January 31, 2016

Day 1

Tyler groaned as he put his hand tiredly on the alarm clock. It was 6 am and he

Tori groaned to herself and as she flipped her pencil and erased her work. It was too much of a cliche start, it wouldn't make it. The mixed girl even felt herself gag at the introduction. Tori flipped her pencil back and tried another approach.

The hallways of Liberty High were bustling and chirping with excitement that fine summer day. Tyler found himself mindlessly wal

Lord no, that just screams out fake all in itself. Tori shook her head and let a growl leave her lips. Once again her eraser made its dance on her writing. The poor mixed girl had been trying to search all week for some inspiration on a story but had failed miserably. It seemed that inspiration was lacking in Tori's mental area.

The mixed girl even took the liberty of leaving her house and sitting in a park in the middle of DC. The girl hoped the half an hour drive would clear her mind but it only made it foggier. She settled on getting a cupcake from Georgetown Cupcakes and sitting in Lafayette Square to see if the tourist walking near the White House would inspire her, but sure enough her mind was still fresh out of ideas. Tori was hoping inspiration would come and smack her upside the head, because she surely was desperate.

Sure enough, something did smack the girl upside the head. A rough leather material bounced off the girl's curly hair and into her lap, "Oww, what the hell ?" The girl grumbled as she examined the item. It seemed to be a wallet.

"A wallet, what the hell ?" She mumbled to herself. In the DC, Maryland, Virginia area, or commonly known as the DMV area, extravagant things never really occurred. They were two states and one territory upon the East Coast that never drew attention nor asked for it.

Before Tori could even examine the wallet, she heard two familiar voices. The mixed girl craned her neck behind the park bench to faintly see three figures behind the tall bushes. Humorlessly, the mixed race girl chuckled and rounded the corner.

There before her own two eyes stood her two employees, dressed grungy and clothes completely unkempt. Tori forgot why she hired them in the first place. The tan skin girl politely tapped on the men's shoulders. As soon as both pairs of eyes came into the contact with Tori's hazel ones, their hearts stopped.

"So I'm sitting on a park bench right," The girl started as she stared at the two men, "And I'm trying to find some inspiration and all of a sudden it smacks upside the head," The girl lifted the leather from her hand and smacked the Hispanic man with it, "Literally, hits me upside the head."

The dark skin man dusted his wife beater and gave Tori a sheepish smile, "Well hey there boss-"

"Cut the shit, okay ? Y'all ask for a day off, fine, I gave it to you. But you spend it like this ?"

The Hispanic man tried to throw in his side of the story, "We were tryna sell her some of the stuff man. She looked like she needed some help. People in help do anything boss."

Tori glanced down at the terrified Hispanic woman, practically pleading with her eyes for a savior. The mixed girl rolled her eyes and looked back up at her guys, "You two literally traumatized her," Tori looked at the woman, "Can you please just give me a second ? I'm so sorry for this by the way."

The blonde woman grabbed both men by their toned arms, dragging them a good distance from the other woman, "What the hell is wrong with y'all ? You," She pointed towards the dark skin man, "Stop trying to scare woman into liking you, Josiah ! It didn't work the first time so it surely isn't going to work now."

The man tried to speak but, once again, Tori shushed him and moved on towards the Hispanic man, "And you, stop calling my products, the stuff. Jesus Christ, people do make assumptions Josué !"

"Ayo, I'm really really sorry boss. Like I'll go right into work right now if you need me to, I swear !" Josiah pleaded, knowing he truly did need the job.

Josué pleaded right beside his friend, "Me too ! Me too ! I'll even work overtime boss !"

"Man shut yo kissing ass up !" The dark skin male pushed his friend only to earn one right back. Soon enough the two men had began bickering and getting into each other's faces. Tori sighed to herself, still wondering why she hired them, but nonetheless split them apart.

"Stop !" She scolded, making both men immediately forget about their dispute, "I don't care how you guys spend your day off, just don't harass people, okay ?"

Both men nodded frantically. Tori nodded back and shooed the men, "Now please, go home. Y'all stink."

As the two men sniffed themselves, not believing that they stank, when they truly did, Tori started her way back towards the Hispanic woman. The poor woman was shivering in her thin red long sleeve; the shoulders of the shirt even had holes. What type of logic did this girl have, coming to DC with these type of clothes on in January ?

"Hey, ma'am are you okay ?" Tori asked, her voice softer than with her two men, "Here take my jacket."

Appreciatively, the Hispanic woman took the peacoat and sighed at its warmth, "Thank you. Thank you so much."

Tori smiled at the woman and took a seat beside her on the bench, "I'm really sorry for those two idiots. They're always harassing people."

"The tan one tried to sell me stuff. I got so confused, I didn't know how to react." The woman murmured as she stared down at her shoes.

The mixed girl chuckled and continued the conversation with the woman, "You must not be from around here."

"H-how do you know that ?" The Hispanic woman stared up incredulously at the girl before her. She literally made it into the area no less than three hours ago. Was it that obvious ?

"You're here in this flimsy shirt," Tori toyed with the material before sighing and looking out into the distance before her, "Anybody from around here knows not to pull out those kind of clothes until May."

"May ?? I brought May clothes for January ?!" The girl shot right up from her seat and began to panic. All she had in her suitcase were decent clothes. She really should have checked the weather before coming to this cold area.

Tori furrowed her eyebrows at the panicking woman. What was wrong with her ? She's so shaky and scared, it was worrying the mixed girl a bit, "Hey you alright ?"

"I could've sworn I packed a sweater somewhere !" The Hispanic woman continued to frantically search through her suitcase, "Aha ! A sweater !"

The girl lifted up the pink material only to have her smile drop drastically, "Yeah, a cropped sweater. That's May time too." Tori added, looking at some of the things in her suitcase. This woman must have really never been to the DMV area.

"God, I'm such a fuck up. It's only been three hours and I'm already gonna die of pneumonia." The Mexican woman sighed as she sank into the park bench, head deep in her hands. Now Tori was truly confused, first the girl was cold, then she was flipping through her suitcase, now she's probably crying. Did she really do this to the women she meets ?

Awkwardly, the mixed girl sat beside the shorter woman, wrapped an arm around her, and pulled her close, "Ma'am please don't cry. You might freeze your eyelids shut."

"Oh my God that's possible ??" The Hispanic woman cried as she stared at her savior in horror. Why in the world did she choose DC ??

"No ! No ! I'm sorry that was a bad joke, please don't hyperventilate," Tori herself was almost in a state of panic alongside the Mexican woman. She was scaring Tori... Was she okay ? "Hey, umm, you seem to be lost. How can I help you ?"

The woman shook her head and just looked at her feet, "There's nothing you can do to help me. I'm going to just die. Just flat out die."

"Well so am I someday, high five." Tori rose her hand up, awaiting a high five, only to be given tears from the Hispanic woman beside her.

"Good going Tori." The blonde mentally scolded herself as she awkwardly patted her back, "Umm... ma'am. Why are you crying ?"

"Because I'm gonna die out here," The Mexican girl continued to bawl out, "I'm gonna die and this outfit isn't even that cute !"

"Oh she's one of those people."

Tori ran her fingers through her curls, not knowing how to stop the girl from crying. She was never good with comforting crying people, or people in general.

"Umm, would you look at the time. It's half past noon," Tori awkwardly leaned in towards the girl, "I'm hungry, do you maybe wanna tag along with me and get some lunch ? You seem stressed and need a reliever."

To her surprise, the woman sniffled and nodded, wiping her tears from her eyes, "Yeah, yeah you're right. I am really hungry. Airplane food is disgusting and I need genuine food."

The blonde woman smiled and stood up, sticking her hand out for the woman to take, "Come on, my car is around the corner."

The woman bid Tori a thank you and followed her to the car, "I-Is there a Waffle House around here ? I would really like some Waffle House right now, please."

"Waffle House ? Pffft, please, I have something way better than Waffle House."

~~~

"Welcome to Mom and Pop's !" Tori proudly introduced as her and the women walked into the restaurant. Mom and Pop's was a small little "mom and pop" diner right off of Georgia Ave. This was Tori's safe space, her little secret she liked to selfishly keep to herself.

On the other hand, the Mexican girl stared around at the place in disgust. The place radiated old and made the girl cringe. This restaurant was so much more different than the ones she ate at in Texas; her parents would've had a heart attack if they knew she was in here.

"Tori ! I didn't think you'd be back so soon !" The Italian girl gave Tori a hug and kissed both of her cheeks, much like the French did.

Tori smiled brightly, "Alessia you know I'll always come back here. Where's Mom and Pop ? I have a first time eater here today."

"First timer ? Oh we haven't had one of those in a while ! Where ?! Where ?!" The hyper Italian girl scanned the area, not seeing a new face. The Mexican girl awkwardly raised her hand. Alessia beamed, "Oh ! You brought a cutie !"

"Ale, shut up." Tori blushed embarrassedly. With Alessia, she never seemed to catch a break, "Just get our table please."

~~~

Tori rose her head up from prayer and looked at the girl before her, "Alright ma'am, tell me your story."

The Mexican girl rose her eyebrows, "My story ?"

"Yeah your story. You had to have come to DC for a reason."

The small brunette looked down at her chicken and waffles, an apprehensive look on her face. How could the girl before her say this was better than Waffle House ? The Waffle House ?! This looked like the Walmart version of Waffle House to the women.

"So did you come to visit the nation's capital for fun or did you lose a bet ? C'mon now, don't leave me hanging." Tori smiled, dimples shining brightly.

The women smiled softly, "I guess you can say both."

"Oh ? That's interesting. Tell me more. Come on, I'm nosey." The curly haired blonde playfully leaned forward, elbows on the table and chin in her palm.

"Well, I guess you can say I'm on a search for independence," The Mexican girl poked at her food, "If I can prove of my independence, I can get my part in the family business."

Tori nodded picked her fork back up, "Hmm, that sounds very cinematic- Oh I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."

The small woman stuck her hand out, "I'm Ally. Ally Hernandez."

"I'm Tori. Tori Kelly." The older girl smiled as they both shook hands. Ally smiled at the girl, "Now come on girl, don't let Mom and Pop see that plate of yours full. They'll have a hissy fit."

"But what if I don't like it ?" Ally questioned.

To her surprise, Tori chuckled, gulping down her food, "If you don't like it, I'll pay for it."

"Really ?"

"On muvahs." Tori smirked.

"On mothers ? Wait what-"

Tori waved the girl off, "DMV slang, you'll learn it eventually. Now just eat child !"

Still with the apprehensive look on her face, Ally gulped and picked up her fork. The girl cut up a piece of her waffle, a piece of her chicken, and let the syrup drizzle down the two. She slowly picked up her fork and brought the food into her mouth.

Wide eyed, the Mexican girl looked up to see Tori chuckling and recording her reaction, "Oh my God."

"Oh my God indeed !" The mixed girl put her phone down and laughed, "So does this mean I can keep an extra $7.50 in my wallet ?"

Ally glanced down from the plate to the girl before her, "If I say it's horrendous and keep eating, would you still pay for it ?"

"I was still gonna pay for it anyway sunshine."

~~~

The two girls finished their food, Ally particularly fast. She'd hate to admit it, but Mom and Pop's food was way better than Waffle House's. But she would never say that out loud, especially to her new friend.

Friend. Ally smiled. She for once made a friend without her parents inferring.

Beside her in the driver's seat, Tori caught the small girl's smile and smiled herself, "So where am I taking you Ally ? What hotel did you get here in this lovely area ?"

Ally's eyes widened as she realized that a place to stay was fresh out of her mind.

"I honestly hope it wasn't a Trump hotel because then I'd make you walk there," The older girl laughed. She turned to see Ally's reaction but was met with the girl frantically typing away on her phone, "Oh okay, I guess you weren't listening. Alrighty then."

"No no, I was listening Tori. The thing is... I don't exactly have a place to stay."

Tori furrowed her eyebrows, "Bruh what ? How can you not have a place to stay when on a trip ?"

"This isn't a trip. It's a search for independence."

"Is that not a trip ?"

Ally sighed and shook her head, "No Tori. It's not."

"If you're not taking a trip down here, then why are you here ?" The blonde girl pulled up into the BP gas station, "If it's some sort of drug cartel, then Imma have to politely ask you to leave my vehic-"

Ally busted into a giggling fit, "No ! No drug cartel, more like tryna win the cartel."

"Alright, well whatever that means. The exit it right there-"

"Jesus Tori shush," The Mexican girl chuckled as she lowered her pointing finger, "Okay, you want to know why I'm here in DC ?"

The blonde nodded childishly fast. Ally sighed, "Do you own anything from the Hernandez Enterprises ?"

"Own ? Child, I have stock with them. I aspire to be like J. Hernandez ! His story is so inspirational !"

"I'll be sure to tell him that. It'll really take a kick out of his ego."

It surely did take Tori a couple seconds before piecing things together, "W-Wait ! OH MY GOD !! You're a Hernandez ?!"

Ally nodded, a small blush upon her face.

"Don't play with me right now !" Tori sat up in her chair and gave the girl a stern look, "You're a Hernandez ?"

"Yup, Allyson Brooke Hernandez to be exact."

Tori smiled widely, in disbelief of her luck, "Dude, your family is bigger than the Kardashians ! How in the world weren't you swarmed by paparazzi right off the plane ??"

"Our family is very conservative, and we don't cause trouble. The paparazzi put us with the rest of Snooze Hollywood. I do have my picture taken sometimes for outfits or something but that's about it."

Tori leaned her head against the seat and smiled. The mixed girl ran her fingers through her hair and stared up at the car ceiling, "Dude, I'm driving a Hernandez around."

Ally giggled sheepishly and slapped the girl's shoulder, "Stop saying my name as if it's the best thing ever. I'm just like you."

"But Ally !" Tori shot up and stared at the girl, "You're a Hernandez !"

"For the love of God-" Before Ally could finish her statement, a loud vibration erupted in between her thighs. Her phone was alerting her of a phone call. The Mexican girl picked up the phone to see the name Papi 👨🏻👔 , on the screen.

Ally's body shook as she stared at the contact. Oh God, what was she going to say ?! She didn't have a place to stay and that would be the first thing he would ask her !

"Hey... You gonna answer that ?" The blonde girl awkwardly asked as she pointed towards the vibrating device.

"I'm scared to." Ally admitted, avoiding contact with the phone.

"Oh, well it's not that difficult. See what you do is," Tori grabbed Ally's hand, extending her pointer finger, "Swipe across to accept the FaceTime call and wait for it to load."

As simply as stated, Tori swiped the girl's finger, activating the call. Ally gasped out in shock. Why would she answer the call ?!

"Tori !"

"That's my name."

Ally smacked the girl's shoulder, "Why would you do that ?!"

"Oww ! Why am I being hit for showing you how to answer a phone call ? Shouldn't I be getting a thank you instead ?"

"You can get a fuck you-"

But before the statement could be made, the face of a smiling Mexican man zoomed its way onto Ally's device on her lap, "Ally ?"

The Mexican girl froze and silently cursed to herself, the girl mustered up a bright smile and lifted the phone from her lap, to an angle in front of her face, "Hi Papi !"

"¿ Como estas mi amor ?" The Hispanic man pondered.

"I'm good. How are you ?"

Jerry fixed his tie and smiled, "I'm doing well, thank you. Just checking up on my children on their little search for independence."

Tori rolled her eyes, "For fucks sake, why can't they just say a trip ?"

Ally sat up in her chair, "Did you already call Brandon ? How is he ??"

"Calm down mija, I called you first. I need to check on my little girl before him."

Disappointed, the Mexican girl nodded, "Well I'm doing fine."

"That's good," The man cracked his knuckles, "Now back to business, where are you staying ?"

"I fucking knew it," Ally cracked a nervous smile, "I'm actually staying in an apartment for the night."

"An apartment ?"

The brunette lightly craned her neck out of the camera and looked at Tori, the girl mouthed her the question, "You live in an apartment, right ?"

Tori nodded. Ally silently thanked the heavens and looked back on camera towards her father, "Yup, an apartment."

"By yourself or with somebody ?" The man interrogated.

"With somebody," Ally turned the camera towards Tori, "This is Tori. We just finished getting our agreements together about me bunking with her."

Rather than lie on with Ally, the poor mixed girl sat shook. She was on FaceTime with the J. Hernandez. This man was her inspiration and idol. Don't say anything stupid Tori. Don't say anything stupid Tori.

"Hello Tori." The man greeted.

"I once worked at Target to promote my album sales." The girl squeezed her eyes shut and face palmed herself at the useless blabber. Why does she always do this ?

Jerry chuckled, "You've got quite a roommate there Ally."

"Oh I know Papi, I know."

~~~

"And this is the room you'll be sleeping in. Sorry for the mess, I didn't expect to have a guest." Tori held the guest room door open for the girl as she rolled in her suitcase.

The small room was a caramel sweet shade of brown with an accompaniment of milk chocolate curtains upon the window. With a fluffy marshmallow colored bed and scent of warm cookies; Ally truly felt like she'd just entered a sweet toothed heaven in the form of a room.

"Is that a teddy bear ?" The Mexican girl chuckled as she touched the brown bundle of cuteness. The little bear wore a cute little wintery sweater with snowflakes.

Tori blushed shyly and grabbed the bear, "Yeah sorry he's mine. I've been looking for him everywhere !"

"You still sleep with a teddy bear ?"

"Yes, 23 years old and proudly still does it," The curly haired blonde playfully snuggled into the bear and smiled, "Alright, I have to get ready for work tomorrow. Once I get back from work, I'll help you look for an apartment, on this search for independence, alright Inch High ?"

Ally scuffed and once again slapped the girl's shoulder, "Yeah yeah whatever," Both girls smiled. As Tori walked away, the Mexican girl's smile widened, "Hey Tori ?"

The older girl turned around, her cute clutch on the teddy bear making Ally giggle, "Thank you, for helping me."

"No problem Ally." Tori smiled, her dimples digging deep into her cheeks. Once the girl left, Ally sighed and flopped right on her bed.

"It'll be alright Ally," The girl spoke, trying to motivate herself, "It's only 30 days and then it's all yours."

The Mexican girl scrolled through her messages and stopped upon the picture Tori had taken for her at Mom and Pops. Ally smiled at the look on her face; eating the best damn food she ever had.

The brunette smiled widely as she took the picture and uploaded it to her Instagram. After adding a simple filter and enhancing the brightness a bit, Ally posted the picture.

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allybrookeofficial
Seems like Waffle House has met their match 😱 Thanks Tori 💕 #30DaysWithAlly #Day1
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