Chapter 111 Cleaner Needed
BELLA'S POV
“I knew you'd get better at some point!” My best friend, Beatrice squealed. I could barely hold back the disgust on my face. She didn't come to visit me one day when I was smelling. Or when I looked like I was going to die.
In fact, nobody from my so-called friend group visited. And she still thought we were best friends somehow? In her dreams.
“Yeah, thanks,” I muttered, trying to ignore the growling in my stomach. My mom hadn't been home for the past two days. And I had opened and closed the freezer countless times, hoping that food was going to somehow magically appear. There was nothing. And I was done drinking water from the tap.
“You didn't bring anything?” I asked Beatrice. “No snacks?”
She looked down at her empty hands. “I didn't think you would need any of that,” she stuttered, and I swallowed hard, closing my eyes as I tried to keep my emotions in check.
Who went to visit recovering patients without gifts?
“Well,” I said, standing up as I rubbed my hands against my jeans. I guess you have to leave now. I have other important things to do.”
She had a confused look on her face. “But you don't have anything to do. You told me you were going to be free throughout today. I thought we could catch up.”
Without food? Hell no.
I cocked my head to the side, giving her a fake smile. “I'm sorry. My mom just texted.”
Before she could even think if she heard my phone beep, I grabbed her arm, practically dragging her out of the house.
“I'm sure we can do this next time. But now is just a bad time.”
“Well, when?” She asked, but I already shut the door in her face. I pressed my back to the door, as I slowly slid down, clutching my stomach.
I managed to get up, going to fetch another glass of water. That was the only thing available that I could put in my mouth. As I got a glimpse of myself in the reflection of the tap, I couldn't help but click my tongue. The only thing that was missing was the spots. I still looked the same. I tried not to groan out loud.
Maybe if Anna was around, I might have eaten some of her cakes. It was something I usually did anyway. It was nice seeing her cry while I blamed her for being so careless and leaving the cakes for the rats.
I tapped my forehead lightly. I didn't know why I was even thinking about her. It has been about five years since I last saw her. She might have been dead for all we knew.
The door was suddenly pushed open, and I hurried back to the living room. It was my mom, and I almost went on my knees when she walked in with the pizza box.
“Where have you been?” I demanded.
She quickly tucked her hair behind her ears. She looked exhausted. But that was the last thing I cared about. All I needed to know was why she didn't come home, and if the pizza was hot.
“Working my ass off.”
I snatched the pizza box from her, setting it down on the table. It was warm. I could manage.
“That doesn't explain you leaving the house empty.”
“Really?” She asked, with her eyes starting to get damp. “You didn't care if I was safe. All you were worried about was what you were going to eat.”
I shrugged, shoving a slice of pizza into my mouth. “Are you going to eat or not?” I asked, watching her as she sat down beside me, handing me the bottle of soda that was in her bag.
“When are you getting a job?” She asked, making me stiffen.
“I already told you I can't do that. I wasn't made for working mediocre jobs.”
“You refused to finish up with your degree. I can't have someone taking up all the space in my house without contributing to it.”
“If you want to chase me out, maybe you should just say it,” I said in a whisper. That was enough to finally get her to shut up. It was one of the many tricks that I used on her.
Emotional blackmail was one of my strong points.
She suddenly sighed. “I was thinking that we could go and thank the person who created the drug that worked.”
My face scrunched up in disgust. “Are you forgetting that we actually paid for their services?”
“And what if the drug never existed? You would have been with your father in hell.”
The words stung. I guessed she had a point.
“Fine,” I said. “We can go right after I finish this pizza.”
She nodded at me, watching me as I polished off the last slice. I didn't even know that I could eat that much. I headed upstairs just as I promised, slipping on another dress. If I wanted to show the person who played a part in getting me healed, I could at least do a good job at it.
I packed my hair in a ponytail that was more than capable of pulling my scalp out. But I didn't care. As I headed back downstairs, slipping my feet into my flats. My mom was looking at me with an expressionless face. The pride that she usually had when she was looking at me was no longer there.
She took my hand in hers, as we got into the Uber that was already waiting for us. As we got to Quinn's Med, some patients were still waiting to get their drugs.
I scrunched my nose, holding my breath as I walked past them. I almost gagged at the sight of their spots. Nothing could be more irritating.
My mom was ahead of me, talking to the receptionist.
“Hello, we want to talk to the CEO. Is she in?” My mom asked, and the receptionist shook her head.
“She's out on a vacation. You can check back in a week.”
I heaved a sigh of relief. I was sure that I wasn't ready to meet with any stranger. Just as we were about to head out of the building, there was a little poster that caught my mom's eyes.
I looked in the direction that she was looking, and immediately took a step back.
“Cleaner needed, apply within.”
No, no, no.