Love, Selena Marie

Chapter 22: Overthinking again

It's been two weeks since I've been in California. After a week and half of staying at Jen's beach house, I told her that I found a place to stay. I never told her it was a motel room again, I knew if she knew where I was really staying she would scold me and pack my bags for me again. 

The motel room was only twenty minutes away, the rate wasn't too expensive but it was kind of located in a shady area. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't great. I was looking for an apartment to rent though, even a room would suffice. I had my eye open on ads and even had Taylor looking for me too. 

It was my second day working at Brewtiful Bagels, and it wasn't going well. I had dropped two coffee mugs, and messed up on three different orders. By the end of my shift, I felt discouraged. I had to keep reminding myself that it was only my second day. 

It's true what they say, we are our own worst enemies. As I was leaving, Charlie was coming in. "Hey Marie!" he said, I took off my apron and threw it into my tote. "Hi Charlie, I thought you were off today?" I asked, he nodded. "I am, just here to pick up my check." he said.

He frowned, "Are you okay?" he asked, I sighed. "It's been a rough day." I admitted, throwing my tote bag over my shoulder. "Want to talk about it?" he asked, I was clutching onto my keys ready to run out the door. I looked up at him, pursed my lips then slowly nodded my head. 

"Why not." I said, Charlie got us both a smoothie from work. It was my first time trying it, and it was pretty good. We were walking down the street, passing by all the stores. "It's like the drinks were attracted to the ground. Henry was nice about it, but I still felt terrible." I admitted, taking a sip from my drink.

"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself. My first day, I spilled a drink on a couple people. Thankfully they were all cold drinks." he said. I sighed, "When did it start to get easy?" I asked, he sipped on his drink and then started to think. "I think after a month." he said, I glanced at the gym. 

Chad was at the front desk, we made eye contact. He smiled and waved at me, I gave him a coy smile and waved back. Charlie glanced at the gym and Chad, "You know Chad?" he asked, I shrugged. "Not really, we just talked a little when I went to the gym with Jen." I admitted, "How long have you known Jen?" he asked. 

"Not too long. At this point though, it kind of feels like it's been a while." I replied, we sat down on a bench. "That's pretty cool. I know she had some drama in high school, don't know exactly what but I've heard from my friends." he said, I frowned. "She didn't mention something about that, but I never asked." I said. 

"I'm glad to have her though. She's been nothing but kind and generous to me." I said, he grinned. Suddenly his phone started to ring, he got up to answer it. He started to walk away a little, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Zayn, he was dressed for work. With his grey spandex shirt and his black joggers. 

Did it look a little tighter than usual? 

I tried not to look at his chest. "Everything okay?" he asked, I faked a smile. "Second day at work didn't go too well." I said, he nodded. "Ahh, hope the smoothie is helping." he said, I nodded then smiled a little. "Just a little." I said, "Are you waiting for someone?" he asked, I shook my head. 

"Marie! There's a party tonight and - " Charlie paused when he saw Zayn standing next to me. "Hey Zayn, how are you?" he asked. "Good." he said, short and a little cold. There's the Zayn I know. He nervously chuckled, "Right. So there's a party tonight, a friend of mine is throwing it at his grandparents beach house. Did you want to join? Or maybe your friends too?" he asked. 

I didn't have work the next day, but a part of me also wasn't in the partying mood. "Maybe," I said, I looked up at Zayn. "Do you think the others would want to go?" I asked, he shrugged. "I'll call and ask." he said, "What time do you get off?" I asked, "Short shift today, but I'm not sure if I'll be tired later." he said.