I'VE GOT MY EYE ON YOU, tyler galpin

6 / the job at the cafe

I've got my eye on you

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Tyler turned to look at Alice with a confused expression on his face. "Wait, really? Why? How did they let you in? That school is for outcasts only."

"They said it wasn't a problem to let one normal person in there," Alice shrugged and stirred her tea. "They told me how great my grades are and all, but I also kinda lowkey wanted to see what's in there myself, I've lived in this town my whole childhood and I never saw what was behind those walls."

 "I only heard horror stories coming from there, even some messed up ones." Alice silently agreed with him. "You didn't tell me why are you going there?"

"Hm-mmm? Oh, yeah, uh, no reason," Alice tried to keep herself calm with an awkward chuckle. "I just, uh, wanted to spend my last year of school here in my hometown."

"You do know there's a high school for us just around the corner, right?"

"Yeah, but it's pretty shitty, no offense."

Tyler let out a wrily chuckle. "None taken. So, does it mean you're staying here for the entire year?"

Alice sharply inhaled and leaned back in her seat. "Yeah, I am. But there's something I have to ask you." Her and Tyler's eyes met each other. "If we want for this to happen, can we take it slower? I feel like we rushed and I want to enjoy every moment, you know? There's no need to rush somewhere, we have all the time in the world."

"Wait," Tyler shook his head and came closer to the girl. "So does that mean you're...we're..."

Alice could see he was struggling to find the right words out of joy. "Am I really gonna have to spell it out for you?"

The couple laughed at her joke and enjoyed their warm cups of tea as the rain began to cool down little by little. The sidewalks were all wet, people were walking with their umbrellas and Alice realized she had to go home just in time.

"You know, I'm probably going to head home," She said and stood up from the table. "It's getting pretty late and my aunt's probably worried about me."

"Oh, yeah, of course," The boy cleared his throat and also stood up. "I can go with you."

"It's a minute away from here."

"That's perfectly fine."

Alice laughed at his answer and the two walked out of Weathervane into the rainy evening. Their trip didn't last long and they were already standing at the doorstep of Alice's apartment building before they even noticed.

"Well, this is me." The girl chuckled as they both stood close together under the little roof covering the steps to the entrance. 

As Alice kept looking around, Tyler couldn't take his eyes off her. "I'm very glad you stayed." He brushed her wet hair out of her face and cupped it by her soft left cheek.

His touch felt comforting for Alice as she smiled and hummed. "Me too."

Alice's face was being lifted by Tyler's hand closer to his without even seeing it but when their lips were right in front of each other, Tyler stopped. "Is this called taking it slow?"

The girl softly chuckled at his silly question and nodded. "Yes, it's exactly what I meant." And pressed her lips against his first.

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Ever since that evening, Alice could feel she was up in the clouds out of joy like a little girl. And they managed to take it actually slow, savoring the time they spent together just how Alice wanted to. 

School was less than two weeks away and the first day of school was coming closer and closer by the day, time was moving much faster than you could think.

Alice walked into the kitchen one morning, about to make some breakfast, but found Nancy sitting at the kitchen table with files scattered everywhere. She looked exhausted and annoyed as if she stayed there all night. 

"Something wrong? So many papers don't mean anything good..."

"Oh, it's nothing, it's just..." Her aunt heavily sighed and leaned back in her chair, taking off her reading glasses and rubbing her eyes. "Both Anna and Julia quit the job because they're leaving Jericho, so we're understaffed right now."

"How bad?" Alice asked, sitting down next to her.

"Bad enough I thought I was going to ask you to work."

That offer took Alice out of nowhere but in a good way. The thought of actually working for her aunt had come up in her mind, but she figured it would make other workers feel weird about the owner's niece working there but now, since there are barely any workers left, that won't be a problem.

"I mean, sure, yeah."

"You think you'll be able to work with Tyler?" Nancy moved in closer to her with a proud smirk. "Will you be able to keep your hands off each other?"

Alice moved in closer to her with that same smile. "Grow up."

The girl stood up from the table and walked back to the kitchen as Nancy playfully scoffed at her behavior. "You know, when I was your age, I was a lot laid back than you are. I, at least, had fun, went to clubs and-"

"What kind of club was here in Jericho is already gone and I don't doubt you were a big party animal anyways," Alice poured in some coffee for herself and leaned against the counter. "But I want to achieve my dreams."

"Are you saying I didn't?" 

"Don't take it so personally, I'm saying it in general," Alice heavily sighed to herself as she walked over to the living room window and looked down at the cafe. "But I would be committing a crime if I didn't work at my aunt's brilliant cafe before I left."

"Yay, I'm so happy!" Nancy stood up from her seat and walked over to Alice with open arms, tightly hugging her. "You have no idea how you're helping me and I promise, I'll pay you."

"No need, I already drink and eat there for free, asking for a paycheck would be disrespectful," Alice reassured her. "Especially when that cafe has given so much joy already."

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"Wait, so you'll work with me?" Tyler asked as Alice watched him make coffees for others. 

"Yeah, but probably temporarily," The girl replied. "In the meantime, Nancy will be looking for new workers."

"Yeah, that's what you said about staying in Jericho as well." Tyler reminded her with a smile as he picked up two coffee cups from the counter.

Alice scoffed at his response and took the coffee herself. "You're unbelievable." She chuckled as she walked to one of the tables and put the coffees down for the couple before quickly walking over to Tyler back again. "And you're fine with me working here, correct?"

"Oh, yeah, I even like that a lot," Tyler smiled at her in response. "But you're already here so much, you working here officially won't make a difference."

"Fair enough," She sighed to herself at the counter. "Hey, can you make me a latte real fast? I'm going to take my Nevermore exams and I can't fall asleep there."

"Oh, really? Then good luck," Tyler wished her and began making her drink. "I'm sure you'll definitely get in."

"Oh, I really hope so, which is why last night I actually tried studying: I gathered some books from the library and learned the shit out of history."

"Did it work?" Tyler curiously asked as he put down her go-to cup for her. 

"I guess I'll find out now," Alice said before kissing him on the cheek and running out as fast as she could. "Bye!"

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