[center][b][u]Tuesday: 115 pm[/u]

Enrick Valdea[/b][/center] 

Her reply makes me feel even worse about the tone of my words. I watch her out of the corner of my eye scratch Parcheck while I serve up the two hotdogs she’s ordered. Despite her suggestion, I put the exact change on the plate I handed her. I might be struggling financially but it felt bad taking advantage of Kassie's charity.

[b]”I’ll get the prints”[/b] I assure her. [b]”I just need a little more time. If someone has to take the fall, I’d just rather…”[/b] I struggle for an explanation that won’t make her angry again. [b]”It’d be someone more deserving. You know, give karma a helping hand.”[/b] I fully understood that what the Rebels did we did for the good of all. Still, that didn’t mean I always agreed with it one-hundred percent of the time. After all, what the government of Restraint did was ‘for the good of [i]all[/i]’ as well, as long as you conserved “All” to include just the rich and powerful. 

Around us there are a few still mingling in the streets. Like Kassie stated, the lunch hour is over and anyone still around either took their break late or is simply avoiding work. It’s almost time for my shift to end. I could stay out with my stand all afternoon but I’d hardly make any profit. Besides, one of the Rebel leaders was kind enough to hook me up with a small bar-tending job. It would be nice to take a break before I had to go back to work again.

[b]”Tell you what,”[/b] I say and lean towards her. [b]”Let’s play a game. Look around and pick someone you think deserves to take the fall and I guarantee you I can get their prints in,”[/b] I look at my watch. My hotdog shift is just about over. [b]”Five minutes.”[/b]

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[center][b][u]Tuesday: 120 pm[/u]

Louisa Essair[/b][/center] 

I’m late. Again. My face is flushed as I push past the door of my superior’s office but it has nothing to do with the fact that I practically ran down the hallway. My eyes don’t meet his because I’m terribly afraid that he’ll find out my secret.

[b]”Sorry I’m late,”[/b] I say and take the seat across the desk from him. Lifting my purse unto my lap, I dig through it until I find a small paper bag. It’s a tad bit squished but it's still warm. [b]”Here. I picked one up for you.”[/b] I place the wrapped chocolate chip cookie on his desk. Rumor in the break room was that Gabriel Lockheart had a weakness for chocolate chip cookies. I wasn’t sure if it was true or not but I figured I should try. My offering wasn't to make up for my tardiness. The reason I was late in the first place was because I’d stood in the long line at the pastry shop to but one. When my best friend Nym heard about my actions, I'm sure she'll tease me about it ruthlessly. I knew it was foolish, but I couldn’t help it.

I, Louisa Essair, Assistant Technician for the Office of Security, one of the smartest and most logical women of her graduating class, was in love with her boss. Oh I knew it was impossible and not just because we worked at the same place or even because he was my superior. I had worked and crawled my way up the social ladder, proving that my genes were far superior to most citizens. I was now a white-collared worker. I was now a business woman and in time would be wealthy and well respected. I was now part of the social elite, even if I was towards the bottom end. My genes had proved themselves far too valuable to go to waste. I would be assigned a husband. It’s the reason why my mama cried when she’d heard what job I’d been assigned. 

Even that knowledge, however, didn’t stop me from buying Mr. Lockheart a cookie or feeling nervous when I finally looked into his hazel eyes. [b]”You wanted to see me,”[/b] I said, clearing my throat a little to hide my nervousness. [b]”Is it about the cameras in the section 8 housing development? If so, I already took care of them this morning.”[/b]