From Mystery to Romance

An Xander Chapter: Tears

It was 6:00 a.m. Time to go to work. Horray. I hated work. Even though it was at Starbucks It's always so complicated. Angry customers yelling at us for taking too long to prep their orders. Then those customers who have a weird and long order. And if we miss one step of their order, they get so mad. Ugh! So annoying.

But what can you do? I had to get money. And that was the only way.

I took a shower, brushed my teeth, got dressed, and headed to work.

When I got there, all the girl workers started waving and tried to grab my attention. I hated that. 

I was apparently the only and first boy worker there. How? Don't ask.

"Hey, Xander! You're looking nice today." Lucy flirted.

"Wow. Thanks." I mumbled. 

I started taking some orders and about an hour later, someone came in.

The one I didn't want to see at all.

Emily Sanders.

Her messy curly black hair, hoodie, and jeans entered the store miserably.

I groaned when she came to the checkout, "What do you want?"

"Carmel frappuccino.  And maybe a brownie." She said in an annoyed voice.

My dad and Emily's parents are friends. The last time I was at her house was when I was 12. Then my dad thought it was better if he went alone. I never knew exactly why, but I was happy he chose to do that. Emily and I hated each other. Since we were close in age(me being a year older than her), she was always trying to talk to me. I guess she had a crush on me because it seemed pretty obvious. Thankfully, she seems over me.

"I meant, what do you want from me?" I said.

"Exactly! Carmel frappuccino and a brownie." She repeated.

"Ugh. Fine," I pressed some buttons on the screen, then said, "Were you crying?"

She turned her head to me, "Why would you care?"

"I don't. I'm just wondering." I told her. The fact is though, I did care. I hated when she cried.

She rolled her red puffy eyes, "Just get me my order."

"Will do." I got her brownie and told Lucy to start doing her drink.

"Whatever you say!" Lucy said in a flirty tone.

I saw as Emily sat on the table. It was obvious she cried. Her eyes are puffy and red. And she kept looking and the table with her lips trembling.

Uh-oh.

I've seen her cry before. Every time she cries, her lips tremble. I hate it when she cries. Whenever her sister Julia cried, or her cousin Ruthy, they would cry about stupid things, but still, get attention. Emily on the other hand cried on only very serious things. I remember seeing her cry about her best friend, Judith, death. I couldn't bear to look at her then. She was so depressed. And ever since then, she wasn't the same. I don't even think she had any other friends ever since then. But whenever she was about to cry about her, her lip trembles. The sad thing though is that no one paid attention to her tears. They kept telling her to cut it out. I wanted to help her then, but it felt like there was nothing I could do.

I looked her in the eye. I felt like I was reading her mind. She gave me a look. It was like she was asking for help. I knew Emily didn't want to seem like a baby and be made fun of for letting her feelings out.

I couldn't help her then, but I can at least help her now. 

I went over to Lucy (who was barely doing her job) and grabbed the blender from her hand, "I'll do it!" 

"Xander, your such a gentleman!" She put a hand on my shoulder but I shrugged it off. I spilled the drink she was doing for the drive-thru and made Emily's drink quick.

"Emily," I said.

She turned to me and grabbed the drink. Then she walked out of the store.

Well, I guess I helped her out.

__________

I was done with my shift and decided to go to the park. It was the last place my mother took me before she died. I always had good memories there.

But when I arrived someone else was there.

Crying.

Tears were rolling down their face.

Tears.

And trembling lips.

It was Emily.

She was crying her eyes out.

I have never seen anything sadder.

Not even my mom's funeral was as sad as this.

I decided to leave her alone a bit. It wasn't like I could make things any better.

But I watched her from distance. I hated to see Emily this sad. Even though I hated her. I wondered what she was crying about. Her parents? No. Another friend's death? No, she doesn't have any other friends. Then what? 

I sat there watching her while she sat in the January air. It was cool, not even a bit frosty outside. Weird. But, I knew that all of that crying was making Emily colder. Inside and out. Finally, Emily got up and walked to her car. I hid under my seat to avoid her from seeing me. Once she drove away, I got back up and went to the playground. I sat where Emily was sitting. And as I sat down, I notice there was a small puddle of water. Wait, no. 

Tears.