Sighing In Exasperation
Peggy Carter loved putting on her bright red lipstick. She thought that it brought a nice intimidating look. As soon as she clicked the cap onto the lipstick container she heard a sharp knock at the door. The sudden noise tore her away from her thoughts and caused her to drop the lipstick onto the floor. She watched as it rolled onto the floor towards the door. She quickly picked it back up and unlocked her 3 locks from the door. As she swung the door open she was shocked to see Angie her next door neighbor who had persuaded her to get this apartment.
“Oh good you're up” Angie said as she barreled into the apartment without even asking for an invitation
“Don’t look so shocked English, what were you expecting someone else?” she smirked
“Uh- sorry, It’s just I was expecting Mrs. Fry”
“Why’s that?”
Last night Jarvis had gotten an emergency call from Stark he had asked her to do some late night work, and by late night work he meant dinner and a movie. Long story short she had to sneak back into her own apartment due to the strict curfew set by none other than Mrs Fry, The proprietor of the Griffith.
“Peggy?”
She didn’t realize it had probably been at least a minute since her last question.
“Erm well last night I left my laundry basket in the washroom, You know how she can be.”
“Don’t I know it. I mean just last wee-”
“Angie, was there a reason you came here this morning?”
“Oh right, can I borrow that red lipstick you always use?”
She handed her the lipstick that was in her hand.
“Thanks!” Angie exclaimed as she took the lipstick and quickly flounced out of the room
As Angie was hurrying through the doorway she called out “May I ask why you need it?”
“I’ll tell you all about it later!” Angie said back with a smile as she went out and closed the door behind her.
She looked at the door and smiled. Angie was the only reason she had an apartment at the Griffith. She had persuaded her --against her better judgment-- to move in next door. Peggy couldn’t afford to be close to anyone again, but Angie hadn’t given her a choice in the matter. No matter how hard Peggy tried to push her away she always got reeled back in with her large puppy dog eyes. Angie may not have an acting job yet but she sure was on her way to becoming a great actress. Peggy looked at her watch and realized if she didn’t leave soon she’d be late for work. She didn’t want to give any of the oafs at work another reason to take a cheap shot at her. She loved her work but hated her job.
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The walk to work always boosted her self esteem. She knew with her bright red lipstick and hat that she attracted the male gaze, and she reveled in the way they looked like a dog with his tail between his legs when she made eye contact and stared them down.
While entering the building she was also aware that she caught the eyes of the women as well, although they were subtle. Walking into the office she ignored the short quips from her coworkers if you could call them that. All the men in the office saw her as a glorified secretary. Peggy was more skilled at this job than most of them combined, but all of the men would give their right arm before they let her know that. If only.
She set her coat on her chair and got to work filing the large stack of papers. Chief Dooley had been giving her more paperwork to do lately. With the Stark case picking up speed he wanted her to be so busy she didn’t have enough time to get involved. He was still as clueless as ever.
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“Hey Carter, it’s your turn to pick up lunch” A smug faced Thompson strolled her way
“I have gotten lunch for you all for that past two weeks”
“Well, then I guess you’ve gotten good at it. No point in putting in someone inexperienced now.”
One day Peggy Carter will have the pleasure of wiping the smug smile off of his face, but for now she had to lay low. She headed out towards the door. Before she left she called out with a forced smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“Well boys what’ll it be?”
There were various replies throughout the office.
“Burgers it is.” she said and walked out the door without letting anyone say anything different.
One the upside to this humiliating errand she got to go to the diner. Coincidentally the one where Angie worked.
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“Hey, English! Grabbing lunch for the pig heads at work again?”
“Unfortunately. It seems as if I have ‘experience’ and there’d be ‘no point in putting in someone inexperienced’” Peggy said using exaggerated air quotes.
Angie giggled before walking away to put in her order.
Peggy smiled to herself, making Angie laugh always made her day brighter. She sat down on one of the stools at the counter to wait for her order to be finished.
Angie came back after waiting on a few other customers she sat down next her. “Well?” she asked expectantly.
“Well...what?” Peggy replied thoroughly confused
“Well aren’t you gonna ask me why I asked for your lipstick earlier?” she asked with a large smile on her face
“Yes, that’s right.” Peggy sat up a little bit more before asking “Angie, why did you ask for my lipstick this morning?”
“Well,” Angie leaned in “I got an audition for-”
Peggy glanced down for a moment at Angie’s lips and noticed that she was wearing her lipstick.
“Peggy? Did you hear I got the part!”
Maybe it was more than a moment.
“Oh, uh yes of course. That’s amazing news to hear!” she offered large smile.
“Orders ready Angie!” a low voice called from the kitchen
“I’ll go grab that and, I’m glad you were able to stop by and hear me ramble on about a boring commercial.”
“Oh please, I’m very excited for your new role.”
“Really? because you kind of seemed to space off when I started talking.”
“No, I was just erm- focusing on your word.”
(Yes that’s what she was focusing on)
Angie jumped up barely able to contain the excitement in her small body. She pulled Peggy into a quick hug before going behind the counter to grab the food.
When she came back Angie offered up a smile before saying “Good luck with your coworkers.”
“Shouldn’t I be the one offering you good luck.” Peggy smiled back
Angie gave Peggy a shy smile before saying “Shut up English, you talk too much.”
With a smile Peggy left the diner. She loved her new nickname ‘English’. Especially coming from Angie. She tried not to think anything of it, Angie gave everyone nicknames. But there was something there that still made her smile to herself as she walked back into work.
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