Page 1 of Unsupervised
Chapter One
Kelly
It’s official. I’m on my own. Like a baby bird shoved out of a nest except I threw myself out and I’m not soaring through the sky on a glorious rush of freedom. No, I’m the pitiful bird you see flopping on the ground like a disembodied testicle.
But I am free.
A little too free today since I was just fired from a job I barely had for three weeks. The small hope that none of my roommates would be home dies when I park between Remee’s car and Zara’s car. Serena must be at work.
Hot air assaults me as I step out. The humidity and heat of southern Indiana summers always feel like an attack. No matter how much you understand that it’s hot out, that first blast of it when you leave the comfort of air conditioning is still a shock.
The neighborhood is unusually quiet because of the sticky weather, but Gavin, the man who lives a few doors down from me, smiles and waves as I make my way to my front door. Fumbling for my keys, I wave back, forcing a grin.
I’ve only lived here a little over a month. In the beginning, I was apprehensive. I mean the street sign that bears the name Violet Circle has annscribbled in between theeandtwith marker, and everyone calls the place Violent Circle. My brother, Trey, who lived here before me, assured me the neighborhood can be a little strange and over the top, but it’s not dangerous. It’s not the way I’m used to living, that’s for sure. Moving from my upper-class parents’ home to an apartment in a government housing complex has been a culture shock to say the least.
Zara looks up at me from her place on the couch when I enter. “Hey, I thought you had to work.”
“Um…yeah, change of plans.”
“Are you sick?” Remee asks, pulling her attention away from the textbook propped on her lap.
“No.” Slumping into the recliner, I mumble, “Fired.”
Zara leans forward, regarding me. “What happened?”
Embarrassment heats my face. “I burned a tray of bread.”
“They fired you for that? That’s ridiculous!”
Sighing, I shake my head. “I burned a cake yesterday, and I may have accidentally caused a grease fire last week.”
A snort of laughter leaps from Remee, and she covers her mouth. “I’m sorry. I’m not laughing that you got fired. But you’re the worst cook. A bakery probably wasn’t the wisest choice.”
Zara bites back a grin, and I know they’re both remembering the charred mess I made attempting a simple pot of chili. Or the accompanying cornbread which could’ve doubled as a hockey puck.
When I look from one of them to the other, a giggle escapes me, and I feel some of the weight of my terrible day lift as they burst into laughter along with me. I haven’t known them long, nor Serena either, but I like them.
When I ran an ad for roommates, I didn’t expect three girls who were already friends would move in, but they had just lost the lease on their last place since the landlord decided to sell. It’s a little intimidating to be the new person, but they’ve never made me feel like an outsider.
“The Superstore bakery was the first place I saw that was hiring.”
Remee closes her book. “You need to look for something more suited to you. Something you’re good at.”
“I’m not good at anything.” That’s not entirely true. I’m excellent at faking a smile, at small talk and keeping up appearances. It was what mattered most to my mother. I’m well aware that kind of pressure has led to some of my anxiety issues.
“Yes, you are. You just haven’t figured out what yet.” Zara swipes an errant curl out of her eyes and glances at the clock. “I have to get moving. Today is story time followed by the Lego club. We’re holding a job fair on Friday. A lot of nearby businesses will be there to recruit. You should come.”
Zara works at the town library, running the children’s programs, which is perfect for her since she’s majoring in Library Science.
“I’ll be there.”
“It starts at nine o’clock,” she tells me, then heads off to work.
Remee pulls her book back into her lap. “I can help you create a resume tonight.”
“It would have one line. Worked three weeks at a bakery and tried to set it on fire,” I groan.
“There are ways to spruce it up. You just have to know how to bullshit.” She grins at me. “Unless you want to go work at Glitties with Serena.”
