Chapter 1

"No no no no no!" I said, throwing the newspaper across the room.

"Oh Catherine, there must be something in the paper you would be good at. You barely even looked at it! I’ll read some off for you.” Marissa said, picking up the newspaper from the floor.

She glanced through the job listings, suggesting some that might interest me.

"What about...a journalist?"  

"Nah." I said, waiting for her to mention another one.

"Um...how about a secretary or something like that?" she asked.

"I didn’t see that in there!” I said, walking towards Marissa. I took the newspaper from her hand, and looked at the information on that job.

"So you have experience?" she asked, not having any knowledge of myself ever being, or mentioning anything about a secretary job before.

"Yeah, I used to be one when I lived in North Carolina. I’m going to call and see if the job is still open.”

I said, picking up the phone in the kitchen.

--_--

"Jobs for You” This is Debra, how may I help you?"

"Yes, I called about the secretary job in the newspaper."

"Name"

"Catherine Ice."

“Alright, and how old are you?”

“Twenty five”

"Okay Catherine, we have an opening tomorrow at 8am…”

“Oh thank you.”

“The address is 2182 Alpine Dr. across from Greenway Street. Make sure you show up at least fifteen minutes early to fill out some paperwork.”

"Okay I will"

"Is there any questions you have?”

“Nope”

“Okay, you have a nice day."

“you too”

--_--

"I got an interview tomorrow at 8!" I said excitedly, as I put the newspaper on the kitchen counter.

"Really, that's so awesome! I wonder who you’re going to be a secretary for..." Marissa said, as she turned the TV on, and started flipping through the channels.

"I didn't get the job yet Marissa." I said, walking towards the bedroom.

"You know you’re going to get it, you always do well at interviews."

“But that’s because the people who interview me, like the way I look.”  I shouted from the bedroom.

“Well you’re probably right about that one” Marissa said chuckling.

“What are you doing anyway?”

 "I’m picking out something to wear for the interview tomorrow." I said, searching through my closet.

"Oh let me help!” Marissa said, coming into the bedroom.

We finally found something we both agreed on. It was conservative, yet intriguing at the same time.

"Black is definitely your color." Marissa said, sure of herself.

"Why thank you, but I am sure anyone can pull it off." I said, putting the dress back on the hanger, and sticking it in the closet.

"Um, I don't think so." Marissa said, looking at me like I was crazy.

"Are you hungry yet?" I asked, looking at the clock on my dresser.

"Well that depends…" Marissa said smiling.

I knew she was going to say something stupid, so I rolled my eyes and smiled before I knew what it was.

“On?” I asked sarcastically.

"Three things…where are we going, who are we going with, and what are we going to do after we eat?" Marissa said with a smirk.

"You’re really something, you know that. How about we just go together?" I suggested.

"Just me and you?" Marissa said, acting like she was disappointed.

"Well thanks. I love you too." I said, giving her a shove.

"You know I don’t care, I was just kidding. Besides, we can check out the guys while we’re there. By the way, where are we going?" Marissa asked.

"Well let’s see...a place where you find a lot of guys..."

"Da-zules" We both said, with a smirk knowing it’s the best bar in town.

(At The Restaurant)

“No way, he’s not my type.” Marissa said, staring at the guy across the table from us.

“And why not, he looks real nice!”

“You don’t even know this guy!” Marissa said defensively.

“Yeah well, neither do you.”

“I…”

Marissa couldn’t find anything to say back to me. This was a first on her part.

 “I am just messing with you, but really, you should be more…accepting.”

Marissa stared at me, confused.

“Accepting?” she asked.

“You know what I mean, like…getting involved with guys who are not just interested in your body.”

Feeling a little uncomfortable, I picked up my burger, and took a bite. Trying to avoid any argument my comment might have caused.

“I know what you mean, but I just can’t find that type of guy.” Marissa said, folding her arms against her chest.

“So I might as well look for what I can have, and enjoy it while it lasts.” she said, staring at the guy across from us again.

“It shouldn’t be like that Marissa.”

I noticed her trying to dodge my eyes. She always does that when she’s upset.

I’ve tried to make her understand before, but she doesn’t want to hear what I have to say.

It’s like she blocks everything out.

 “What about you? You need someone too. How long has it been since you’ve went out on a date?” she asked.

“I haven’t been with anyone since Michael, and you know what that was like.”  I said, letting out a sigh.

“Hell on earth?” she asked questionably.

“Words can’t describe how bad.”

I saw two men walking towards us out the corner of my eye.

“Oh no…Marissa look, 10 O’clock.” I said with a wink.

“What, 10 O’clock? What are you talking about?” she asked, and then frowned when she saw me roll my eyes.

The two men approached us, and introduced themselves.

“Tom and Ryan huh? Well I’m Catherine, and this is Marissa. Thank you guys for coming over, but if you are attempting to hit on us, now is not the time. I suggest you walk back to where you were.”

“Or what, what could you two possibly do that’s so bad?” Ryan said with a smirk.

“We aren’t interested, please leave us alone.”

“Not interested huh? What about you pretty lady?” Ryan asked, turning his attention to Marissa.

Marissa frowned and looked sharply at the two men.”You’re bothering us. Please leave.”

“Oh…feisty aren’t ya? Come on; let us buy you a drink.”

I pulled out my cell phone, and quickly dialed a number.

 “Oh no, she must be calling her boyfriend.” Tom said sarcastically.

“Hello, Hank? Would you mind helping me out at table three?” I said, motioning to Hank who was behind the bar.

“Water works?” he asked.

“You know it, thanks a bunch.” I hung up the phone, and stuck it back in my purse. Hank took out the faucet behind the bar, and sprayed the two men.

The security guards that were out front quickly rushed over and grabbed the two men to escorted them out.

“It serves them right.” I said, smiling at Hank.

“What happened to giving guys a chance?” Marissa asked, trying not to laugh. 

“I didn’t mean those guys, I meant the nice ones!” I said, defensively.  

“Ok you’re right. So, you ready or what?”

“Yeah, I have to call Michael anyway.”  Marissa and I stood up and headed towards the car.

“Why do you still talk to him?” she asked concerned.

“You know I can’t stay mad at anyone. It’s not like I am dating him anymore.”

When we got to the car, I unlocked the doors, and we both got inside.

“But he slept with one of your good friends.” Marissa said, lowering her head.

“She obviously wasn’t one of my good friends.” I said, starting up the car.

I didn’t want to listen to the rest of Marissa’s argument, so we drove the rest of the way in silence. When we arrived at the house, we got out, and I locked the car doors as we headed inside.

“I didn’t mean to say anything, but I just don’t want you to get hurt again.”

Marissa said, as we walked into the house.

“It’s ok, I understand. Michael is still one of my friends though, and I don’t feel for him like that anymore. So I don’t think it matters if we are friends or not, but anyway, why isn’t Liz home yet? She usually gets here around eight, and it’s almost 9 o’clock.

 “She’s probably on another date.” Marissa said, heading towards the restroom.

“Yeah, you’re probably right…oh, I have to call Michael.”  I walked into the kitchen, and picked up the phone.

--_--

“Hello?”

“Michael? It’s Catherine.”

“Hey Catherine, how are you?”

“Fine, and you?”

“I’m pretty good.”

“What did you want to talk to me about?”

“I have a job for you, if you’re interested.”

“Oh really…I have a job interview tomorrow.”

“You do? For what?”

“A secretary job.”

“Really?”

“Yep, hopefully I get it.”

“Where is it at?”

“A place called Jobs For You.”

“Oh, that’s cool. But yeah, the job I thought you might like is also a secretary job.”

“Is the pay good?”

“Yeah, and it’s in the same building I’m in.”

“Oh it is…well that sounds cool. Can I give you a call if the interview doesn’t work out?”

“Yeah, I’m sure my boss would love to have someone as experienced as you are, on our staff.”

“Thanks Michael. Hey, I’m going to go watch a movie, so I will talk to you later ok?”

“Alright, that’s cool. Hey, how is Marissa doing?”

“She’s good, she has another photo shoot tomorrow. She is going to get paid!”

“She’s still with Victoria Secret?”

“Yeah, she loves modeling lingerie.”

“I’m sure the guys love it too.”

“Heh, yeah”

“Well ok, tell her I said hi, and talk to you later.”

“Ok, bye.”

“Love you.”

“Umm ok…bye.”

--_--

I hung up the phone slowly. Why does he still say that to me? It makes me very uncomfortable! I told him once before to stop, and he never listens.

 I didn’t notice I was in deep thought just staring at the phone in the kitchen. I looked at Marissa to see if she noticed, but she was still flipping through the tv trying to find the right channel it has to be on for the movie to play.  I snapped back to reality and joined Marissa on the couch.

 “Michael said hi.” I mentioned, hesitantly.

“Oh really, I heard you talking about me” she said, smiling.

“Well, who wouldn’t talk about you? I mean come on.”

I heard the door open slightly, and turned around to see who it was. Liz was standing with some guy I didn’t know.

I wonder who that is, I thought to myself.

“Hey guys, come here for a minute. I want you to meet someone.” Liz said, motioning us to walk over to her.  Me and Marissa glanced at each other, and then walked outside.

 “Adam, this is Catherine and Marissa.” I shook his hand, and smiled.

“I met Adam at the coffee shop down the street. We’ve been seeing each other for about a week now”.

“You’ve been dating for a week? Why didn’t you tell us?” Marissa asked, kind of shocked.

“Well, I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure we were going together.” She said, forcing a smile.

“Uh, it was nice to meet you Adam.” I said, trying to interrupt their argument.

“We’ll leave you two alone, unless he wants to stay and watch a movie with us.”

Liz looked at Adam. “You want to?”

He looked at Marissa and me.

“Uh, whatever you want.” He said, hesitantly.

“Well come on in.”

 Everyone walked into the apartment, and we picked out a movie and stuck it in.

(About 2 Hours Later)

“Well, I’m going to bed. I have an interview tomorrow.” I said heading towards the bedroom.

“Interview?” Liz asked, surprised.

“Yep, for this secretary job in the newspaper”

“Oh, call me tomorrow and tell me how it goes.” Liz said, smiling.

“Ok, night guys. Nice to meet you Adam”

“Night, don’t let the Marissa’s bite!” Liz said, laughing.

Marissa looked at Liz and rolled her eyes.

“That was really stupid.”

I shook my head, and headed towards my room.