Labyrinth

Chapter 19

CHLOE'S POV

Thomas had already gotten some toast ready for me by the time I had gotten downstairs.

"I'll just grab my shoes and other stuff. It'll be enough time for you to finish that." I turn around but am stopped before I can even take a step out of the room.

"Uh uh. Back here." Thomas was in no mood to play, "This is yours. We will stand here until you eat it. I don't care whether or not we make the lecture."

I would've rejected it for a second time but, he did take the time to make it. "Can I eat it on the way there, please?" I ask quietly.

A smile breaks onto his face, "Of course, Darling." He brings the toast over, setting it on a plate on the table before mumbling a 'thank you' into my hair.

When I get to the car, Thomas has some music on and is tapping his thigh to the beat.

"You ready?" He asks, looking over to me.

"Yes, thanks." I smile at him, "What's your day like?"

He sighs, "I've got two classes then office hours." He pauses, "I'm dreading my fist class. There's just this one student in there."

"Are they a bad student, or something?" I ask. Surely there's no student that's terrible to teach, they're choosing to be here after all.

"They're just very distracting." He glances over to me.

"Hey!" I catch on.

"They are." He reiterates.

"You can't be distracted by a student." I start, "that's not very professional of you."

"And what do you think of a student lusting over their professor?" He begins to pull up to the road a few minutes walk from the university.

"Well if they're very hot - which I think they are - then it's justified." I shrug.

Thanking him for the lift, I get out of the car and begin the short walk to where my class will be.

Taking my white earphones out of my pocket, I connect them and start my playlist.

This morning's lecture went quickly compared to some of the others and I was able to concentrate quite well and made some decent notes - thanks partly to where I was sat.

Starting the short journey to the cafe, the rain begins to hit and I start to hurry.

I make it inside not totally drenched. I greet the two people behind the bar, Harry and Emily, and collect my apron from the office.

I'm on until close today and seeing as it's already noon, I'm guessing the cafe will be relatively quiet.

"Hey," I greet Harry, the long brown-haired boy with a baby fluff moustache, and Emily, the red-haired woman with freckles dotting over her face and emerald eyes.

"Hey, do you want a coffee?" Harry asks, drying a mug from the dishwasher.

"Sure, I'll have a latte please." I smile at him, "How's it been today?"

"You know, I think it's been quieter than normal." Emily says, leaning against the counter.

"Probably because of the weather." I turn towards the large window in front of the bar, bordered by stone, show the rain that is now thundering down.

"Probably. I didn't notice that." Emily laughs, "that's when you know you've been working for too long."

After making my coffee, Harry talks me through the procedures for the floor and how to work it.

As Emily had said, the cafe seemed quiet today, only attracting three or four people at most at any time. It was a nice quiet as it meant that Emily, Harry and I could chat and get to know each other more.

I was cleaning a table when I heard the bell ring and, seeing as I wasn't near the door, Emily greeted them.

As I finish resetting the table and fixing the chairs into place, I walk behind the bar to hear Emily and Harry gushing over the man who just came in.

I laugh at them, "Have you never seen a hot guy before?"

"I have. I just haven't had one." Harry says. They look like two school girls whose crush has just walked in.

"He's mine. Don't worry about serving these, Chloe; I'll take them over." Emily suggests enthusiastically, fanning her face.

"I'll take his food over after and then we'll see who can get his number." He sticks his tongue out at Emily.

When Emily does take his drink out (an oat milk flat white), it takes her a few minutes to come back.

"Enjoy talking to lover boy over there?" I ask jokingly.

"I did actually." She pauses, "I was mainly doing it to rub it in Harry's face but he's so nice."

Just then, the oven goes off and Harry takes his toastie out, putting crisps on the plate then strutting away.

"This will be fun to watch." I tell Emily.

Much like Emily, Harry didn't come back for a few minutes and when he does, he's gushing all over again.

"This man is the epitome of perfection." He exclaims.

"You two are being dramatic." I roll my eyes. When I do, I think about how much trouble that would've gotten me in had Thomas or Nathaniel been here. A shiver runs through me.

We spend the next while talking about random things, and when the mystery guy leaves (granted he was above average for his looks) he asked to speak to Emily.

When she comes back inside, she pumps her fists in the air, "Yes!"

"What did he say?" Harry interrogates her.

"Nothing really. He mainly wrote me his number and told me he wanted to speak more." She shrugs with a shit eating grin on her face.

"That's not fair, you didn't even want him." Harry pouts.

"I'm sure you can have the next hot guy." I try to console him.