for, lover (Completed; editing)

Chapter 10

I had the worst dream about Miles last night. It definitely compares to the worst nightmares I've gotten before that would keep me awake until it was time for sunrise.

Me and Maddy had spent the day snooping through Trent and Reed's Facebook pages. I gathered some lousy information that I had saved on a note in my phone. I was surprised Maddy actually acted like she wanted to help me after admitting once again that she thought he was guilty. I hate to say that I'm starting to feel that way myself now that another day has gone by without him calling me back with answers. I'm past thinking he'll ever call me back.

I'm to the point where I don't even think I'm doing this for him anymore. This is for our best friend who should have walked the graduation stage with us and who should be staying in this apartment with us like we had planned on what seems like so many years ago.

I head into work after a long sleepless night, dreading this shift. Jesse is once again sitting in the back on his damn phone. He looks up at me and jumps to his feet.

"Sorry, I was responding to my mom."

I don't feel like arguing with him this morning so I just tell him to go back on the floor and make some drinks. Vanessa walks to the back shortly after I clock in and takes a seat at the desk. I don't even go on the floor for three hours because I have to do a shit ton of computer work first.

She sets her purse on the desk and grabs her apron from it.

"Good morning." She says mid yawn.

I chuckle knowing I probably look just as tired. It's nice seeing someone who is physically exhausted still in a good mood. Wish that could be me sometimes.

"Want to make both of us a shot?" I ask her.

That perks her up. She nods and rushes out onto the floor, returning shortly with two cups of espresso. We both throw them back and I begin looking through applications.

Jeff wants me to hire five new people in the next few weeks so I have to start interviewing as soon as possible. There's a lot of great applicants hopefully with enough enthusiasm to withstand working here. I'm crossing my fingers that they're good at acting like assholes which is the main job requirement anyway. It actually might be easier to be mean to customers than being fake nice to them.

I go ahead and make the upcoming schedule then walk out to the floor. Vanessa is yelling at Jesse about something and it catches the attention of a few customers in the lobby.

"That's why your lattes taste like shit!" Vanessa screams and shoves an empty cup in Jesse's hands.

I rush over and try my best to put myself between them so they don't do anything crazy.

"What is going on?" I ask calmly.

Jesse flips Vanessa off and walks to the back. She slams the other cup that was in her hand down on the counter.

"I can't stand working with him. He's such a prick!" She shouts.

"Okay, okay. Do you want to go ahead and go on your break? Go take a breather."

She nods slightly and wipes the build up of tears from her eyes.

"Want me to make you a drink?"

"Yeah, just a cold brew with cream." She says quietly and pulls her apron over her head.

I grab one of the medium cups from the stand and pour a 3:1 ratio of cold brew and cream just the way she likes it. Vanessa walks out to sit in her car for her break. I huff and walk to the back now that the steadiness had died down to talk to Jesse. He's in the back room standing against the wall.

"What's your deal?" I ask him.

He sticks a mint on the tip of his tongue and shuts his mouth, shrugging his shoulders.

"She was being annoying."

I roll my eyes.

"Jesse, you're at work. Quit causing problems with your coworkers and do your job."

He laughs whole heartedly and pushes away from the wall.

"You're one to talk. You're always bringing up your problems and you're supposed to be the boss here."

I admit a few months ago I did seek advice from Vanessa through my mini breakdowns I had a work. It wasn't my intention at all to bring my personal problems into work but I really needed someone to talk to. I wish he hadn't worked those days to see me like that.

"I realize that was unprofessional and I've tried really hard to work through my shit so that wouldn't happen again but I am your boss and I don't want to see you getting into fights with anyone anymore. Got it?"

He grins and starts chewing on the mint. Who the fuck chews mints?

"No problem."

He pats my back and walks back onto the floor. I sigh and follow him out there to start taking people's orders who started showing up out of nowhere.

Vanessa comes back from her break with slightly swollen eyes and a nose as red as her high tops. She walks right past me and Jesse to go back to making drinks and interacting with customers. I hate the thought of her crying on what's supposed to be her break.

When the next barista comes in to cover me getting off, I pull Vanessa to the side to talk to her before I leave.

"Are you okay?" I ask her softly.

She glances behind her to make sure no one is listening and nods her head.

"I've just had a long week." She says.

"Is there anything I can do? I know there's only so much your manager can do but I also feel like I'm your friend so if you ever need to talk, we can talk."

I grab her hands and squeeze them confidently. That puts a small smile on her face just as I had hoped.

"No, I'll be okay. I can handle it. Thank you though."

"Any time. I'll see you later. Try to have a nice rest of your shift."

She shoots me a thumbs up and walks back to the floor. I clock out, grab my stuff from the back, and head out to my car.

"Bree! Hey!"

I know the voice as soon as I hear it. I don't make it to my car in time as Tony walks up to me from his car across the lot.

"Hey. What's up?"

I'm literally carrying my work bag. I know I look like shit. He must be able to tell that I'm kind of in a hurry to get home.

"Oh, are you about to leave? Did I catch you at a bad time?"

"Yeah but it's not a bad time. What's up with you?" I ask him.

"I just came by to get a coffee. I was also kind of hoping I'd run into you." He says with a smile.