Her and the Basketball Champion

chapter 17

Eliza

It's been a few days since the basketball game, and I havn't seen Jonas since. 

I'm currently sitting in my English Lit class, answering some questions on the book we're reading, and I really need a tea right now. I still have half an hour left of the school day and my head is hurting from withdrawals. I put my fingers to my temples and start to rub small circles to try and soothe the pain. 

I start my first shift at the Cafe today, at 5pm. That gives me enough time to go home, pray and change into a black shirt and trousers. The thing I'm excited for the most is wearing that cute apron with the cartoon coffee mug on it.

I finish up my questions and start to pack up when the teacher tells us we can go.

I shove my books into my bag, not bothering to place them neatly, because I just want to get out of here. 

I speed walk out of the classroom and down the corridor, opening the doors. 

Unfortunately for me, I run right into someone. I think I need to take a breath, because this rushing is not helping me. 

The persons hand moves down to my waist to steady me so I don't fall upon impact, and out of instinct, i put my hands out in front of me, which just so happens to be on a lovely chest. A male chest at that. I tense up, much to aware of the 'halal' proximity. 

I quickly step back and look up to meet familiar blue-green eyes. 

Jonas.

Can this day get any worse. I'm always ending up in awkward positions with him.

"Sorry." I let out a small smile and step around him so I can continue on my way home.

"Hey, are you okay?" I can hear some concern in his voice as he speaks, and I turn back around to look at him .

He's wearing a dress shirt which is untucked and his sleeves are rolled up, exposing his forearms, and the sight nearly makes me fall again. His smart, black trousers show off his tall legs and I quickly look back up to him so I don't look like a freak staring at him. 

"Uh yeah, I'm good. Just in a rush." He nods and opens his mouth as if to say something, but then closes it again. I raise my eyebrows expectantly but he just shakes his head, giving me a grin. I roll my eyes and turn towards the double doors. I'm starting to get hot standing in this corridor, and I really need to get home so I can get ready for my work shift. 

I push open the doors and embrace the cool air as it whips my hijab against my face, blinding me and making me huff out in annoyance. I aggressively pull it down as I walk away from the block. 

My thoughts wonder back to Jonas as I walk out of the gates towards my house. The way that dress shirt looked on him, and those goddamn trousers. 

He looked concerned for some reason, and I'm now dying to know what he was about to say to me before I left. 

I walk up the front pathway to my house and grab my key from my bag, unlocking the door. I'm usually the first one home after school as my mum's school is quite far away. My dad is usually home around half an hour after me and my sister should be home any minute now too.  I think my brother has a club today, so he won't be back any time soon. 

I take my shoes off and walk upstairs, dumping my backpack on my bed and removing my headscarf so I can make Wudu to pray. 

It doesn't take me long to get ready and change clothes, and half an hour before my shift starts, I'm sitting on my bed with my phone in hand, scrolling through tiktok. I don't live that far away from the Cafe, so it wont take me long to get there, but I might just go early so I can have my daily dose of tea. 

I lazily get up off my bed, making my way back downstairs. Grabbing a jacket from the coatrack, i slip my school shows on and step out of the house. Somehow, the weather has gotten worse, and the wind has become even stronger than before as I shut my front door, making sure to lock up, and start the short walk to the Cafe. It's not long before I arrive, and I hurry inside, glad at the temperature change and lack of wind inside the shop. 

I walk over to the counter, noticing that there are quite a few people scattered around with their laptops out, typing away, or sitting in groups or two's, chatting away happily. 

I walk around behind the counter and through the doors at the back. It's not what I expected at all. There's a mini kitchen as soon as you walk in and a lounge area to the right. There's a door heading off next to one of the sofas sitting against the wall. and I walk towards it in an attempt to try and find Josie.

"Lizzie, you're here. I wasn't expecting you here this early." I turn around towards the entrance of the, what i assume, is the break room, and smile at Josie as she walks towards me and gives me a quick hug. She's wearing her normal attire. All black with the cute apron. Her hair is in a messy bun at the back of her head. 

'"I thought I would come early to get to know the place, and have a quick cup before i start? Is that okay?" 

"Sure. I'll give you a quick tour. There's really not much to it but that door is the stock room if anything runs out up front. We usually check and restock before shutting so everything's ready for the morning. This is the lounge area." She points to the sofas and then urns to the kitchen. "This is just where we keep snacks and separate coffee and teabags for whenever your break is. That's basically it. I'll teach you how to make the different lates and hot chocolates and other fancy coffee's with the machine. It's not that hard, and I'm sure you'll get the hang of it." She tells me.

I nod my head to her, and follow her out to the front again, watching intently as she shows me how to work the machine and make different drinks. She's right, they are easy, and I'm sure I'll get the hang of it as I keep practicing. 

I think I'm really going to enjoy working here.