C9 Friends Reunite. (3)

"The camera is still recording Da"

"I like this Tria darling. Let it be."

I smiled and rested my head in the car.

The car stopped and I knew we were at Ricky's already. Time for the big reveal about my employment status now I guess.

We walked into the bar and met the usual evening rush but as soon as I stepped in, eyes turned to me and I felt like I was being searched. Especially by the females here.

I ignored their scorching looks and headed towards Ricky's office but before I went in, I heard his voice.

"Yea that is right. You definitely fit the bill for our bartender. How about you begin tonight? I decided to lay off some of my staff for the time being so it is all good."

"Oh thank you so much sir!"

Well, well, well. That explained everything didn't it? Not only was I out of work but Lucy was too.

The door swung open and my eyes met that of Ricky's. Now my former boss and someone I somewhat harbored resentment for. He should have just fired me but he decided to include Lucy in all this.

"Oh it is you. Come on in Astria."

"Do not bother your Ricky. I heard it already. You should have left Lucy out of this, you know."

"We both know that is not possible and some customer came today to complain."

"Who was she?"

"You know I can't...."

I was so mad, I snapped.

"If you have any bone of decency left in you old man, you would tell me!"

"Sigh.... It was Jenny."

Pfft I knew it and surprise! Ricky was actually screwing Jenny but never succumbed to her one wish.

To fire me and Lucy.

Well looks like she's finally had it now.

"Well your whore tells you we mistreated her and you take away our jobs huh? I'm hurt Ricky. We knew you long before you knew her and what hurts the most is what the fuck I am going to tell Lucy. You're disgusting and don't you even dare think about apologizing. Scum!"

He had a hurt look in his eyes but I did not care. He hurt me but hurt Lucy more. How could I tell her this?

****

Meanwhile.....

"What do you think is taking her so long?"

"She must be in a meeting with Ricky. I'll go get her."

Lucy stood up from her chair and walked towards the office but then saw Astria standing by Ricky's office and the words she heard next, made her heart feel like they had been sliced in half at that very moment.

"Well your whore told you we mistreated her and you took away our jobs huh? I'm hurt Ricky. We knew you long before you knew her and what hurts the most is what the fuck I am going to tell Lucy. You're disgusting and don't you even dare think about apologizing. Scum! "

Wait what!

Her mind swung into action almost immediately.

Someone had told Ricky to get us fired and he did it? I felt the tears gather in my eyes. He was like a father to me! How could he do this?

But she had begun to cry too soon because Astria's next words chilled her to the bone.

"You and Jenny deserve each other and for her involving herself in Lucy's business, I can only say sorry about that cause that was a very big mistake!"

Jenny was the one that asked Ricky to fire us and he did?

She felt the tears burn. They felt really hot and brutal.

Familiar arms wrapped themselves around her and she cried into them.

*****

Damien knew something was off when both Lucy and Astria had gone in the direction of Ricky's office but still hadn't shown up.

He quickly grabbed my jacket and walked towards the office.

He ran into Astria yelling at Ricky and Lucy hunched in a corner. She seemed... So pitiful and her shoulders were shaking. And the first thing he had was that of shock and confusion as her mind could only process one thing.

Lucy was crying?! He could not just seem to fathom it. She never did that! Just who was this Ricky to her?.

He put his arms around her and she leaned in and cried the more.

Damien was really pissed and thought to himself.

It was all thanks to Angelo's stupid stunt! How were these two going to live now?

He knew quite well that he could take care of them their entire lives but they were too proud to accept such an offer.

Astria herself would rather die!

Then he had a brilliant idea!

Astria and Lucy could come work at the band's place as a cleaner or something.

She was really in a tight spot now and might just take it and that way, he could make sure she was OK and that Angelo kept his hands off her.

The thought of Angelo being the cause of all this made him want to hit something. He quickly controlled his anger and gritted his teeth as he thought to himself.

'Angelo would be really unfortunate if he tried shit with my friend now.'

******

Somewhere in City D....

"Achoo! Damn it! Is someone cursing me?"

******

**ASTRIA'S POV***

I was so mad at Ricky that I did not hear the silent sobbing in the background. I paused to catch my breath and then I heard it. That sounded like.....

That sounded like Lucy! I turned and I found Da hugging her and she was staring at me and Ricky but mostly Ricky. Her eyes said it all. She had heard us.

"Luc darling I never wanted to....."

Lucy interrupted Ricky mid-sentence.

"Let us go Tria. I do not want to eat here. It reeks."

She pulled herself together and Da helped her up. I did not spare Ricky a last glance despite his pleas and we walked out of the restaurant.

"Well, well. Who knew that associating with celebrities and bringing more customers to a place could get you fired?"

I wanted to correct Ricky about the "hanging out with celebrities" part but shut myself up because I knew she was just being sarcastic. It was her last resort whenever she felt really hurt.

"Hey b. Forget about it. Let's go home and eat. Besides, I did promise to get you guys new jobs, didn't I?"

I looked at Damien like he was joking.

"Damien are you being fuckin serious right now?"

There was a thick silence in the air instead of a quick and witty reply. As I expected from at least from Lucy or Damien.

Lucy made a fainting gesture and Da looked surprised.

"Did you just call me by my actual name? Like not Da but Damien?!"

I almost burst into laughter. Pfft! So that was why they were so quiet?

"It is the apocalypse! Astria knows that Damien is your actual name and not Da?"

I let it loose and began laughing.

"Hahaha you guys are so funny!"

"Hehe. Well I did promise you a gob Astria and I intend to keep it. It is not much but can you and Lucy work as.... I do not want to say maids because that would be extreme. Like house keepers?"

What in the? Housekeeping?! It was something I was good at and I loved doing!

"I really love that job but who wants a housekeeper these days?"

"Well me and my friends are in need of one. We are not really messy except for one of us. It is a lazy job, really good salary, plus we will get to hang out all the time!"

I thought about it. If I took this job, things would definitely improve for me and Lucy and what better way to be closer to both my friends?

But I had to speak to Lucy about it privately. It was not a choice I could make without her consent. We needed each other. Whether we liked it or not!

"We will take it."

Huh? Hold up Lucy had just agreed?! The galls of this girl and here I was, thinking about being a considerate person and talking to her first. Still it amused me a lot.

"Well, it looks like Lucy has made her choice. What do you think Tria?"

Well if Lucy was fine with it, then so was I!

"If Lucy is good, then I am too."

Unknown to us, we had already started walking and we were right at my doorstep.

"Oh we are home already?"

"Well that was quick!"

"Tria I do not want to go..."

"Come one silly, you will make your friends worry about you and besides, we will need to come for an interview tomorrow right? We will talk then but for now, go home ok?"

"OK Tria. I love you."

"Hmph! Look at them acting all lovey dovey! So you both don't love me huh?"

I smiled at Lucy's antics. Me and Angelo replied almost at once and told her.

"We love you too Lucy."

"Damn right you both do now give momma a hug!"

We pulled in and stayed for a while.

This felt so comfortable.

It felt like..... Family.

Lucy pulled away and asked.

"Oh I just remembered and thank goodness I did! What time are we coming over and your address?"

"Naa, don't worry your cute little head with all that. I'll send someone to pick you girls up."

"Hehe thanks though."

Sigh.....Damien was a life saver. Back in the days and till now!

"Thanks so much Da. We love you."

"I love you guys too and good night princess. Sweet dreams."

A car came for him and he got in. Looks like he had called on Uber.

"Come on, let's go inside Lucy."

She leaned her head against my shoulder and we walked up to my porch.

Tomorrow was a new day and we were going to brave it out.

******

***NARRATOR'S POV***

"Yooo Damien! You came back early, how was your hot date? You get to smash or what?"Angelo hollered as soon as he saw Damien.

"Shut up Angelo and don't you dare talk to Troy!"

He was so exhausted but happy that he got to hang out with his girls and now he was going to be seeing them every day!

Helia then spoke up.

"Who were you with? You never leave base for so long and you've been gone a whole day. Plus you're late. Come one Damien! We're dying to know who could keep you out this late."

Damien chuckled to himself and pulled out his phone. He opened it and showed them the video of himself, Lucy and Astria.

They looked at the video confusedly at first but as soon as names were mentioned, especially Astria's they all paid rapt attention. Especially Angelo and the expression coming over his face made me glad that I took the video.

Do not get him wrong, he wanted this as a little memento but using it as a warning sign for Angelo would not hurt.

Angelo knew how he cared when it came to people he loved to bits. They were no go areas for heart breakers.

He watched Angelo with a satisfied expression as the other seemed conflicted on what he was seeing.