This Old Coffee Shop - A Before You Exit Fanfiction

Chapter One; School's Out, Work Begins

The last bell of the day had finally sounded, announcing  freedom for the next three months.

The class of 2014 jumped up out of their desks, nearly giving  Mrs. Shrawtz a heart attack.

Mrs. Shrawtz was widowed and has been for over 50 years now. You would think someone would get over someone if they were gone for 50 years...nope...Mrs. Shrawtz always manages to get on topic of how wonderful her old husband was and how lonely it is without him.

For some reason I felt sympathy for her. I know what it feels like to be alone.

I walked over to her desk and piped up saying "I hope you have a nice summer!" with a sweet smile plastered on my face.

"Oh-..why thank you Clara! You're so sweet!" He voice sounded crackly..like the voice of my grandmother. She stood up and started arranging the mess the other students had left.

"Oh these students..they never change..." She said while picking up a textbook and slamming it onto a desk. There was a moment of silence.

"Well...I gotta get going before my ride leaves me.." I chuckled to try and break down the awkwardness.

"Oh that's fine! Go on your way! Come back to visit me next year! Have a good summer Clara!" She yelled at me as I walked out the door.

"Thanks you too!" I yelled back.

As soon as I walked out of the door and turned the corner I ran into my ride, Carter.

"Come on! I've seen my grandparents walk faster than you,’ there was a pause. "and they're dead.’" Same old Carter, making clever remarks anytime she can.

I gotta give her props though, she's quick to crack jokes. I caught up to her and linked my arm in hers.

"Ready for a summer full of hell?!" I asked with fake enthusiasm oozing out of me.

"Come on Clara it won't be that bad!" Carter replied.

"Umm.. working all summer with no free time? Oh yeah! So much fun!" I said laughing at myself. Carter stopped me and grabbed both my hands, spinning me around to face her.

"But just think of the pay off!!" She lifted her hands in the air as if painting a perfect image of what is going to happen after this job. "It's us...on the beach in L.A! We finally got our big break as artists, and Rihanna is calling us to ask if she can meet up with us and-" I stopped her before she went too far, by clamping my hand over her mouth. I spoke my next words very slowly. "You...are...crazy..." I felt her lips vibrate against my hand and we continued walking.

"Oh yeah? You just wait!" We walked a little more until some big, muscular football player walked by and completely shoulder checked Carter. She grabbed her other arm, turned and yelled after the guy.

"Hey!"

The guy stopped in his tracks and turned around. Carter flicked him right off.

The look on the guys face was priceless.

"Douche!!" She yelled to finish what she started. I couldn't help but let a loud laugh escape. I was always extremely envious that she could speak exactly what was on her mind. She turned around with the biggest grin on her face that showed off how proud she was of her actions.

"SUMMER 2013!!!" She screamed as we ran down the hallway and out to the parking lot; which was barren by now.

I got into the passenger seat of the old, beat up PT Cruiser and Carter slumped into the drivers seat. She tried to turn the ignition a couple times before it finally started.

I scoffed and said, "You really need to get a new car..."

"Aye...if she still turns on, she's still running!" Carter laughed at her own joke.

"Alright whatever you say...but 'she' is a piece of junk!"

Carter gasped dramatically.

"Don't worry baby, she didn't mean that!" She coed while rubbing the steering wheel. I laughed blatantly and reached to turn on the radio. 106.7 was already on and our favorite song was just starting to begin.

"Oooo!! Turn it up turn it up!!" Carter demanded as she whipped out of the parking space. I cranked the dial and the beginning of "Carry On" by Fun. started to play. We sang completely off key and at the top of our lungs. Suddenly someone cut us off causing Carter to slam on her brakes and honk her horn for a good 5 seconds.

"One more year of this hell hole and we are gone I swear to God!" She yelled in impatience.

"I know, I know. You think I'm not excited about this too?! This summer will all pay off I know it will!" I practically yelled.

"Well..it better!!" She said, finally turning onto the main road.

Carter is the type of girl who has her guard up, but I know she can be a sweet girl when she doesn't try.

Carter is someone that when you get past her wall, she's like a cute little 5 year old. That's what attracted me to her in the 7th grade.

It was the first day of school and I was sitting by myself because I never had many friends. I saw this girl walk out of the lunch line staring at her tray in disgust. I couldn’t blame her, I hadn’t bought food from the cafeteria since the 3rd grade.

She had baggy jeans on with a loose fitting shirt that sported the "Beatles" logo, that had been way over washed. Her long blonde hair waved over her shoulders and was highlighted probably back in the 5th grade. She looked around and realized she knew no one. I felt this pity for her that I had never felt for anyone in my entire life. She had just moved to Orlando from some unknown place in Kentucky and no one wanted to talk to her. Before she started to walk this big group of kids walked over to her. I saw them wrap around her, cornering her in. She looked like a helpless puppy. They started to shove her without warning and her tray dropped to the floor, splattering her shirt, jeans, and arms. A blind impulse drove me to shoot right out of my seat and run towards her. I don't know how or when I grew the balls to stand up to "The Bullies" but I guess it was just something about the new girl that drew me towards her.

I grabbed her wrist and pulled her right out from the big mosh pit. All the bullies looked at me in pure surprise, but that only lasted as soon as it began and they quickly scowled at the both of us. I  looked right back at them, mouthed “assholes” and I pulled the girl over to my table. The rest is history. From that moment we couldn’t reel ourselves away from each others sides, we were practically attached to one another.

I looked over at Carter now, she was concentrating on the road. Her still blonde, long, straight hair was pulled into a high ponytail and her thumbs tapped the beat of the song that was playing. Her fingers were convered in rings, as always, and her nails were painted a bright pink. Carter wore any make up, except occasional eye makeup but she always looked good.

The car came to a quick stop and jolted me out of my thoughts.

"I swear if people don't freaking learn how to drive soon I will strangle all of them!!" That's my Carter..

And as soon as Summer began, so had our work, Carter began driving again, right into the parking lot of our local Starbucks. Our shift started five minutes ago.

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I'd like to give a HUGE shout out to Alicia (@ah_lee_sha15) for writing this Chapter. I was the editor, and we have many more Chapters to come. Please tell us what you think, and we'll be uploading soon! :D

Ps, thank you for reading! <3