First Encounters 1.2

Inside the office was a woman standing with her back to them. She was talking to someone on the phone. More like someone was talking to her but all she answered were grunts and one syllable words like yes or no.

She then hung up and faced the two who just entered her office. She doesn't look so happy. Alexandra just hopes she doesn't turn out to be a jerk like the guy beside her.

Alexandra was again stunned for the second time tonight, actually for the second time in an hour, or 5 minutes. The woman was breath taking. Briefly Alexandra wondered if being drop-dead gorgeous is a requirement of employees in this bar. She had long straight red hair -not the original color- that flowed up to the mid-section of her back. Her eyes were pitch black, they had the air of mystery. Her red lips were pursed and her brows furrowed.

"Who's this?" she asked looking at Alexandra.

"This is Lexie. And she wants to work here." Nathan answered.

Lexie? It took a minute for Alexandra to realize he was talking about her.

"Uh. hi." she smiled awkwardly at the girl staring intently at her.

"Why would you wanna work here?" the girl asked Lexie.

She considered giving a long explanation, give them a sob fest, telling them a story that she made up but knew they wouldn't believe anyway. So instead, she chose to answer honestly without revealing too much.

"I need the money."

The woman was impressed with the bluntness of the girl standing in front of her but she didn't let it show.

"You don't look like you do." she looked Lexie up and down, studying the girl carefully. Her clothes looks expensive, her nails manicured, and her hair although hang loose and wild around her face looks like it had weekly appointments at the salon. She was right of course, but she didn't know that.

"Says she can do anything." Nathan interrupted.

"And you believe her?" The woman now turned her attention to Nathan. He just shrugged and said nothing.

"I'm sorry. We don't really need you." the woman said dismissively and dialed something on her phone. Later she had her back to them again and was talking to someone.

Again, Nathan shrugged and left. Lexie followed him out. She wasn't really expecting to be hired but she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Is it because of the 'drop-dead gorgeous' thing?, she thought. Lexie may not be as tall, and statuesque as the two but she had always been considered beautiful.

"Sorry kid." Nathan stopped and faced Lexie. They were outside the bar, in front of the entrance.

"I'm not a kid." Lexie answered.

He gave a slight laugh, it was harsh though, a little insulting but Lexie couldn't be so sure. "Sure you are, forever 21 remember."

With that she smiled a little then let out a deep breath.

"I guess I'll go then. Thanks anyway." she turned and started walking. She didn't know where she was going..

She walked for a few minutes with a smile on her face from thinking of the guy earlier until she remembered she had nowhere to go.

She ended up in a park. She sat on a bench next to a street light, directly in front of a diner. It was late and she knew it was dangerous, so she chose that spot. Directly under the light, and right in front of witnesses.

For a few minutes she allowed herself to just sit there and think of nothing. Just sit. After a while she knew she had to think of something. She couldn't sit there forever. She needed to find a job and fast, as if agreeing with her, her stomach growled. She tried getting jobs in restaurants and cafes earlier but apparently now even waitressing needed experience. How does one get experience if no one gives her a job because of lack of experience? She thought about getting a job in 'night establishments' but given what happened a while ago it didn't work out. She knew she should've tried other bars but she didn't want to.

If only she was given the job a while ago. If only she was given a chance to show them she could do something. If that girl didn't dismiss her so easily. Her mind drifted to the woman earlier, she really was beautiful. Then her mind went to the man, who was also beautiful. She found herself debating who she found more attractive, the man or the woman.

"You stayed there the whole night 21?"

Lexie looked up and was met with two black orbs. The woman earlier was leaning down on her. So now she's calling her 21 too?

"What?" she asked, a little bewildered.

"How long have you been sitting there?"

Lexie looked around, the diner was already closing and there were no one else around. She was too caught up in her debate to notice how long she's been sitting there. Suddenly remembering what she was thinking about earlier, Lexie couldn't help the small blush that formed in her cheeks. She prayed that it was dark enough so the woman wouldn't notice it. She knew her prayers were not answered when the woman tilted her face slightly to the left and her brows furrowed in confusion. Or it was probably because she hasn't answered the question, she thought.

"Too long, I guess." she got up and held her bag. Ready to go. If only she had somewhere to go.

"You've been sitting there the whole time? Wow. That's like how many hours. Aren't you starving?" she asked.

"Not really." she lied. Just as she did, her stomach growled loudly.

Traitor.

The woman chuckled and shook her head slightly causing some of her hair to move. "Come on, let's have breakfast." Lexie was a little surprised at how nice the woman is being, she seemed a little uptight earlier.

"No, it's okay." She smiled politely at her. She was starving, sure, but she couldn't afford anything.

"Come on. My treat, think of it as a welcome to the team treat."

"What?" She looked up at her. Welcome to the team? What was she talking about?

"Yeah. You start work tonight." She just smiled and started walking. Lexie followed her to a 24/7 diner.