Dear diary,
It's been a year and a half since I last wrote in you. Sorry about that. Things haven't exactly been, nice here. On the day that I stopped writing, mama died. She got killed in a motorcycle accident. Papa and I always told her not to ride that thing. And then, 6 months later, daddy got diagnosed with cancer. Stage 4. Untreatable. He died about 2 months ago. Since then I have turned 17, but my age means nothing to me. The two most important people in my life were gone. I got a job, and have been crashing at Christina's house since dad died. I pay for all of my own stuff, so that they can't say they are supporting me. Her mom tells me not to worry about it, after the time that I have had, but I do. That's me, Julia Ansley. Born worrier. Welp, it's time for work so I have to go. I'll maybe write more later. I don't know when I'll have time. Signing off, it's Jules.
I put the diary back under my pillow and pull on my work uniform. It's a bit wrinkled and sweat-smelling, but I don't really care. Neither will my boss. I spray on some vanilla perfume and grab my purse. I don't have my license yet, so I have to walk to work. It isn't bad, I work at the little coffee shop about 15 blocks away. Darrenville isn't really that big of a town. Everyone knows everybody. Your standard suburban neighborhood. I wave to Miss Peggy. Her husband recently passed on, and she was the cutest little old lady. She smiled at me and called out, "Afternoon Julia!" I respond, "Hi Miss Peggy! Watch out for the falling leaves in your garden. Wouldn't want to cover up the chrysanthemums!" She smiled at me and continued to work. I wasn't sure what to do, so I pulled out my iPhone and put on some music. As Fall Out Boy blasted in my ear, I thought about the last year that I had. Mom dead, dad dead. No other family, just me. No boyfriend, or girlfriend for that matter, since I swung both ways. I shook the thoughts out of my head, since I had arrived at work. My boss greeted me warmly as I got to work, setting up the machines. We weren't open mornings, due to the fact that we were an independently owned store and those hours weren't good for any of the employees. It was just another boring day at work. I pulled out my school stuff as I waited for a customer. English was my strong suit, and we were reading Hamlet for English class. I was going over act three when a boy about my age walked in. "Hey could I have a large cappuccino?" He asked politely. I placed my bookmark into the play and said "of course." I got to work making the coffee and he asked me, "So, you're a Shakespeare girl?" I smiled to myself and said, "Who isn't a fan of The Bard?" He chuckled and said, "Well I could live without him." I snorted and said, "Well that's quite an unfortunate view. Now tell me, who are you exactly? I've never seen you around here before." He smirks at me and says, "The name is Jared. Jared Ingalls. I'm new to this town. Just moved in." "Well Jared Ingalls, your coffee is done. That will be $3.50." He pays me and begins to walk away. Right before he leaves, I call out , "And so you know, I'm Julia Ansley." He looked back at me, smirking, and said in a husky voice, "Nice to meet you."
