I Am Not Your Maid! (On Hold)

Chapter 8 - Lingering

Chapter 8

Lingering

For some reason, I felt down when he left.

Which was ridiculous!

I scowled at myself.  Just an hour ago I was ranting off to Sakura about how arrogant and idiotic he was, and now I was missing his company?  It was the most absurd thing I’d ever heard.

Maybe it was the familiarity of him that I was missing?  That sounded more plausible, but at the same time, I hardly knew him.

I had to shake my head to clear it and continue on with my job the rest of the night with Jasmine.

We closed at ten, but still had two guys (who were friends) sitting down on the couch and taking their time with their green tea.

Despite our best efforts to politely tell them they had to leave, they kept flattering Jasmine and trying to maintain her full and undivided attention.

We finally managed to get them out by quarter after.

Jasmine escorted them out the front door before locking it.  She went around to the window and peeked between the drawn curtains.

 “It wouldn’t be the first time customers hung around the café after hours,” she told me as she withdrew from the window.

I tried not to shudder with that thought.  Guys could be so creepy sometimes!

She went to the cash register to process the day’s totals and deposits. 

I had finished most of the cleaning while Jasmine took care of the guys.  All that was left was sweeping, moping, and taking the garbage out back (which we did after we locked up and went home).

We quickly hurried through the remaining closing duties and finished around ten-thirty.  We showered in the two shower stalls provided for us girls, changed into our street clothes, and headed out the back door. 

It was dark back there.  The small staff parking lot and alley was tucked away between buildings and resembled a scene from a horror movie.  Quickly, we locked up around quarter to eleven.

“Do you have a ride?” Jasmine asked me once she was sure the door was secure.

When I shook my head, she offered to give me a ride to the subway.

“I don’t trust these roads to be safe for girls to be walking down alone at night.”

I accepted her offer graciously, knowing that she was right.

Since China Town was just around the corner, their mafia frequented the area like the secret service agents in Nazi Germany.

I definitely did not want to get involved in any of that.

I kept to myself on the commute, letting my parents know my whereabouts and approximate time I’d be home.  I knew they would worry if I didn’t let them know as midnight approached.

Luckily, I got home before midnight.  By then, I was too tired to focus on any homework.  I collapsed on my bed and didn’t stir until morning.

*          *          *

The next day proved to be grey and dreary, tapping into my physical and emotional deposits and sucking them dry.  I grudgingly pulled myself out of bed and stumbled into the shower for a quick wake-up call.  The cool water against my skin gave me some strength, but I still felt drained when I got out and towelled myself dry.

I didn’t feel prepared for school today, and I didn’t like that feeling.  I liked knowing what to expect because I had done all the homework the night before.  This was like throwing a kid into a pool and expecting her to learn to swim on her own.