First Impression
Mabel sighed for the umpteenth time, she had been eyeing the mall next to the bus stop, and she finally sat down on the bench, her eyes never leaving the mall.
There was a beautiful pink dress displayed behind the window display, along with others, and she already imagined herself in the dress, with a huge cake before her and ten tiny candles lit on the cake with her classmates wishing her.
Sapphire turned to check her nine year old, or soon-to-be ten year old sister, her birthday was next week Friday, and she had pigtails hairstyles. Her green doll-like eyes were sad, all Sapphire could see was the splitting image of her dad, which constantly reminded her of those old bad memories, but Mabel was not anything like him in character.
It had rained around two in the morning and so Sapphire made sure her sister was clad in her old but nice looking anorak, and battered-looking sneakers.
"Are you tired? The bus would be here soon." She walked to her and sat down beside her.
"Okay"
But then, Sapphire noticed where her eyes were glued at; the mall across the street, or to be precise that pink dress studded with stones, it looked quite expensive.
"Ah, you like it? Should I get it for your birthday?"
Mabel huffed like a frustrated adult. "What if I like it? Would you really get it for me?" She stared up at her twenty year old sister, staring right into her large ocean blue eyes.
"And what is that face? You think I won't?"
"Seriously? By working off your ass day and night? Ten jobs a day?" She raised her eyebrows.
"Who taught you that? And what do you mean working off my ass? I only have two jobs" Sapphire couldn't be more stunned by her sister, was public school growing up on her?
"I know you are working as a maid on Sundays at the Whitney's, so you are going to work more by just buying that dress for me? What more could I ask for? I love that dress, but I couldn't be more grateful to you for taking good care of me"
Sapphire was floored by her sister.
"I work as an house keeper at the Whitney's, Mabel, not maid, and it's my job to take care of you." She patted her dark brown hair.
"But all my classmates have parents taking care of them, not their sisters or brothers" She pouted.
Sapphire sighed and looked at the sky. "What to do with you little doll? I'm the adult here, and you're the kid, I should take care of you, not you take care of me."
Mabel stood up and smiled. "Yeah, barely, but I love you." She hugged her.
"You know I do" She patted her hair again.
Before they could disengaged, a car sped fast and splashed dirty water on them, on Sapphire to be precise, since she was turning her back toward the road. And then, it was followed by few expensive cars of the same model.
"Oh.. s**t!" She swore. Mabel released her and checked her sister. She gasped.
"Oh, your sweater is stained." She tried brushing off her dress.
"It's okay, the bus would soon be here" Sapphire was still checking her skirt.
"You should go home and change, I'll go." Mabel said with a sad look.
"You know I can't be a minute late to work" She smiled ruefully.
"Which one?"
"XOXO Sandwich and Coffee" She made love sign with her fingers.
"Oh, are you going to get me a free sandwich for dinner today? And mommy too, I can't share with her today, it won't be enough for both of us."
Sapphire nodded, trying to suppress her anger directed to the car owner, whoever they were, they wouldn't even apologize for this present predicament she was in. Her boss was a neat freak, he wanted them to smell nice and look good all the time.
He had once fired a girl whose hair was untidy and 'stinking' because she was late.
He also hated latecomers, a minute late was still late to Mr. Rodriguez, and he never listened to any employee's side of story, he just fired them.
Even important people come for sandwich, since it was the best in that area and he also pay well, the paycheck was worth it, so Sapphire never wanted to be in his spotlight, because it means trouble.
She was still brooding and didn't noticed Mabel tapping her unconsciously clenched fist. Her eyes softened as she looked down at Mabel, but she seemed to be staring at something before her, Sapphire looked in the direction and saw that there was already line up of the similar cars that splashed water on her earlier.
One of the few cars opened and a man in black suit came out, and walked to the curious Sapphire and her dumbfounded sister.
He stretched a quite fat envelop to her and said in a robotic voice, "My boss wants you to take this money for your dirty dress, forget about the incident and disappear."
Sapphire huffed and Mabel's mouth were wide agape.
"You know a simple sorry from your little show off boss, would have save him from throwing out his last card" Sapphire said in a sarcastic voice, even more pissed off.
The man's eyebrows lifted in utter shock, he opened his mouth to talk but Sapphire beat him to it.
"Don't bother, go relay my message and just bugger off with him."
He hesitated and his eyes fell on Mabel. Mabel clung to her sister's torso more tightly.
He finally turned and left to tell his boss. The bus arrived and people started getting on the bus. Sapphire and Mabel got in too and sat by the window.
And the bus started moving, it moved past the luxurious car. Sapphire was already on her phone, while Mabel glanced outside the window.
The tinted glass window wound down slowly and a man looked out and his eyes fell on Sapphire who didn't noticed.
Mabel saw him and gasped softly.
"Is he an angel on earth?" She whispered.
"What?" Sapphire looked out too and made eye contact with the strange man in the latest sleek Maserati.
The sunlight fell on her face and her blue eyes shone beautifully like a sapphire.
But she just glared at him. It seemed he was the boss who send his escort earlier to pay her, instead of just apologizing in a polite way. She turned back her head and ignored him.
The handsome young man was awestruck by her audacious behavior. And on the other hand, pissed off.
Nobody talk to him that way and he would let them off the hook.
Suddenly, he was bored and something came to his mind.
"Follow the bus"