Good Luck With That *ON HOLD*

Chapter 8: Out of Control

I pop my headphones into my ears and let the music of Matt Corby's 'Resolution' drown out the world around. I pick up my bag again and swing it over my shoulder as I continue down the footpath thinking about the recent conversation I just had with Aria about my little office visit.

"You're not going anywhere until you tell me what happened with Hayden Evelyn!" Aria says in a hushed voice as she slams a hand down on my locker, blocking my path. 

"Nothing went on! I just so happened to get trapped in the janitor's closet...with him," I mumble off but Aria has hearing too good to have missed what I'd just said. 

"What do you mean you got trapped in the janitor's closet with him!" she says her voice rising too loudly for my liking. 

"Shh quieten down, someone will hear," I hush, trying to move on from this but Aria's hand is still in the way- well looks like I've got no choice BUT to tell her. 

"Evelyn, listen to me," Aria whispers, her milky brown eyes boring into mine with such intensity it has me a little concerned for what's coming next, "Hayden is not the type of guy you want to be hanging around with. He's just like Clarissa Evelyn, just like Clarissa."

"Aria it wasn't like that at all, look I'll tell you about it tonight cos' I'm running late for work," I say, give her a quick hug and hurry back down the crowded hallway.

I turn onto Pacific Avenue, the time nearing 3:30 when my shift starts and sprint down the street, determined to make it on time. My phone beeps with a message but I ignore it, remembering to check it when I get into Cafe Mare where I currently work. One of my headphones fall out just as the song changes to something more upbeat. 

By the time I reach Cafe Mare, my shift is just about to begin. I go in through the back and hang my bag on a hook by the door. I reach into my bag to check my phone when my boss Mr Moretti storms into the room, throwing an apron at my face and yelling at me to get to work. 

"Yeah whatever," I mutter, putting on the apron and tying the straps to a knot at the back. I walk into the kitchen and sign my name in the shift table book. 

"Hey Fred," I call over to the mop of vibrant red hair by the stoves. 

"Oh hi Evelyn," Fred says with a wave of his hand and a flash of his pearlie whites, "Sally's waiting for you to help with the next shift up front, you're on waitress duty."

"Waitress duty? What? No I thought cleanup was-"

"Evelyn, finally you're here!" Sally jeers, bursting through the kitchen doors. "Come on we need you up front, we're rather busy this afternoon." She grabs my shoulders, spins me in front of her and then turns us to face the doors. 

"But, but-" by the time my words are out she's pushed me through the doors to fend for myself, and every single face in the room is staring at me. 

"Great way to start the shift," I mumble to myself as I grab a pen and a notepad from the counter to take orders on. Sally was right though, it sure is busy out here. I make my way over to an old couple, who I deem as ready to order. They seem rather cute from a distance...yes a distance. When I'm up close it's a whole other different story. 

"It's always Nancy this, Nancy that," the old woman with a perfect head of white, bouncy permed curls sputters in an awful male voice attempt. 

"Nancy now you listen to me," the man sitting opposite her retorts in a croaky voice, "you cannot order the most expensive thing this cafe serves, nor the most expensive drink here! We just don't have that kind of money anymore. No thanks to any of your other expensive purchases and beauty care appointments." Whoa, what a blow but man was Nancy spot on with the male voice attempt.