Heartbreakers: The Cursed Child- Book 1

Chapter 10

Golden light was seeping through the gaps in the curtains and the birdsong was calming, the cool breeze had pushed the curtains back and the scent of freshly baked goods wafted in the air.

Exiting the bathroom, wearing my outfit from yesterday, I walked to the mirror examining the bruise that had begun to heal. It didn't look as swollen, instead the colour just remained blue-purple. I looked better than ever, my hair was dripping wet and I was smiling, something I hadn't seen in a long time. I never looked at myself when I smiled nor did I ever stare at myself in the mirror in general.

I dried my hair with a towel before getting out the hairdryer that lay there, waiting to be used.
I giggled when I saw my reflection, my hair falling into my face then flying back. It felt so nice.

*****

I made my way downstairs once my hair had properly dried out and I had plaited it, leaving it to trail down my back. Once I came down, I saw customers already sat at the table and enjoying their breakfast, John was talking to a couple of older men whilst Anne was taking out a freshly baked pie out of the oven.
Once she saw me, she frowned then gestured for me to come over.

"That bruise looks better than before. I've left some clothes for you to wear and there's some makeup if you'd like to cover that bruise. Quickly, I'll need some help once you're done." She smiled at me then shooed me away, telling me to change.

A few minutes later I came back down the stairs with a simple white long sleeved blouse and a long black skirt that reached the floor. I slid on a pair of black ankle strap flats to finish off my look and my plait trailed down my back with a loose strand that dangled down the side of my face. I didn't want to cover my bruise with makeup so instead I put some cream on my bruise, knowing it would help it to heal much faster.

As soon as I came down, Anne stopped in her tracks before she came rushing to me while grinning, putting her hands on my upper arm and holding me at arms length, taking in what she was looking at.

What happened next shocked me, I'd never thought she'd be this close to me. She planted a soft and gentle kiss on my forehead before complimenting me. She was like a mother even though she'd never properly spoken to me.
"You are so beautiful. Do you know that? Even with a bruise you are still beautiful."
She stood there staring at me, making me squirm in embarrassment. I didn't know how to react.

"Let's get you something to eat before you start working, you'll be needing a lot of energy." She clung to my arm and practically dragged me along with her inside a small but lovely kitchen.

A moment later I was eating a bowl of porridge with some berries, listening to what was Anne was talking about, reminding me of what had to be done. She wanted me to work from 7am to 8pm but once she found out how old I was, she extended it till 10pm.

Once we'd finished cleaning up, I made my way to the front to help with anything; serving, taking orders, giving rooms or receiving the money from people borrowing rooms.

*****

After eleven long hours of endless working, I perched onto an empty table that I had just finished wiping, my short legs dangling down, not even reaching the ground as my hands rested behind me and my face, tilted up.

I heard Anne and John chuckle as they both began to nudge each other playfully. I smiled to myself, wondering how they both felt about each other, it was obvious that they truly loved each other. They were made for each other.
It was still 6 o'clock and at this time people didn't really come to the inn so Anne told me to go to my room until 8 o'clock and I did.

When I got to the room I didn't bother changing my outfit so I got myself the tub of chocolate ice cream that I had taken from the kitchen downstairs and hidden in the freezer in my room and sat on the comfy sofa with a spoon in my other hand. Once I'd settled down, I switched on the TV and began scrolling through the different channels till I found one with a good movie, then relaxed whilst removing the lid on the tub and taking a small scoop of the luxurious, creamy treat. Belgian chocolate ice cream was definitely something I would never get tired of.

*****

It was 8:10. I was ten minutes late, I had been so busy eating ice cream and watching that movie that I'd forgotten to keep watch on the time. I chucked the empty tub in the bin and the spoon in the sink before checking that I looked decent then rushing down the stairs. Luckily, I wasn't in a mess, I looked exactly how I did at the start of the day.

As soon as I reached the doorway that led to the main room, some people had already came and were now waiting at the pool tables.
"Just in time." John winked at me before taking his place at the counter as he began chatting to the first customers whilst Anne came from behind me and told me to start asking for people's orders.

As soon as I looked up I saw a guy lift his hand up at me, clearly asking for me to come over. As soon as I went there I got the couples order and set off for the kitchen, usually we didn't have people ordering lunches at this time.

Ten minutes later I served them their orders and after they had done, it was nearly 9 o'clock. Anne was right, after them no one came to dine and instead people began filling the place up, getting drinks and then going off to play games. Anne told me to stay on the side so I just sat on the table I was perched on before, just staring at the huge crowd that had now formed.

I don't know how long I was staring in the distance for but I felt eyes on me, I turned to see a group of guys at the counter getting drinks but one guy in particular was staring at me. They were emerald green eyes, the ones from yesterday? I felt like they belonged to the guy from yesterday but something didn't feel right, it didn't seem likely.

He was smiling at me, his eyes trailing down my body then back up, his eyes smiling for him. What was he laughing at?

I just realised he was smiling at the way I was sat, my body slumped and my chest puffed out. Red washed over my cheeks as I felt the burn spread around my body in embarrassment.
I quickly sat up moving my hands on my lap as I looked down, my cheeks flushed and I could see them clearly without physically seeing it, if you know what I mean.

I decided to finish early, I didn't want to be anywhere near him, his presence just made me uncomfortable. I looked up then got off the table, quickly squeezing through the ocean of bodies desperately looking for Anne. When I looked around I saw the same guy walking in a different direction and also looking around, he probably lost someone as well. He kept moving around until he heard someone call to him and he looked back before turning in the direction which the voice had come from.

I didn't know if it was him but I heard someone call out 'Will' and at exactly that point his head had shot up and towards the direction of the voice.

I finally found the counter and Anne was stood next to John, I let out a sigh of relief and made my way towards her.

"Hey, sweetheart. You look tired. Do you wanna finish off for today?" John looked at me in a way that seemed strange, as if he cared about me, like he was worried or something.
"Yes, please." I was relieved, he gave an offer which I had clearly been dying for.

As soon as I accepted it his face lit up, he was probably worried that I was tired.
"Go on. You did well for your first day."