stardust|completed

four|starry nights

"kids are still depressed when you dress them up."

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I was on the roof, again. After our little hug fest Orion drove my truck back to school where he hopped on his motorcycle and rode off into the night like some sort of mysterious dark angel.

This would be the second night in a row I hadn't slept. I was drained, but every time my head hit the pillow my brain filled with endless scenarios and thoughts. It was a wonder I hadn't passed out from exhaustion and fell of the roof. I had to be at the café at eight this morning, apparently it was some holiday or another so school would be out of session.

I slipped in through my window and got ready for the day. Shrugging on my black work shirt, with the words Starry Nights printed on the back in loopy cursive letters, I made my way down the stairs and hopped into my truck. I noticed the smudges of yellow on the steering wheel and smiled to myself. Fifteen minutes later my destination was reached, it was a surprise I hadn't fallen asleep at the wheel.

The scent of coffee beans and paint hit me full force as I opened the doors. Olivia, the owners daughter, was standing on a creaky chair creating the famous Starry Night painting. The piece was almost done and covered one wall of the store.

"Hey Olivia," she almost jumped off the chair and whipped around with a startled look smeared on her paint smudged face. I laughed as her look of surprise turned into a glare. She grabbed her white board and scrawled a few words; If I had fallen off this chair and died you better believe I would've come back to haunt your ass.

I rolled my eyes and smiled at her words. In my two years of being employed at the café Olivia never spoke a word. Although I was curious I never pushed too far; it was a private matter that I didn't want to intrude on. Carl, Olivia's father, explained the situation briefly.

"She talked non stop as a child but as she grew older she spoke less and less until one day she stopped speaking altogether." He told me one slow afternoon.

It had been 3 years since she spoke a word; they tried therapy, doctors offices, even medicine. Nothing worked, the therapy sessions stopped and Olivia always carried paper and pen. Most of the time I could figure out was she thinking by her body language or stares.

I passed Olivia and headed to the swing door with a gold plaque that proclaimed, Employees Only. The kitchen was a disaster zone, which was most likely the doing of Zac. The other barista usually left things amiss and never closed properly. I let out a tired sigh and was soon up to my elbows in dish water.

・・・

Twelve hours later the kitchen was spotless and the café was clear of all customers. My other co workers were gone, leaving me to finish closing. Coldplay played softly through the speakers as I mopped the dark oak floors of the store. Somewhere along the way I started to sing; I also tired, unsuccessfully, to dance on the wet wood floors. That's how I ended up in a jumble of limbs on the café floor. Grumbling I tired to pick myself up, only to fall right back down when a booming laugh sounded behind me. I whipped around so fast a few bones cracked.

And there stood Orion.

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A/N
sorry it took me so long to update. I wanted to thank @devonj_ for your comment! It motivated me to finish up this chapter, much oblige ♡. as always hope you enjoyed, feel free to comment, and have a nice day (d.c.)
p.s. this chapter is a little short but I promise the next one will be longer and up sooner.