The Awakening

he windows and glares into Sera's eyes while she continues her journey up from the employee parking lot. Sometimes, she hates going to work. It seems like she can hardly get herself out of bed any

y she can deal with a small space, but elevators are the one thing that makes her heart race. Just something about a rickety tin can held up by a pulley sys

prove her wrong. Amanda has always known what she wants and stops at nothing to obtain it. Sera finds herself a little jealous of her friend art times. Even though Amanda's younger than her by a year, (okay, two) she appears to have the world all figured out. Meanwhile, Sera has always felt life was like getting off a ride at an amusement park-fumble around until you catch your balance. Amanda's main concern now, besides boys, is nursing school. In an effort to

. Winter break always brings fresh meat, as Amanda like to call them. Bursting at the seams, Sera slips into the cubicle anyway. Plucking a hot pink Post-It note out from t

nd get lost in the mess of codes and charges. Amanda sneaks in like nothing had happened and props herself on the edge of Sera's desk, cross

k doe-like eyes drift off into the distance, reminisc

nds Amanda's antics

e's sending out a silent prayer to the universe. Amanda leans her long slender frame against the wall of Sera'

b's Bang'n Burgers just last week," Sera begins

r eyes because she squints her own in response. "He gets me." T

lright," Sera mumble

doctor, I mean it's li

g with this picture?" Sera reasons, "I

every guy's fantasy." She's biting the edges of her perfectly manicured nails now. In typical

all

t do you want to say?" Their eyes fina

hen he breaks up with you for no rhyme or reason. You come into work the next day and have to stand side-by-side in the elevato

sual." Her shoulders sag in defeat. "Can't a girl dream?" Slipping off the desk, Amanda turns to l

but Amanda stops in her tracks all the same. Her head

sk. "You? The I-Will-Never-Date-Again-Sera?" Once she's situated

ind of told me to stop by afte

ther several times. A few of the older women toward the bac

t care about the tedious lectures from the boss. She just does

r this moment for absolutely noth

alizes maybe this isn't a date. "He just asked me to stop by after work. He di

" Sera doesn't even bother to hide the rolling of her eyes as Amanda

erious? Maybe you should try b

t you're trying to do—stop changing th

an? What's wrong

mething that says, 'Hey, Jack, I'm a mysteriou

an-d

o help you out. We both

like a book. A look that screams I-know-damn

ly, she is singing a different tune. If it is just casual, why is her heart beating expectantly? She knows she should listen to Amanda; she's definitely mor

better. She's waiting for the right moment to say what she's been meaning to say from the start. "Sera,

he's been wanting

like my coffee cold, not hot. There's something up with that guy. Plus, I was turning up the charm last Thu

exagge

drifts off and her face grows serious, those manicured nails are now twirling around the tips of her hair. Sera knows that face means s

her. "I don't even k

of her hand, she indicates she has everything under control. Amanda once again scoots off the desk and tu

n Sera's hand goesflying past Amanda's head, and she ducks just in time. Her laughter echoes behind her all the way back to her desk, leaving Sera to stare blankly at her computer screen for a few seconds before scooting