UNCONDITIONALLY YOURS

A different sort of normal // 10

A few days flew by. Things had settled down a little after a couple of rather dramatic days. I guess you could say everyone was back to normal, however it simply did not feel like it. I wasn't sure if I really wanted things to be normal, nothing that had happened had been particularly ideal, but the sense of excitement from doing something out of the norm was still appealing. I had almost managed to forget about the text and I had calmed my thoughts about that situation hugely. As for Parker, it would be fair to say he had barely left my mind. Even when I was thinking about something different, thoughts about him still seemed to linger in the back of my head. It was just something I needed to get over, I was sure that it would only take another few days and I wouldn't have to be irritated by the constant thoughts.

It was a Friday, exactly a week after the day that began all the chaos. When I arrived at work, it was a normal day again. I wished it weren't so average, but did I really want anything big to happen either? I greeted Logan and he told me about his date with his boyfriend. I chatted with him a little about my past couple of days, which has been mostly boring. I had gone for a couple of runs and done my online college course work. Mia eventually told us to stop gossiping and get to work so we did.

After our lunch break, I was just finishing up with serving a customer. He ordered a black coffee and a blueberry muffin. He was a regular customer, but usually he did not also get a muffin. He tended to only have a black coffee. I wondered if it was maybe my boredom that had led me to question such little things.

"Psst." Logan nudged me. "To your left, there's a guy staring at you." I whispered. I rolled my eyes, making the effort not to look to my left.

"Logan, I would rather focus on my job than some random guy who happens to be looking at me." He knew I did not care that much, but I knew he would not let it go that easily.

"You should care, he is probably the most attractive person I have seen in a long time." He gushed a little. I laughed but tried to quiet myself as Logan gave me a moody glare.

"Then maybe you need glasses, I don't think 'the most attractive person you have seen in a long time' would be looking at me, especially not in this café uniform."

"So are we just going to ignore the fact most girls would kill to look like you or...?" He looked at me expectantly before continuing. "I honestly don't see how you are so oblivious that literally everyone is attracted to you."

"Funny. Should I look to my left then?" I asked.

"NO!" He said a little too loudly. "First of all you have to be subtle. And also, it isn't just a random person so do not be too alarmed when you see who it is, okay?"

Oh, no. No, no, no, no. It couldn't be, right? I questioned whether I was too wary to even turn, but now I was curious and I had to know if it was him or not. My stomach dropped and I felt my heart beat. No one else made me get these kind of nerves, I did not like it. It was unfair. I slowly turned. Illuminated, emerald eyes met my gaze, and I quickly snapped my head away. Why was Parker here? He had never come before last Friday, why was he back? I needed to escape from him, I needed to erase him from my mind and if I were going to see him at work it would not help. Suddenly, I felt nothing beside rage. This was my café, I did not own it but it was special to me and it was not fair that he could come in here and jeopardise me wanting to come here. I had clearly told him I did not want to see him again. Could he not respect that?

I stormed over to his table waving my finger in his face angrily.

"What on earth are you doing here!?" I demanded. He jumped back for a moment a little startled by my reaction, though he quickly contained himself and concealed any shock left on his face.

"Coffee." He answered simply and he grinned at he took another sip.

"Why here? You never came here before last Friday. I told you I did not want to see you again, is it impossible for you to respect that?" I ranted viciously, I had no hold backs.

"I-" He began. I quickly cut him off.

"No, I am not finished. This is where I work, I have come here a lot longer than you. I don't want to see you here, and I think it is more than extremely rude for you to come again. And you were looking at me as well? You could at least be a tiny bit subtle." I blurted.

He paused. As a moment of calm washed over the both of us, my anger drained and my frantic mind was cooled. The quiet between us in contrast to my shouting and accusing made me feel rather stupid. I never used to care how I seemed, and I didn't want to care but I could not help it.

"I own this café." He spoke bluntly after another moment.

"No, Mia owns the café." I argued, mainly because I knew that as soon as the reality hit me it would be embarrassing.

"She started the business, I own the building. I also lent her the money to start up, I take a quarter of the café earnings." Oh great. So I had shouted at him for being in his own café. I struggled to reply.

"I- uhm..." I stuttered.

"It's fine Thunder, to be fair I didn't used to come here much, but I'm starting to realise it's a pretty nice spot." That I could agree with. It was strange how he had seemed so similar to my father in the business world, but now I was discovering he was very different. My father would never invest in a small café like Parker did. He paid more attention to genuinely nice things.

"I'll just get back to work, you enjoy your coffee." As I turned he caught my wrist, it was like déjà vu of the previous Saturday. I sighed. "Don't tell me to wait again Parker, nothing has changed."

"Sorry I just-" He gave me a very thoughtful look before letting go. I did not budge as he looked like he might continue speaking. "I want to understand, I really do, but I can't why after you had a good time you still seem to hate me." He had clearly gotten the opposite message to what had actually happened. And to think I thought I had given away too much.

"I don't hate you, it's more complex than that. It is nothing against you Parker, I really appreciate you taking me out, honestly." I saw his eyes shine hopefully. "Goodbye." I walked away. This time I turned back, just for a moment. He was not looking at me, he was looking down at his coffee, simply thinking.

Dealing with Logan after he saw me go over to Parker was not as tough as I had expected, I just had to use my aggressive tone to get him to shut up about it. It was not long before I my shift ended, and I wandered home.