Mary found Lisa sitting in the booth by the corner of the Applebee's that they were told to meet up at. She had been kind enough to order Mary's food for her. An oriental chicken salad and a frosty smoothie, to her dismay.
She sat down across from Lisa. "I thought I told you I didn't want anything fattening," she said. Knowing Mary, Lisa was prepared for her attitude, had grown accustomed to it.
"Well, this is Applebee's, hun," she replied. "You can't expect perfection when it comes to looking casual. Then again, what would you know about that?" Lisa eyed her friend's clothing. Most people who would come to a small food-chain like Applebee's wouldn't dress up. Then again, Mary was not like most people—-which made sense, considering her family moved from New York to Michigan. "For scenery and peacefulness, or some hippie horseshit like that," Mary said.
Since Mary's arrival in Michigan, she had been inducted into the popular crowd of teenagers instantly. She figured that most small cities like Michigan didn't often get a chance to meet people from somewhere as prestigious as New York. It would've been the equivalent of any regular old somebody coming across Johnny Depp or Brad Pitt.
And she flaunted it as much as she could. Going into college, she was nothing to scoff at. Red hair waved and flowed down to her well-toned shoulders. Her eyes looked as though emeralds were trapped inside them and that, like the sun, they could burn out yours if you stared at them for too long. She always wore clothing that was spick and span and avoided every possibility to get even the tiniest stain on them—-often costing her grades and her sociability. Her wardrobe consisted of pastel colors—-namely blues and reds—-and thin little pencil skirts, along with stockings and heels. A future fashion model or even a possible designer, she thought, should never be caught wearing less than her best.
Though she took no special pride in them, the parts of her body meant to attract the opposite sex were certainly well-developed. Even in her high school years, she was fairly well-developed, considering the girls at that age. By now, a pair of round—-natural, she liked to add—-F cup breasts rested on her chest. One could look down at the shadow underneath her curvy rear and be just as pleased with looking at her from the front. Around some gentlemen, she took advantage of her assets on occasion and unbuttoned the top two buttons on her cute little blouses just to watch a man's willpower weaken.
She had never allowed a single man to touch her, however. Why would she? Popularity came with the price that if you slept with a man—-especially at this age—-you could be considered as worthy as a slut. Besides, she enjoyed the power it gave her. Doing so made her feel like that biblical 'forbidden apple', and she'd keep things that way for as long as it pleased her.
"So," Lisa said, "are you gonna talk about the plan and why you need me to be a part of it? Or are you going to think about somebody narrating your life's story and talk about how great you are?"
Mary sneered at Lisa. She didn't enjoy her new friend's—-she used the term 'friend' loosely—-snark and apathetic nature. But she wanted the job done tonight and it was getting closer and closer to dusk through the windows. Besides, following social etiquette would prove to this pale little hipster who was the bigger woman.
"I need money soon and, quite frankly, I don't have any. In about three months, there will be an opportunity for me to follow my dreams and leave this town. A fashion group is looking for some new designers and I know that they'll need me."
"Okay," Lisa said, seeming bored as all hell.
"Well, mom and dad won't back me up on this. They have the money, but they tell me that I'm not getting anything!" Mary waited for Lisa to act shocked.
Lisa was trying, and did a fairly decent job, of stifling back a snarky comment. Smirking, on the other hand, was a harder thing to stifle. Mary sneered again.
"They say it's because of bad grades or I've been flirting with boys or some other parental crap like that. One, grades will have nothing to do with designing clothes in the future. Two, I haven't even had a relationship with a boy in my entire life!"
Lisa just nodded like a bored psychiatrist.
"So...I need you to help me get money," Mary finally said.
"Why me?"
"Well, you know technology and computers and all that! You're good with hacking and secrecy and all that computer, technological shit, aren't you?"
Lisa sat still for a second, silent. For a minute, she didn't think that Mary would really go into stereotypes of this kind. Then again, she realized that this was Mary and all shock evaporated.
"Well, for future reference, not every person who is... an 'enthusiast' of technology is secretly a spy. But count yourself really lucky that my mother owns a company that makes security cameras and my father works for the government."
Mary smiled. Things were looking up for her. Then she thought for a moment. "Wait, what does your father do?"
Lisa took a few minutes. "Don't ask and we'll get along fine."
Mary understood well enough.
"So, do we have a plan to get some money? I'd like to make some as soon as possible."
Lisa smiled. "Well, let's not go down the illegal route and steal anything just yet, shall we?"
Mary sighed. "I don't care either way. I need the money and I would like it soon."
"Well," Lisa said, "there is something you could do. It's perfectly legal and will get your money's worth in about three months. Perfect timing, eh?"
Mary groaned. "Fine, what?"
"I have a job babysitting over weekends for a guy in my neighborhood. He needs to leave from Friday evening until Sunday night. The pay is pretty good. About a hundred dollars each week."
Without a second thought, Mary grew a wide grin and said, "Done! I'll take it."
"You sure? The kids will take time to warm up to you. That and there's the new baby--"
"Lisa, I don't care. It can't be too hard to take care of little kids. Turn on the TV, make them food, put them to bed, take them to school. It'll be simple."