Teenage Dirtbag

17

"What th-" Words could not describe how shocked I was to see Noel standing before me with her coffee on the floor in front of her.

"I'm so sorry, I-I can clean it up!" She walked passed me, grabbing napkins. Nelly stood behind me, followed by Damion and Tara. I watched as Noel walked over to the mess she had created, wiping it all up and letting the napkins collect the hot liquid.

"Oh no dear! Harry go get the mop, don't let her do that!" Nelly had to push me away to get me to move. I grabbed the mop, staring at her as I came back.

"I'm really sorry, I'm such a cluts!" A really adorable one.

"Your okay dear, don't worry about it." She nervously chuckled, wiping her hands on her coat as I continued to mop the floor.

"Would you like a towel for your coat El? We've got one in the back!" Tara hollered, walking to the back. I looked at her red cheeks, cringing when her eyes met mine. El?

"Thank you so much.." She took the towel, damping her coat down, along with her pants that were probably soaked. "Wait, you know her?"

I put the mop away, walking back over and leaning against the case of cakes.

"She's visits us almost everyday Harry, you just haven't been here!" Nelly laughs, patting her shoulder.

Noel smiles, not looking at me. I felt awkward, being the only one that didn't know what the hell I was missing out on. She comes here every day?! I'd been working for three years and not once did I see her stop by. I probably would've chocked if she had. When they explained that she started coming here as soon as I left and didn't come back, buying her usual treat with something else for her parents.

"What were you actually here for dear? The usual? Come over and take a look, Harry will ring you up!" I crossed my arms, opening my mouth to speak but stepped back, remembering that they didn't know that I know her.

I made my way over to the cash register, not saying a word. Everyone was in the back, cooking and baking, leaving just me and Noel up front- great.

"So, you work here?" She asked, gazing at all the sweet treats I had decorated.

"My my third year." My arms were crossed when she looked up at me, a little nervous. Her eyes closed and looked back down at the display case.

"Harry-"

"Just don't. Those people back there- they don't know we know each other, maybe we should just keep it that way.." She looked up at me with sadness.

"Is that what you really want? If so, I come everyday now so you'll have to get used to seeing a familiar face." Her eyes shined as she looked through the glass, her hand rested against it.

The tasty treats made my stomach growl, I had known the feeling of wanting to devour every last bite of these things. From fudge bars, doughnuts, pastries, cinnabuns, to cakes, I took home a little something each shift.

"Well then your just known as the girl who comes everyday." I felt as if I'd gone too far with her expression. She seemed hurt but really, it was her fault in the first place. She turned the dial down on my boost meter by telling Lance, out of all people that I was an asshole.

"I can't believe you.." I heard her mumble as Damion came out.

"I made an extra batch of doughnuts, did you want to design them like you usually do?" I smiled to Damion, nodding at him and pushing him along to the back.

"You decorate these?" I nod, looking down at my creations. She sighed, pointing to the cookie with a sad face on it. "I'll take one of those I guess." I look at the cookie, then at her before taking a cut up cookie sheet and grabbing it, placing it into a bag.

"Anything else?" I asked in a cheery voice when Tara cane out, smiling.

"She'll take the usual Harry." I turned to Tara.

"I don't know what the usual i-"

"Three glazed doughnuts: one with butterscotch frosting, one with vanilla frosting, and another with chocolate sprinkled coconut on top of it." She blurted, cutting me off. I blinked at her, shocked at her attitude.

"Well they aren't done yet, but when they are I will get them out to you instantly." I gritted through my teeth as Tara walked to the back with a towel and spray bottle in her hand.

"Can you at least be nice to me? It's the least you could do.." She glares at me. I leaned in, my knuckles turning white from my hands pressed against the counter.

"I'm sorry El, I guess I'm an asshole!" I whispered through my teeth again, trying not to cause a racket.

"Here you go El!" Damion walked out with a box, covered in our print for her. She took it, saying thank you, then looking back to me. I watched Damion as he walked back, a bit shocked as to how he did that so fast.

I heard her sigh. My eyes met with her looking down at her box. I handed her the cookie, ringing her up.

"Twenty four dollars and sixty four cents, I got it." I blinked, watching her pull out five fives. She put her wallet back in her purse, turning away.

"Your ch-"

"Keep it." And she was out the door. I rushed out from behind the register, opening the door to where she was going. She walked down the street, turning into a shop four doors down from mine.

I ran down, looking in the window of where she went. Aisles of books lined up on one side, then to the back were three short ones. I watched her as she walked to the register. She grabbed a piece of paper, putting the box and something else down on the counter. Did she know somebody that worked there? Is she close with all the people who work in these shops?

She ran her hands through her hair, covering her face on the counter. Her body jerked a bit, making it obvious she was crying. She bought that cookie on purpose, but what was she going to do with it?

When she turned around, holding the box and cookie in her arms, I turned and booked it back into the bakery.