Come & Get Your Love • Alex Turner

3: At the Cafeteria

Avery's POV:

Saturday work shifts were dull and boring. But this one was different. I don't work for fun. I work for my future. Being a working student wasn't easy, you had to face every consequences everyday. I happened to be working as a waitress in a retro-themed café called Clifton's (nearby the University). Lando and I worked along together as colleagues during the weekends. He would always update me about this girl he's been seeing with, an ice hockey player. He'd also be gushing whenever he got to mention her name. I couldn't help but to tease him as well. Being single was fun because you got the freedom in your everyday life. No toxicities, it's just you and your soul talking to each other.

The café was an inspiration from the '70s. It had checkered floors, the walls were mixed with beige pallettes, and there were old and classical artworks displayed on the walls. It had leather pedestal stools sat in front of the counter. The porcelain vases and kettles were put on every table. The banquettes were the shades of emerald green and crimson red. Everything's perfect in where I worked. The café had an amount proximity of customers per day, but in every weekend, it seems like I'm in the wrong timing that the customers were only limited.

The owners of the café were one of the nicest people I met in town. I was struggling to find a living, especially the perks of being a student. I tried to find a lot of opportunities here in LA, and being a babysitter didn't even work out. One time, when I was at university, the owner's wife offered me a job as a part-time waitress while balancing on my studies. Maybe they knew it was difficult to find a living on your own. I couldn't blame myself because tuition expenses were slowly rising . And I accepted the offer. Turned out, I also got the best colleagues, especially one of my best-friends, Lando.

Now, Lando and I were just chit-chatting in the counter. First, we talked about our studies, then we switched about his girl. Since we've got nothing to do and there were only a few customers enjoying their meals.

"Lando Norris, I'm dying to know her name!", I exclaimed, Lando let out a loud chuckle and he extremely covered my mouth with his hand.

"First things first, you need to lower your voice down", he muttered with a sigh and he pulled his hand away from my mouth. "It's embarrassing for the both of us to be heard by random strangers inside the café".

"Got it, sir. "

"I know you guys are already dying to know about him, but Avie, I think you're the first person to hear all about her", he giggled and rested his head on my shoulder.

"Breathe in, breathe out," I sighed under my breath, we executed it as Lando couldn't stop laughing, nervous but excited as the same time.

"Whoo, so, her name is Scarlett. She's a cool girl. The thing I liked about her the most, she's the first one who literally asked me out for a date", the smile plastered across his face as he mentioned everything about this Scarlett girl. "Like what the fuck, I've been admiring her for so long, and I can't believe she recently asked me out even though she's a famous athlete", he shook both of my shoulders.

I was happy with Lando. I think I'm the only one from my friendship group who's never gotten someone after Jordan. Okay, so we'll move on about him, he's a total prick, one of the worst guys I encountered in my love life.

"Aww, look at you, now all grown up and in love", I pulled him into a hug. Suddenly, he asked me something , about a guy again.

"I heard that there's this recent dude you've been talking to," Lando added. With that information, Alex invaded my mind again. Ever since that encounter in that record store, I hadn't seen him since.

"Where did you hear that from?", my brows furrowed for a moment, and maybe somebody told Lando I've been chatting to a guy.

"Actually , I've been back reading all of the messages in our group chat. Don't act so stupid, Avery Jasmine Summers", when the customers left, he cleaned up the mess of every table where customers sat to.