Several people gasped.
Madison released the trigger.
She laughed.
Lauren smiled nervously.
Alyssa wiped her face.
She looked at Madison.
“Seriously?”
Madison shrugged.
“Pressure slipped.”
Alyssa stared at the hose.
“Your hand slipped?”
“Relax.”
Alyssa placed the brush against the cart.
Her jacket was soaked.
Water dripped from her chin.
She walked toward Madison.
“Put the hose down.”
Madison lowered it but did not drop it.
“You going to write me up?”
“Put it down.”
“Maybe I should call Ray first.”
Alyssa stopped.
“What is wrong with you?”
Madison smiled.
“There she is.”
“What?”
“The real Alyssa.”
Alyssa stared.
“I’m standing here soaked because you sprayed me in the face.”
“You act like you’ve never accidentally sprayed somebody.”
“That wasn’t an accident.”
“You always know everything.”
Alyssa exhaled.
She looked toward Raymond.
He was walking from another bay after hearing the noise.
“Fine.”
Alyssa started to step away.
Madison laughed.
“Run to Ray.”
Alyssa stopped.
For months, she had heard variations of that sentence.
She turned back.
“You know what? I don’t need to run anywhere.”
Madison’s smile narrowed.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve been hiding behind that little supervisor badge for six months.”
Alyssa looked at the company logo on her jacket.
“I don’t even have a badge.”
Frank Miller laughed.
He tried to hide it.
Too late.
Madison heard.
Her face changed.
Lauren moved forward.
“Alyssa, just go.”
Alyssa looked at her.
“I am going.”
She turned.
Lauren suddenly came after her.
Maybe she thought Alyssa was moving toward Madison.
Maybe she thought the situation had already crossed a line.
Maybe months of loyalty kicked in before judgment.
Whatever the reason, Lauren rushed from behind Madison and reached toward Alyssa’s shoulder.
Alyssa turned just in time.
Lauren swung.
The strike came toward the side of Alyssa’s head.
Alyssa leaned away.
The punch missed.
“What are you doing?”
Lauren came again.
Alyssa raised both hands.
“Lauren, stop!”
Lauren grabbed at her jacket.
Alyssa broke the grip.
The wet floor made every movement dangerous.
People began backing away.