Transformed || l.h.

Chapter Three

Georgia gets home at three thirty only to rush up to her bedroom and change, hoping to be back out of the house by three forty-five. She pulls off her school clothes after throwing her backpack on her bed top, dropping the clothes to the floor. “I really need to clean up in here,” she mumbles to herself as she traipses to the dresser and begins rummaging through the drawers in search for her khaki skinny jeans.

Groaning, she pilfers through her closet for a moment before locating her maroon polo with the coffee shop logo on the left breast side. “There we are,” Georgia says, pulling the skinny jeans up her legs and the top over her head.

Walking into the bathroom, Georgia pulls her hair out of the messy bun and pushes a brush through it, wincing the entire time, until it’s at least manageable. Then she braids back her bangs and pulls the whole mop of disarray into a tight sock bun. After brushing her teeth, she picks back up her bag and walks through the kitchen, hating the total silence. 

“Why can’t they just be home for once?” she grumbles as she pulls an apple out of the fridge. Shaking her head, Georgia walks out the door and slips back into her car, pulling out of the parking lot and making her way downtown to the coffee shop.

~*~ 

Georgia pushes her way through the entrance of the coffee shop, the overwhelming scent of java wafting in the air. She groans, glad she has a night of no plans yet again, because otherwise she’d have to bathe in acid to get the smell out. “Yay for being the unpopular friend,” Georgia mumbles as she slips behind the counter, grabbing her black apron in the process.

“Hey Georgia,” a voice speaks from the back of the shop.

She looks up from where she’s bent over into her staff cubby to see the smiling face of Aliza Jameson. “Hey Liza,” she waves to the blonde. Her coworker returns the gesture while readjusting her beanie atop her head with the other hand. “You know,” Georgia speaks up, turning on another pot of decaf coffee, “I will never come to understand how you get here before I do every day but I leave school before you.” Aliza giggles a bit, walking to the register to attend to another customer before answering.

“I think it’s just because I don’t bother to do anything with this mess on top of my head,” she says smoothly, writing the customer’s name on the cup before fixing the cold coffee. Georgia nods, “Ah, I see.” They share a laugh and then the bell rings again recognizing the presence of a new customer entering the shop. Georgia looks up from her spot behind the counter to see two dark heads of hair, one male, the other female, and grabs two cups and sidles behind the register, ready to take their orders. Smiling, Geeps greets them, “Hi, how are you?” The girl out of the duo answers, “I’m great, thanks for asking.” She goes silent, as does Georgia, but both are for different reasons. Georgia looks up to see the male straggler talking to a taller blonde guy.

Damn it.

I just can’t escape them, can I? Georgia asks herself as she takes in the image of Luke Hemmings and his best buddy Calum. So that’s why she had an Australian accent, Georgia thinks, That’s Calum’s sister.

“I’ll just take a stereotypical pumpkin spice latte, thank you,” the girl orders with a bright smile before turning around. “Calum,” she calls, “get your ass over here and order, would you?” He laughs to Luke before taking a large step up to the register. “Hello,” Calum speaks, digging into his back pocket for what Georgia assumes is his wallet. “Hey,” she says quietly, trying to avoid the gaze of the blue-eyed boy behind him. Small flashbacks and echoes of the past hit her whenever she sees him, and now isn’t any different.

“Why aren’t you making a card?” he asked. “Everyone has to make Mum’s Day cards, Georgia.”

Shaking her head, Georgia realizes that Calum has already ordered. “I’m sorry,” she apologizes, running her thumb over her bottom lip, “I totally zoned out. Can I get that again please?” She poises her hand over the cup, writing his name along with his repeated order. “Thanks,” she says with a slight head nod. Calum looks perplexed, “Are you all right?” She nods, “I’m fine. Just had a bit of a flashback. You remind me of someone I knew when I was younger.” He smiles brightly, “Hopefully you only remember good things from him.” Georgia nods again, this time with the glint of a grin on her lips. “All good things,” she assures him.