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BITTERSWEET
:: l. | show runner

It's been a few more months since jennifer left and she was finally coming back home now, which was one of many things. Cole just started her senior year, Vanessa had been at her new job for nearly a week, and Will had just went back to his apartment the day before.

After dropping Cole to school, Vanessa went to work at the service center and surprisingly, she was really enjoying it.

At work she would take calls, notes, help out customers and whatnot. The job was pretty simple for a pay of sixteen dollars an hour. But then again, it was better than nothing and way better than fourteen an hour.

As her morning continued, she took more calls. Some were about cancellations, upgrades, or just the customer being plain out rude. Call after call. As quickly as those went, lunch soon rolled around.

Just as she was heading out the building to grab lunch, her name was called.

"Vanessa!"

She turned around and saw the boss approaching her, her heart practically stopped. She honestly thought she was about to get fired, but it was the complete opposite.

"I'm glad I caught you before you left." She smiled, "I was hoping you'd have lunch with me? You've been here nearly a week and we haven't formally met yet."

Vanessa nodded slowly, "I was just heading to Panera."

"Great! I love Panera."

So the two headed out the building and began their way to Panera. There was one by the center, not too far, so walking was the best option.

• • •

Once getting to Panera, they ordered their food, then found a table to eat. After their first bites, that's when florence dove into conversation.

"So, why'd you want to work with us?"

Vanessa swallowed her food before speaking, "I left my old job which was the front desk at a hotel. I was kind of looking for something similar because I helped guest all the time and helping customers —— it just seems to go hand in hand."

Florence nodded understandingly, "What was the name of the hotel?"

"The Shirley Hotel."

"Oh my god!" She exclaimed, "I love that hotel. The service there is really nice."

The two lightly chucked as they continued to eat. Conversations went on between the two. It ranged from family, interest to the job. The two could go on and on.

Vanessa was enjoying talking to her boss. It was sure a lot different from the hotel because she barley saw her boss and didn't have a friendship with him. Not that one's obligated too but Vanessa liked the nice change of environment.

After the two shared a bite, they then retreated back to the office building. Just when Vanessa was heading back to her desk, florence mentioned to her to keep up the good work. Vanessa didn't take that with a grain of salt, those words really meant something to her because she's never been told that before.

She knew right then that she was really going to enjoy working there.

• • •

Back at school, everyone was just heading to lunch. Cole was so excited because she was finally seeing Mia. Because of their different class schedules, they don't get much of each other.

As soon as she left the classroom, Cole immediately headed in the direction of Mia's locker. She saw her girlfriend grabbing things out and stuffing them in her bag as she approached.

Cole immediately stroked Mia's arm, who then pushed it off as she continued at her locker.

"Not right now, busy."

"Oh —- i thought we could have lunch together? We barley see each other now, so." Cole spoke softly.

"Maybe another time." Mia shut her locker, "I'm having lunch with a couple of buddies. Bye." She quickly walked off, leaving Cole by her locker who was being a bit annoyed.

As she continued to stand there with a sigh, two of her friends came up behind her. One had red hair and the other had brown, the best sibling duo she knew.

"What's got you all down?" Arlo saw the frown on Cole's face.

"Girlfriend problems probably." Ashton assumed.

Cole nodded in confirmation.

"There's a cure for that." Arlo swung her arm over Cole's shoulders, "There's a party tonight and you're coming."

Cole nodded, "It would be nice to get out the apartment for once."

Ashton smiled brightly, "There's our girl! Ready for lunch?"

"I'll meet you guys. I have to make a call first."

As soon as they separated, Cole pulled out her phone and began heading in the other direction as she scrolled through her contacts looking for Daniel's number.

• • •

After a few rings, wonder boy finally answered.

"What up, wonder girl. It's been awhile, how's senior year?"

"Could be better if you ask me." She wasn't even trying to hide how she was feeling.

"Talk to me."

"It's Mia. She just seems uninterested in our relationship now. Barley making any effort to hang out, always busy —— "

"Well, senior year is tough."

"It's more than that." Cole continues, "When we're in public she barley wants to be seen with me, but behind close doors she's all over me. What's up with that? Do you think she's ashamed?"

"No way. She pined after you the whole time we were together and when we weren't. She's enthralled by you. But from what you're describing, it does sound like she was more into the chase."

"And now that the chase is over, she's lost interest." Cole sighed, "I guess that explains it."

"I stand by what I said though. She's so into you. You have no idea."

"Wish I could believe that now. Thanks, Daniel. Talk to you soon. And hey, have fun out there. I hear college has more freedom."

With that the called ended, at least on Cole's end.

Right afterwards, Daniel called Mia and they talked for a bit. She got a bit pissed and basically told Daniel to stay the fuck out of our business. Abruptly so, Mia left her friends from lunch to go find Cole.

• • •

She approached Cole who was just about to walk into the cafeteria. Mia caught her opening the door after hanging up on Daniel. She grabbed Cole's wrist and dragged her to a corner in the hall so they could talk privately.

"You can't just go around telling people our business. Ok?"

"I wasn't telling people our business." Cole protested.

"Daniel says otherwise. So, what the hell is that about?"

"I wouldn't have to talk to him about how im feeling if you would, but no because you're never around."

Mia scoffed, "I'm a busy person, Cole. I can't hangout with you every waking moment."

"And I don't want you too. I just want like sometimes, but you're always coming up with excuses." She continued, "The last time we did something together was during the summer and it's been like almost a month."

"Well, senior year is quite busy."

Cole shook her head, "Stop hiding behind your work, Mia."

Mia's tone was calm but still very angry, "Our business is our business. Anyone else brought in ——- major problems are going to arise."

Mia then stormed off back into the cafeteria, leaving cole frustrated and as angry as ever. This was whole other side to her girlfriend and she did not like it one bit.

• • •

Hours had passed and Cole was just leaving her place to get in the car, Arlo and Ashton were her ride. Going to a party wasn't really much her scene, but she had nothing else to do.

After parking on the curb, the three got out and then headed up the driveway. A lot of people were on the front lawn, talking or making out. Once approaching the front door, Ashton just pushed it open and the party continued on from there.

The three walked through the crowds and on their way to the living room, Cole offered to grab drinks for the three. Just when the siblings made it to the living room, Ashton was the first to notice. He nudged his sister whose eyes were elsewhere and then that's when she saw what her brother did.

Mia was dancing all up on some guy.

"Hey." Cole approached them, "I got us beer. Hope that's cool."

Arlo quickly turned around, shielding Cole from noticing mia, "Let's just go. This party's kind of lame."

"We just got here." Cole spoke, still holding the drinks and only for a split second, she noticed mia when Arlo moved her head a bit.

Cole shoved the beers in arlo's hands before storming off. Mia attempted to go after her, but was blocked by Ashton. With a roll of her eyes, she pushed passed the siblings and proceeded to go after her girlfriend to maybe explain or clear the air.

Luckily by the time she stepped outside, Cole was sitting on the curb. Mia slowly approached her and sat down next to her.

"It wasn't what it looked like . . . "

Cole abruptly faced her, "Are you cheating on me?"

"No, of course not. Why would you think that?"

Cole scoffed, "What was I supposed to think seeing you dancing that way with some guy? Lately, you've been weird —— barley putting effort into our relationship. Do you want to be with me?"

"Yes." Mia proudly spoke, "I don't want to be with anyone else."

"You have a funny way of showing it." Her arms crossed over her chest, "Are you ashamed of us?"

Mia shook her head, "No."

"Well you went out your way to ignore me and make it abundantly clear that you're not into me and I'm tired of it." She continued, "Tonight was the last straw."

"I think we need space." Mia suggested.

"Rich coming from you, but fine. Whatever." Cole stood up, "It's not fair that I'm the one who's constantly hurting in this and pays the price. Whatever you're dealing with, I hope you figure it out."

Cole then headed back to the party to find Ashton and Arlo. Out of respect, she was asked if she wanted to leave but decided to stay because she couldn't think of any other way of clearing her head.

a/n:
this act is going to be
exciting !!