Risk of Chance

Chapter 16

Tiffany shut the door to her bedroom and lied down after arguing with her mother about her new job. She didn’t approve of her daughter working at a bar and one her sister owned, she never held back when expressing how she didn’t agree with Ellen’s lifestyle of fun and fast times. Tiffany didn’t want to disrespect her mother but she had to let her know she was old enough to make her own choices. She also explained her new job would help her save enough money to finally move out.

And there was nothing more Tiffany’s mother wanted then that. They got along great most of the time but she felt Tiffany was old enough to live alone. But Tiffany knew the fact she didn’t get along with her step father’s son factored into her mother’s need to make her daughter more independent. Her mother, Susan and her new husband of the last four years, Rick were a great couple she was happy for them.

But Rick was Blake’s father. Tiffany and Blake had gone to high school together, she hated him and just when high school was over and she thought she’d never have to see that bastard again, his father and her mother got married, and they moved in. Blake was her age and lived at the house too but he didn’t have plans to leave and their parents didn’t want him to. Blake worked many hours and just wanted a place to crash, he didn’t have any needs for an apartment so they made an arrangement, Blake paid rent on the room he was using and he could stay as long as he wanted.

“Whatever.” Tiffany sighed as she thought it all over. Soon, she promised herself, she wouldn’t have to deal with this. There was still time before she had to be at the bar but she also didn’t want to stay there anymore. Tiffany left her room and decided to go out for a long walk, read the paper and try and find something she could rent, she didn’t care if it was a hole in a wall.

“Watch where you’re going short stuff.” Blake said as he was walking in the door and she was trying to get out of it.

“Would you move so I can leave?” Tiffany calmly said even though just seeing him sent a range of hate through her body and she would’ve liked to see him in some sort of pain.

“Where are you going?” Blake asked as he leaned against the door frame so she couldn’t walk through it.

Tiffany sighed and crossed her arms. “Out.”

Blake moved aside. “I love it when you’re bitchy to me.” He said as she walked past him.

Tiffany didn’t say anything as she walked away down the sidewalk, moment like this she wished she had a car. It was too hot and she was too upset to try and think positive enough to walk to the bar.

-

Lana sat at her desk and stared at the walls, she had finished the paper work easily once she committed to it. Now she had nothing left to do and her shift was over, she found it sort of funny that when her shift ended at the Hotel it would’ve just started if she was at the bar. If she gave up sleep she would be able to do both jobs but now she was bone dead tired but not enough to go home. If she went home she’d be alone and she wasn’t sleepy so she’d think and that was the last thing she wanted to do.

Too much had happened today to just push it away and believe it would get better with time. She stood from her desk and grabbed her bag, she didn’t want to go home but she couldn’t stay there either. She walked over to Shane’s office and knocked before walking in. “I’m leaving now if that’s ok.” She said.

“It’s fine.” Shane answered with his eyes still on his computer screen.

That should be enough, she should turn away and leave but it didn’t feel right. “What that’s it? No questions, you’re not going to try and make me stay or say something to piss me off, no quick annoying come on’s?”

“Well I’m a little busy right now but if you want you can stick around, there’s always work that needs doing and I’ll come by later and annoyingly hit on you.” Shane suggested as he glanced up at her before getting back to his work.

Lana didn’t fight the smile that appeared since he wasn’t looking at her anyway. “That’s ok, I’ll go and leave you alone.” She left the hotel and went next door to the bar; it felt wrong leaving and not stopping by since they were right next to each other. “Whoa what has you so pissed off?” she asked when she and Tiffany walked up to the same door.

“Annoying men.” Tiffany tightly answered as they both headed inside. “And it’s hot as hell; Vegas should be called hell number two.”

“Hey what are you doing here?” Brie asked Lana when she came out from behind the bar and met both girls at the counter.

“I’m done next door so I decided to stop by.” Lana said as she took a seat. “What’s been going on?”

“I’m pregnant.” Brie announced.

“Whoa.” Tiffany said as she sat down as well. She had been feeling upset and annoyed with her life but now she was curious about someone else’s life.

“Congrats, that’s wonderful.” Lana said and placed her hand over her friend’s. “But you don’t look happy.”

“I am.” Brie said. “I’m happier then I’ve been in a long time but I’m worried too. I told Chad and he’s happy too and we’re going to make this work but it’s not going to be easy, money’s tight and we rarely see each other.” She explained expressing just some of her worries.

“Hey, you have all of us for help.” Lana pointed out. “If you ever need anything you can just ask us, we’ve all been there for each other and that’s not changing now. And you can always hit Mira and Kim up for money, they’re loaded.” She reminded Brie.

“They are?” Tiffany asked.

“Yeah they’re cousins and their family comes from a long line of money.” Brie answered. “But they don’t agree with that lifestyle and the rules that came with it so they live on their own and work here but they have their own trust fund waiting if they need it. And Kim collects money from the house she owns and rents out.” She explained and thought about what Lana said, she could always just ask for help but she wanted to try and make it on her own.

“Where’s everyone else?” Lana asked.

“I haven’t seen Meg and Kim since last night while we were working. Mira, Nicky, Kasey and Vicky left before and haven’t come back in yet.” Brie said.

“Speaking of Vicky, I haven’t really seen her in two days and we live together. I had to get back to work before so I didn’t talk to her hear and now at the apartment we keep missing each other. Does she seem ok or does she seem like something might be going on?” Lana asked.

“She seems fine but she had been distant, like you said she’s not home and she’s not hanging out with any of us. Maybe she’s found a hobby.” Brie suggested.

“Yeah I’m just scared of what it might be.”

-

Isabelle A.

AN: Sorry for the wait, keep reading and reviewing: )