Penny

-Two Months Later-

"Sorry hun, we just don't have enough hours to give you for the spring session, we're going to have to let you go," Trish says, leaning over the counter holding out my tips from the last 2 weeks of work.

"Wait no Trish, I really need this job. You know why" I plead, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill as I take my tip envelope from her outstretched hand.

Trish hands a man sitting at the other end of the counter his coffee and omelet, before turning back to me. Her eyes are soft, " I know dear, It's not up to me. The business isn't doing as well, so boss lessened the number of hours we have," She walks around the counter coming up to me, her warm hand squeezes my numb fingers, "I am so sorry Penny, I know how much you needed this for dance school."

I nod, taking a deep breath.

"Thanks for letting me know Trish, I get it, harder industry for small restaurants to thrive," I adjust my duffle bag strap higher onto my shoulder.

She smiles warmly walking back around the bar, "I'll let you know if any shifts do open up, take care of yourself."

I leave Ben's breakfast and step out into the frigid morning air, pulling my hoodie up further to cover my exposed neck. Running towards my car at the end of the parking lot I slip inside and immediately blast the heat, holding my cold fingertips in front of the jets of warm air.

What did I tell you, bad luck seems to follow me everywhere I go.

I started working at Ben's as a waitress around 2 months ago after I first moved into my apartment. I needed the money since my mother sure isn't helping to pay for my dance classes. But now, I was truly lost, dance classes at the academy weren't cheap and it was a surprise that I made it in, in the first place with how strict they are there. It's not every day, they let a mediocre dancer into their prestigious school. Them letting me in was huge.

Starting up my car, the anxiety of being out of a job with rent soon approaching swells up inside me. I quickly switch lanes and soon I find myself driving in the direction of the one place where I can truly let myself go, a place to wash away all my stress even if it's only a temporary relief.

I'm pissed about my job, I have absolutely no clue what I am going to do with having to pay for school on top of rent... I do have savings from teaching lessons back home, but that won't be enough for everything. I begin to plan out the job-finding strategy that I'll have to follow once I get back to my apartment. But as I pull into the parking lot outside of Corrine's Dance studio, everything else moves to the back of my mind.

Walking into the empty studio, I change into my leotard and stuff my bag into a locker. Walking out into the dance room I pull my hair up into a tight bun, securing it with a hair tie.

I connect my phone with the speaker system and put on my contemporary dance playlist. Pressing play I let the music glide through me, awakening my blood.

The beat thrums under my skin and I slowly get lost in the rhythm as it guides my body to the beat, I feel my core being pulled by the notes.

Adrenaline courses through my veins as the music tempo builds, and soon I am moving around the room in twirls and leaps, my body loosening up from all the stress that has been building. It's been so long since I have had the free time to just let go, with the hours I was working plus some dance classes, there was no time for me to just feel the music.

A little bit later I collapse onto the floor breathing heavily as my timer chimes, reminding me of my dinner with Brooke tonight. I go back to the speakers and unplug my phone, checking to see if there are any missed notifications. None, but I'm not really surprised.

I chug half of my water bottle on my way back out of the studio, tired but exhilarated from dancing. For me dancing has always been a way to escape my mother and any stress that I had, I get lost in the rhythm and everything else falls away, leaving only the music and me.

-

"Pen!" Brooke smiles as I open the door, letting her into my apartment. She pulls me in for a tight hug, also giving me a quick peck on the cheek before she runs into the kitchen with all of her groceries.

Even though Brooke and I have just met only 2 months ago it feels like I've known her forever, we just click. We have even started our weekly traditions and tonight, Thursday, is our homemade Pasta night.

"Wow B, you really went all out with the ingredients today," I say eyeing all the yummy-looking vegetables and cheeses.

She shoots a toothy smile my way, her hand revealing the wine she also brought. I laugh and roll my eyes, "You and your alcohol."

"Hey! it's not my fault I'm fun. I like having a good time and that's wherever the alcohol is. "

We start to make homemade pasta while drinking directly from the bottle of red wine and to say it turned out to be a disaster would be an understatement.

Only twenty minutes into making pasta from scratch and we had already managed to set the fire alarm off, down half the bottle of wine and drop most of the freshly rolled pasta on the floor.

Now we are a giggling pile on the floor with me sitting against the oven and Brooke's body draped across my outstretched legs, surrounded by our uncooked pasta and the wine, which Brooke is holding close to her chest.

"I'm just so pissed about work" I pout, letting out a small hiccup and giggle as I take another sip of wine.

"I know.. but you know what? When life gives you lemons..." she motions for me to continue the sentence with her hand.

"you make lemonade?" I squeak.

"Yes!" She gets up onto her knees and takes both of my hands into her lap, "Our lemonade will be going out tomorrow night!"

I begin to shake my head, "No B, you know I said no more partying. Im trying to be mature and not be so... 'rebellious' as my mother would say" I use my fingers to air quote.

My mother would be very unhappy with how I've been acting these past few weeks. Brooke has managed to get me to go out with her and her friends almost every weekend, each night she drags me along to another hip place unlike anywhere I've been to before. Im guessing Friday will be no different. For my sake and my liver, I don't think I should get black out drunk or high every week, its not healthy.

But who am I kidding, I've already broken that rule tonight.

"But Pennnn..." She drags out my name, making me pull up my hands to hide my face from her peer pressuring, "Come on... Marlee said she'd come too, and where ever Marlee goes Jack goes, and wherever Jack goes Connor goes," At the mention of Connor, Brooke wiggles her eyebrows and laughs, which causes my cheeks to flush.

I met Connor the second time I went out with Brooke, that night I realised just how much of a party group her and her friends were. They have probably seen every nook and cranny of this large city. I couldn't even count the amount of hookups Brooke has brought home, both girls and guys, it's impressive honestly.

Personally, I've never been the kind of girl with crazy hookup streaks, I was usually the make friends first-then get together type girl. But that could also be my inner small town girl speaking, this new city voice was excited and ready to let my hair down and not care what people thought. My mother wasn't here to chastise me for my behaviours anymore.

My cheeks redden at the mention of Connors name, It's obvious that he had been interested in me the moment he saw me in Brooke's apartment that first night. Connor is Jacks roommate, and Jack is Marlee—Brookes teammates—Boyfriend. Her group of friends have layers and I'm pretty sure they have all hooked up with one another at some point.

Connor has made it clear multiple times that he wants to take our relationship to the next level,  but me being shy with any sort of romantic interest, has turned him down everytime. Don't get me wrong, I'm interested, its just that I never know how these things will go or why he's even interested in the first place.

"Also.. I kinda, maybe told Connor you'd be coming," Brooke whispers in her drunken state against the side of my head, missing my ear.

I gasp, "No... Brooke, you didn't."

She bursts into a fit of drunken giggles and I can't help but laugh too.

I grin down at her, but my thoughts drift to my lost job and the bills I will eventually need to pay.

One night out to forget my worries couldn't hurt could it?

What's the worst that could happen.