“Fuck,” I moan in the parking lot of the ice arena. I bend down around the side of the building, back against the wall, my knees up with my face cradled into my hands.
What just happened?
I stay huddled in that position for who knows how long, letting the darkness of my body comfort me.
Where do I even go from here?
I’m on the clock, but I can’t go back in there. Everyone will tease and torment me.
Everyone just saw my most private inner thoughts and feelings on the big screen. It was embarrassing to say them out loud to one person, but now the entire community knows so much about me. Embarrassment is an understatement, really.
“Where is she?” Vienna’s voice booms as the clicks of her heels grow closer.
I tilt my head out of my hands as Vienna rounds the corner and faces me.
“You have a job to do, missy!”
“Yeah? And what is that?” I drop my knees down and extend my legs out on the cement walkway.
“Snack bar, now!” she orders.
In the corner of my vision, I notice Faye and Harry slip out a side door nearby. They are leaning against the wall, keeping their distance.
“Now!” she repeats as her fingers point at me and her hands wave up in the air. She looks quite absurd if I’m being honest. I’m not sure why this intimidated me in the past.
I push myself off the ground and stand up tall, back straight and chest out.
“No.” I tip my chin up.
“No?” She laughs. “You can’t say no. It’s your job,” she says, drawing out the last word like I don’t understand.
“It’s not anymore.” I rip off my name tag from my t-shirt and throw it to the ground. “I quit.”
“You can’t quit!” Her hands flail in the air.
“Why not?” My tone is even and neutral.
“Well, forget college then,” Vienna counters.
“You haven’t even paid my tuition!” I scream back.
“Oh. You know about that,” she mumbles to herself. “Well,” her voice picking up a little more bravado, “You can’t live atmyhouse anymore.”
Oh.
I should have thought this through a little more. I guess that’s why I’ve always listened to her. Shelter. Security. Safety.
But how much of those things am I actually getting now?
“You have five seconds to get back to that snack bar, or I’ll never see or speak to you again.”
Never see or speak to me again?
Is that supposed to be a threat? Because that sounds pretty nice actually. A life with no Vienna in it sounds less stressful. Sure, I’ll miss my childhood home, but maybe leaving won’t be a terrible thing.
“Three, two…” Her face scowls. “Ella, you don’t want to do this.”
My mind is made up. “I’m pretty sure I do.” I cross my arms. “Vienna, I’m done. I’m done with your rules. I’m done with your house. I’m done with this job, and I’m done with you.”
