43. A Run-In at the Club

Stassi

F ive weeks. It’d been five weeks since Sage and Stassi had the falling out and five weeks since the union had formed. Stassi couldn’t believe she had made it more than a month, but she didn’t make it freely. She felt every pain she could inside whenever she was forced to walk by Sage. And, what’s worse, she knew that her heart would never fully be healed as long as they weren’t able to be together.

Stassi entered her lonely apartment, ready for another night of sitting in front of the TV, surfing until she ultimately decided to just go to bed. It wasn’t a fulfilling evening, but at least it didn’t require getting dressed and going out on the town. Something she once craved now held no appeal.

She padded into the living room, her fuzzy socks making a swishing noise on the linoleum. Her lounge pants were baggy, and her t-shirt was two sizes too large. The ideal outfit to wear when you have nowhere to go. She wouldn’t be sad about that. She grabbed a bowl and loaded it with ice cream, then piled it high with whipped cream. She grabbed a cheery from the refrigerator and plopped it onto the top. All she needed now was a variety of toppings, but she could do away with those. She sat down on the couch, grabbed the remote, and began her nightly routine.

She was half a bowl gone when there was a knock on her door. She groaned. “Who could that be?” She wasn’t exactly dressed for visitors. Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun. She had no makeup on. And she just wanted to cower down in front of the door and pretend no one was there. When two more knocks came, she cringed. So much for a restful night in. “I’m coming,” she grumbled. She peeked through the peephole and shook her head. “I’m fine. Go away!”

“Stassi!” Ariel pounded on the door. “Open the door up right now before your whole apartment building comes running out to see the commotion.” She paused for just a second before she added, louder, “I mean it.”

Stassi threw the door open. “I’m good. No need to be here.” She gave a curt nod to Natalia.

Ariel looked her over. “No offense, but this doesn’t look like you’re good. In fact, this is the opposite of good.”

Stassi admitted that she was depressed, at times, but she felt that she had every right to be. She was mourning the loss of her relationship. Give her time and she was bound to be fine. She looked down at her attire. “I’m sorry I’m not presentable, but it is after eight on a Friday night, and I was not expecting company. But you’re here, so… do. You want some ice cream?” She held up the bowl and started to turn toward the kitchen.

Ariel latched onto her shoulder and pulled her back. “Not so fast. You’re coming out with me.”

“Ariel, I told you this wasn’t a good idea. If you broke up with someone, you wouldn’t want anyone hounding you.” Natalia tilted her head. “How about we go away and come again when Stassi expects us.”

“Listen to Natalia, she’s the smart one.” Stassi took a bite of her ice cream, but Ariel pulled the bowl out of her hand.

“This isn’t you, Stassi. Get dressed. Tonight is ladies’ night, and you just mind find another woman that will strike your fancy.”

Stassi groaned and looked to Natalia. “Can you believe this chick?”

Natalia shook her head. “Still love her, but she’s insufferable.”

“I’m not taking no for an answer,” Ariel argued.

Five minutes later, Stassi was whisked away to her bedroom, where an outfit was laid out for her, and her makeup and hair were done just as if she were working on a modeling gig. The scene was all too familiar, and twenty minutes later, they entered the club.

Stassi glanced around and acknowledged that Ariel was right. Ladies night was in full swing. She grabbed a beer off of a passing tray and took a swig. The beer didn’t hurt. She couldn’t keep up that, though, with just a bowl of ice cream to back it up. The three of them sat down, and they ordered nachos and fries, along with a side of fried pickles. Stassi glanced around the club, checking to see if she recognized anyone, and was grateful that she didn’t.

She continued to sip on her beer as Natalia and Ariel spoke with one another. Stassi tapped her foot, questioning why she even needed to be there. They looked all too consumed in each other to even know that she was there. Stassi stifled a yawn and was relieved when the food arrived at the table. She would at least have that to keep her company.

Natalia reached across and grabbed a pickle, then looked to Stassi. “Wanna dance?” she asked.

Stassi laughed. “With you?”

Natalia shrugged. “Any better offers?”

Ariel grinned, and Stassi realized that was one of the things Natalia and Ariel had most likely been discussing. “No, thank you! I don’t know this song.”

Natalia shrugged and then reached for Ariel’s hand and escorted her onto the floor. Stassi was fine with that—it was how it should have been anyway. She didn’t want Natalia to merely offer because she felt sorry for her; it was misplaced and unnecessary. Stassi ate and drank her beer, letting her eyes drift out to where Natalia and Ariel danced. When she saw her, she nodded her head to the music, not paying much attention.

Sage was talking to Lena and a couple of other women she recognized from the hospital. Stassi stared, mostly thinking how good Sage looked. She cringed when the thought crossed her mind. Out of all the places they could have gone, why did it have to be the same club? She heaved a sigh, her heart racing as she stared.

Then, as if Sage could read her mind, she turned and met Stassi’s gaze. Sage lifted her hand to wave, but Stassi was motionless. Then Sage walked over to the table, leaving Lena and the other girls behind.

“Hey!” Stassi’s throat was dry, so how she got the words out was beyond her.

“Hey!” Sage looked over to the dance floor before turning back to her. Sage opened her mouth, but when words didn’t come out, she closed it. “I…I really should be going.”

“Sage!” Stassi jumped up. Sage turned around and stared. “I’ve missed you.”

“I…”

“Stassi? Do you need us to beat someone up for you?” Ariel asked. Stassi cringed as she turned back to Sage. Sage gave a weak smile, then turned away and walked back to Lena and her other friends. Stassi gawked in her direction before looking at Ariel.

“Why did you do that?” Stassi asked. “We were finally going to talk. Or at least I thought,” she muttered.

“I’m sorry,” Ariel replied. “It just looked awkward, and I wanted to save you.”

Stassi grimaced. “I don’t think I need saving—not from Sage, not from anyone.” She shook her head. “I’m going home.”

“I brought you,” Ariel asked.

Stassi threw up her hands. “I’ll get an Uber or something. I just really need out of here.” She tossed down some money and then hurried towards the front door. She wanted a few minutes alone with Sage, hoping they could actually talk and figure some things out, but now it felt like that wasn’t ever going to happen.

Stassi tossed around in bed. She couldn’t get Sage out of her mind since getting back to her apartment, and there was no chance she was going to get some sleep. It was amazing how much she had changed since she started working at the hospital. That was only a few months, but it felt like a lifetime with all of the obstacles they had to face. When she started, she was more driven to make sure she had the finer things in life. But now, she just wanted to be with Sage.

She sat up in bed and stared at the alarm clock. It was four o’clock in the morning. Hours and hours of tossing and turning never made the clock move any faster. She laid back down and closed her eyes. She was glad she had the weekend off, but she didn’t want to spend it tossing, unable to get any sleep. She closed her eyes, silently vowing that she wouldn’t open them until it was morning. A trick that didn’t work. She sat up in bed and tossed her covers back. There wasn’t any point in laying down if she was going to still be wide awake.

Stassi went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of milk. She sunk down at the kitchen table and stared aimlessly. She was exhausted, but nothing seemed to help to bring her into a slumber. She took another sip of her milk, and her mind went back to Sage. She looked extra hot at the club, but maybe it was because Stassi was on the brink of forgetting what it was like to be in Sage’s bed. Stassi dropped her head to the table and rested it there, her eyes closing, nearly nodding off until Sage’s smile popped into her brain.

“Ugh!” she groaned, sitting up and forcing herself to down the rest of the milk.

She got up and put the dirty cup into the sink, then left the kitchen and went to the living room. Maybe a little TV would do the trick. By the time she fell asleep, she wasn’t sure what time it was, but her last memory from the television was an infomercial for a vacuum cleaner. It did the trick.

The next time Stassi saw the time, it was just after ten o’clock. She yawned and stretched out, shifting on the couch to try to get comfortable. She sat up and tried to stretch again. Then Sage popped into her mind again.

“Dammit,” she grumbled. A few minutes without thinking about Sage would have been ideal. She was out picketing, most likely, as Stassi’s thoughts went to her. She hated that they felt the need to continue to fight for a cause that didn’t seem to be making any change—just hurting everyone involved. How much longer would they be able to make it?

The hospital had worked to fill most of the positions. All temporary help, of course, but if they could pay people to come in from other employers, then why worry about making right with the employees they already had? It was a vicious cycle, and Stassi despised seeing her co-workers running ragged to try to prove something that wasn’t even going to change.

Stassi had only one more hope that maybe her father could still make that difference. He had to eventually hear the voice of reason. Right? The phone rang, and he answered on the second ring.

“Martin Hewitt,” he began.

“Hey, Dad, it’s me.”

“Oh. Sorry for the formality. I didn’t notice the name. I’m really pretty busy, though. Will this take long?”

She touched her temple, wanting to ease the ache in her head. The harder she tried to convince him things were not on a good path, the further they seemed to be drifting apart.

“Did you see the media coverage of the strike?” she asked. “These people aren’t giving up. Isn’t it time that someone listens? I mean, I just don’t see how anyone could think this is good publicity.”

“You can’t fight politics,” he said. “People will do what they want to do. If the staff want to make fools of themselves by marching, hoping it will make a difference, then let them. Eventually, they’ll come crawling back because they’ll need to. The money will only last so long.” He chuckled, and she winced at how nonchalant he was.

“You don’t know how dedicated these employees are. They will fight for what they believe is right, and they won’t give up until some changes are made. But in the meantime, the hospital is going to crumble. I just can’t believe that’s what you would want.”

“You’re being dramatic.”

“I’m not being dramatic.” Her voice was raised a few notches. “I’m being realistic. These people deserve better than what they’re getting.”

“I just can’t believe how much you’ve changed.”

Stassi sighed and stood up from the couch. “You may not get this, but I’m glad I’ve changed. That means that I’m not this egotistical bitch that only cares about money. I care about people, too. And I’m telling you that watching them suffer has about killed me inside, and I don’t want to watch them in silence anymore.”

“What do you mean by that?” he asked.

“I know what I have to do. Goodbye, Dad.” She hung up the call and stood up. There wasn’t any doubt that she had to take the step. She wanted things to get back to normal and losing sleep was not going to be a part of her new routine. She dialed up Ariel, but it went straight to voicemail. “I need your help. I’m headed to the hospital, and I’m going to do what I should have done long ago. Join the fight. I know you don’t work there, but the more bodies the louder the voice. Will you join me in front of the hospital? I’ll bring the signs.”

Stassi hung up the line and hurried to get ready. She had a lot to do, but she had to take her stand. Once and for all.