Chapter Text
Jo jerked, her eyes blinking and her mind clouded with the momentary confusion of a rude awakening. Allowing her eyes and brain to adjust to the darkness of her bedroom, she huffed a sigh at the realization of what had awoken her. Her phone sat buzzing on her bedside table, persistently rattling against the table top.
She rubbed the sleep from her eyes with one hand, reaching over to grasp the shaking object with the other. She blinked a few times, fighting to register the caller ID displayed on her phone. “What the fuck?” she mumbled, irritated at having her evening depression nap so unceremoniously interrupted. It was unusual for Mateo to call her at all, let alone around when he’d be getting off of work. She tapped the green icon and immediately hit the speaker button, holding the phone away from her face.
“Hello?” she said, her voice raspy with sleep.
“Did I wake you up, Josie?” a teasing voice responded.
“What gave it away, Mattie?” Jo retorted, the childhood nicknames normally used to annoy one another causing a smile to creep onto her lips in spite of herself. Mateo Diaz and Josephine Bishop had grown up together, a shared childhood full of games, laughter, scraped knees, and only the occasional argument. Their friendship had been forged in the fire of the elementary school playground, when Mateo had stood up to another boy who was making fun of Jo for her wild curly hair, a trait they both had in common.
From then on, the two had been fast friends. They’d learned to skate board together, played out imaginary scenarios of fighting dragons with stick-swords and saving princesses (the part of which Mateo would always play, as Jo flat out refused to play a damsel in distress), and shared many sleepovers. She had even lived with Mateo and his family for a while in high school, their home serving as a safe haven from a home life turned bad.
They’d graduated high school together, shared a few years at community college, and decided to enter a nursing program together. However, Jo’s true passion eventually won out, and she dropped out of nursing school to pursue her true lifelong passion. Mateo remained a constant in Jo’s life, and they’d spend time together on occasion still, when Mateo’s busy work schedule allowed.
Still, calls were unusual, the two typically preferring to text. “Why the call out of the blue? Just missing the sound of my voice?” Jo rasped.
Mateo huffed out a laugh at her, and Jo could picture the radiant grin on her friend’s face. As her annoyance began to melt away and her body became accustomed to her being awake, Jo sat up in bed, running a hand through her wild hair. “How you doing?”
“Oh, I’m lovely,” Jo replied, sarcasm dripping from her voice. “Nothing like a looming eviction to brighten up your day.”
“Well, sorry to make your day worse then, but I have an idea that might keep a roof over your head,” Mateo replied, his voice laced with humor and a touch of concern.
“For the eightieth time, I am not starting an OnlyFans- not that I have anything against sex work-“
“Chill! That’s not what I was gonna say,” Mateo cuts her off. Jo huffs in response as she throws her legs over the side of the bed and wanders out of her bedroom. She plants herself at the kitchen counter, leaning against the cold marble and crossing her arms.
Her eyes trace the long fern leaves curving along her left forearm, the thick shaded ink settled in, a part of her that felt like it had always been there. Her fingers twitched, aching for the thrum of her tattoo machine, the feel of latex on her hands, the smell of disinfectant. After a few more moments of silence, Matteo says, “Can I say what I was gonna say?”
With a huff, Jo mutters, “Let’s hear it then.”
“My coworker Cassie, the one I babysit for? Her son Harrison is a really cool kid. He’s staying with her now, and she needs someone who can be a little more full time than me, and well… I may have mentioned you to her.”
Jo frowned, her eyebrows drawn together. “Mateo, I… thank you, but I seriously doubt she can afford to pay me enough to keep me from getting evicted,” Jo says. “Besides, she hasn’t even met me. I’m not the best with kids…” she trails off.
“Harrison is easy!” Mateo replies. “He’s super chill. And Cass can’t pay you enough for rent, that’s true, but I happen to know they have a spare room.”
“No,” Jo returns immediately. “Listen, I love you Mateo, but no way am I moving in with a total stranger and her kid.”
“No offense Jo, but it doesn’t seem like you have many other options,” Mateo points out. At her irritated growl, he continued, “I can vouch! Cassie’s really cool. She’s in a bind, and you’re about to be on the street. I think this could be a good solution for everyone.”
“I don’t know the first thing about taking care of a kid!” Jo exclaims, her hands flying into the air. “It’s scary! What if he has an allergic reaction and I can’t find his epi pen, or what if he gets in a weird guy’s van when my back is turned? What if he’s mean? Oh my god, what if he’s mean? Kids are vicious nowadays!”
“Dude, calm down,” Mateo says, and Jo can tell he’s fighting not to laugh at her because it will only make her more worked up. “He’s like eleven, he can pretty much handle himself. He’s just not old enough to be alone yet.” Jo doesn’t respond, the silence sitting heavy between them.
“Look, Cassie just needs a little help, that’s all. And you need some help too.” Jo’s brain turning over in her mind. Mateo says, “Josie, do you trust me?”
“Of course,” she says without hesitation, an edge still present in her voice. “I just… God, I can’t think of a good reason to say no, but it’s a big thing to wrap my head around, okay? It feels like a lot of responsibility.” Jo can feel the vulnerability beginning to creep up, and she fights to keep it down. “Besides, does she know I’m about to be evicted? Does she even know what my job was before this? I can’t see a single mother being thrilled about leaving her kid with a washed up, unemployed tattoo artist who’s about to lose her apartment.”
Jo had spent a few years as an artist in a shop downtown. Her apprenticeship was hell, her mentor having been an old school guy who believed in putting his apprentices through the wringer. Still, Jo fought and worked her ass off. She’d lost count of the sleepless nights, and she was sure she could have saved up to buy a car that wasn’t a total piece of crap with all the money she’d spent on her supplies, booth rental, and Redbulls to get her through late nights creating designs. Still, her passion burned like a fire, and she refused to give up.
How she’d ended up here, on the verge of being evicted and no hope in sight… she sighed, running a hand over her face. She didn’t want to think about what had already happened. She couldn’t change that.
“You’re right. She’d much prefer an employed tattoo artist,” Mateo says, the shit eating grin practically audible through the phone.
“You know what I mean, you ass,” Jo deadpans.
“I may have glossed over a few details,” Mateo admits. He rushes to continue before Jo can refuse him once more. “But I didn’t need to because I know once she meets you, she’ll love you! Cassie trusts me too, she knows I wouldn’t recommend someone crazy or dangerous.”
Jo is silent. She knows she’s going to give in, it’s inevitable. She’s tied down on the tracks and the train is coming at her. This is a lifeline she’s being offered, her savior coming to free her in the nick of time. Still, it’s a lot for her to process and her reservations are persistent, flashing like big neon signs in her mind.
Finally, she speaks. “Okay,” she says reluctantly.
“Okay?” Mateo asks.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll at least meet with her. Just… I’m trying not to get my hopes up too much. I’m not exactly the poster child for a live in babysitter, and I have no experience with kids. But at this point, what do I have to lose, right?” Jo mutters.
“Sweet!” Mateo says excitedly. “I’ll let Cassie know! I’ll give her your number so you guys can figure it out, yeah?”
“Yeah,” Jo says, already dreading receiving the text message from the unknown number.
“I really think this will be good, Jo. For both of you,” he says. He’s encouraging, caring, and for a moment, Jo aches. She wishes she wasn’t standing alone in her dark kitchen. Perhaps living with someone else wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
“Thank you, Mattie,” Jo says softly. “Thank you for looking out for me.”
“Always,” he says immediately. “I’ve got your back always. I gotta go, but I love you Jo. Things will get better. Just hang in there, yeah?”
“Yeah,” she says. “Love you too.” The familiar tone of the phone call ending leaves Jo feeling a bit empty inside. Yes, living with someone else would probably be good, she thinks.
In the dimness of her kitchen, illuminated only by the light of the moon flooding through the windows, Jo’s eyes are drawn to the eviction notice she’d ripped off of her door and slapped on the counter last night. There was no denying that regardless of what happened, she would be losing her home again. As if she hadn’t lost enough already.
A moment longer, and Jo reaches over, ripping the piece of paper to shreds and balling them up in her fists. She tosses the scraps into her garbage and turns to go back to her room, her warm bed calling to her. All she could do now was wait for this Cassie to reach out to her. In the meantime, she would avoid being conscious at all costs. The less she had to face reality, the better.