Serena looks anything but fine. In fact, I’ve never seen her dressed in a T-shirt that readsBlack Bear Saloon, and she rarely wears her hair in a ponytail. It’s a style I’m not used to seeing on her, and come to think of it, that all too familiar notepad she’s accessorizing with seems a bitsuspicious.
“Serena?” My throat grows parched because for once I hope I’m wrong. “Why are you doing your best impersonation of a waitress at the BlackBear?”
Before she can open her mouth, Sunday shows up and gasps. “My God! You told them you’re awaitress?”
“Waitress?” Marlin ticks his head back. “Sincewhen?”
Serena gives a weak shrug my way. “Since the beginning of thesemester?”
I take in a breath that never seems to end. “Serena Maxfield! You are not even allowed in this bar, let alone allowed to wear a T-shirt of theirs with pride—let alone find employment in this establishment!” The sentence strums from me so fast it sounds like one longword.
“Why not?” The veins in my sister’s neck distend. “I know for a fact you’re working as a waitress at The Sloppy Pelican! If it’s good enough for you, it’s good enough forme!”
I take in another quickbreath.
Both Marlin and Rush study me with curiosity before my brother leans in, his badge shining in the light as if its sole purpose were to sweat the truth out of me. And it’sworking.
“Why are you waiting tables?” Marlin shakes his head at me, truly confounded by theidea.
“Because I lost my job. It’s a longstory.”
Rush grunts as if I were just sucker punched in front of them. “Dude, did you get fired from your oldjob?”
“Of course, she didn’t get fired,” Sunday is quick to defend me. Sunday is forever believing the best in everybody. As much as I admire it, I also find it her biggestfault.
“I got fired.” I wince her way. I’ve never been one to lie to anyone at this table. Anyone ingeneral.
The table erupts into a cluster of chaotic conversation, accusations and all around incomprehensible melee until Serena finally stands and shouts, “I’m a waitress at the Black Bear! Get over it!” She looks over at Sunday and shrugs as if unsure of what comes next. “And I dropped out ofBarnes.”
The air around us stills as the sounds in the bar all warp together into one slow demonicburp.
“What?” Marlin and I cry out inunison.
“Relax.” She flops back in her seat, and that tiny tennis skirt those perverts who run this place make her don flies up, exposing her underwear. “I transferred to Briggs.” Serena ducks behind amenu.
“You did not!” I pluck the menu fort away and toss it onto the next table, and a group of girls break out into an obnoxious giggle. I loathe the Black Bear’s underage populace with a vengeance right now. “You agreed with me that boys were nothing more than a distraction, remember? Barnes is a reputable school. It’s practically an Ivy!” Iscream.
“Well, it’s not an Ivy!” Serena screams back. “And I happen to like boys—alot.”
Marlin groans as he sinks in his seat. “And the two of you knew?” He looks to Sunday and Rush, and they both remain silent in their guilt. “Why did it take you two months to fill us in on this non-news?”
“Non-news?” I kick my brother from under the table. “We’re on the same page, remember? Barnes equals no boys equals safe and happySerena!”
Sunday grunts, “Please. You tried that on me, and I wouldn’t have it. I’m shocked she went along with it for as long as shedid.”
Marlin shakes his head at me. “It didn’t work for you, didit?”
Marlin knows all too well what went down between Axel and me. He was sort of a supporting role in our not-so greatdemise.
I make a face over at him before turning to my sister, my younger doppelganger whose eyes are filled withtears.
Serena spears me with her rage. “I was so afraid of disappointing you Ihadto go. No sooner did I do the campus tour than I realized it was a huge mistake. I can get a great education at Whitney Briggs, too, you know. Plus, I won’t run the risk of having five thousand cycle sisters. Rumor has it, the PMS alone in that place was enough to make you crave the inside of an insaneasylum.”
I close my eyes a moment. “Okay, so you got me there.” My entire person sags at the thought of my baby sister subjected to drunks and frat boys. “They might have been a run on tampons around the twelfth of every month, but I’m neither confirming nor denying the fact. Barnes wasn’t that bad.” Sunday and Serena share a laugh in contrast to Marlin’s and Rush’s groan. “Are you sure this is what you want?” I glance around, and to my surprise the Black Bear looks mostly harmless innature.
“Yes, it’s what I want. It’s better than bookstore detail, and the tips are wild. You would never believe how much I’mhauling!”
“I sort of would. The tips at The Pelican aren’t that bad either.” So much so that I haven’t bothered to pursue the mortgage assistance. And I’ve taken a charge under my roof toboot.
