Safe Haven

Chapter 7

March 20,

I set the rag on top of the counter, taking off my stained apron and hanging it up on the rack. It had been such a long day today. All the employees were driven insane because of the busy customers today, it's exhausting. It's crazy to think that a grill would be so busy in a small town like this.

Good thing that Kate and I had our breaks at the same time. We decided to go to the Starbucks around the corner. I imagine it's less chaotic than in here, and plus, I wouldn't want to order anything from here and just have the employees be more stressed.

"Hey darling, you' ready?" Kate approached me, slipping her cross-body purse over her head as I nodded.

"Yep, let me just grab my bag." I went behind the counter, quickly snatching my bag from the low shelf. It was somewhere that I never thought bartenders would keep there stuff, its so simple yet unnoticeable. I can say it's pretty safe back there, especially since no one can go back there besides the workers, which I trusted wouldn't steal anything.

Kate and I exited the bar, hearing the little ding that sounded whenever the door was opened.

"There's a heck of a lot business today." Kate chuckled as we turned the corner of a store.

"Yeah, I know. Maybe because it's too hot outside." These couple of days haven't had much pleasing weather.

"At least we got out of it right when it started to get hectic. Poor Stan and Riley." She pouted. Stan and Riley were the only waiter and waitress working right now, due to the fact that a quarter of the staff were on their breaks.

We entered the store, seeing that it wasn't too full. It had great air conditioning, which was so refreshing.

"What do you want, it's on me." I smiled at her, sliding my hand into my back as I got ready to pull out my wallet.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, course'." I pursed my lips together, pulling out my pink wallet with flowers all over it. "What do you want?"

She squinted her eyes, looking up at the menu for a couple minutes before looking at the cashier who was completely ready for us to order. "Caramel Frappuccino."

The cashier then looked at me in expectation. Unlike Kate, I'm not too much of a Starbucks fan, "Cinnamon Latte."

We got handed our drinks before we headed over to one of the many empty tables and sat down.

"So, how long have you been working at Silver Moon's?" I asked, looking up at her after sipping from the straw and getting brain-freeze. Kate and I have talked and got to know each other, but we still didn't know about a whole lot. Maybe this would be a good time for some bonding.

"Eh, maybe a year I think. It'll keep my bills paid along with still painting my portraits. They haven't been doing too good lately." She sighed. I could tell she was a bit upset about it. She told me about her art skills and how she paints portraits. She's very good too, there's paintings hung up around the condo and in her room. Also she has a desk in her room where she works at it.

But I knew she wasn't selling a lot of them recently. Usually, people would request or buy her stuff, like she said. But since I've been here, she hasn't been getting much people calling or buying her stuff. I think that it's mainly because she only sells her paintings around the town, rather than a wider range.

"Well, I think they're wonderful. You just need to start considering sell them to a larger range of people and you'll-"

"Katy!" I was cut off by an overly-excited lady calling out Kate's name as she entered the store and looked our direction. Maybe it's her aunt.

Kate stood up, giving her a warm hug as she approached the table. "Hi Ruth, how are you?"

"I'm great, hun. I was just talking about you with Andy, he hasn't seen you in ages! Even though I see you every once and a while." I watched as they conversed in front of me, trying my best not to ruin anything. I hate awkward situations like this, but I think my fake smile was seemingly paying off.

"Yeah, I definitely have to pass by sometime. How's the store? Has it had better business?" Kate questioned, still standing up while she quickly began to look interested.

"I've actually been thinking of selling it." The lady sighed. It looked more of a pleasant statement.

Kate frowned, pouting almost falsely. "Oh no, that's terrible."

"It's no big deal, no one really comes around- who's your friend here? She's very pretty." She smiled down at me, making me blush as I got ready to introduce myself before Kate took no hesitant moves than to do it herself.

"Oh, this is Kristen. She's new in town."

"Hello Kristen." She held out her hand to me as I shook it willingly.

"Hi."

Kate sat down, patting the spot next to her so the lady would sit down with us. "You should sit with us,"

"Not for too long. I just came by to pick up a couple drinks for Harry and his buddy."

I rose my head up at his name. "That's the two guys that work at the convenience store just a few blocks down, right?" Kate asked carelessly.

"Yeah. He's been working non-stop these past days on fixing his father's old car to give it to him in two weeks and just tiring himself out. You know, he's changed a lot ever since the incident. I'm trying to get old happy Harry back instead of the sad Harry who only depends on making other people happy and forgets about himself sometimes." She had a look of despair, furrowing her eyebrows as if she felt really bad for him.

I quickly became interested and curious about what happen to him. I coughed lightly. "What incident?" Somehow, I felt embarrassed to ask. I barely knew this lady nor Harry, and here I was trying to figure out what happened in his life.

"You know Harry?" She rose her eyebrows.

"Yes, I just didn't know he had an incident." He doesn't look much like the person who's depressed or hurt by any means. More like a guy that wants to have fun.

"Oh not him, his mother passed away from cancer last year. He still hasn't recovered, it was very tragic. Considering, he found out only a couple days before she was rushed to the hospital."

"That's awful." I licked my lips, feeling a sudden pressure against my heart. Is it normal to feel guilty after the way I treated him yesterday? I shouldn't of been so mean.

"It truly is. He's been trying to work hard on providing things for his father, who seems to still be in total shock. But poor Harry, he's changed. He's much more caring, almost too caring. He forgets about his own needs often." She frowned, still keeping Kate's and I's attention as a smile started to appear on her face. "So that's why I decided to get him his favorite Starbucks coffee and bring it to him while he's still working on that darn car in the sun. But I can't forget about Zayn, he'll throw a fit if I show up with something for Harry only." She chuckled, standing up from the seat, obviously ready to go order what she came here for.

"Bye Ruth. Nice to see you again." Kate smiled, giving her a quick reassuring hug.

"You too, Katy. Stay beautiful."

"Nice meeting you." I hugged her too. Usually, I wouldn't give much hugs to people I just met, but she was such a sweet lady.

"You too, hun. I'll see you two lovely girls soon."

Kate sipped the last of her Frappuccino as Ruth walked away, throwing it out in the trash-can next to her before wiping her hands with a napkin. I did the same thing after.

"No! breaks over." She whined, making me giggle. I didn't want to get back to work either.

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A/N: I know, I haven't updated in ages. I apologize :( dedication to: @the_1D_session :)