Chapter 1: Quickfire
Note: New, improved, and better quality. Did my rehaul and fixed everything that needed to be fixed. I’ve written five chapters already, and I want to at least try to be ahead so I can post consistently.
“Words are only painted fire; a look is the fire itself.”
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Dejected, desolate, heartbroken?
If she needed to sum up her life right now, those would be the million dollar words. She picked up her purse, along with countless other folders with papers of things that she didn’t even know of. Alphabetize this, organize that, the voice in her head mocked the reporters she was working for. Only six months ago, she was hoping that this job would get her somewhere. It was supposed to be a filler position, something to raise her higher on the career ladder. And she thought about it some more: she was definitely worth more than whatever the hell she was doing. Her degrees should have at least put her on a higher rung on this career hierarchy. She was a lawyer for fucks sake. Diving headfirst into journalism shouldn’t have been this excruciating… Fuck fuck fuck…
She left the building in a hurry, wanting to get away from the reminders of her beleaguering stress…
L.A. was new to her too, spending most of her time abroad, she didn’t know what it was like. She didn’t know what it was like to be here in America and feel like she belonged. She felt like a foreigner in her own country…
Nina began to question her own existence. Stupid job.
Did all of the choices she make lead up to this? A little convincing from Maia to share an apartment, moving to L.A., taking up journalism, studying for this long?! It was like every single answer to her questions was hammering on the insides of her brain, leaving her with an undoubtable migraine…
Maybe she was an idealist? Or a perfectionist? She’d probably never admit that out loud, but she maintained that her ambition was a fire that would always burn inside her. As poetic as she could get, Nina thought that her life was like “a comet blazing through the galaxy.” She knew she had what it takes to be mindblowingly successful. Fuck this shit, I’ll show them what I’m capable of.
Then and there, she made a decision. A re-dedication. As Nina was walking to meet Maia at her work, she made a promise to herself. She was going to single-handedly turn this around. I’m going to persevere through all of this shit, prove it to all of them. I am a mother fucking somebody. Her inner monologue had a potty mouth that barely resembled her actual life. She knew she had her own “Sasha Fierce.”
“NINA,” Maia called. She barely made it through the door as her perky best friend made her way from the bar. She had a tray in her hand while she half hugged Nina.
“Hey M,” she said. With Maia being the best friend that she was, she knew that Nina’s half-hearted “Hey” had more depth to it.
“Grab a seat, real quick, I’ll be done with this shift in about a half-hour.” Maia replied as she made her way around the almost empty bar. Maia worked as a part-time waitress as she worked as a part-time actress, waiting to land her big gig.
“Will do,” Nina affirmed as she walked to the bar to watch Maia work,
Until…
“FUCK.” Sidetackled by a blonde with five drinks. Foul called by the invisible referee. There goes all my assignments… The folder Nina was holding exploded like a manila piñata filled with work confetti.
Nina turned to take a good look at the culprit. “Nice going, slick,” Holding her piercing gaze while hurriedly picking up her files and leaving the scene of the crime.
“Aw, shii…” Before Niall could say anything else, she gazed down on him with a pernicious fire that struck him dumbfounded. She left within seconds. He didn’t even get the chance to say “Sor…ry…”
Confused at the quick turn of events, Niall shook his head and continued where he left off, still thinking of those eyes…
Damn. It was only a few seconds, but he was pretty sure those hazel eyes would be something he would remember. They didn’t send shivers down his spine, it was different. It was worse. It burned. Then again she did look pissed. But it wasn’t just that. Something unexplainable? Something about her? He shook his head and dismissed the stupid thought. He’d probably never see her again.
He walked back to the lads with their championed drinks.
