“Ella?” said Cherry impatiently, annoyed that I wasn’t paying attention to her.
“Sorry, just a little tired. Yeah, I’m still on for tonight. You only turn twenty-three once,” I told her, the thin thread of exhaustion evident in my voice. She pretended not to notice and stood abruptly. “I’ve got to hit the gym and then start getting ready,” she told me, kissing me on both cheeks like she was some kind of fancy European instead of a girl from Brooklyn. She then walked out the door without another word. As I stood, I realized she forgot to pay for her fries. There goes my ability to eat at all this week, I thought wryly to myself, not able to muster annoyance at my best friend due to my exhaustion.
“Your break ended five minutes ago,” barked Greg as he emerged from the back. I managed to not roll my eyes as I picked up Cherry’s empty fry tray and moved to throw it away. It wasn’t as if the diner was currently empty or that I hadn’t taken a break all day, I thought to myself as I stared around at the restaurant that had cleared out after Greg’s fit. My mind conjured up a million different things I would say to Greg if I was a little braver and if I actually had other options for a job. I grabbed a rag and wiped down the already spotless table, my mind full of a million places I would rather be.
* * *
I was draggingmy feet by the time I finished even though we had hardly had any customers that afternoon. I didn’t bother to say goodbye to Greg as I pushed out the front door and into the chilled air. October in New York was a glorious thing but all I could think about was how my heating bill was about to spike. I wondered how long I could survive a New York winter with just blankets. Maybe I could start sleeping in the gym locker rooms on particularly cold nights? My membership was practically as expensive as my one-bedroom loft.
Walking down the sidewalk, I couldn’t help but notice all the advertisements featuring various Vepar. Another reason that they were considered gods? Their otherworldly attractiveness. They were built and shaped just like us, but somehow, they were more. Their skin was more perfect, their eye color was more intense, their hair color sparkled in the sun, their bodies were shaped like action heroes. Everything about them screamed that they were the pinnacle of what every human since the beginning of time had yearned to achieve. They were sexy bastards and it was unfair they got to be biologically more advanced on top of all the other ways they had us beat. An ad flashed across a screen and I got caught on the sidewalk, unable to take my eyes off the Vepar showing on the screen in the store window. He was beautiful. Even my hatred for their kind and the havoc they had thrust on my life couldn’t prevent me from admitting that.
Just then a woman walked by wearing a perfume that my mother had always worn and whatever spell I was under was broken. Nothing, not even a ridiculously sexy face, could make me forget that the Vepar were responsible for the fact that I had been alone in the world for three years because of them.
So many people, in particular females, disappeared when the Vepar turned up on Earth. The aliens insisted they came in peace, as cliché as that sounded, and had never harmed anyone that we knew of. But the speculations spread that there was more to the Vepar’s story, especially after our loved ones continued to vanish. Sometimes it felt like the rest of us were waiting for our number to be picked like a lottery, except this wasn’t the kind of prize anyone would want to win. Lots of people insisted they were preparing us to breed with them, which I couldn’t dismiss when we knew so little about their race. The majority of speculators insisted they were getting ready for a complete takeover of our planet, a takeover that would eliminate us. Wasn’t that what invaders did? As far as I was concerned, I hated them and wanted zero to do with their kind. I wished they would vanish and return to their home planet, leaving us alone. Maybe if they hadn’t come here, my parents would still be around, and I wouldn’t be so alone.
I hurried along the sidewalk, tucking my handbag under my arm, dodging a young couple who stopped in the middle of the path to kiss. People flowed in and out of stores, chatting, laughing, many of them wearing gym gear. I squeezed in my hourly workout in the mornings because I couldn’t think of anything worse than a spin class or doing weights after a long day on my feet at work.
I swung down an alley, leaving behind the hustle and bustle and bright lights of the city. Where I lived was about as opposite of the glitz and glamour of the city as you could get. As I walked, I passed trash cans and puddles that I was pretty sure were filled with urine. I went around the rear of the dilapidated Italian restaurant that filled up my apartment with annoying aromas that only served to remind me how hungry I was all the time. Shadows crowded in around me, and I pushed into a jog, always a little surprised at how much lighter and agile I felt since starting my gym workouts and starting to eat healthier. Didn’t make me like the Vepar any more though. I missed my burgers and fries too much.
At the back of my rundown apartment, I grabbed an upside-down milk crate tucked near the wall and set it beneath the metal ladder just out of reach. I got up and seized the base of the fire escape ladder, then pulled it down. I made my way up, and once I reached the metal platform of the winding stairs, I kept going upward to the third floor. A cool breeze fluttered under my ponytail, cooling my neck, and bringing with it a tomato and garlic smell from across the alley, enticing a growl out of my stomach.
I avoided the front entrance since I was behind on my rental payments and the landlord lived on the ground floor. Like a hawk, he watched everyone who came and went, and I hoped to buy myself a few more days before I paid him by avoiding entering from the front.
Once I got to my window, I jiggled the wooden frame at the corner until it gave way. I then dragged the window up and climbed inside. Shutting it behind me, I locked it and switched on the light.
A studio apartment was all I needed, the bed on one end of the room, and the kitchen and a small table on the other side. The walls remained bare as I’d been on an unsuccessful hunt at flea markets since I’d moved in, looking for just the right images to hang. I toed off my shoes, kicking them aside, and walked across my cushioned rug that was one of the few things I had been able to find that I liked. It was the color of the brightest sky and always made me smile when I looked at it. A neighbor had held a sale and he sold it to me for twenty dollars. A bargain for sure.
I made my way to the fridge while unzipping my work uniform and shuffling it down my body as I walked. I tossed the uniform on the table, then reached into the fridge for the spinach and feta quiche and juice that I was rationing for dinner this week. The chef at work snuck me leftovers a few days ago after hours, saving my life this week since I wouldn’t be able to afford any groceries with Greg cutting my check.
As part of the healthy living instigation, every morning, free bananas were made available by vendors on the sidewalk, all covered by the Vepar to encourage a healthy breakfast. The fruit went fast, so every morning at six a.m., I was down there, waiting for my small bag of goodies. Bananas and quiche would have to work this week.
By the time I finished my meager dinner, it was almost time for Cherry to arrive. I hurriedly jumped into the shower and got dressed for the night. I spun in front of the mirror in my black dress examining myself. The dress had spaghetti straps and cinched in at my waist. It also had a skirt that flowed in waves, falling about mid-thigh. It was my favorite dress and made me feel pretty which was a hard task with how worn down I always felt nowadays. I dried and styled my hair, a workout in itself since my long dark locks reached half-way down my back. I parted it at the side and sprayed the ends to keep the natural curl I had always liked. I was just picking up my mascara when a knock sounded at the door.
All I could hope was that it wasn’t my landlord and instead was Cherry running a few minutes early. Please don’t let it be him.
The knock came again, and I exhaled the breath I’d been holding onto. I moved to the door, avoiding the wooden floorboards that creaked, and peered through the peep-hole.
Cherry stood there, wearing a grumpy expression, blowing a breath of air upward, flicking at the blonde strands cascading over her eyes.
I unlocked the door quickly and pulled it open.
“About time.” She rolled her eyes and strolled inside wearing a red, shiny dress with the deepest neckline I had ever seen. It fell clear to her stomach. The side split on her skirt flashed her thigh with each step, showing off her black knee-high boots. She twirled on the spot. “What do you think? Found it at a new boutique store that specializes in dresses that are supposed to look just like the dresses worn by Hollywood stars.”
I closed the door and turned to face my friend. “It’s gorgeous. You look so sexy,” I said almost wistfully, thinking that I wasn’t as excited about my old dress anymore.
“Exactly what I’m going for. And you look so cute, babe. We’re going to have a blast for your birthday. Pick up some guys.” She winked, her attention falling to my bare feet. She furrowed her brow at the fact that I wasn’t ready.
“Give me two secs and I’ll be ready,” I told her, rushing to the bathroom to finish applying my make-up and then quickly stepping into my black heels. We left my apartment, out the front way, after Cherry’s protest on using the fire exit. And it must have been my lucky day when my landlord didn’t make an appearance. Cherry called an Uber and by the time we reached the club, I’d forgotten about my crappy day. I was ready to get drunk and party.
We stepped out on to the sidewalk in front of a building that must have once been a warehouse. The brick walls had all been painted black, along with the double doors. Golden words sat over the entrance on a plaque that seemed to glow. The Garage.
A bouncer stood outside, decked out in black.
Cherry grabbed me by the elbow and walked me closer. “Everyone’s going to this club. It’s the hottest ticket in town!”
The bouncer studied us for the longest time. When he finally opened the door, I offered him a smile as I passed by, reaching into my handbag as we walked to put away the ID that he hadn’t asked for. An explosion of music poured out of the establishment; a deep, fast beat that made my blood seem to pump faster.
Cherry dragged me inside, giggling and pushing aside the black curtains in the entryway. We entered the nightclub.