Let's Be Awkward Together

On Kik (Adrian)

THE TIME HAS COME! NEXT CHAPTER IS OUT!!!!! THANKS FOR ALL OF THE HELP GUYS! (LOL I JUST REALIZED THAT SOUNDED SARCASTIC . . . BEING FOR REAL THO) YOUR INPUT GAVE ME INSPIRATION!

CREDIT!!!!

@lrestrepo156

@KylieFraser

{another person who'd like to be anonymous, you know who you are :D}

Thanks you guys!

The bell rings.

Fucking school isn't over.

I'm so ready for it to be done.

I feel abandoned, in a way. From Caleb. I'm livid at the fact that I found out Caleb was cheating on me during the school day. No where near simmer break yet, which is in July. I correct my slumpy posture and get up from my seat, exiting the classroom. I trudge to class. It's not really shock and anger anymore. It's more of depression. The whole cheating thing sinking in. How annoying to not feel good.

"Hey baby, feeling better?" Grace wraps her arms around me. I feel protected by anyone who is taller than me (I guess other than Ana-Maria), so I feel more at ease in her embrace.

"Not amazing. But, eh."

"I see. If you need anything, I'll be there in a heartbeat, so you let me know."

7th period is over, the bell rings, and everyone is eager to go home and I realize that today I have work. How am I going to text Elijah? I work until six o' clock!

I could lie and say I feel sick . . . no, but Mrs. Watanabe is a nice woman. I shouldn't be deceitful.

This is so important though. I'm so angry. And I need to direct that anger to the source.

I almost cry. I hold it in though until I get home. No one will ever see me cry. I've sworn to myself to never show any sign of weakness in front of people. They're too cruel - I can't risk that. Fucking Caleb. Douche. I look on the bright side, though. I knew he was a bit of a player, and to be honest, I thought that we should've ended it.

I just wish, deep down, that I would've stayed ignorant and in the dark about him cheating on me . . . I wouldn't be in so much pain right now.

I get on my bike and power ride to the Cafe I work at, Sweet Marlays. I always went there as a kid. Only three girls would run the place. When I would come all the time sixteen years ago, the oldest, the mother of Mrs.Watanabe, was 40, and the best friends, Mrs. Watanabe and Mrs. Corzine, who were both 26. They're best friends, even now. They're 42 now, and they're always talking about how old I've gotten. Mrs. Watanabe's mother died of cancer when I was five. Mrs. Watanabe is only there now, though, because Mrs. Corzine was widowed recently. Her husband was a drinker, and he died of liver failure four years ago. She's been mourning, and trying to cope ever since. He was a nice man. He always bought me balloons on the boardwalk. They've been through a lot. And I think it's all the better that way. Because they're amazing. They're all like family to us, and my whole town.

Here I am, talking like I'm ancient or something. It gets you sentimental and makes you talk like you're really old, reminiscing.

I'm here. I open the door, and the bell rings, as always. Heavy aromas of caramel, and chocolate, and small pastries and pies, and most of all, Mrs. Watanabe fill my senses.

"Hello, dear!" She walks over and squeezes me, and I squeeze back. She's a plump woman, and a bit shorter than I am. "Oh, you're growing everyday, aren't you" She puts her hand on my head, as if to measure me. "You're so pretty. How are you? How was school?" She goes behind the counter and sorts . "Anything juicy happening?"

"Thank you . . . And I don't want to talk about school."

"See, I felt something was wrong. What a shame, dear. Come over here." She holds her hand out for a hug. "Here, have some avocado bubble tea. Your favorite." Mrs. Watanabe, or Ethel, has always been intuitive, and her mother always did crystal healing, and reiki, and would meditate every morning. She's from a long line of monks. I think maybe that's why I gravitated towards her, like my second mother.

All of the sudden, she had put on a really serious face. "Adrian, listen to me." She walks towards me and cups my cheeks. "I have something very important to tell you."

"Anything, Mrs. Watanabe."

"I want you, when I pass, because I will - "

"Ethel, why are you saying such a thing?"

"You cannot hide from the inevitable. I'm young, yes, but I never know how many breaths I'll take until the last one. Look at Lucy. Her husband went so young. And my mother." Lucy, Mrs. Corzine.

She has a point.

"Not to scare you . . . because I love you with all my heart and soul. But one day, I want you to take on the responsiblity of this shop. Can you do that?"

You'd think that my imidiate answer would be yes, but I am hesitant because I'm still so young.

What if I fail? I don't want to disappoint Mrs. Watnabe, or her mother, or Mrs. Corzine.

"Honey. You won't."

Reading my thoughts, just like always.

. . .

"Yes."

"How delightful! I'm so glad!" We both smile. I, out of nowhere, notice the silenceinthe shop. It's always quiet, but today we don't have many customers.

"Ethel, why is it that we don't have a lot of customers?"

"Oh! This time of year is the fall bash! You know how it's so hectic over the bridge. All of the attraction is over there."

Hmm . . .

"I see. Oh - Mrs. Watanabe, I found a yummy recipe on Pinterest for the menu the other day and wrote it down. Here!" I silde the small peice of paper on the counter. "I have something I have to be at."

"Reealllyyy?" She raises her eyebrow. Does she know?

"Okay! Get home safe!"

"Okay Mrs. Watanabe!" I kiss her on the cheek. "I love you, bye!"

"Bye, dear!"

I walk out of the shop, and sigh a sigh of relief. Mrs. Watanabe wouldn't like it if she knew I was trying to make someone jealous. I grab out my phone and look for the username Elijah gave me. I text him.

(__)　_(._.)_　_(_^_)_　　　m(__)m m(_ _)m Sorry I didn't text you sooner!

God, I love emojis.

I pedal home, and hope he sees my text. And most of all, I hope he doesn't back out.

ANNOUNCEMENT :DDD

SO THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE IN 7-8 YEARS TIME . . . BUT I PLAN ON MAKING LET'S BE AWKWARD TOGETHER A MANGA. ;DDDD So, to support me, I guess you could spread the word or buy it when it's out. I guess it's pretty useless to tell you now, because it's so early . . . but yeah. I just wanted you guys to know bc ilysfm ;DDD