Every Chapter

Chapter One

I shifted on my heels watching as my best friend smeared a thick layer of cream cheese onto her bagel and a thin layer on mine. Not in a selfish manner, purely based on routine. Rina never worried herself about our weekly foods adding unwanted pounds to her waistline. Even when she gained weight it always found itself in the right places. Whereas I only ever splurged on food in my friend's company, less I want the tabloids to begin to wonder if I was pregnant from an extra notch on my belt. 

My natural curves already made the headlines before, for that exact reason. My weight always seemed to bother other people more than me. I don't see a point in worrying about the size of my waist as long as I'm healthy and happy. Something Rina agrees on, but my father does not. So, for me, it would be the bagel with the thin line of cream I could barely taste and would only eat half of.

Rina slid the bagels to me before turning around to wash her hands. Being in the OBX Rina's best client base was during the summer when the tourists would flock to our quiet home and fill the beaches. During the off-season Rina came to the library on the estate, but during the summer, on a day like today I met her at Café claws to help out with the morning rush until brunch time. 

 Rina turned the sink off and dried her hands on a rag before scooping up Toast, not a piece of toast but the long-haired brown and black spotted cat she had grown so fond of. Rina's Cat Café houses and adopts rescue cats after running strict background checks on those who may apply. Despite the countless applications for Toast, there never seems to be a proper match in Rina's eyes. But I know why, I've waiting for the day when she just claimed Toast as her own and stopped putting people through the pain of applications just to deny them. But Rina, like Toast, always had an alternative motive. 

 "When are you going to accept Toast isn't up for adoption and just tell people?" I asked, following Rina and Toast to a nearby booth holding our bagels. Rina clicked her tongue, as if she was offended and we didn't have this routine conversation every week since Toast came to Café claws six months ago. "When people apply for toast, and I tell them it's not a good match I always redirect them to a cat that really needs love. Nine out of ten times they take that cat home. Plus, Toast is happy here" She paused looking from me then down to Toast in her arms and quickly added- "Helping her friends find homes." She slid into the booth and gave Toast a scratch behind the ears. "Aren't you girl?" As if a part of the same conversation as us Toast stretched out her back and let out a long "Meow". I rolled my eyes and took a bite from my almost bland bagel. 

 "I'm telling you; you'd be happy taking home one of these little guys or gals." I swallowed my bite and let out a sigh. We've also had this conversation countless times since Café Claws was up and running. "I've already told you Rina-"Rina held up her free hand and waved it around in a dramatic motion, causing the bangles around her wrist to cling together. "Yea, yea. When you move out. When is that, Quinn? You haven't exactly made any steps to leave daddy's mansion. "What do you want me to do? Pack up and move in with Tanner?" I asked, hiding my smug smile behind another bite of her food. Rina lifted her lip in a sneer and Toast jumped down from her lap as she picked up her bagel. "Sure? So, you can move into his mommy's mansion?" She spat at me. I fought the twitch of my lips I was desperately trying to hide. I know Rina doesn't like my boyfriend Tanner, that's why I brought it up. To move the conversation away from myself and Rina's judgment.