A Thousand Suns

the radiance: chapter two

Morning came faster than expected.

I had wanted the night to fly by, but now that I stood over my sink with the contents of my stomach staining the wet ceramic I regretted what I had wished for. I had no recollection of any of it, only the various aches in my body which suggested I was experiencing my first hangover. Clutching to the sides of the sink, I looked at my reflection in the mirror, staring dumbfounded at it. The lack of sleep, coupled with my smudged makeup, made me look like a beaten raccoon. I felt like one too, though I didn’t dwell on the thought once it had passed through my clouded mind. My muscles ached, skin bruised from the concert. There was a steady pounding in my head, ears ringing sharply.

Steading myself against the sink, I began to peel the smelly clothes from my body. I did not feel like going to work, but I had to. I would have loved to use the extra time to catch up on missed sleep, but I would need a hearty dosage of pain killers to achieve that after the night I’d had. Pain killers knocked me out cold, and I dreaded the thought of oversleeping. I was certain Jim would forgive me for being late any other day given my impeccable record, but today I had been one of the few handpicked to work.

The restaurant had been rented out for the evening, a private party of some sort. I did not know anything about the host or the occasion, but I had been instructed to wear something fancier than usual. We habitually sported a simple all-black dress code, but tonight I had to upgrade my look, so to speak. Tonight I was to slave around in high heels, which I had had to borrow from Ava. I wore pumps on rare occasions like weddings and funerals, but to stumble around at work for six hours after the night I’d had? I pressed my forehead to the wet tile and aimed the shower jet to my head, allowing the pounding of water to silence the whining thoughts in my head. I was really not looking forward to any of this.

I had somewhat come to my senses after the shower. I had three more hours to get ready. Usually it would have been more than enough, but I knew I’d be much slower than usual given my groggy state, and I had to ensure I ate something substantial before I left the house; my body needed the replenishing and I did not want to pass out on the job. I needed the money, and big events like these paid twice the usual salary. Had it been a regular day, I might have very well called in sick. I felt so sick in fact that the idea of eating something made me feel sicker.

As I made my way into my room, wrapping my long brown locks into a makeshift bun atop my head for the time being, I cast a side glance at Ava. She was strewn across my disheveled bed, head buried in the sheets, and whilst I would usually worry for the state of my bedding, today I only wondered how she managed to keep up with this lifestyle. I did not feel sorry when I shook her awake, needing help with my makeup and hair. I was so tired the curler had managed to piss me off, and when I yelled at Ava to wake up, my hand was wrapped in a soaked towel. I was certain she could handle herself far more gracefully than I could.

Ava bitched and moaned for a while, but dutifully helped me get ready. She even dropped me off at the restaurant on her way home, and as I walked into work, familiar faces running about setting up for tonight’s party, I held Shannon’s drumstick in my free hand. I had forgotten it in the car, and Ava had insisted I take it with me lest it get lost. A crease settled in between my brows as I moved through the main room, not fully aware of the men lingering by the bar. I looked like a cross child that had just been dropped off on the first day of school.

I heard Jim talking across the room, but I didn’t pay him or his guests any mind. I figured he was busy and I would get his attention once I’d dropped my things off in my locker. I wanted to inform him about how bad I felt, though I doubted I would let him send me home regardless of whether he could find a replacement. I needed the money.

I had barely made my way around the tables separating us, when he called out my name.

“Yeah?” I called out.

I was distracted, still troubled by the drumstick in my hand. Dropping my arm to my side, I moved towards him and the group of men with a sluggish swag. I arched my brow as I took in the familiar silhouettes of the men whose backs were turned to me. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what was so familiar, so I settled my gaze on Jim and moved trough the tables towards them and the bar.

“…and this is Savannah,” he said, stretching his arm towards me so that I’d come to stand by his side and face the men. My heels clicked as I walked awkwardly in them, and I offered a sheepish smile to mask my confusion as he announced I was the team leader tonight. I was in no shape to lead anyone, barely able to stand on my feet, and still waiting for the second dose of aspirin to kick in, but I couldn’t say anything in front of these people, who by now I assumed to be the hosts.

As I approached, they turned to face me, and amongst the four faces, I spotted two overly familiar ones. I briefly glanced at them all before lingering on Tomo, and finally setting my gaze on Shannon. I stood dumbstruck, and Jim pulled me in so that I did a little stumble before settling on my shaky legs before them. I smiled awkwardly, as though in pain, but tried nonetheless.

When Jim noticed the drumstick, which only now I realized was prodding his leg, I suddenly threw my arm behind my back, not realizing how odd it must have looked. The drumstick threatened to slip out of my sweaty grasp—it was a hot summer evening and the onset of anxiety wasn’t helping. Out of my peripheral vision I saw my boss glance over his shoulder to make sense of it all, but he made no comment. I presumed that was merely out of courtesy, though. I was likeable and reliable, easy to tease, and I was certain that a lone drumstick in my hand was enough to lure some amusing commentary at my expense. Still, I didn’t want to make a big fuss over it.

I opened my mouth to introduce myself, but was at a loss of words. Jim patted me on the shoulder and chuckled as he added, “Don’t worry. She’s much better at her job than she is at talking…”

I could have glared at him had I not been frozen in place.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I mustered a very pathetic, “Yeah…”

That’s when the drumstick clattered to the floor behind me, and I squeezed my eyes shut and grit my teeth as if someone had just dragged their nails on a chalkboard.

Fuck.