Life & Love of the Tormented

Chapter Two

"Hey! Amelia!"

I look up to see Benjamin with his hand up in the air in an almost frozen wave, standing outside the Starbucks building. He's dressed in his usual black ripped skinny jeans, high top chuck taylors and an acid wash tee with writing across the chest that's so beyond faded it's now unreadable.

"Hey Fucker!", I yell back as I jog across the road looking both ways ensuring I don't end up road kill. Even though that sounds a lot more appealing than having to face my anxiety and go into my first class. Which starts in exactly half an hour.

  Fuck...

"Coffee?", Ben asks.

"Stupid fucking question isn't it?", I reply with obvious sarcasm dripping off of every word.

As we approach the counter Ben pulls his wallet out and hands me a ten dollar note, "Extra large long black, one sugar please", he asks before turning to choose us a table.

"No food?", I ask to the back of his head.

"Nah", he says shaking his hand above his head as he continues to walk away.

  "Hi there, how can I help you this fine morning?", beamed the overly chipper, lightly bearded hipster, standing behind the counter. His crisply ironed denim apron and perfectly stretched smile across his youthful face looks like a picture from an career path advertisement. His hyper mood however is like a punch to my face.

Get fucked! No one is this happy! Especially this early!

"Not no one, just you, grumpy bitch", My conscience insults me inside.

I roll my eyes to myself.

"Umm yeah hi, can I have one extra large long black with one sugar and a triple espresso with a dash of milk and 2 sugars", I say with a more irritated tone than I'd intended. "Please", I add trying to soften the way I just spoke.

"Is that all for today darlin'?"

Eh, cringe.

"Umm and a ham and cheese toasted croissant please", I reply trying my best version of a normal functioning human and force a smile. It's not hard to tell it's slapped across my face... I try to imitate his and fail tragically.

"Name please?", he asks.

"Amelia".

"Fabulous! That will be $21.50 thank you Amelia".

I tap my card and turn on my heel in search of where Ben chose for us to sit before I let my shitty mood affect this poor barista's day any further.

"He's just trying to do his job Amelia, stop being a bitch because you're wound up and anxious!", my conscience speaks up again.

At this point I'm even pissed off with the voice inside my head.

"Can you not!?", I curse her inwardly.

Today is going to be a great fucking day.

  "What's wrong?", Ben asks, searching my face as I take my seat at the table. His eyes focus on where my brow is pulled into a tight scowl.

"Huh?", I snap begrudgingly, exposing my irritation.

  "If looks could kill, we'd all be dead", he replies motioning to my face. "What's up?", he asks again.

"Oh nothing, just a tad nervous for today... AND before you say anything, I know I'll be fine, blah blah blah so shut the fuck up", I snap again, shutting him down before he can say anything else.