Because of You

Chapter 3

I woke up the next day and drove over to the coffee shop to work. Yesterday I had nearly finished the choreography for my solo and now I just had to perfect it before the competition in 10 days. I put on my apron and hat, walking into the back to clean, when I got stopped by one of the other workers. Her name was Macie and she was a little too perky.

"Oh my gosh I'm soooo glad you're here Wendy! I have to slip out early today. I have a thing. I thought you could just take over up front. Thanks you're the best!" she yelled running off. What? I can't take over at the front. I can barely say one word to people I know, let alone people I don't know. Shakily I walked up to the counter. I had to try. Ding. The first customer walked in and I took a deep breath.

It was a guy, about my age, maybe a little younger. He had messy, ash brown hair, and dark blue eyes. Not only was I expected to talk to a customer, but I was expected to talk to this extremely good looking one. He came up to the counter and gave me a warm smile. I opened my mouth to ask him what he wanted, but nothing came out, so I just sat there with my mouth open like an idiot.

The guy started to look uncomfortable. "Um... I'll have a tall cinnamon dolce latte, please?" he said uncertainly.

"S-sorry. Ca-can..." I took a deep breath, blushing. "Name?" There. I got a word out. My goodness I needed to get better at communicating.

"Jayden. J-a-y-d-e-n."

I just nodded and he walked off to wait for his drink. My hands shook as I prepared it for him and then I realized I had to call his name. I walked back to the front and went over to the counter where people picked up their drinks. I glanced back and when I looked back he was standing in front of me. He smiled kindly and took the drink from me.

Heat spread across my whole face, but I was so thankful that he did that for me. I gave a shy smile back to him and he left the shop. I would probably never see him again, but I was very relieved that he was my first customer. It gave me a little more courage as I turned back to the long line of people waiting to order. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and walked over to finish my job.

***

By the time my shift was over, I was exhausted and shaking from the pressure of talking to all those people. I checked my phone as I walked in my front door and was relieved to find that I had no messages. I really wasn't feeling another conversation today, especially with my mom.

"Marley, Marley, Marley!" I called. I needed snuggle time with my kitty. I wasn't one for comfort food, but comfort cuddles? Sign me up... as long as its with a cat. Marley came running over to greet me at the door and she must've been able to feel my bad mood, because she let me kiss and squeeze her without protest.

I knew a lot of people think cats don't care about their owners, but they really do, even if they pretend they don't sometimes. "Oh Marls. Today was a day," I said sighing. I set her down and she rubbed on my legs, purring. I smiled at her and walked to the kitchen. Maybe I was into comfort food... no use in lying.

I opened the freezer and grabbed a tub of ice cream. It only had a little left in it so I just grabbed a spoon and finished it off. Then I sat there, looking down at my stomach and started to question my life decisions. I frowned and my eyebrows came together. Then I thought, oh well. One little ice cream frenzy never hurt anyone.