita looks at me questioningly, as though she doesn’t fully understand why I’m walking out of a perfectly good job. To be honest, I don’t understand it myself. All I know is that I can’t live like this anymore. I can’t work in a world my mother tried so hard to protect me from. I need to get out while I’m still breathing.
We’re just outside the door when Gabriel comes running out, Finn following casually behind. No sign of Marcel though, clearly he’s too proud to lower himself to come after me.
“Tegan, wait,” Gabriel calls, I turn around and stand there, waiting for whatever it is he wants to say to me. Rita fidgets awkwardly, obviously wishing she was anywhere else but here.
“I’m not going to try to convince you to continue working here, because it’s clear you’ve had reservations for a while now, Marcel’s behaviour was just the catalyst, but at least let me pay you for the last week and half.” Gabriel says, pleadingly.
