Riot

3. Unnecessary help

“Here’s your coffee, sir.” Julie handed the man his drink and turned to attend to the next costumer. Today was one of the crazy days when you barely have time to blink between orders.

“Can I have strawberry tea and cream muffin?”

“Coffee and donut!”

“Blueberry muffin!”

“Apple pie and orange juice!”

“Here you go!” Julie handed Allison and Kristin the requests and the girls filled their trays. It was only after one hour when she could finally catch her breath. She sat on a high stool, rested her elbow on the counter and buried her head in her hands.

“Busy day?”

Julie looked up and saw Mark smiling at her, she smiled back. “Aren’t them all?” He laughed, showing her his perfect white teeth. “What can I get you?”

“Hmm… maybe the famous chocolate Frappuccino?”

Julie started laughing and Mark arched a brow, it wasn’t supposed to be funny.

“Sorry. It’s just that…” She shook her head and turned to get his order without finishing the sentence.

She remembered Billy coming and asking for a “frepucino”. That was funny. By the way, what did he want from her? If he was as mean as he looked, why did he even dedicate a piece of his attention to her, let alone ask around about her? If he was really the gang leader, then how come he didn’t antagonize her while she was at that bar, confronting him? Well, he probably considered her to be no more than an annoying fly, besides, why would he do something to her? This all was so ridiculous! She put a purple sucker in the glass and handed it to Mark. “Here.” She sat back on the stool.

“It’s good!” Mark complimented when half of the drink was already gone. The pleased smile Julie had on her face disappeared when she noticed someone from Billy Darley’s crew walking towards her. She recognized him, he had been there before.

“Hey.” He smirked at her.

“Hey.”

“My brother asked me to give you this.” He handed her a folded paper.

“So he’s your brother?” She took it but didn’t bother opening it.

“My older brother.”

“How brave of him, sending his baby brother to deliver messages to random girls just to see if he can get some.”

Joe couldn’t help but laugh. “Careful Hottie, you don’t know how it works.”

“Why don’t you show me?” She shot him a mischievous smirk.

He laughed harder this time. “Trust me, I would if he wasn’t the boss.” Joe turned to walk away but shot one more look at Julie, “See ya, Hottie”, then walked away with an amused grin on his lips.

Their craziness must be genetic. She put the note on her back pocket and shook her head.

“Aren’t you gonna open it?” Mark asked and Julie looked at him half-surprised, having totally forgotten he was there.

“Not right now.”

“So, you’ve been hanging out with his brother?” If Julie had paid attention to his voice, she’d have noticed his disappointment.

“Me?” She gave a small laugh. “No, no. I barely know him.”

“I feel like I have seen that guy before. What’s his name?”

“I don’t know.” Julie had a thoughtful expression. “But his brother is Billy Darley, if that helps.”

At the mentioning of the name, Mark’s eyes grew wild. “Billy Darley? The same Billy Darley from the hospital?”