Taking Her Place, Ann Nicole, Jane Baker [best classic literature .txt] 📗

Chapter One

You know when someone suggests that you meet with him or her to discuss some very important business and demand that you be there on time, but in the end they’re the ones that show up late?

 

No, you haven’t because you’ve probably been that person. 

 

Okay, to make things a little clearer. My sister, Madison had called me after six months last night to inform me that she wanted to meet up at the coffee shop downtown by my home. She explained that she was flying down from Georgia because she had just finished one of her modeling jigs and claimed that she had a little time before she had to be back in New York and just had to see me. So I thought, ‘What the heck.’

 

Which brings us back to now.

 

I had just ordered my eighth black coffee; and proceeding to sit back down at my table.

 

Where was she? We had agreed to meet here at 8:30A.m this morning. I glanced down, looking at my watch.

 

9:15, Lovely. Now I’m going to have to explain that to my boss.

 

I took a long sip from my coffee savoring the flavor, also hoping to calm myself down. I didn’t have time to be wasting my day sitting around this shop. I had a job to be at!

 

After ten minutes I had downed a whole six other cups of coffee. It should be a new record, and a good reason to why I’ll be visiting the doctor this afternoon.

 

 

A small lady from behind the counter walked up to my table and tapped me on the shoulder. I sat my cup of coffee down and turned to her, “Yes?” I asked. I couldn’t help that my voice had come out slightly frustrated, but she just shrugged it off.

“Can I take those away for you?” She asked glancing over at the gazillion Styrofoam cups scattered all over the table. I smiled sheepishly and muttered a ‘yes’ She nodded and lifted the cups onto her empty tray and went on with her job. After what felt like twenty minutes the bell hanging from the door chimed. I shifted my gaze, there she was. Madison was dressed in a dark blue dress, with a pair of sparkly gray high heels, and let’s not forget that purse she was rocking. Show off.

 

As she neared my table I took out my phone to see two missed calls and one message.

 

I opened it.

 

WHERE ARE YOU?? The boss is ranting on and on about how you’re never here! And he’s throwing out your things..again.

 

I sighed and slid the phone back into my pocket. I didn’t have time for this.

 

Madison sat down awkwardly. Her heels were a little more difficult to do things in then she thought. I smirked at that.

 

“Hey,” She chirped, sitting her purse down on the table and sending a smile over to me, “What’s been up, Brooky?”

 

“Oh you know, just waiting for you. Yeah, probably going to get fired today, but no biggie.” I replied shrugging.

 

She cocked her head, “No problem.”

 

Yeah, because it’s not like I have another job waiting for me after I’m fired from this one.

 

Rolling my eyes, I turned back to her. “So, what did you want to talk about?” Madison twirled her long curly hair between her fingers, shifting uncomfortably.

 

“Well..you know my job?” She asked, looking everywhere but me.

 

“..Yeah?” I replied unsurely. Like what else was I supposed to know about it?

 

She stopped playing with her hair and began tugging at the bottom of her dress, “Well,” She drawled. “I’m supposed to be going on a year tour and all..”

 

“Okay, so you wanted to tell me you’re going on a tour? What does that have to do with me?” And this is when her face went into a frown, and it was harder to read her.

 

“I met a guy.”

 

“Okay?” Is this her trying to imply that I need to get a guy? Again.

 

“And we have been secretly dating for awhile, you know before we make it public..but the thing is, I can’t be away from Jake for a year!” She exclaimed. Tears fell down her face and everyone who cared turned around and looked at us. Which was the whole café.

 

I put my finger in front of my mouth and snapped my fingers at her. “Shhh.” I cried, “People are staring!” I yelled whispered. She got silent and wiped a few tears away from her face, “So like I was saying, I can’t be away from him for a year. My poor little heart couldn’t take it.”

 

“Uh-huh.” I said. Your poor little heart couldn’t take a lot of things, I thought. Just like it couldn’t-

 

Madison cut of my thinking to talk, “-And I was thinking that maybe you could-“

 

I cut in, “Maybe I could what?”

 

“FillinformewhileIgooffwithjake.”

 

“Huh?” I asked, a bit confused of what had just came out of her mouth.

 

“Fill in for me while I go off with Jake.” She said, before quickly adding, “Just for a year!”

 

“No.” I deadpanned.

 

She looked at me, sticking out her bottom lip. Ugh, I always feel for that..

 

“You could do it, I meant it would be perfect, just perfect!” She said, clapping her hands together.

 

“But Madison, it would never work. People would know something was up, and plus I’ve never modeled a day in my life. What makes you think I could trick over a billion people in believing that I’m you?” I said, rolling my eyes.

 

She glared at me, “Because you’re my twin.” Well, she was right about that. “And modeling isn’t that hard. All you do is walk, walk, pose, walk, pose, and walk. Or something like that, it’s nothing hard!”

 

“Okay Miss modeling is so easy, but I’ve only done it almost my entire life, since you have it all figured out..” I said narrowing my eyes. “And even though we may be identical we aren’t that identical. Your eyes are blue and mine are brown. Your hair is curlier than mine will ever be and longer. How do you explain that.” I said smirking. But knowing her she would always have an answer, to everything.

 

“You could say that they’re contacts, and all you have to do is curl your hair more! Or say you’re trying out a new look. Yeah! Just say you got a haircut.” She said moving her hands in the air, looking far off into the room like there was a picture I was supposed to be seeing that she saw. But all I saw was how crazy she looked flapping her hands around in the air. And apparently so did everyone else because they began to look out of the corner of their eyes before turning back to the person beside them and whispering to each other. Great. Now everyone knows my sister’s a freak. I groaned, clapping my hands in front of Madison’s face to get her attention.

 

“And what do I get out of this if I were to agree?” I asked. Feeling the anxiety began to bubble inside of me.

 

She thought for a few seconds before opening her mouth, “All the money that you make in the year that you fill in for me goes to you. All. Of. It.” She said, “And honey, you’ll be a model. There will be a lot of benefits if you take up my offer. So what do you say little sister?” She asked, sticking out her hand.

 

I work at a place where I type on a computer all day, pick up phone calls from people complaining about how we’re cheating them out of their money, bring my boss coffee every morning, buy his lunch everyday just to get hounded on when I forget his. There was nothing to look forward to, but my work place did have Friday’s.. Should I Take the offer? Or Quit. I debated in my mind.

 

Take the offer?

 

Or.

 

Quit?

 

Take. The. Offer?

 

Or.

 

Quit?

 

Madison’s hand slowly began to fall. Guess I better make a decision before it falls off.

 

 

I looked into her blue eyes and grinned, “Deal.”

 

 

---

 

 

When Madison and I finished making the arrangements, I headed back to my house.

 

After getting out of the shower I hit the bed. Then pulled out my phone and texted my boss.

 

Hey

 

I thought a simply message would do us both some good. After about ten seconds I heard a buzz.

 

You are going to be fired the next time you’re late. You should be glad your friend Charlotte got down on her knees and begged me to let you have another chance, you ungrateful woman.

 

As I read the message I shook my head lightly and began texting back. Boy, was this going to feel good.

 

And that’s where you’re wrong.

 

One minute later.

 

Wrong. About what?

 

Tap. Tap. Tap.

 

I’m not getting fired next time.

 

Five seconds later..

 

And who the heck are you to decide. You work for me! And if you show up late again I’m kicking your sorry butt out.

 

Tappy. Tap. Tap. Tap.

 

Yes, I can, btw I’m not ungrateful you old fart, I enjoy seeing your constipated face everyday. And I am very grateful for that.

 

Ten minutes later. Wow. He must have been so mad that he had to re-read that a couple of times just to make sure he saw right.

 

Miss Brook, I will regard that. You will be here tomorrow morning at six to show my clients around, I expect you not to be late and don’t forget to pick up my coffee.

 

I actually smiled at that one. So you couldn’t fire me, huh?

 

I can’t do that.

 

Four seconds later.

 

And why not?!

 

Well, isn’t someone a little demanding. I typed back feeling that the shorter it was, the better.

 

Because I quit.

 

In less than two seconds, he replied.

 

You can’t do that!

 

Tap. Tap. Tappy. Tap. Tap.

 

Just did. Oh and Mr. Smith. How about you go and do something more productive with your life. Like falling off a cliff? ..Or I could always push you off one, whichever you prefer.

 

I sent the message and instantly, it beeped.

 

You’ll regret this.

 

I laughed.

 

Nah, I think I’ll be okay.

 

I snapped my phone shut and sat it on my nightstand, taking the needed rest that I so long needed.

 

 

 

 

When I woke up the next morning, I felt refreshed and energized. I reached over for my phone and opened it.

 

11 Missed Calls

 

7 Messages

 

I opened them, and guess whom they were all from? That’s right, my bigheaded boss.

 

Message one:

 

Brooke, you’ll definitely regret this!Sent at 11:00 P.m

Message Two:

 

You’re going to end up poor and sleeping on the street like a hobo!

 

Sent at 12:15 a.m.

 

 

What in the world..

 

Message Three:

 

And when you do I’m not going to help cut in a new window!

 

Sent at 12:30a.m.

 

Wow..he could’ve just sent that one the last message. What a waste on minutes. I opened up the next message few messages and almost died of laughter.

 

Message Four:

 

Okay, Brooke..maybe I was a little too harsh. Will you reconsider?

 

Sent at 2:00 a.m.

Message Five:

 

I know you’re awake. Reply back before I take back my apology!

 

Sent at 2:05a.m.

 

Message Six:

 

Come on. Don’t quit. You’re the only pretty secretary I have here, besides Greta. She’s all old and nasty. I mean like have you seen that giant zit on the top of her lip and her back? Do you even know what it’s like to have the hunch back of Notre dame bring you your coffee every morning…

 

Sent at 6:55a.m.

Message Seven:

 

Please don’t quit.

 

Sent at 7:00a.m.

I looked at message number six once more before closing my phone. I fell back into bed and laughed. Nope. Still not regretting it one bit.