EPISODE 1: "THE CAFE WITH THE RED DOORS."

'Oh my gosh Alicia! He proposed!'

'Oh my gosh Alicia! I got accepted!'

'Oh, nothing. My parents are set for life. I think I'm gonna just chill, ya know. Take it easy. There's no rush.'

If only she could hear those responses for her own life. Excluding college. She had the chance, but just wasn't ready quite yet. She had an average G.P.A--3.5. Her parents had pushed her to go, but she declined. She wondered now if that's why she was being kicked out.

'In this house you either work or go to school'. Why hadn't somebody warned her that either one could be false coming from a parent's mouth? Her parents weren't giving her an option to move out, she had to. Even if she was going to find work.

Walking pass the throngs of people, she made her way down the strip. She had applied to every business on it and only one wanted to hire her. As a janitor. Working the night shift. Surrounded by drunk men. Yeah, no thanks. She could picture multiple scenarios now and it made her heart leap and mind cringe.

She had until the end of the month to be out. Not find a place, but be out! Her parents were having someone come by and change the locks the day of. She would have to fork over the key.

Why were they being so cruel to her?! She was just a kid. Barely 18 years-old. How could she know how the world worked? But then again, how could her friends know what college or married life was like? Even being a freeloader?

Clutching her over-the-shoulder bag, she sighed in anger, cutting her eye over at the shops she applied to and got denied. None of them required degrees, only a high school diploma. Yet, she got denied. From a cook to an ice-cream scooper. Nope. Nope. Nope. Was there something wrong with her?

Coming to the end of the strip, there was the red and white cafe on the corner. Maids stood out sometimes, passing out flyers while waving and smiling at the passerbyes. It didn't look all that welcoming from the outside, not really. There were the roll up doors that came down once the establishement was closed, but then there were another set of doors, adding a few bonus points for the consumer so it didn't look like an open spot in a meat market, or a garage sale.

Wait a minute. Doors. She knew the place had doors but she didn't think they'd remind her of some high-end club where bouncers stood out, monitoring the lines. They were made of steel and painted in a vibrant red. There was a single handle on the left door, the other bare, with two thin glass panes on both.

That's why she was interested now. She had never seen the doors closed. They were always wide open with a sign of the special meal or service that day.

A little more intrigued and suddenly feeling more than self-conscious, as a place like this would certainly look over your current appearance, Alicia swallowed with butterflies in her stomach and walked toward the place. Opening the red door of death, she was pleasantly surprised to see how clean it looked. She'd only glance at the place and keep moving.

The place stayed true to its colors. Red and white. The floor was tiled in red and white, and the low hanging lights were painted in red with a silver coating on the inside. The bar area was situated off to the side and to itself, with a step leading up to what looked like black granite counter tops, betraying the current color theme somewhat, and red swivel stools. The cafe portion boasted white tables and red booths or chairs.

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There was a fan that lazily spun above her, while the two on either side of it were off. They were silver in color. She didn't understand the need for them though, as the AC cut clear through her thin jacket. It was much warmer outside.

In front was where you could place your order, assuming no maid came an assisted you, and another bar-like area with a white island counter.

Maybe for the kids? She thought with the ghost of a smirk.

It hit her that there was no one around then. She turned around and looked out. People still filtered by. She looked back at the place. She noticed the green plants off to the sides of the entrance, and the step that led down into the place.

Maybe they were closed? No, that couldn't be right. If they were closed the doors wouldn't be opened and the roll up doors would be down and locked.

There was a room in the back--no door accompanied the space--it was black. No one was here. Check. The back room of doom had no door and freaked her out. Check. And she was starting to feel a little uneasy that she had been standing there with no interuptions. Surely these people had cameras? Right? Either way these people had missed their opportunity to hire a great employee. Make that strike three.

She turned around and gasped, backing away. "Oh my gosh! You scared me!"

A man towered over her, dressed in a white collared shirt, a button was undone at the top and black vest and pants. He wore pointed toe shoes to match. His shirt was rolled up neatly on either arm and he had his hands in his pockets. His hair was slicked back in a short ponytail with a few strands falling over his face, giving way to his piercing blue eyes. He had one ear peirced with a shiny stud.

He was one fine, fine, hunk of man but she disregarded that and mentally took note of him standing behind her not saying a word. How long had he been standing there? Why didn't she hear the door open and close? Was it silent to where she wouldn't know if an intruder had entered? Shouldn't she have heard a whoosh of air or something, alerting his presence? And another thing...why wasn't there anybody in here? Was this an off day or something? They were open, so what was the deal?

All these thoughts in her mind rendered her enabled to speak. And why should she say more? She already had.

"Sorry about that." He said.

She already didn't like his tone. It sounded indifferent. Even if she wanted to work there, he was blowing it for her.

"I've been meaning to get a bell or alarm of some kind to annouce customers."

"Oh, that's okay." She said. And she meant it. That's okay for everything. Not applying there, no longer being in his company, and finding some other job. "It happens like that sometimes." She smiled. "I was just looking around."

"Did you want anything?" He asked.

"Um, no." She said. "There really doesn't seem to be anybody here and I'm not sure if you guys are really open--"

"We are." He said. "This is the night shift. The doors open at 8 am and close at 3 p.m. for the general public, or for children. At six the doors open again just for adults. The doors are usually locked."

"Oh." She said. "I didn't know that, I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. I'll have to talk to Delilah again about forgetting to lock the doors."

"Delilah? Is she the manager?" Oof! she thought. Why did she say that?

She saw his eyes flicker with something.

Shoot!

Be strong Alicia! Just politely decline if he offers you an application or job! You don't want to work here anyway!

"For the night shift, she is." He said. "Did you want an application or something?"

"Oh, no!" she said. "I was just looking around! It's a really neat place. Kinda sleek actually."

"Yes, well, we've been in business a pretty long time. People seem to like it."

He took his eyes off her, finally. She was beginning to turn to jelly with that gaze of his.

"Yeah, well, I better get going."

His eyes were on hers like a hawk once again.

Her stomach still did a leap.

Why hadn't she moved her feet yet? She was looking more and more like an idiot as the seconds ticked on.

"You haven't moved yet." He said.

"Right! Ha-ha! Silly me! I'm so sorry!" she began to move and fumbled over her sneakers. "Gah!" she caught herself just in time.

Could this day get any more worse?! Let's say she wanted to work here? Judging from his judgemental gaze, her ackwardness, and now clumsiness, two red flags in an work place that was known for putting customers first and being quick on your feet, she was definitely booted out in his mind.

She looked back at him with a fast beating heart. "A little clumsy there, good-bye!" She turned and wanted to fall through the floor as she gripped the handle on the door.

"Would you like to work here?" He asked, turning his head some.

She was sure her body was pumping enough adrenaline, but a fresh wave hit her as she looked back and casually responded, "I'm sorry?"