Facade - Jacob Elordi

twenty-three

The morning sun shined bright into the car window as I laid my head to rest some more. We had been driving for a couple of hours. I watched as we passed through the South Carolina border. I asked over an hour ago if we could stop for coffee, but Wesley took all the back roads and said he would stop as soon as we got back to civilization. I was starving.

As soon as we passed a small town, I instructed Wes to pull into a small coffee shop in dire need of caffeine and calories.

"I'll go in. Give me your orders," I announced to the car of sleepy men.

"Don't need coffee when I've got the strongest stimulant known to man," Barry waved a bag of cocaine in my face before sticking his finger in it to rub it on his gums.

"Or you could be a normal fucking person and drink a coffee," I rolled my eyes as Jacob held a small smile long enough for me to catch it in the corner of my eye. Knowing his eyes are on me makes my stomach do flips. Maybe I am one of those girls that get turned on by assholes.

After getting their orders, Jacob wouldn't let me leave without taking his cash. He said not using our debit cards keeps us hidden, but I think he just wanted to pay.

I stepped inside the cute cafe, the pleasant smell of fresh pastries and coffee entering my nostrils. After scoping out their pastry case, I decided to get everyone something— even Barry.

"Hi! Did you see something you liked?" A young woman, maybe early twenties, greeted me as I arrived at the register. She glanced down at my neck for a couple of seconds, making me realize I was bandaged up like a psycho. I completely forgot.

"Oh- Erm," I cleared my throat taken off guard. "May I have four cherry danishes, a turkey sandwich, and two black coffees, please? Oh and a hazelnut latte?"

She put everything in the system with a smile, happy to have some business during this early morning. I watched as she threw in an extra croissant.

"I didn't-"

"It's on the house. They're about to go bad, anyway," She waived off my confused expression. "25.08."

I handed her the money and thanked her for her kindness, tipping her a few bucks. Walking back to the car with my load of treats, Barry yelled out the window.

"Did you buy the whole store?" He joked as I looked down at my bag full of goodies. He definitely won't be getting that extra croissant with that comment.

As we got back on the road, I handed out a pastry to everyone and their coffee orders.

"This is phenomenal," Wesley grunted as he shoveled the Danish into his mouth, one hand on the wheel.

"I figured we could all use a sweet treat. She even gave me an extra croissant," I said holding it up in the back seat, heigh enough so Wesley could see it in the rear view.

"I think it's got my name on it," He joked as he used his other hand to grab his coffee. His knees were steering the car.

After hearing the truth last night, I was and am still hurt. The only respectable one is Barry because he never sugar coated anything. Jacob and Wesley led me to believe lies. I want to think it was for my own good and out of pure intentions, but I just don't know. We've grown close, Jacob and I maybe too close, but I hate to admit that I care for them. Maybe it's because they're all I have at the moment, but it's a true connection I can't dismiss. I've never been so confused in my life. Leaning into it seems terrifying, but something draws me in every time. I see the good in them— but maybe that's my own fault. I hope Frank isn't right.

"You tired?" I asked Jacob as his eyes slowly blinked back at me. He'd been up all night watching out for Frank in case he followed us.

Jacob nodded his head as he took a sip of his coffee, "Nothing I can't handle."