Into The Spotlight

The morning rush was over, thankfully. It was just past midday. Lola put her head down against the table, trying to get a little rest before classes began.

She knew what she wanted was almost impossible, but it didn't stop the way her body ached and the way her bones screamed in tiredness. She had gotten up as early as four am because she needed to read a little and to open the inn come morning. She never missed the morning Rush of a Saturday morning. It was kind of a big deal. And she made twice her daily earnings every Saturday morning. There was no way she would give that up, even if it made her feel cranky for the rest of the day.

Someone tapped her shoulder. Lola raised her head to see Agnes standing before her. Lola was dazed for a moment. It was still an hour before Agnes gets here. She didn't understand why the lass was early.

"You're early." She commented, voicing out her thoughts.

"Yeah. Just thought I could relieve you earlier than usual just so you don't sleep through your classes. Trust me, I know how that feels." Agnes snagged an apron and dinner over herself, not giving Lola a chance to even reply.

Lola herself didn't know what to say. This was unlike Agnes. Not to say she was selfish, but the girl only did hours allotted to her. She did no extras. Offering to do so now left Lola so wondering if there was something she needed. Maybe she wants a pay raise. Lola narrowed her eyes.

"I can't afford to give you a raise right now, Agnes. If that's what you want,"

"I don't want a pay raise." Agnes cut her off. She pinned Lola with a look that she couldn't quite read. Lola didn't believe her. The girl cast her eyes down, looking away guiltily.

"Then what is this about?" Lola asked with a sigh. Agnes shrugged, flipping the newly washed mugs and drying them off.

"I just want to be a better person, you know. Have friends even." There was an underlying clause in that statement, which Lola understood well.

"You want me to be your friend?" Lola asked in disbelief.

"I'm just being silly. Forget I said anything." Agnes turned away and tried to escape, but Lola was having none of it. With a speed she didn't know she was capable of, she took hold of Agnes' wrist and pulled her back.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Lola asked, sensing there was more to the story. Agnes looked up with teary eyes.

"I just realized I'm all alone in this world. I have no friends, no family, just a younger brother who I'm left to fend for and I'm just a kid myself. It'd be nice to have someone to talk to."

Lola completely understood the girl's predicament. She had been there before. It wasn't exactly the same situation, but she knew what Agnes felt like. Her father had been notorious in their little town before he eventually passed, leaving her to take care of her younger brother. Lola knew she felt like an outcast. Couldn't completely be accepted by her so-called friends because she had obligations she needed to fulfill, and because she made plans which didn't involve them.

With a heavy heart, Lola drew her closer and wrapped her arms around her. To Agnes' credit, the girl kept her teas at Bay, but hung on to Lola like her life depended on it.

"You know you're always welcome here." Lola reassured her. Agnes nodded and detached from the hug.

"I should get back to work." She gave Lola a smile and disappeared behind the door that led to the store room.

Tough girl. Lola thought. It took a lot of guys to do what Agnes was doing. Lola only hoped she could learn to live past all the people she thought were her friends and focus on accomplishing herself. She turned to look at the wall clock and found that thirty minutes had gone by without warning.

"Shit." Lola cursed. She grabbed her purse and dashed to her apartment above the inn. She hurriedly changed clothes and took her backpack. If she wanted to catch the bus then, she needed to leave now.

Once again, Lola bursted through the inn. The sweet smell of coffee hit her. Even though she preferred tea to coffee, she still loved the smell.

"I'm off." She shouted, telling no one in particular, but knowing Agnes and Mrs Piper heard her. Lol ran all the ears to the bus station, checking her phone every second. If she missed the bus, then there was no way to get to class and missing class was the last thing on her mind.

Horns blared off in the distance. Lola could see the bus as it approached. She quickened her steps just, so she didn't miss it. Luck was on her side. Lola bursted through the streets just as the bus was about to turn the corner and disappear from the streets.

The bus stopped, and the doors opened. Lola braced her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. She staggered onto the bus and plopped down on the nearest empty seat she could find. She glanced down at her phone again for the one millionth time. She had fifteen minutes until classes started. She was just in time, barely.

Lola shouldered her backpack and walked through the university grounds. Actual students bustled around trying to catch some fun. It was the weekend, after all. But people like Lola made their way to the classroom, people who wanted a master's in business. She had four minutes to get herself settled in. Lola turned through the halls, you imagining her younger self. She wondered what it would feel like to be young and carefree. Those things weren't her problem anymore, but she loved to day dream.

The door to the classroom was still open, thankfully. Lola walked in with her head down as she walked down the aisle, choosing a seat in the far corner of the room. She loved her anonymity, and she wanted it to stay that way.

The projectors were up and the screens too. All that was missing was the teacher. And just on cue, a face Lola didn't recognize waltzed through the doors and stood before the entire class.

"Good morning all. Just in case the message didn't get across to you, I'm the new guy no one wants to anger, and I'll be taking y'all on social sciences. It human interactions day today."

Lola rolled her eyes at the teacher. He was new, yet he didn't bother to introduce himself. Except, he did a good job at showing everyone that he was a typical ass. Lola knew his type. She had seen plenty of them before.

The projector's screen came alive. Pictures of people in several positions filled the entire classroom. There were people in hugs, some in handshakes, some just sitting together and talking. Lola was paying for business classes. She didn't know how this course was supposed to help her. And just like the luck that had seemed to follow her the whole day, manifested itself again.

"What exactly are we doing? This was supposed to be a finance class." Someone yelled from behind. The lecturer looked up with disgust on his face.

"I wouldn't tolerate any indiscipline in my class. Speak only when you're spoken to. Now, for the lot of you asking for the relevance of this class, you're about to find out. It's not news that in the business world, while dealing with humans, the first rule you learn is the customers are always right. Be prepared to learn about how you interact with human in your daily lives as a business person."

The screen changed again and notes came up. Lola couldn't quite see them clearly from where she sat. She could only hope that the slide would be sent to the members of the class at the end of the lecture.

"What would you do if presented with a tough individual as a sales person? Would you stick to the rule of letting the customer have the last word because he's supposed to be right, or would you set him straight?" He looked around the classroom as if he expected someone to answer. But after the attitude he dished out earlier, no one dared.

"Come on. I need an answer." He finally said no one would answer. The disappointment written on his face almost made Lola feel sorry for him. She had her own opinion on what to do about a difficult customer. She had encountered a lot of those while working at the inn, and she always seemed to get them to listen. Not everyone shared her opinion of diplomacy, but there was a lot they didn't know about. Lola raised her hand, and the lecturer gestured her to stand.

"And who might you be, young lady?" He asked.

"Lola Fernandez." Lola answered quietly.

"The Fernandez? The one with a family history of murder? Spectacular."