"Oh dear, we don't ever go near that door....No one in the flat does. The 'mean' man that lives there is August Romanov."
~ ~ ~
My father was always warned by every neighbor in town to never go near, or knock on that house.
Father always hated it wh...
Noelle showed me around the library and shop. She made sure I knew the name and every price of every item they sold. She said "Just in case any customer asks, I can be 'tip top' to my answers". I only go by 'El' now to make her feel at ease, I guess the little boy really did mean a lot to her.
"Alright! That's everything you need to know, repeat it al for me please."
"The baking and freezer rooms are in the back, don't leave register unless I'm going to the back. make sure to lock all displays and clean the library when I'm closing up. Keep a good attitude when working with costumers, and the customer isn't always right here. If I feel at unease then I should inform you immediately."
She looks a bit surprised, before nodding her head with a downturned smile. She then hands me an apron with the print "Noelle's Café"
"Great, you're in the front today! Prepare for the customers, and wear a good smile." Noelle pinches my cheek and walks back into the kitchen with the others. I decide to stretch my legs and arms, putting my curls up into a long bun.
~~~~ The day moved pretty fast, and all the customers were nice and respectful. I've been working for 6 hours now, and my shift is almost over. I sigh and stretch my legs again as I feel them starting to ache. Noelle compliments me for my good work, and for the first time I think she is my best manager I've met.
"Next!" I yell loudly over the crowd.
"My usual Noe-" My head raises, and my eyes lock with a pair of green ones. My cheeks heat up and I look back down out of embarrassment. Probably because of what happened last night. I was drunk, but I was still definitely not proud of myself.
"What's your usual?" I avoid eye contact as I stare down at the screen.
"Hot mocha, 3 shots of espresso, 2 cubes of sugar, and no milk." I type it in, and I see him grabbing his wallet from his pants. He flicks through a few notes, before handing me a $20 dollar bill. I open the cash drawer and put it in. "Keep the change." He walked away.
I know it's still shitty on my part, but damn I never stalk others like that.
"El! Go on your break lovely!" Noelle yells from the kitchen, I look up and see one of the other employees ready to take my place. I smile, stepping aside as I undo my apron. I step around the counter and go outside, taking a seat at the outdoor seating, I sit down and look at the people passing the streets.
I guess I am a bit traumatized from Noah's act, maybe I am a little scared of him.
Maybe my mother did ruin his brother's life. I know that I'm living off the same money she gained from it. I feel guilty knowing I'm using that same money. I really didn't mean any harm though. I think back, and I can become slightly overbearing sometimes.
I stand back up ready to go back into the Library, before I hear the sound of barking dogs. I turn and immediately get up and run, seeing Noah and a couple of his friends were walking into my direction.
"Run like you always do! Run" He yells out laughing. I hurry up and rush away.
I keep running until my body collides with another, I feel something hot burn into my skin, but I didn't care. I look up to see August staring down at the coffee that's fallen from his hand.
"I-just, I'm sorry." I look back and see Noah and his friends getting closer.
I rush past August and turn into an alleyway again and slip inside. Hiding against the wall, I catch my breath while tears start to fall.
I shrug my sweater off to look at the burn, damn that must've been really hot and fresh. I quickly put my sweater back on.
It was times like this where I hated my mom. I hated her with my whole heart, for not being there as a mother, and being a shitty one at that. I wait for Noah to walk past, but nothing. Not even a single footstep. To be safe, I wait around 10 minutes before looking out. He nor the dogs were there. I step out and walk back to the shop. I clean and fix my face on the way back.
~~~~ I take a breath and head back inside the shop. I see August picking up another coffee, he thanks Noelle and turns to face me.
"You owe me 7 dollars El." He walks past me.
Noelle stares at me with her arms folded, she then looks at the clock beside her. "Your break was over five minutes ago, El." She stacks up the plates from the tables and hands it to me, I take the, from her.
"I know, I'm sorry.."
"Your eyes are red, and your face is flushed. Are you okay?" She asks. I hated it when people asked if I was okay. It feels weird opening up to anyone, especially people I didn't know like that. I don't know if they expected me to break down in front of them. No, I'm not okay at all.
"Mhm, I'm fine..."
"You don't look okay sweetie, you go home, same time tomorrow El. And this time no overtaking your break." She chuckles, I settle the plates into the kitchen sink, and I gather my belongings. After saying my goodbyes to everyone, I rush to my car.
When I reach for my car keys, I take them out and look up to see my car window smashed. I knew exactly who did this. I open the car door and watch as glass falls onto my shoes. I move it aside. I pull down the sleeve of my sweater to brush the glass of the seat and get in.
Settling down, I drive home while trying to hold back my tears.
Crying gets you no where El.
I really needed to drown today out.
~~~~ I get home safely and park my car in its usual spot. I exit and decide to use the elevator, deciding to fuck the stairs for today. I walk down the hallway to August's door after reaching my level. I knock at the wooden door as I wait for an answer.
Once the door opens, I raise my neck, and I look back into his eyes.
"What do you want?" I take out a $10 bill and hand it to him.
"My behavior-I was drunk yesterday and I had no idea what I was doing." He glances between me and the bill, his hands don't reach out for the money, but to brush something off my cheek.
My stomach swarms with butterflies just by his touch.
I stood there surprised. "I don't want your money." He closes the door behind him, and I hear his footsteps step away. I slide the dollar bill underneath his door and return to my apartment.
I drop my bag to the side, and don't waste another second before locking my door.
I lick my shoes off, pour myself a bottle of wine with cookies and fruit snacks. I lay on my couch and switch the tv on, drinking my glass.
This is a double update! This took way too long for me to write hasbrugrhugid
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