Ready To Run

C h a p t e r T h r e e

I pulled into the parking lot of Java Juice with only two minutes until my shift starts. I get out of my car and lock the door as fast as I can. I then run into the store and run to the back to clock in. I swiped my idea and saw that I was one minute away from being late. I try not to screw up because if I lose this job I'm screwed. I then walk to the door and switch the sign from closed to open to let all the customers know that Java juice is now open. I then get all of the fruits and start cutting, peeling and juicing them. As I was paying attention to the fruit the bell rings signaling I have a customer. "Welcome to Java juice, how may I help you." I said still looking down at the fruit. I finally look up to see a cute brown hair blue eyed lad looking at me. "What's in the berrilicious bursts?" He said with a smile. He reminded me of a cute little elf, like the ones that work for Santa Claus. He had this charming smile and a friendly voice. "It a mixture between strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, milk, yogurt and a spritz of honey." I said with a friendly smile. "Wow, I think I'll talk that." He said. "Small, medium or large?" I said typing into the cash register. "Medium." He said thinking about it. "Okay that will be 3.75." I said waiting patiently. He dug into his pocket and gave me thirty. I gave him his change back and went to got make him smoothie. "It's coming right up but as I am making it, you can make yourself comfortable if you want." I said nodding towards the orange booth. "No thank you I'm good right here." He said cheerfully. Five minutes later his smoothie was done and in his hand. "Enjoy your berrilicious burst and please come back soon." I said waving him goodbye. "I will thanks." He said waving back and walking out. After her left with his smoothie I went to go clean up the mess but when I passed the tip jar I saw a twenty dollar tip with a note.

Thanks for the smoothie! It was great! I haven't had a great employee treat me with such hospitality in a while! Thanks again!

Louis, x.

I never expected him to give me a twenty dollar tip just for making him a three dollar smoothie. Some people are generous these days. After the guy I now know as Louis left, the day went by slowly because only three more people came in. But one good think came out from today. I got my check this week that was 290 dollars plus thirty dollars in tip money. At closing time, I cleaned up all the dishes, appliances and tables that we used and turned off the back lights. I then swept the floors, put the fruit up and changed the sign to closed. I then turned off all of the lights and locked up the front door. I made my way over to my car and check the clock to see it was 8:30. "Shit." I said under my breath. I unlocked my car door and tried to start my car but I wouldn't start. After my seventh time trying to start the engine, it finally started. "Thank god, you haven't given up one me now." I said putting my head down on the steering wheel. I made it to Ms. Nicole's house in ten minutes till 9. I jumped out of the car and knocked on the door softly. Nicole opened the door and had a smile on her face. "I'm so sorry I am late." I said putting my head down. "It's okay love. Emmie and I had so much fun today. We got pizza and baked brownies. She drew some pictures today and they were the cutest thing." She said with a huge smile. "Good good, I'm glad she had fun." I said. " You're all she talks about." She said with a small smile. "Really?" I said smiling. "Yes, she talks about how you do everything you can to take care of her. She notices all of your risk you are taking for her like not going to school, working all the time and even putting her safety over yours. Em is a really smart kid Ti. She something special." Nicole said smiling. "I know. She keeps me alive and going. If it weren't for her, I would have given up on living." I said feeling tears fall down my face. I felt Nicole try to console me with a comfortable hug but that just made the tears fall faster. "She's never been loved by her own parents and I'm the only one she has. I don't want to fail her Nicole." I said putting my face on her shoulder, feeling the tears wetting her shirt. "No no no sweetheart, you couldn't fail her even if you tried because your an amazing person and this little girl loves you so much. She looks up to you and everything you do. Don't give up because you will get there. I'll be right back, I need to give you something." She said getting off of the couch. She walked down a long, dark hallway and into her room. I sat on the couch waiting for her to come back when I heard footsteps coming down the hall. "Ti?" A soft voice asked. I looked to see Em standing there in her princess nightgown with a teddy bear in her hand. I got up from the couch and picked her up in my arms. "It's okay sweetheart, I am here." I said sitting back down and rocking from side to side. "I wove you." She said putting her head in the between my shoulder and neck. I felt her breathing slow and her body snuggle up to mine. I then heard more footsteps come down the hall and I knew that they were Nicole's. She walked into the room with a t-shirt, shorts and and envelope. "You gonna stay here tonight no if, ands or buts and I have this notes because you grandmother told me to give you this when I thought you were ready. I wanted to give it to you sooner but when she died I thought I should wait because you were so hurt." She said giving it to me. I looked at the envelope in my hand. What could it be.....

•Authors note•

So she meet Louis today and he was feeling pretty generous by giving her that big tip. But what I wanna know is what do you think is in the envelope? You will find out about her grandmother later on in the chapter and what happened to her. I wanna know what yall think about Ti? Thanks for reading this chapter and remember vote, comment & like! Thanks loves! Xoxo