Into the ocean's abyss

Chapter 4: Apartment

I've been staying with Jack for a week now. Im redy to move into my apartment. It is on the 4th floor. Just two floors above Jack. The reality of having to find a job as soon as possible is setting in. I give myself the day to get setteld in before I need to go find a job.

My apartment is smaller than Jack's with only one bedroom, which has a bathroom in, a kitchen, a small living room and a small dining room and one guest bathroom. I chose this apartment because I needed a place to move into as soon as possible. And on the plus side, it has a balcony!! I can plant some flowers in pots here.

I unpack my duffelbag with my close into my drawers and unpack my backpack which is almost just books and toiletries. There is a small bookshelf above the place where the television is suppose to go. In the living room there is a back leather couch with two blue cushions and a arm chair. The dining room has a small round table which is suteble for two people, it has matching wood chairs. The kitchen has a couple of cupboards ,and a oven and a stove, kettle, microwave and fridge. All I need now is plates,cutlery and food. My bed already has sheets but I think I'll get some new sheets. I'm so thankful that I haven't spent my dad's money before because this is going to cost quite a bit.

I went to the store and got everything I needed. It's about 9pm now.
I made me some coffee and sat down on the balcony. I decide to go through the photo's that Jack had took over this past week and selected 3 to post on my Instagram. I have quite a bit of folowers on Instagram because of all the schools I've been in. Moving from foster home to foster home ment new schools each time. I've been in 5 schools all together before I became "unadoptive" because I'm too told.
I tag Jack's Instagram too. I put my phone down and just admire my view of the park.
I heard a knock on the door and let Jack inside. I made him some coffee and we sat on the balcony talking. I told him that I'm looking for a job.
"You know, I own the café, I can give you a job," he said before taking a sip of coffee.
"What! You OWN the café . But you're 19!" I said absolutely flabbergasted.
"It was my mum's before she passed. She left it to my dad but he was a alcoholic. So I dropped out of school to work there and run the place. He passed shortly after that and I was left in my uncle's custody. You know, like the rich beach house boat uncle. He was never around tho, so he got me an apartment here and sends me money monthly. I don't complain tho. I mean, living alone at 16 was a big step, but I didn't have a other option. But we never let it seem like I lived alone otherwise I would have been put in an orphanage," I could see the hurt in his face so I took his hand, comforting him.
Everything made sense now. Like being able to afford all those things in his house at 19!
"I'm so sorry to hear that Jack, I would never have guessed it," I said giving his hand a squeeze.

We sat there talking a while. He left at 11pm. I'm starting my first day at work Monday at 9am. I'm getting a good salary though. I don't yet know what I'll be doing yet, I'll probably be a waiter. He pays his waiters good. I can deck the apartment rent with the money and have some spending money left.
He is probably one of the best things that has happened in my life yet.

It's 7:30 and I'm already dressed. I'm nervous about work. I've never had a real job. And I'll be working with Jack.

About Jack... he is so sweet and so caring and I really don't know what he sees in me. He is so handsome. He looks like a blue eyed blond fluffy haired Theo James. He is so smart for someone who didn't even finish school. He is so funny. Oh no. I think I'm falling for him. In just a week! ONE WEEK!

I'm at work and it's busy. People come here for their pastries clearly. I'm actually enjoying working. Getting to talk with the people. I never could talk to people though. I've been learning lately and made it one of my life missions. I have really bad anxiety and I'm trying to make it a bit better. It's working though. This is great practice.

It's lunchtime now and Jack gave me a hour breaktime. I'm sitting outside a bit and listening to music when Jack comes.
"Aren't you going to eat something? I made a pie for you," he said sliding a hand around my back and waist.
"YOU make the pastries?!" I asked grabing ahold of his shoulders.
"Ofcourse I do, why do you think the people come here so much," he said mockingly .
A thought crosses my mind .
Why did he serve me that one day if he is busy in the kitchen.
And so I asked him about it and he just said," well the thing is, I run the whole place. On my own. I do everything because that is how I operate. I don't like help."
"Why did you hire me than?" I asked a bit confused.
"Because it is an excuse to look at you the whole day," he said putting his other arm around my waist too.
"You Casanova," I say while giving his shoulder a little punch.

We return to the café and continue working.
It's 6pm and we just finished working and cleaning up. He gave me my work schedule.

Mondays- Fridays form 9am-6pm
Saturdays from 7am-2pm
Sundays- off

We head to my apartment and I cook for us. One of my foster mum's taught me how to cook. The my last one, when I was 15 year's old. I made some spaghetti for us.
When we finished I cleared the table and started washing the plates while Jack sat on the counter top and told me stories about his mum. She sounds so sweet.

We sat on the couch talking all night. When Jack looked at his watch it was about 2am. He left my apartment and I went to bed.

I arrived at work at 8:45 but Jack wasn't there. I waited until 9:10 before going to his apartment. I knocked on his door but there was no answer. I got worried and phoned him. He picked up.
"Where are you?" I asked.
"Huh, how late is it? Shoot! Wait, are you at my door?"
"Yeah I am," I said relieved that he is okay and probably just over slept.
"There is a spare key under the doormat, come in," he said and then hung up.
I let myself in and found him in his boxers in the kitchen fumbling around with some keys.
He came over giving me a hug and then said," I need you to open for me, I'll  be down in 20 minutes. Are you okay with that?" He asked.
"Yeah sure, you just get dressed," I said taking the keys from his hands.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are a life saver Nina!" He came around the counter and planted a kiss on my cheek.

I opened the shop and got the place up and running. He arrived 20 minutes later. You can see that he didn't even have time to comb his hair. I laughed at him and ruffled my hands in his hair trying to make it look more decent.
"You didn't even comb your hair,"I said still running my fingers through his wavy hair that hangs right above his eyes. He has the same hair as Conrad from "The summer I turned pretty".
"I left it like this so you could fix it for me," he said looking into my eyes. He looked down at my lips but right when he wanted to come in for a kiss the door opened and a customer walked in. He let go of my waist but whispered in my ear,"to be continued..."