I turned up to work fifteen minutes early, spinning and humming my heart out. Snow White, Elsa, Pocahontas and bloody Judy Garland eat your heart out! Abby gave me a knowing smile as her fingers fluttered over the keyboard.

My heart almost leaped out of my chest when I discovered Dick's desk empty. Could these twenty four hours get any better? The pod coffee I made myself smelled all the more sweeter, each small sip reminding me of the elixir of life.

With my final ten minutes I allowed the continuation of my filthy dream, starring Mystery Man. It got to a point that it just looked like a mound of heaving body parts, slick with the sweat of our sordid nocturnal activities. Hell, my stomach flipped just thinking about it.

The unfortunate side effect of letting myself get lost in dream land meant that my wanker radar was extremely dulled. I was unable to put my shields up before ol' mate came and pissed all over my bonfire. His tall, wiry frame towered over me while his upper lip twitched in disgust. "Busy day dreaming about an eclair?"

Fuck that Dick! I decided to not let him take over my day. "Something like that," I chirped. "Good morning, Mr Head."

The rat recoiled, as if I'd hit him. Not used to me being impervious to your bullshit, are ya? As he retreated to his dank lair, I allowed myself to exhale.

I wish that was the end of it. But by the time twelve o'clock hit, I wished for a time machine to propel me to my five pm finish. Instead of backing off, Dick took my positive demeanour as a challenge. After the twentieth juice diet he emailed me, and calling me in to his office for no reason I wished I could pluck his eyes out with a melon baller.

When I picked up my lunchbox and made a beeline to the staff room, I fully expected him to call me out.

Nothing.

But that just put me more on edge. Sitting next to Abby, I puffed my cheeks and took a bite out of a piece of watermelon. Ten minutes in, I finally relaxed, about to dish on my surreal evening last night. "You'll never-"

"Miss Ella Harrison!"

Fuuuuuckkkkk me, mate!

"Yes, Mr Head?" I didn't dare look at him, even though he had teleported into the doorway, his face almost glowing red.

"I need these papers emailed to HR."

Well, no surprises there. "Not a problem, sir! I'll just finish-"

He scraped his claws down the weathered doorframe, making me shudder. "I'm sorry, Miss Harrison, but please do not tell me after your lunch."

"I-"

His eyes widened, clicking his tongue in victory. "Come on, Ella. You and I both know that I could withhold your right to eat for a month and it wouldn't make a dent in that wide load you're packing."

Abby gasped. At least it's not just me.

I chewed the inside of my mouth, begging myself not to wuss out in front of him. My usual mantra did little to keep my eyes from getting heavy, the tears clouded my vision.

Don't let Dick get you down. Don't let Dick get you down.

Five o'clock couldn't roll by quick enough! My splotchy face was adorned with my beat-up Ray Bans, poorly hiding the fact that I'd lost to him again. So, when the little hand clicked over to the five, I peered over the half wall, and prayed that Richard would vanish into his overpriced car and piss off outta my life for a little while.

"So, Abby." Richard leaned a bony hip on her reception desk, trying his best to look casual and aloof. "Seeing it's Friday night, I thought we could go for a couple of drinks."

Usually I'd love to see him strike out for the four-hundredth time, but I just wanted to leave. The Ten and Sixth was calling out to me, and I couldn't wait to answer her.

"No, Richard," Abby said. "I'm busy."

As his scarecrow frame leaned over the poor receptionist, I couldn't help but be reminded of Slender Man. Creepy, pasty dude in a three piece, trying to abduct young women.

Just leave! Fuck me, how many times does she have to say no, Dick?

"I'm done for the day!" I yelled, trying to defuse his creepy tangent. "Are you ready to go, Abby?"

With my head bowed low, I swooped in and locked my arm with hers.

We didn't stop moving until we made it to my little car. That beautiful, gold, safe haven.

"Thank you for saving me from that cringe creature!" Abby smiled, leaning on her car that was parked next to mine.

"Don't mention it."

I jiggled the key into the worn lock and turned, releasing the hesitant car door. I then started the engine, knowing full well that it was going to take a while to warm up. There's nothing worse than driving Sydney way and having your shit box die on you on the motorway.

"Where are you heading, El? You were trying to tell me earlier."

"Oh yeah, that," I responded. "Just had a surreal experience."

"What's his name?" Her eyebrow raised as her lips formed a gentle smile.

You know what? He hadn't even told me his name. I couldn't believe that I'd been so swept up in it all, that such a crucial bit of information had slipped by me. "Mystery man."

Her throaty chuckle was hard to resist and I couldn't help but join in. "Well, have fun with that. You definitely deserve it after the bullshit day you had."

"You're a gem, Abs. I'll see you next week." I blew her a kiss and hopped in my car.

And with that, I chugged along to my favourite place on Earth.

"Hey, sweet lady!" Ty's greeting did what it always did, melted away all the bullshit of the day. But, there was something that was a little different, more mischievous maybe? "How was your day?"

"Oh, you know. The usual shenanigans."

He purred, and winked. "Oh, girl. Something tells me that your luck is about to change." With a flick, he raised his signature bowler hat, before whispering, "I can feel it."

I didn't quite know how to react to his peculiar behavior, so decided to go with my usual response: awkward silence.

"Well ... I better be getting to the green room." My footfalls thumped in my ears. I'm so freakin' hopeless.

My brain ran a million kilometers an hour, playing my most recent social failing, trying to decipher the different ways I could've navigated them. Before I could fall too far into that rabbit hole, I swore I could smell flowers. That couldn't be right. It reminded me of my grandmother's garden, sweet, like early-morning dew. She'd had a special place in her heart for daffodils, that yellow flower lined her whole verandah. In those moments before I reached the door, I seriously questioned whether I'd finally gone crazy.

As I opened the rickety door, the smell amplified. The usually dank space was filled with all different types of daffodils, white, yellow and orange blooms making me well up. "What the hell?"

Scrambling feet made their way to the make-up table, my hands lightly swept across the delicate petals. Surely this is a mirage or something! But as I made contact I gasped. My eyes caught the shine of fresh ink on a white envelope. Ella was written in perfect cursive.

Dear Ella,
                  Tyrone was kind enough to tell me your ridiculously perfect name. I can't stop thinking about those beautiful pipes, and the package they come in.

I accept your challenge. Meet me at Rico's after your show.

Until then,

(Well, you'll just have to find out.)

I placed the note down, only then realising that I was lightly tracing my thumb across my lower lip.

How was I supposed to take that?

Was I in some kind of trance?

Did I lick a toad that I forgot about?

Blood pumped as my fingers trembled before a sense of euphoria set in. It was hard not to be on cloud nine surrounded by a florist worth of nostalgia fuel and a date after the show.

My black dress stuck out to me. The pencil cut was reserved for particularly confident days, and paired beautifully with my strappy pumps.

"Hey, Ella!" Adrian cawed. "I don't need to ask you if you're ready for tonight."

Sam did a double take, following my curves like a rural map. "Someone woke up on the right side of bed."

Frankie missed it completely. "We're going to be late! Curtain call is on half an hour, time to warm up."

I smiled before following him.

The night finished with possibly one of the best gigs we'd ever performed. The crowd laughed and roared louder than they had before. I was on top of the world, blowing kisses and bowing. Friday night is my night!

I wish I'd left the stage a second earlier. Then I wouldn't have heard the drunk patron up the front. "She's amazing for a fat chick! Lucky she can sing."

His words hit me in the heart, and I might as well have been naked.

Then my insecurities clawed at my throat, restricting my air flow. All it took was one drunk asshole for me to question the validity of my upcoming date.

What if it was a joke? What if I get there and I sit at an empty table for an hour and I get those pitiful looks from other patrons.

Poor fat girl got stood up. Maybe she—

Calm down, Ella. Not all guys are like your ex.

After placing my insecurity jacket on, I gathered my belongings into my bag and dragged myself to the car. Should I go? What's the point?

I eyed myself in the rearview. "C'mon, Ella! What have you got to lose?"

Looking down the brightly lit street, I decided to walk. It definitely wouldn't do me any harm to get some more cardio in. And Rico's was only a few blocks away. My heels clinked on the concrete, reminding me how barren these streets are. In hindsight, probably wasn't the best idea. But I was closer to Rico's than my car. Best to press on.

That's when the chilling feeling set in. I took a few more steps before looking over my shoulder, lo and behold there was a coated figure gaining on me.

What do I do? Stupid, Ella! Shit, shit!

Flicking my head forward, I focused on searching for the pepper spray in my bag. And making one of the top-ten poor choices of my life, I turned left ... into a dark alleyway.

I began to run, hoping it would lead me to safety.

Hello, brick!

My face connected with the wall, making me collapse in a scratched mess. I closed my eyes as the figure approached me, placing a cold hand on my cheek.

Why didn't I take my car?