Page 34 of The Reverse Cinderella

“Perhaps the best woman will win,” Piaget smiled back, teeth bared. “I’m going to apply today. That’s right everyone who is listening, I need your votes so that we can get this pompous, self-important, slimy, sleezy –“

Suddenly, Piaget was just talking to herself as her microphone was cut off the air and her producer spoke over the airwaves, “That was Mayor Johns everyone. I hoped you enjoyed the interview. It was a pleasure, Mayor.”

“Glad to have been here,” Johns said. Only he didn’t sound that way anymore. The live on-air light went out and he grumpily put a finger right in Piaget’s face. “I don’t know what you think you are up to lady, but this isn’t going to fly. You can’t just announce that you’re running against me. I own this town.”

“Anyone can apply as long as they have a dream of making the city a better place to live,” she echoed his earlier words right back at him.

“You’ll lose,” Mayor Johns growled then swept out of the room.

“You better win. Every year we get money from the city to run this program. After the way you just spoke to him, if Johns wins, I don’t think he’ll ever fund us again,” with a dubious look, Piaget’s student producer took off her head phones and headed for the door. “No money, no radio.”

Sighing, Piaget took off her headphones. Why did she have such a big mouth, she wondered ruefully. She gathered her clipboard and left the booth. She was sure that this was not going to go over well. In her anger, she had said that she was going to run for a position she knew nothing about, one that she wasn’t sure she even wanted. She was supposed to be focused on school.

She blamed Max. She’d been going through life in a sad, dazed sort of way since she’d broken up with him. It was worse ever since he had sent that note. The note that she cried over at least once a day. She realized that she didn’t want him to give up. Piaget wanted him to convince her to take him back. She felt entirely conflicted. She wanted him to tell the truth, but what if he already was? What if he had intended to tell her but just hadn’t been ready? Piaget sighed. She didn’t know what to do.

Thankfully, she was done with school for the day. She could avoid the consequences of what she had said on-air to the mayor for a few more hours. Hopefully, she wouldn’t get into too much trouble. She needed to stay in the broadcasting booth.

When Piaget got to the diner, Dix had pieces of the smoothie machine strewn across the counter. She glared at the offending machine.

“Broken?” Piaget asked dryly as she tied on her apron.

“Yup,” Dix reached in and tried to wriggle a piece. “Piece of junk.”

“Life is junk,” Piaget muttered. She grabbed napkins to stuff into the napkin holders.

“Hey!” Dix held up part of the machine, pointing it at Piaget angrily. “I’m sick of you moping around. You were somewhat happy before Max came into your life. If you can’t find your somewhat happy state back then you need to get back together with Max.”

“Dix, I’m not taking him back,” Piaget protested.

“Sure you are. You’ve made him grovel. He’s done more than any man that I’ve ever met would do which proves he’s super into you. He makes you happy. You’re miserable without him.”

“He didn’t tell me the truth.”

“I’ve been thinking about that,” Dix fiddled with the machine. “I’m wondering if he wasn’t telling the truth about intending to tell you later.”

“He should have told me already. I didn’t need to find it out from Elle,” Piaget insisted stubbornly as she finished the napkins.

“Don’t you think it would be embarrassing to tell your new girlfriend that you’re homeless? Guys are seen traditionally as the breadwinners in society. He can’t even take care of himself, how’s he going to take care of you? He has to be slightly humiliated by his living situation. Most women would probably run once they found out, so you have to think he might be a little justified in being reluctant to say anything,” Dix said. Something clicked, and she straightened. “Hunh, that’s where that goes.”

“You’re taking his side?” Piaget asked. She felt a little offended that her friend would do so.

“No, I’m saying you’re both right. Plus, I fed you ice cream and Netflix so I feel I have a right to say it,” Dix started to reassemble the smoothie machine. “I understand that you want the truth in your relationship. Tell him that. Then give him a second chance.”

“I don’t think I’m talking to you right now,” Piaget got her till ready for the shift.

“You’re only angry because you know I’m right,” Dix observed. She put the cover back on, plugged it in and ran the machine. “It works!”

Piaget did not respond. She chose to ignore Dix for the rest of the night.

Maybe, because she knew deep down that there might be a little truth to what her friend had said.

The next day Piaget was called to Mrs. Brown’s office before classes. With trepidation, Piaget entered and took a seat. Mrs. Brown and the Dean of the college were there. Piaget knew she was in real trouble and hoped she would be able to salvage her broadcasting position.

“Do you know why I’ve called you here Piaget?” Mrs. Brown asked her.

“I would assume it has to do with the conversation I had on air with Mayor Johns yesterday,” Piaget tried to keep a pleasant expression on her face even as she tamped down the fear she was feeling. She really could not afford to get suspended over this and the Dean was hovering over the teacher’s shoulder.

“Your conversation with Mayor Johns was inappropriate. We welcomed him as an honored guest and you chose to attack him on air. This is unacceptable,” the Dean was very precise with his words.