3 Chapter Three: Drowning My Sorrows

The drive to the restaurant was short, I pulled up in the parking lot but stayed seated in my car. I realised I was wearing yesterday cloths, but I shrugged the thought off since I had no other choice.

I took out my makeup bag and put on a bit of makeup to cover up the dark circles forming under my puffy eyes.

My head was throbbing and I had blood shot eyes.

Even though I could have taken a day off from work, I didn't. I had practically nowhere to stay, and renting an apartment in New York was quit expensive, so I decided it would be great to come to work today to tell Madison my house situation.

I scanned myself in the mirror for the last time and got out of my car.

The restaurant door was pulled open suddenly and out came a thin and lanky boy, he brushed past me with so much force and almost knocked me off balance. "What the hell?! " I shouted as the boy walked away.

Way to start my day.

I took in a deep breath and trudged into the restaurant. The place wasn't as crowdy and noisy as yesterday which meant few customers to serve and hopefully not rude ones. There were a few teenagers scattered around chatting excitedly.

My eyes met with Madison's and she threw me a questioning look, I rolled my eyes, how is she able to read me so well?

These were the times I really needed a friend and I was lucky to have Madison, we aren't exactly really close, we just met in the restaurant and due to an unfortunate event where I mistakenly or lemme say clumsily poured a cup of coffee on her, after so much pleading and cleaning I offered her one of my work outfits and made it up to her by taking her out for ice cream, we kinda bonded and became friends since then. Now, I wouldn't call that an unfortunate event since it got me a friend.

"Good morning Mads" I greeted tiredly.

Her eyebrows rose as she scanned me from head to toes. "Jeez, did you get run over by a bus? " she asked playfully.

I didn't reply but looked at her pointedly

Her tone of playfulness turned serious as she gazed at me. "Seriously dude what the hell happened?!"

I sighed deeply "I will explain later, we need to get to work.

I turned and started my walk to the locker room but I could still feel her gaze on me. "We will talk during our break got it?" She exclaimed.

I rolled my eyes and replied "Got it!".

I got to the locker room and immediately put on my work outfit I placed my hair in a bun and looked at myself in the mirror for the last time, I seriously look like hell even with make up on.

Work started off peacefully and less stressful, my mind kept on wandering to what happened last night, which led to me zoning out whiles serving a customer, I brushed the thought off as soon it came. I needed to stop thinking about him.

I really need a girl's time out with Madison.

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It was finally time for my break which meant time for telling Madison everything that happened.

I grabbed a sandwich and a bottle of water since I was hungry. I headed towards the employee break room, I pushed the door open and sauntered to the seat at the farthest and secluded corner of the room, I took a seat and immediately started to nibble on my sandwich.

Half way through my food and about 5 minutes later, Madison trudged into the room with her face red and her hair a bit messy.

I looked at her with furrowed eyebrows which she responded to by chuckling, "This has happened before, just that you were in my position and I was in yours".

I laughed at that "Yh true the roles have been reversed".

She placed herself on the seat across me and folded her arms firmly "Now, speak, no beating around the bush.

I placed my head in my hands and groaned. I really didn't want to talk about what happened yesterday it brought back unwanted memories which I have decided to push away.

I guess I have no choice but to tell her considering I have nowhere to stay.

She gave me a look as if telling me to go on, I obliged and told her everything that happened, it wasn't much to tell though, I told her how I caught Jax having sex with a girl in our apartment and how I stormed out after seeing them, almost getting hit by Mr Billionaire, the panic attack, and how I ended up in his house.

Madison's eyes widened and her mouth hung open throughout the whole narration.

"Woah, woah hold up, you mean to say the money bag took you to his house after almost hitting you?"

I snorted "Money bag? Since when did you start calling him that?"

She looked at me with one of her eyebrows raised "Yh duhh, he's rich"

I laughed and replied "Yh he took me to his house, I woke up the next morning and found myself in a beautiful room in his pent house, the place was enormous, no lie. We spoke for a few minutes". More like quarrelled.

Madison's eyes almost popped out of its socket "You both spoke? The last time I saw you both together it wasn't a really good sight since you couldn't stand each other".

Ugh Mads stop talking as if we have known each other for so long, Yh I didn't like the guy, he was so arrogant and regarded himself so highly, he was being rude to me yesterday and I couldn't stand it so I fought back.

Considering the fact that he helped me yesterday, I think I am a bit cool now but I really think he should work some more on his character.

Madison laughed "Leave the poor man alone he might have lost a huge contract years back which might have caused the permanent scowl on his face".

I laughed out loud at that "Well whatever, I don't care about him or whatever contract he lost".

Madison looked at me sympathetically with any trace of smile leaving her face, she stretched out her hand and held mine firmly.

It's going to be OK Bri, you are definitely going to find someone who would love you as much as you love him, I know sometimes life just throws shit at you but it also moulds you into a free person. Just try really hard to forget about him he isn't worth your tears, if he truly loved you he wouldn't have cheated on you. You should be happy you found out he's a cheating bastard.

I bit my lip to keep it from quivering and blinked my eyes rapidly to get rid of the blur, I was on the verge of bursting out in tears but I held it back and pondered on what Madison said, she was totally right, I shouldn't waste my time thinking about him.

"Thanks Madison, you are the best" I told her with shaky voice.

No problem, it's OK to cry though, you can't keep it all in else you are going to burst.

My mouth twisted into a crooked smile. "Trust me I have done enough crying".

"So you got anywhere to stay?" Madison asked.

"Nope. Officially homeless. " I replied sadly.

"Don't worry girl, you can crash at mine, it wouldn't be a big deal since I have two rooms" Madison tells me patting me on the shoulder"

I jumped and threw my arms around her, hugging her tightly from across the table.

"Thanks Mads you're a lifesaver, what would I have done without you? ". My eyes stung with tears, but I blinked them away not wanting to seem all emotional about this.

Madison rubbed my back soothingly and replied, her voice muffled "Yh I know I am a lifesaver blah blah but can you seriously get off me, you are squeezing the air out of me, you don't want me to die now, do you?.

I immediately withdrew from the tight hug and apologized "I'm really sorry I'm just very happy".

Madison smiled smugly "Yh don't worry you should be".

I rolled my eyes at her "So we shall split the rent I pay half, you pay half".

"Yh, cool by me" Madison replied

I noticed she didn't bring any food so I decided to ask " why didn't you bring any food for your break, considering the fact that you love food, I'm very much surprised you didn't bring any".

She pursed her lips. "Um it's nothing, just not in the mood for food".

I eyed her suspiciously but let it go since I didn't want to pry into her business.

Madison sighed deeply and spoke shortly after "Want to go partying tonight? "

"Yep, sounds fun". I really need to drown all my sorrows with alcohol, I know it isn't the best idea but it kinda helps.

Talk time is over girls, time for work.

My head snapped towards the direction of the source of the deep voice, it was a blonde man probably in his twenties, he was tall with a little bit of stubble on his cheeks, he wasn't really muscular but looked really attractive with captivating brown eyes.

I realised I was still looking at him, my face heated up when he caught my gaze, meanwhile my heart decided it was the right time to skip a beat.

His chocolate eyes studied me intently, I averted my gaze almost immediately, not missing the smirk on his thin lips.

Madison cleared her throat, obviously trying to ease the built up tension. "I think we should get to work".

I jolted up from my seat "Yh right we are about five minutes late"

I looked up to where Mr mysterious had stood seconds ago, only to find out he was gone.

"I have never met that guy here before, who is he?". I asked Madison with my voice sounding a little desperate.

She rolled her eyes "That's my younger brother he started work today, he's also a waiter".

I didn't see him today whiles serving, might have been too caught up in my sobbing phase.

"Wow I never knew you had a brother, plus you both don't really look alike" I told her, as I remembered her brother had dirty blond hair whiles she had strawberry blond hair.

I thought Madison was an only child since she has never spoken about any sibling with me.

"Yh he's my half brother" she told me nonchalantly.

I gasp and slap her arm " And you didn't care to tell me?"

She shrugged and responded "It never really came up so... "

"He's hot though, I like blonds" I told Madison with a smirk.

"Oh and he is out of boundaries, no flirting, no ogling each other and definitely no dating, I don't want my brother dating my best friend".Madison told me with seriousness in her voice.

I rolled my eyes. "Common I am just kidding, he might be my type but I am not ready to be in another relationship after everything that happened, so chill out."

"Yh right, you should take a break from boys, you could start dating again maybe when you are forty with ten cats.

She laughed at her sick joke and I punched her lightly on the shoulder and laughed along.

"OK time for work" I say and nudge her out of the break room with me in tow.

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Work goes on peacefully with my new partner, Madison's brother whom I just found out is named Liam.

He's really cool and funny, I found out he loves to sing, play the guitar and also loves cartoons. He is a graduate of the New York University and would really love to be in a band someday. He has this kind of warmness which makes me really comfortable with him.

It was already eleven o'clock, I served my last customer and got ready to go home.

Madison told me to take the lead home and that she had something to do so I collected the keys, headed to my locker and changed out of work outfit. Liam went home an hour ago since his shift ended earlier.

From our earlier on conversation he said he would be accompanying us to the party and he sounded really excited about the idea.

Goose bumps spread all over my skin as I got out of the restaurant, It was a freezing night with the moon abnormally large and it bathed the earth with its luminous glow.

I hugged myself tightly with my hands as I headed straight for my car, I unlocked the door and hopped in, I turned on the engine and turned on my heat immediately.

I took in the warmth of my car for a little bit before finally driving off. The road wasn't very busy so I was able to get to Madison's house earlier than expected.

Apparently Madison doesn't stay with Liam, he has his own apartment which he shares with a friend.

Her house wasn't exactly big, it had a little porch with two windows at the front, it was painted white and looked really cute.

I headed towards the door and unlocked it, I pushed it open and was suddenly greeted with heat, I walked further in and took in the state of the apartment.

It was small with a lot of pictures hanging on the walls, The whole house was painted blue and pink. Hm weird choice of colours. The living room had two couches, a love seat and a coffee table at the center with a flat screen hanging on the wall. The house looked sort-of homey and I loved it.

I could imagine myself staying here.

I sighed deeply, my tiredness apparent and slowly creeping into my arms and legs. I trudged further into the house too tired to take notice of every single detail. I pushed open a door at the far end of the corridor silently praying it was the guest room.

It was thankfully the guest room, I shivered due to the freezing state of the room, I realised the window just beside a queen sized bed was opened causing the night breeze to flood in to the room, I rushed towards it and pulled it shut. I plopped down on the bed not even caring for a shower and slowly drifted into a dreamless sleep.

My eyes stirred open and the first thing I saw was Madison's face, only a few inches away from mine, I screamed out in panic my heart beating rapidly against my rib cage almost bursting through.

"What the hell Madison you scared the shit outta me!". I screamed trying to calm my rapidly beating heart.

Madison was already collapsing with laughter, her hand clutching her stomach and tears streaming down her face.

Great, she's going crazy now.

"Seriously you shouldn't creep up on me like that, I could have had an heart attack, I'm too young to die"

"Well I am glad I did, you should have seen your face, it was totally worth it". She said still laughing lightly.

I glared at her. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Oh, it's my house if you've suddenly lost your memory and we are going to the club so get your pretty ass out of that bed". She told me whiles pulling me by the arms.

She practically dragged me out of my room giving me no time to protest, she pushed her bedroom door open, as I entered, I was almost thrown back by how neat her room was, everything was squeaky clean, there wasn't even a speck of dust in her room, books were nicely arranged on a white shelf, her bed was neatly laid and arranged. Pictures and posters of Korean actors and musicians hanging on the wall. Everything was perfectly in place.

"So you are a fun of Korean movies" I asked her sounding amused.

She shrugged. "Yh I love them"

I suddenly took notice of her pink and blue room remembering how all her walls were painted in those colours.

"Why did you paint your room in these colours?" I asked.

"Um because I like it. Now isn't the time to be a journalist, let's get you dolled up. She chirped clapping her hand in excitement.

She walked to her closet and brought out two beautiful outfits, she took one of the outfits and sized me up. "This would fit you perfectly".

It was a sexy backless sequin cocktail dress with a v next sheath. It was a bit tight and hugged my curves at all the right places and I matched it with golden ankle strap heels. Madison also wore a red backless off shoulder lace dress with black strapless heels. I straightened my hair and she curled hers we did our make up. In about an hour or two we were finally done and hot as hell.

We both got out of the room and immediately heard the blaring of a horn outside.

I rushed to the window, peaked through and saw a white Sedan waiting at the curb.

It was probably Liam

The doorbell rung shortly after and I rushed to the door and threw it open.

The sight that greeted me almost knocked me off my feet and left me gasping for air.

It was Liam obviously. He was dressed in a white top with a light blue denim jacket, jeans and a black and white converse.

His hair was brushed backwards and neatly combed.

He looked beyond hot and smelled faintly of cologne and leather which had me almost clinging to him.

His voice snapped me back to to reality "hey" he spoke with his voice soft.

"Hi" I replied with a wide creepy smile which probably left me looking like a constipated frog. Awkward, Yh I am awkward.

"You look... stunning" he complimented me with a faint smile on his lips.

I blushed and stuttered stupidly "t-thanks"

Madison nudged me out of the way probably irritated at my display of awkwardness in the presence of her brother.

"Hey sis" Liam called out to his sister.

"How do I look in this outfit?" he twirled like a teenage girl.

"You look like shit" Madison replied already frustrated.

Liam frowned and pouted. "You are such a loving and caring sister"

I laughed at their display of childishness, they were both cute.

Madison rolled her eyes and headed towards the car.

I still stood at the doorway awkwardly.

Liam turned to me and spoke "hey, you coming?"

I blushed, thankfully it was dark so he couldn't see my flaming cheeks.

I locked the door and headed towards the car. We drove off immediately and I was excited to spend my night with these amazing people.