Thank God I Found You

•3•

[Mariah]

-FRIDAY MORNING-

"Rrrrriiiiiiinnnnnngggg!!!" My alarm clock went off. I sat up on my bed, and turned it off. Today is my first day of work in one of my auntie's business.

She owns a coffee shop around here in Sydney and it was a hit one. I swore to myself that one day, I'd be successful too like her.

All of you might be wondering where are my parents... Well, they are in Canberra. I moved out of their house since I'm already old and independent enough to support myself.

I love living alone in the city. I can do whatever I want. No one has a say to everything I do. Even my auntie. She just lets me do my own thing and that's why we get along very well. Unlike my mom and I.

My mom has this strict personality and then at the same time, she's trying hard to be a best friend to me but that always ends up wrong. We would end up hating each other everyday so to end it, I decided to put walls up at her. I have a good relationship with my dad. He is this cheerful and outgoing person. He's easy to talk to and he listens to my problems but I don't talk to him also that much. I don't trust him. In fact, I don't trust both of them.

Call it weird for not trusting my parents but that's just the way it is.

After getting myself ready, I locked my apartment and then head off.

As I went into the back door of the coffee shop, I was greeted by Amy, who was then the acting manager for that shift. She's nice, outgoing, cheerful and stuff.

"And here's your apron and nameplate." she said as she handed me those two.

"Cool. Thanks." I said then I put the apron on then the nameplate.

"Your shift would be from 8 in the morning up to three in the afternoon. The payday would always be in Thursdays, every fortnight."

I nodded. It's the least that I can do.

"So Amy, what can I do now?" I asked.

"Since the shop's just opened... Why don't you go to the counter and wait until a customer comes in." Amy said. "Then ask them what they want."

"Okay. Cool." I said then went to the counter. It wasn't that long until five hot guys went in.

They went in and sat next to the window nearby the counter and I could hear them talking about some performances coming up. And just with the sight of the hot guy with a muscular built and hot dimples, I already knew who they were.

They are The Collective. And that hot guy that I'm talking about is Trent Bell. Sure, he's hot but not my type. And I won't go fangirling over them. Not now. Like, for god's sake! I'm working! And it would be inappropriate for me fangirling at them while at work.

I don't really go for hot and cool guys. I just like the simple, cheerful and real guys... Just like the guy sitting next to Jayden Sierra.

I think his name is Zach. Zach Russell. Too bad that he's already taken.

Then all of a sudden, he stood up. He went to the counter. I smiled, "Good morning sir. How can I help you?" I asked.

"Can I please have two cappuccinos, one macchiato and one regular coffee. Oh and also two slices of cake and... Do you, by any chance sell strawberry tarts?" He said.

"Yes we do sell strawberry tarts." I replied.

"Cool. Add that to my order and make that 10 pieces."

Wow. I never knew that this guy's a sucker for sweets. I nodded as I entered it on the machine. "Is that it sir?" I asked. He nodded.

"That's $7.80 sir." I said then he paid and then I printed off the receipt for him. I gave it to him and said, "Your order would be ready in a few minutes."

"Okay." He said and I expected him to go back but he didn't.

"Do you need anything sir?"

"Well, yeah. Can you just call me Zach?"

"Okay, if you want to sir... Er... I mean Zach."

"I feel weird when someone calls me sir."

"Okay Zach."

Then I turned around and started to make their orders. After a few minutes, I gave them their orders then I went back to the counter. I still couldn't believe that he let me call him by his name. I mean, I'm supposed to call him sir but he wanted me to call him Zach.

Oh goddamn it Mariah!!! Don't think that you're special now just because he let you call him by his name! He might just really don't wanna be addressed as 'Sir'.

I sighed then I looked at them, only to find him staring back at me and when he realized that I was looking back at him, he quickly turned to his mates and pretended that he was listening and talking to them.

I got the cloth and the spray-on cleanser and started cleaning up the counter because I noticed that it was a bit dusty.

As I was busy wiping the surface, he went back up again to me.

"Hey." He greeted.

"Hey." I greeted back with a smile then I continued what I was doing.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"I'm Mariah." I said.

"Mariah? As in Mariah Carey?"

I laughed, "Close but no. Mariah Carter." I replied. He smiled and one thing that I noticed about his smile is that I could feel its own warmth... Like a light coming out from him. Seems like he hadn't smiled for ages, in fact.

"Are you single?" he asked.

"Yeah but I'm not interested in dating yet." I said which is true and even if he asks me out, I would say no even though I like him. Why? Let's just say I've been through this stage a couple of times before and I always end up being hurt. And that sucks. It seriously sucks.

"Mariah?" Amy said and then I looked at her and she raised an eyebrow at me with a lopsided grin. I turned back to Zach, "I don't wanna be rude but you're kinda disturbing me." I said.

"In what way?" he asked. "I'm just talking to you."

"That's the point. I'm not allowed to chat with our customers during working hours."

"Oh, then I might just have to call you on your mobile." Then he smiled at me as he gave me his mobile and I hesitated to accept it. I mean Zach Russell--- a member of The Collective--- is asking for my mobile number! I felt my cheeks go hot so I cleared my throat and tucked a few strands of hair behind my ear.

"Don't worry; my mobile won't bite you. Go on. Enter your mobile number." He added, trying to sound convincing. And he is.

I got his mobile and entered my number.

"Zach, c'mon! We're leaving!!!" Trent told him.

"Alright." He said then he turned to me, "I'll call you later. Bye Mariah." Then he waved at me goodbye and then turned around and started to walk out of the shop with the other four hot guys.