𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 |𝟏𝟖+|

7

Etta Valentines POV

Closing up shop for the day, I pulled my headphones over my ears and set off for Meg's tattoo parlour.

I knew the guys who work here so my anxiety wasn't too bad today. Usually, if I was entering an area where I'd have to interact with multiple strangers - men in particular - I would avoid the situation at all costs.

Working at the cafe definitely helps with my social anxiety, but mental health is an expert at being spontaneous.

Rounding the corner, the parkour comes into sight. Crossing the street and taking calming breaths, I walked inside, removing my headphones into my tote as Tyler one of the artists currently sat behind the reception desk greeted me.

"Etta, hey! Haven't seen you around here for a while."

I cocked my head at him, him being more familiar to me because I've known him a while. A friend more than an acquaintance. "Ty, I was in here last week."

He laughed, the dark skin of his smile lines creasing as he smiled. "Yeah, it's been ages." I shook my my head at him, walking further into the room and waving at Andy, one of Carters cousins who also worked here.

"Meg told me there was a box in the back, mind if you go grab it for me please?"

"Sure." Tyler stood up from his chair, rather haphazardly and almost knocking a cup of water over from the speed he stood up. "Shit."

The other artists laughed at him as we all watched him scurry to the back room. "That boy has it bad." Andy mused, multitasking on her client whilst dipping her head to where Tyler just disappeared to.

"Shut up..." I groaned, earning another chorus of amused laughter.

Meg was the first to point it out that Tyler has a crush on me. And now as time has gone on, it's apparently become so obvious that everyone who works here now likes to joke about it.

It makes me a little embarrassed to have that attention on me, but then again I don't mind because it's lighthearted and everyone here is so lovely.

Tyler returned a minute later, holding a small box with in his large hands.

He handed it over to me, running his fingers through his curls as I placed the parcel in my bag.

After a second of slightly awkward silence, I made a move and said goodbye. "Well thanks for this, I'll see you guys later!"

Everyone echoed bye and I was soon back walking the streets of the city again.

Being winter, the sky was dark and city lights were twinkling. Crowds littered the streets as people started leaving work for home.

But as I paused to reach inside my bag for my headphones, I had the fright of my life when someone shoved me to the ground and knocked the air from my lungs.

In shock, I shakily pushed myself back to my feet, trying not to cry in front of multiple strangers offering me their help. And then I saw it.

The offender of the shove I now understand as an attack, was running off in the other direction with none other than my bag.

Some random was running after him as the realisation started to sink in. I've just been mugged.