Carmen downed her drink and smiled noting that City wasn’t the type to finish her drink in one shot. The brunette scanned the bar at the blonde’s question. “There’s some decent ones, I’m sure the more we socialize, the more you’ll find,” she pointed out. Carmen listened to her story and scoffed. “Ugh, we should’ve keyed his car or something. How rude.” She ordered another round of drinks. “I’m sorry he left though, I can relate to the vanishing act and just feeling a bit lost with it,” she sympathized.
City nodded with Carmen’s words. “It’s so messed up, but I’m used to it by now.” City’s father had left her early on in life and since then most men had only been interested in having sex with her. She didn’t expect anything different. “I guess I just thought that Jace was different.” She shrugged. “I really need to not get my hopes up about these kind of things because it never goes well.” City finished her drink. “Men are scum.” Then, she smiled at Carmen, “At least I have my girls.”
“lucky for us, then, i don’t mind being in charge.” venice said with a confident nod, putting a little added pressure around city’s arm assuringly as she linked them together. even despite the blonde wanting to pass on the decision making, venice understood where she was leading her and she followed along the familiar path to the girl’s suite. “city! sweetie! don’t tell me we’re going to be walking into a fire - cause i’m much better with firefighters than trying to be one,” the girl said with a smirk, looking over at the other before she started giggling into her shoulder. “though you me, and a firefighter would be a lot of fun. so maybe you’re onto something.” they continued until they reached the door to the blonde’s, where venice sort of waited expectedly to be let inside.
City raised a brow at the fire fighter comment. “That does sound fun,” she admitted, “but I don’t really like to share.” She would let Venice figure out if City was talking about the firefighter or her on her own. City opened the door to her suite and gestured for Venice to come in. “See, no fire,” she smiled, “Maybe just the smell of burnt pizza we have Miguel to thank for.” City plopped down on the couch. “What should we get up to?” she asked Venice, “A movie and room service?” City was down for anything, really. She was just happy to see her friend.
Taking notice to the way that the girl seemed embarrassed to some degree, Nico made a mental note to not make anymore out of place jokes or implications should he ever find herself in her company again. It was one thing he liked to think he was good at; reading people, responding to them as needed. He waved a hand dismissively, the smile on his face more genuine, reassuring, than simply the amused it had been before. “Don’t worry about it, people aren’t for everyone. Totally get it, they suck sometimes.” He shrugged as he adjusted his grip on the pillow he still carried for her. “But hey, don’t let me assume shit, y'know? If you’re down, I’m down.” He gave City a nod, hoping the sentiment was as settling as it was intended to be. Letting out a breath of a chuckle, Nico rolled in his shoulders back. His face scrunched up in momentary thought, head tilting. “By memory, probably about thirty, give or take.” He shrugged, as if that wasn’t something to be proud of - the king of a downplay. “I can pretty much read music better than I read English half the time at this point, though,” It was at least half a joke at his own expense. “So even if it’s not memorized, I can figure it out most of the time.”
City let out a laugh at Nico’s “people aren’t for everyone”. She hadn’t expected him to say that. City wanted to be closer to people, but often found it hard to make that first connection. She liked Nico, even though she was anxious talking to him. He seemed nice and fun. “I’m down,” she told him. City always welcomed new friends, even if she wasn’t the best at relationships in general. City nodded as he explained how many songs he knew and the process. “Oh, wow, OK. That’s a lot.” She didn’t think it was even possible to know that many songs by heart. “I don’t think I know 30 of anything,” she admitted, with a laugh. City slowed her step as they came to her room. “Well, here it is,” she announced, “Thanks for helping me out.”
Carmen jokingly pouted. “I may be small, but I am feisty.” The brunette waited for the bartender to return with their drinks. She let out a light laugh at City’s comment. “Of course I do, I must always dress up to match the beauty of those around me,” she explained. “But also, appreciated. With these latino genes, my ass better always be looking good.” Carmen nodded at the bartender. She took her shot and raised her glass. “Cheers to getting fucked up.”
City laughed at Carmen’s comment. Carmen always looked put together and good to City. City loved complimenting her friends, too. “Cheers!” She raised her glass and clinked it against Carmen’s before taking a big gulp. She couldn’t quite finish a whole glass in one go. After City put her drink down on the bar, she looked around the club. “Well,” she said, “Any cute guys out there?” she asked. It didn’t truly matter to her, because she was fine with just hanging out with Carmen, but it would be nice to talk to a cute guy too. “Jace just up and vanished,” she told Carmen after a pause, “Did you know that?” City had liked him.
Carmen waited for the reveal before smiling. “Oh, you really did listen. I could cry but a bitch like me can’t be crying in the club,” she said playfully. Carmen admired the look before nodding at their surroundings. “Understood, let us grab drinks my little ball of nervous energy.” She walked over with City to the bar. “I’ll have a tequila shot please, and my sexy friend over here will have a -” Carmen paused, looking at City. She didn’t order drinks for others, she didn’t want to be the one responsible for the bill at the end of it all. She wasn’t made of money and she also didn’t want to deal with the side effects each person had after different types of alcohol.
City was happy that Carmen approved of the outfit she had on. She had listened to Carmen’s advice after the last time they had gone out together. “I am a nervous ball of energy,” City laughed, “but I’m not little. That’s you, babe.” She wrapped an arm around Carmen’s shoulders as they headed towards the bar. Carmen ordered and then looked to City. “A Jack and Coke,” she told the man, “Tall.” After the order was placed, City turned back to Carmen. “Look at you,” she said, giving Carmen a once over, “Never mind me, you look good. You didn’t have to dress up for me,” she teased.
Carmen had agreed to yet another girl’s night out. She was doing a lot of this lately and wasn’t sure why. She could be at home, curled up in a blanket, watching The Blacklist but instead, she was meeting City at the club. Not that she minded, somehow, she never regretted going out. She did however, agree to meeting City as the club. She eyed the tall blonde the moment she walked in and questioned her outfit. Mumbling under her breath. “Estas chicas blancas no entienden lo que es mostrar la pierna,” she took a deep breath and smiled. “City, mami, you always look phenomenal and I tell you that all the time but - this is a club, not a rich people banquet.”
City approached Carmen with a large, toothy grin on her lips. Then, she heard Carmen’s comment and she took a step back. “No, Carmen, I listened you to this time,” she insisted, “It’s just that coat that looks banquet - like.” City shrugged off her coat to reveal a crop top and a high waisted skirt. She was attractive either way, but the outfit really caused her to be the center of attention as others turned to look. Tall and naked, ah yes, the typical blonde at a club. “I gotta get a drink or two in quick before the anxiety makes me barf,” she told Carmen, before she turned towards the bar. “Do you want to order something too?”
“Darling, a girl that looks like you doesn’t need a dating app,” - that is what City’s mother had told her once. While City believed that to be true, to some extent - because she thought she was an average sort of pretty, she also didn’t always listen to what her mother told her. It was easier to meet men in college, where they were sort of everywhere she looked - class, dorm, the fuckin’ library. Now that City spent most of her time at the hotel, she didn’t meet men she wanted to hook up with unless she went out to the clubs in town. She didn’t feel like going out that night, however. The girls were busy with other things, too. So - City made herself a Tinder account and started swiping. Whatever, right? She could passively swipe left or right. It didn’t have to mean anything. Until, she matched with Everett. Now, the two of them were sat on City’s couch together and she didn’t have a clue that he also worked at the hotel. “So, um, thanks for swiping right.”
“Nah, it’s not, it’s just Nico.” He shrugged his shoulders, small grin still curled at his mouth. Nodding his head, Nico repeated the name ‘City’ out loud once before his smile inched wider while he looked sideways at the girl. “So that means we’re friends now? By that association?” He lifted his brows at her in playful challenge. Letting out a laugh turned into grimacing jokingly at the prospect of ever finding himself doing yoga. “More power to ya, man, I can’t get my body to move like that. I run fast, that’s about all I got going for me when it comes to physical activity.” He chuckled with a small shake of his head. “Since I was eight, yeah.” Breathing out another small laugh, he lifted one shoulder in a loose half shrug. “I’m alright at it.”
“Oh, um -” City felt her face grow warm. She hadn’t meant to imply anything that was maybe too soon or that he didn’t want. “We can be friends if you want to be,” she told him, avoiding eye contact and hugging her pillow tight to her chest. She scolded herself for speaking without thinking first. “I’m sorry - I’m not great around people I don’t know that well. It’s such a mess.” But, City pushed forward and she brushed some hair out of her face. She could do this. “That’s a long time!” She wanted to talk about piano to talk about something else. “How many songs do you know?”
a warm grin stretched across her lips at city’s words, finding it quite sweet that she’d be willing to do whatever venice wanted. the little tidbit of knowledge mostly changed her mind about what she thought would be fun on a friday. “as much as i want to convince you to come get dressed up with me and go out tonight,” venice tried, her pitch an octave higher than usual as she shrugged a shoulder close to her cheek before straightening out with a grin, “staying actually doesn’t sound half bad - but only because it’s you - can’t let my reputation start to wither away to nothing.” she said with a chuckle, hooking her arm through the blonde’s now. “so tell me - what do you have in mind? you’re in charge here.”
City listened to Venice and she couldn’t help the grin that spread over her lips. At Venice’s only because it’s you, she felt special. Venice could make her feel like that. City never had any friends that made her feel that way. Before coming to work at the hotel, she had friends because she was of some use to them - she would do anything for people (part of the problem) and her mother was very wealthy so City could drive them around in a nice car or buy them a nice meal. City smiled and her hand went to Venice’s arm linked with hers. “I don’t want to be in charge,” she admitted, “That’s too much pressure. I like it when you take charge.” It was easier to go with someone else’s plan. But, City already knew what she wanted. She laughed and playfully turned the two of them so that they could walk towards her room. She hoped Venice would catch on. “I think I left the stove on, actually...”
Marshall chuckled at the finger guns, shooting a fresh round back at her. He wasn’t sure why that was his chosen greeting for her, but it happened and apparently it was sticking. Could have been worse at least. “I promise I’m a cheap date, not gonna ruin you,” he said jokingly as he followed her to the booths. It struck him how unusual it was to be walking next to a girl and not having to bend his neck to look at her. Kinda wild. “I forget how fucking tall you are sometimes,” he said as he dropped down in his seat, “We need to form a club or something.”
City glanced over her shoulder as she led them to the table. “You can ruin me later,” she teased, with a playful wink. City laughed at the mention of creating a club. “I’m fuckin’ tall,” she agreed, “Sometimes I wish I wasn’t so tall because guys get butthurt over me being taller than them.” She shrugged. “We could form a club, though. Who else we getting to join this club?”
“so! guess who just got the whole weekend off,” venice practically squealed, not even giving the person she walked up to enough time to possibly respond, “you’re right - it’s me!” the brunette clapped her hands together as a wide smile settled against her lips. “and since there is no way i’m spending another friday night scrubbing someone else’s … something … out of the carpets -we have to do something to celebrate, anything fun! so c’mon, i’m open for ideas, what are we thinking?” she asked, wiggling her brows with a hint of mischief in her eyes as she did so. a chance to unwind sounded like just the right thing after a long week.
City was surprised to see Venice. It seemed like she has appeared out of no where and City had a do a double take on where Venice actually came from. Although it could have been thin air, Venice had a way about her. She listened to her friend and nodded quickly. City had to laugh at Venice’s eyebrow display. She would do anything Venice wanted to do. But, City was a bit more interested in staying in that night. “Well, I want to do whatever you want to do,” she told Venice, honestly, “But maybe we could stay in tonight?” she asked her. “But, I could also probably be convinced to go out,” she added, not wanting to upset Venice with the wrong answer.
“Yo, ya know what could be cool? If we had like a hotel staff Thanksgiving dinner for those of us that are like, staying here for the holidays and can’t make it to their families in time. Could be like a potluck or somethin’… wouldn’t that be dope?”
City shrugged. A potluck didn’t sound like a bad idea to her. “I’ll probably be home for Thanksgiving, but I’d definitely make something ahead of time for everyone.” She smiled. “Although, the last time I made something for a potluck, everyone complained about it being vegan...”
He could have done a whole speech about how she didn’t actually need to repay him in any way for his good deed, but… well, maybe Marshall wasn’t one to turn down a free drink. Instead, he shot finger guns at her, “It’s a date.”
Leaving her to it, he made his way downstairs to the lounge. City didn’t seem like the most high-maintenance person ever, but it was never easy to guess how long it took a girl to get ready. It could be a few minutes, could be 45 awkward minutes standing around by the lift waiting for her. Wasn’t going to happen like that.
City got ready pretty quickly. She changed into a yoga outfit and threw a sweatshirt on on top. She wasn’t a high maintenance girl, although she did love makeup and a cute outfit on a night out. Somehow, she still managed to look gorgeous, wet hair and all. City took the elevator downstairs and she saw Marshall waiting for her. “Hey, date,” she teased, mimicking the finger guns he had used earlier. “Come on.” City lead the way to the hotel restaurant. The window booths were her favorite and they had a pretty good drinks.
Gage welcomed the hug without hesitation, her arms giving the other blonde a squeeze for comfort reasons. If it was obvious, the woman was used to putting others’ emotions first. “No need to thank me. I’m always here.” Her voice was serene, her genuine nature oozing out with every word. When City thanked her once more, she gave her another squeeze, this time letting her head rest on City’s shoulder to provide even more of a cushion for her emotions. The shy laugh bubbled in her throat, her hand reaching to the back of her neck to scratch at it gently out of habit in her nervousness. “Yes, everywhere. I mostly want to celebrate the cultural holidays; Such as Dia De Los Muertos in Mexico, or Holi in India. Just, something to open my eyes more to the beauty of the diversity on this planet.” Feeling as though she was ranting, Gage flashed the other an apologetic look. “I think the top of my list, right now, is Machu Picchu in Peru. Talk about culture, it’s one of the seven wonders of the world.”
City listened and her eyes grew wide. She didn’t know that Gage was so into traveling. City had literally been no where and didn’t even think of going anywhere. “I want to go with you on at least one of those trips,” she insisted to Gage, her hands on the other girls shoulders excitedly, “because those trips sound incredible and also because what the heck would I do without you for so long?” City questioned. Gage was one of her besties at the hotel. “On the trips I don’t go on, I expect you to bring me back a keychain at least,” she teased.
ONE — FIRST OFF, WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? TELL US ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD.
”Well, I grew up here - in Chicago. I was born here, too. I guess I’m a city girl at heart. As for my childhood - it was um, lonely, I guess? I’m an only child and it’s always been me and my Mom. I don’t have any sort of relationship with my Dad. It was never easy making friends in school either.”
TWO — WHY DID YOU WANT TO COME LIVE AND WORK AT THE MALNATI? WHAT DREW YOU IN?
“I’ve always lived with my Mom and then I went off to college. I didn’t want to move back in her with after college. I wanted to do something fun and when I heard about the position I thought it would be perfect. I love yoga, so to be an instructor and also live in this beautiful hotel? That’s a dream come true. I also feel like I needed to get out of my comfort zone. College was definitely out of my comfort zone but this is even further out there - so I think it’s good for me.”
THREE — WAS YOUR FAMILY/FRIENDS SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR DECISION TO COME WORK AT THE MALNATI AND JOIN THEIR HOUSING PROGRAM?
“Not really! My Mom wanted me to move back in with her after college. She’s lonely, I guess. My friends were supportive, though. They thought it seemed like a cool opportunity.”
FOUR — HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT HAVING TO SHARE A SUITE? DO YOU GET ALONG WITH THE OTHER RESIDENTS? IF YOU LIVE ALONE, WHAT DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT BEING IN A SINGLE?
“I don’t love sharing a suite, probably since I’ve always had my own room. But Miguel is awesome so I don’t mind it. I think I’d still prefer a single room, however. That’s not to do with roommates, that’s just the introvert in me.”
FIVE — WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE AS A KID OR WHAT JOB DID YOU PICTURE YOURSELF DOING?
“I honestly don’t have a clue. I think I wanted to be a doctor, because I had a doctor Barbie. But I’m not sure that would be a good fit for me now. It’s weird, my Mom has never really had a job and she’s content with that. I guess I just always thought I’d be the same.”
SIX — WHAT IS ONE THING THAT NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT YOU THAT YOU WOULD PROBABLY NEVER WANT THEM TO KNOW?
“Hm. I don’t know. Next question, please.”
SEVEN — IF YOU WEREN’T WORKING AT THE MALNATI, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’D BE DOING RIGHT NOW?
“I think I’d still be teaching in some way - like yoga classes or pilates or something. I’ve always been the most comfortable when being active. Idle time makes me think too much.”
EIGHT — IF THIS DOESN’T WORK OUT FOR YOU, WHAT DO YOU SEE YOURSELF DECIDING TO DO? THINK OF THE BIGGER PICTURE OR MAYBE YOUR 5 YEAR PLAN.
“Well, I hope this works out. If it doesn’t, I’d probably find a job in the city and find an apartment. I want to be on my own. I’d probably try to work at a gym, like I said earlier. Thinking about 5 years from now makes me pretty anxious, I have to admit. I hope I’m in love at that point. I hope I’m with someone and that we’re making a life together in some way.
NINE — IF YOU COULD ONLY PICK ONE, JUST ONE, WHICH WOULD YOU PICK? BEING RICH BUT HAVING FEW FRIENDS OR STRUGGLING BUT HAVING PEOPLE WHO LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU?
“I’ve experienced the first, so let’s try the second now.”
TEN — LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT YOUR JOB AND WHAT’S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE PART?
“My favorite part of my job is all the people I have met. My coworkers are great. The least favorite part? Hm. Maybe getting up early for sunrise yoga? But even that isn’t too bad. I don’t mind being up early.”
