1 Just an Average Day Being Average

The day was already going so ironically awful that it could have been a scene taken straight out of a really bad movie.

But then again what was her life if not a never ending montage of eye rolling pathetic cliches?

Drenched in the over priced, mediocre coffee that she waited forty-five minutes in line for, Aspen truly didn't know whether she was going to laugh or cry. What felt like literally her only job as an assistant to the head talent agents at one of the most recognized agencies in the county, and she somehow managed to encounter difficulties doing such a simple task.

She bent down to pick up the empty cup, angry traitor tears burning at the back of her eyes. Wiping them away aggressively she couldn't help but wonder what higher power she had angered to invoke such a never ending flood of bad luck. She knew other people had it worse. But it was hard to stay positive when everything just kept beating you down.

" Skinny vanilla latte. Soy milk, right?" Aspen looked up at the young man who worked at the coffee shop. He was holding out a cup to her. Slightly shocked she stood up slowly and reached for it.

"Yea but-"

"I saw that guy slam into you. I've made your coffee everyday for the last week so I remembered what you ordered." He brushed his blonde bangs out of his soft brown eyes and Aspen couldn't believe that she never noticed this guy behind the counter before. He looked like he walked off the page of a magazine.

"I really can't thank you enough!" Aspen exclaimed suddenly scrambling for her purse.

"Hey it's in the house." He said opening the door to the coffee shop releasing the addicting aroma of roasting coffee into the air, "And I hope your day gets better." It was the most genuine thing anyone had said to her in a long time, and it unexpectedly made her throat clench tight as she fought back tears.

"Thank you," she managed to choke out as the young man went back to work.

Rejuvenated, with her faith in humanity slightly restored she clutched the coffee to her chest for dear life and hurried off to start what could only be another average day in her average life.

****

Rushing into the large building, she swiped her ID badge as the front desk which granted her access into the large glass doors that was the entrance to New York's top talent agency Madorie. Named after the founders mother who supposedly died after giving birth, Madorie scouted talent globally and was responsible for managing the careers of some of the worlds biggest stars.

Aspen had only received this job due to her previous experience working as an assistant to a law firm. She knew very little about the world of acting or singing, and if she had to be honest had even less interest in it.

But a job was a job.

Reaching the elevator she stood outside with a small group of people waiting for the doors to open. When they did she stepped in absentmindedly thinking about her exchange with the coffee shop employee. She was sure he was just being kind and there was no special meaning behind his actions, but he was certainly attractive and it was hard not to let her imagination run wild.

The sound of someone clearing their throat brought her back to reality with a snap.

"What floor?" A man asked her as she suddenly realized that they were the only two in the elevator. His tone indicated that it wasn't the first time he had asked that question.

Thinking to herself that it was odd that all the people standing outside waiting for the elevator didn't step on, she finally replied," Um... sorry. 6 please." Embarrassed she kept her gaze down.

Without a word he pressed the button on the keypad and stepped back out of her line of sight.

Aspen checked her phone to find messages from Fiona, demanding to know where her morning coffee was. Sighing, she ignored the messages and put her phone back into her pocket.

She was acutely aware of the man in the elevator staring at her. Trying to peek at him in a discreet way, all she managed to see was a navy suit. She had no idea why he was drilling holes into the back of her head, but it was easily the most uncomfortable two minutes of her entire life.

The doors opened startling her and she stepped off arriving at her floor. She turned to look at the man straight on, but the closing elevator only allowed her to catch a glimpse of a tall figure and shiny black hair.

Brushing off whatever that whole situation was, Aspen rushed to her desk, clocked in and ran into Fionas office to deliver her first of many coffees for the day.

Fiona, chocolate brown hair curled perfectly, makeup on thickly but fashionably, barely glanced up upon Aspens arrival, and instead just held her hand out for the cup. "Those documents need to be scanned and placed into their respective client accounts." No good morning, no thank you. Pretty typical. " Also I need you to pick my dress up from the dry cleaners for tomorrow's event. You'll be attending to help me and you'll need to dress appropriately. Black only. Blouse and slacks or a modest dress. Comfortable but fashionable shoes. Wear makeup. You'll be in charge of taking names and handing out my contact information to any potential clients."

Aspen's stomach sunk to her toes. She didn't own any of those items and her funds were incredibly limited. A thrift shop was out of her budget right now. She would have to take what meager amount of money she had set aside for food to try and acquire appropriate attire for this ass kissing event that was to take place at the founders of Madories estate.

What a shitastic day this was turning out to be.

****

Mindlessly scanning paper after paper, Aspen was trying to decide if she was cut out for this industry. She hated her boss. Fiona was everything Aspen detested. Privileged, rude, entitled and flawlessly attractive.

Much like the girl Jonathan left her for.

It still hurt two months after the fact.

Feeling that familiar throbbing in her temples that happened everytime she thought of him, Aspen smacked the copy machine in frustration as she tried to get the imagine of him out of her head. She didn't deserve this crap. She didn't deserve to be cheated on, and she certainly didn't deserve to be haunted by his arrogant stupid face when it was all in the past.

Forgetting the fact that he took everything; the apartment, the car, all the money in their joint bank account. She was better off without him. At least that's what she had to tell herself.

He had left her penniless, homeless and hopeless. So here she was having to go hungry so she could keep a job she didn't even like. He was the awful one so why was she suffering?

Tears streaming down her face she threw the stack of papers against the wall in a moment of anger. Quickly she looked to see if anyone had seen her lapse in sanity through the large window that looked into the copy room. A flicker of movement caught her eye and in a straight up panic she ran to the door, "no no no no no!" She chanted to herself as she threw open the door.

Scanning the hall she could just make out the retreating figure of a man in a blue suit as he turned a corner and disappeared.

Biting her lip anxiously, Aspen closed the door and leaned against it. Maybe no one had actually seen her mishandle client documents? Or if they did maybe they didn't care?

Or maybe she was about to be in serious trouble?

****

Aspen spent the rest of the day wound tight from anxiety. After completing the list of tasks Fiona had for her, she managed to find an outfit at a local thrift store that she figured would be acceptable for the event the next evening.

It completely drained her bank account, and with payday five days away she had no idea how she was going to survive. Being a thicker, curvier girl starving to death wasn't exactly the weight loss plan she strived for.

Flopping onto her sleeping bag in her incredibly small, unfurnished studio apartment, Fiona wondered if she would ever get to a comfortable place in life again. She would keep getting back up everytime life kicked her down, but she didn't know how long she could do that for. Eventually, one day, she was going to be too tired to get back up.