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Created by Diane Brown, Buena Beach is an online soap opera, giving up all the juicy details of some of the hottest guys and gals of Buena Beach, a small town in Southern California. Check back everyday for a new episode here on HelloBeautiful.com.

Diane

“Again?”

She’s giving me her sorry eyes, but this has to stop. This is the third time in the last few weeks that Sandy’s denied me her company for lunch because her overbearing boss won’t give her a few extra inches on that leash he keeps around her neck.

“We have a meeting with the City Planning folks.”

“No,” I correct her. “Mario has a meeting with the City Planning folks. You – Mario’s assistant – has a lunch break. Just ask the union.”

“Well, I’m pretty sure there’ll be food.”

Yah, right. City Planning? She’ll be lucky to get a Dixie cup of tap water.

Whatever. Maybe this is just a sign that I need to branch out – make new friends. There’s got to be some other ladies who lunch around this place. Unfortunately, as a satellite office of the City, the pickings are slim. There’s always the receptionist out front, but for coverage, she usually just eats a Cup O’ Noodles at the desk while she flips through the latest issue of People (which, actually, is no different than what she does when she’s officially on the clock). Besides, she’s never been all that friendly.

Jenny from Maintenance won’t be here until 2:30 and I’ve only seen her eat M&Ms. The Human Resources clique is tighter than the skin on Priscilla Presley’s face, and that new part-time chick is just plain creepy.

So I give it one last try. “Are you sure you can’t get out of this?”

Just as she’s about to speak, Mario magically appears, only acknowledging me with a raise of the eyebrow. “Come on, San. We gotta get to that meeting with Boys & Girls Club.”

Wait – hold up a second now.

“Oh, uh… Er, ummm-” Sandy spits out, then slaps her forehead dramatically. “Oh, duh! The Boys & Girls Club meeting is today. I totally got confused,” she explains to me.

Whatever. I bet he’s got her going shopping for his wife or something. Maybe even illegal activities. “So, what about tomorrow?”

Her eyes shift over to Mario and I notice the almost imperceptible nod from that big head of his. And immediately, Sandy smiles brightly and says, “Sure.”

Fine. I’ve been relegated so much in this environment that I have to schedule an appointment for lunch with the woman who makes appointments for her boss all day.

That still doesn’t solve my issue for today, I’m thinking as my feet take me towards the staff lounge. I’m so sick of frozen lasagna and canned soda and Channel 7 news at noon on the tiny set propped up on the counter. I’m desperate for some wholesome, good ol’ female lunchtime banter.

But, what do you know. Not only am I lacking a companion – my lasagna’s gone! I wrote my name and scribbled pretty flowers in permanent purple felt pen over 90% of the box, and someone was still cheap and determined enough to claim it as their own. This means war.

I’m on my way back to my desk to shoot off a nasty e-mail to the entire building when I see Ericka coming towards me, Sandy’s best friend who happens to work in City Hall. “Hey, Ericka. How’s it going? You here to see Sandy?”

“Actually, no. I just had to pick up some paperwork from the new Coordinator, Veronica.”

“Oh,” I say with a little too much snap. I don’t care. Shoot, the whole world is welcome to know my feelings about that girl.

“You on your way to lunch?”

“Girl, that was the plan. But unfortunately, I work with a bunch of thieves up in here. Someone ate my lasagna.”

Ericka gives me the “Oh, hell no” face, and I nod my head. “Uh, huh. Isn’t that crazy?”

“One time, someone was stealing my hazelnut creamer. Just a little bit each day, you know. So one morning, when I was getting over this major cold I had, I coughed up a big loogie and spit it in the creamer.”

“Dang, girl.”

“I know. I know, it’s awful. But I kind of just flipped, you know?”

I guess so. She’s kind of a G for that. I’m sort of inspired. “Hey, you want to go grab something – you know, since I don’t have my lasagna.”

“Sure. Sounds good.”

“Great,” I tell her. Perfect. I mean, I hardly know the girl, but she works in HR – maybe I can get some ideas on how to get Veronica fired. “I’ll drive.”

That’s just what I needed – a double bacon cheeseburger (grilled onions, hold the pickles) and a large side of girl talk. Turns out Ericka is an even better ear for my problems than Sandy, even offering what seems to be logical advice. So of course, I took the opportunity to make plans for next week. I was just getting started with my love life when the bill came, so I’ll be sure to begin with Jonathan when we go out again.

“Thanks for driving,” she tells me as she exits my car.

“Anytime. So, I’ll e-mail you before Wednesday to figure out where we’re going.”

“No problem. Tell Sandy, too.”

“Oh, of course,” I say, although the thought hadn’t occurred to me. She shuts my door and is off, in a hurry back to her office for a meeting, just as I notice the large manila envelope tucked between the passenger’s seat and door. “Oh, you forgot – ” I begin loudly, although she can’t hear me by now anyway. I could still flag her down, but then remember why she was here in the first place.

Pulling out the envelope a little more, I see Veronica’s name scribbled in blue pen.

Wow. It’s not even my birthday yet. And I barely even know Ericka. But, this is the best gift I’ve gotten in years.

Check back tomorrow for the next episode of Buena Beach!

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