Murphy`S law
“And who are you?” the older woman exclaimed, her eyes still locked on the computer in front of her, going through what seemed to be her mail.
Stepping into the studio, making her way towards where Agatha was sitting.
“Hey i`m Rio, sorry i'm late i had a crazy morning, you see-” but she was instantly cut off mid sentence by the older woman.
“You’re late” the older woman addressed with a firm voice, who looked like she could be in her late 40s. Her thick slightly wavy brown hair falling down her shoulders, all the way down her back, her eyes glancing over at the perfectly positioned jacket that flown down to her waist, a singular button holding it together to show the define of the top of hips. Glancing over her chest, seeing how two buttons of the shirt beneath the blazer are undone. Because of course they were, might not be professional but very Agatha, with a useless loose tie around her neck. Taking a glimpse of her trousers and how they flare out perfectly at the end. Studying her from head to toe as the older woman suddenly clears her throat, clearly noticing.
“I'm sorry Mrs Harkness”
“It's Ms Harkness, and don't bother telling me what got you so late” the older woman pauses, shifting her eyes from the screen, glancing over at the now drenched younger woman. Raising an eyebrow as she removed her glasses
“That's not the most presentable look for a first impression” she shrugged
Rio felt her cheeks running red, trying their best not to lock eyes with the woman in front of her.
Rio remains quiet for a few seconds, caught up in not knowing rather to keep their mouth shut or awkwardly start rambling about what she ate yesterday, either way she was pretty sure she was dying inside, as they suddenly notices a mug next to her desk, a minecraft mug. Feeling the awkwardness spread through the room not hesitating once what came out from her mouth next
“Do you also like minecraft?” Fuck. Why did I say that? Who asks a middle aged woman if they like minecraft.
The silence filling the air of the room. I should've kept my mouth shut. Her eyes twitching at the sudden question from the younger woman as she let out an almost imperceptible deep breath, noticing her chest rising. As the older woman gets up from the chair, her gaze never leaving Rio`s standing in front of her, she scoots the chair to the side adjusting her well fitted blazer, raising an eyebrow as she locks eyes with Rio.
“Finish these last emails for me” The woman shrugged
“If you are capable of that without making a mess” she added looking up and down at the younger woman in front of her as she turned to walk towards the door, turning around one last time to add
“Be here by 8 Am tomorrow. Don't be late” closing the door behind her, leaving Rio in her studio all alone.
“ Oh my god. How did I manage to completely screw it up” she mumbled to themselves walking up to the desk as she sat down into the chair with a drastic sigh, brushing their fingers through their hair. Well let's see what we have got here.
As she finishes scrolling through the emails she lays back down on the chair again, looking around almost observing the place as they notice the drawer under the desk, slightly open almost as an invitation. Taking a peek through the drawer she notices a framed photo of what seems to be Agatha, curiosity taking over as she pulls up the photo. Its a photo of Agatha. Her smile is widen and eyes closed as her head leans against a little boy wearing a minecraft t-shirt, resting on her lap as their hands intertwined with one another, the photo in black and white yet it looks so heartwarming. The little boy looking as if he would be around 6 years old, his smile looking oddly familiar to the woman in the photo.
Pulled out of the moment as they heard noises coming from afar they put the photo back, closes the drawer but leaves it slightly open, just like before. Closing the computer as she reaches out for her phone. Shit, it's already lunch time. Instantly unlocking the phone texting her friend Alice, after all she had promised a catch up over lunch one day. Since going to different classes, both being caught up in their own work as well as studies they hadn't found much time for each other, except sharing a few calls then and then.
dude i messed up, she hates me
Her phone buzzed almost immediately
Alice: What did you do now?
what did i NOT do
Alice: let's go grab that lunch, i'll see you in 10
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As she was stepping outside the university the sudden warmth of the sun hit them as she put their hand up to cover her face, avoiding the light of the sun as much as possible.
“Are you kidding me” they let out, frustrated because of course the rain had stopped now and not this morning when it would have been more convenient. Putting her headphones on as she pulls up the album Rumours by Fleetwood Mac that she's been obsessively listening to on repeat the latest weeks, making her way to the coffee shop down the street where they usually meet up for lunch and catch up. As she enters the coffee stop she is instantly greeted by her friend Alice.
As they order their food Alice says
“Now tell me everything”
“It can't be that bad” she implies seeing the look on Rios face
Rio sighs intensely as she finally speaks
“Okay so i'll take it from the beginning”
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As Alice takes a sip of her black coffee feeling the heat of the mug around her hands, giving Rio a look of disbelief because how did the girl manage to fuck up completely.
“See i had imagine you`d fuck up something but this-” trying to hold it together, biting her lip doing her best not to burst out laughing, but gets cut off by Rio quickly
“Don`t” She shoves a finger up her lips with a stern look on her face, clearly wanting to keep a serious conversation, which only made it worse making it impossible for Alice to keep it together, a giggle breaks free and that does it, as she's now fully laughing. Rio pressing her tongue to the side of her mouth as she does her best not to break character and completely lose it but the contagious laugh of her friend does it. As they are both laughing in the middle of the coffee shop clearly drawing attention to themselves they try to get it together as Rio says
“But seriously, how do i fix this, she clearly hates me”
“Please she's known you for two minutes and after all its Mrs Agatha Harkness, you told me yourself how demanding she can be”
“Its Ms Harkness, she made that clear” Rio murmurs
“But anyways first impression matters especially when it comes to Agatha”
"She's single?” And of course that's Alice's first question.
“Well at least not married, but why does that matter, who cares”
“Aren't you a bit curious at least, she is really hot after all”
Rio glances out of the window running their finger along the edge of the cup tracing slow circles, watching every person that goes by but everything seems like a blur as she's stuck in her own thoughts.
“Earth to Rio” Alice called but it was almost as if the words didn't quite reach her ears, still glancing out of the window thoughts wandering in her head but as Alice snaps her fingers she instantly shifts their eyes back to Alice, eyes widening as she finally speaks
“Sorry, what did you say again?” Trying to shake off whatever just happened.
“So what are you gonna do about it?” Alice speaks, unsure and slightly confused by Rio`s sudden shift.
“Do about what..?” they say unsure of what she might be implying to
“About making it up to her… What did you think i meant, you perv”
“Hey i`m not the perv here, you are the one who mentioned it”
“I`d say bring her coffee”
“Okay that's not a bad idea, I mean who doesn't like a cup of coffee in the morning” Rio exclaims as she takes yet another sip of her now medium warmth coffee.
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Making their way back to the university trying to get to her class in time, she enters through the door as she hears the sound of heels clicking, drawn by the sound of it they turn around to see Agatha walking passed them.
“Good afterno-” Rio greets but cuts themselves off realizing Agatha was by now walking down the hallway, already far gone from where Rio was standing. Great, now it looks like I'm talking to myself.
Walking to her lecture already embarrassed enough, determining if she should just end it there and then their phone starts buzzing, it's a phone call. A phone call from the one person she tries to avoid the most.
“Hey honey, how are you?” the woman instantly asks with a light tone as she answers the call. Its their mother.
"It's all good, but why are you calling, it's in the middle of the day” Rio implies already feeling uncomfortable by the situation
“I wanted to know how my beautiful daughter was doing, how is everything with Wanda?”
“I'm not working with her anymore there's been a change”
“Well what do I know? I don’t like that my only daughter never talk to me”
“You know i'm not comfortable with you calling me that”
“Still? When are you gonna outgrow this and become a real woman?”
Rio lets out a deep sigh, frustrated as they close their eyes and as the silence remains filling the line through the phone call, they hang up.
Stepping into the auditorium, already exhausted by the earlier situation wishing for the day to end as soon as possible, hoping the lecture goes by fast as she takes a seat in the middle. As the professor enters the auditorium she hear a buzzing sound coming from her phone, slightly checking the notification to see it's their mom calling them. Trying to focus on the lecture but the buzzing sound from her phone keeps distracting her, hesitating for a second if they should check but decides to leave it be.
“So last time we talked about” The professor starts as his voice fades into the background noises of the auditorium, her phone buzzing again and the tense feeling inside causing her to check
Mom: Answer me.
Another message comes through almost instantly
Mom: This is the last time I say it. Pick up the phone or I will take the next flight.
But Rio ignores it. Not knowing what to do, they decide to text Alice.
Hey, wanna crash at my place tonight?
Alice: Sure, everything alright?
Just my mom again, you know how she can be
Alice: When do you finish class?
Like an hour
Alice: Great, i`ll see you at the parking lot
You`re the best.
Rio shifts their focus back to class, trying to ease off their mind and pay attention to what her professor is saying.
As class ends she begins packing her things up, putting down their notes with blank pages realizing she had been distracted this whole time, she sighs frustrated by herself for letting her mom consume her thoughts once again, and she knew it wouldn't be the last.
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“And she still says daughter?”
“Well it's not that i hate it, i'm just trying to figure myself out you know and i wish she respected that” Rio sighs as she made her way to the kitchen, alice still sitting on the couch just out of sight but her voice still hearable
“She really dont get it” Alice mutters in frustration but loud enough for Rio to hear. As Rio makes their way back to the living room, two beers in each hand as they sits down besides her handing Alice the beer
“She really dont, and you know what's worse? She still haven't understood my sexuality, she still refer my exes as my close friends” She takes a sip of the beer, glancing at the still turned off tv
“Well that's her problem then, you have tried for god knows how long now, trying to get her to understand you but at some point you need to make a decision” Alice says, taking yet another sip of the cold beer in her hand
“I know but it's just hard, she is till my mom”
“I know but going on like this might only make it worse, you already have too much going on for her to be another one of your big problems”
A silence was filling the room, it was the kind of quiet that felt heavy yet so easing, an unspoken silence that still had all the answers. Rio was still glancing over the tv, her thoughts wandering in their head because deep down she knew she was right.
“I know you have already distanced yourself but maybe that's not enough anymore, i need you to do what's best for you and i'm willing to help you Rio”
The silence remaining once again, holding for a few seconds.
“Well look at that it's already 1 am, let's head to sleep” Rio shrugs, trying to ease the tense feeling building inside of her, as she makes her way to the bathroom
“Fine, but you can't escape this” She hears Alice's voice from the living room, looking at the reflection of herself in the mirror, wondering what the hell comes next. Her thoughts going back and forth managing somehow to drift to Agatha, because whatever had happened today they were sure of one thing, they needed to make a good impression otherwise it would remain this way, Agatha thinking she was just some dumb, clumsy girl.
Finishing brushing their teeth, she makes her way to the living room with a pair of pyjamas
“Here you go, make yourself comfortable” Rio said handing Alice one of her pyjamas
“Seriously, do you own anything else that's not snoopy?”
"Absolutely not, be grateful or i'll let you sleep on the floor”
“Fine, whatever” Alice almost shouted as if Rio didn't stand right next to her, following Rio as she walks her way to the bedroom
“This conversation about your mom is not over” Alice adds stepping on the bed
“I know i know” Rio claimed, trying to push the conversation forward as she laid down
“I'll wake you up in the morning, sleep well dyke” Alice added instantly, given the middle finger by Rio as they turned off the lights, finally heading to sleep.
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As Alice was focused on the road all Rio could think about were all the things that could go wrong
“What if i fuck this up again”
“ Maybe you`ll just fuck Agatha ” Alice says, still eyes focused on the road as they head to their way to university
“WHAT” Rio almost choked on her own words. Their brows furrowed as they were trying to progress what she had just heard. Sure Agatha was a good looking woman but would she fuck her? Clearing her throat she says
“What did you say?”
“Are you good? I said maybe you`ll make a good impression this time”
Rios heart skipped a beat, how the fuck did she hear so utterly wrong
As the two of them were finally arriving at uni, the sound of students filling the university Rio clears her throat
“So wish me luck i guess”
“Good luck, don't forget the coffee” Alice added before making her way through the hallway.
“Right. The coffee” Rio murmured to themself heading their way to the coffee machine.