My Little Farm Girl

I hoped no one noticed my ennui as the day wore on, most of all aunt Marion, I wouldn’t want to have to answer any leading questions as I’m sure my stupid face would give me away in a heartbeat.

I ate lunch alone at my desk while the others headed out to a local café. I didn’t have any ready cash except for the little bit daddy had given me for emergencies, so the apple I’d snagged from the break room earlier will have to do.

Tomorrow I’ll have to remember to bring something from home, if aunt Marion wouldn’t mind. All she’d asked me to get her was bottled water and a power bar for lunch. I don’t think she even noticed that I didn’t have any. Oh well, it’s not the end of the world and it’s just one day.

My first day on the job was winding down, and though it had been tiring, it had still been the most exciting day of my life, except for the pang in my chest from not seeing him.

Everyone was packing up to go and aunt Marion was still on the phone in her office, still hard at work. I just wanted to go home and hide out in my room to lick my wounds. I guess he’d really only been nice because of her, or because he felt sorry for me.

The thoughts in my head were confusing and left me feeling a bit lost and at sea. There was no one I could turn to for advice so I guess I’d just have to muddle through on my own somehow.

Back home, momma would wash my hair and sit with me while I cried my heart out over some boy that had overlooked me once again for one of the more popular girls.

She hadn’t done that since I was about fourteen I think, but there was a time there when that was a regular Saturday night occurrence in our home.

Only this time, I don’t think momma could wash this one out of my hair that easily. Somehow in the short amount of time since we’d met, he’d wormed his way much deeper into me than anyone else ever had.

“So Gabriella, a couple of us are going out this evening would you like to come with?” The voice coming out of nowhere made me jump in my seat where I’d been daydreaming as I waited for aunt Marion to finish up.

Robyn was one of the girls I’d met earlier; she worked in design or something I think. There were too many new faces to keep straight but I knew I liked her, she seemed fun and friendly, and she’d told me how beautiful my hair was so...

“I’m not sure if I’m allowed.” I kept my voice down so as not to attract aunt Marion’s attention.

For the last five minutes she’d been yelling at someone on the phone and it had started to get ugly. Knowing that I was facing a long evening ahead alone with her in her apartment, I was trying to avoid another scene like the night before.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I’m new here and I don’t know if aunt Marion would let me go out on my own.”

“Girl you’re eighteen plenty old enough to go wherever, you just can’t drink…legally.” She winked at me and grinned the most mischievous grin.

“Maybe I’ll ask, but don’t we have work tomorrow?”

“So?” She shrugged and walked away. “I’ll be at my drawing table if she says yes.” She rolled her eyes comically and I had to cover my laughter with my hand when I heard the phone in the other room slam into its cradle.

Of course aunt Marion said no, she had all kinds of reasons why I shouldn’t be on my own in the city. I was almost tempted to ask her about her first time on her own when she was my age, but thought better of it.

The others didn’t seem too put out when I told them I couldn’t join them so no harm done. I didn’t want these people thinking I was a total dweeb, not like back home when momma and daddy had been so overprotective that they hardly ever let me do anything on my own, but neither did I want to rock the boat.

***

“Well Gabriella, what did you think of your first day?” she was like a completely different person as she asked me this question on our way home in the chauffeur driven car. It was enough for me to let my guard down.

“Oh it was amazing, I never knew there was so much to do and you make it look so easy.” She preened under my praise and I felt the tension ease a little more in my tummy.

“That’s the only way to make it in this city, hard work and perseverance; now as to you hanging around with the others after hours, that’s just not the done thing dear. I understand that this is all new to you so I’d make allowances for that; but the boss’s personal assistant does not fraternize with her subordinates.

It might leave the door open for all manner of impropriety you understand. I think until you get yourself situated and start taking those acting classes that you’re so keen on, that it’s best if you stay close.