Only Forward

(3) No More Lemons

Probably the most famous quote in the whole entire world is "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!" My grandpa used to say "Or limeade."  He was never authentically american enough to actually enjoy tasting the summery liquid.  He preferred lime juice and sugar in his filtered water. 
As a young girl, I always wondered if the phrase meant real lemons or figurative ones.  Because I did not see piles of fruit being handed out at street corners or dropped from the sky into neighborhood trampolines. So I settled on figurative ones because they seemed more likely. Lemons could be considered the wrong kind of dye in your hair, getting chicken pox on the day of your big tournament or losing a loved to a vehicle accident. All of them have different circumstances and outcomes but little round rinds they are still.
    At this date, my lemons of life include, but not limited to, never getting to be a big sister, missing out on my senior homecoming because I slipped and fell at our school's football game the night before, battling anxiety since before I can remember and always feeling lonely at everyone's parties. Oh and not having discovered my life purpose completely yet but that is a story for another time. Stay tuned!
    Back to the loneliness.  I have not always been dateless.  My crush in eighth grade gave me a red rose on the day we waved goodbye to middle school and entered high school.  I was a blessed high schooler. I always managed to have a guy's arm to lean on for every dance our school offered.  But none of them turned into boyfriends. 
Vanessa and Ellet were always something.  When they were a couple, they were friends.  They were chemistry lab mates in sophomore year of high school before they shared romantic chemistry with kisses.  I was always jealous of my sister when I wasn't begging her to keep him after one of their very few fights.  Why couldn't I have someone by my side to support my every move?  My prom pictures all had a different guy in them; Vanessa's dates were consistently one.  I can proudly say I am not lacking for my first kiss.  It was not spectacular or special in any way, but I try to forget that part and feel normal.  Ever since attending college, I have left off the goal of finding a mate and resorted to being significant other-less at weddings and other important events.  At Vanessa's wedding, I was the only bridesmaid without a date.  I smiled and called myself the "Sexy Single Sister", but still felt out of place. 
My first day at BlueCorn Coffee was nerve wrecking for me.  Seeing as I did not have to go through the normal process of applying and preparing for an interview, I should have had no problem.  I have known Mr. Blanton for what feels like my whole life.  And yet, that was exactly why I was the most nervous.  What if Alyssa's dad was disappointed in me?  What if I did not stand up to his vast expectations he appeared to have of me? 
Apron around my waist, I hugged Alyssa and followed her around as she showed me the various jobs of a new barista.  Clearly, there was a ton of tasks that I had to master before I would be well rounded.  Mr. Blanton was no where in sight and I soon learned from one of the other employees that he was out for the day and would be in on the following one.  I breathed a sigh of relief.  My nerves could settle before I was under his managerial eye. 
Serving red velvet cupcakes was easy as pie, no pun intended.  I had been stirring lattes and boiling teas for the last two hours and everything was going smooth.  Until that blonde-headed boy stared me straight in the face and showed me his pearly white teeth. 
I actually lost my voice.  If you know me, you have had experience with my rambling tongue.  I mean, you have listened to me chatter for over 3000 words now and not stopping for a second.  But I was weirdly speechless.  Then I realized that I was probably gawking and I swallowed nervously. 
He smiled.  "Could I have five chocolate chip cookies please?"
I quickly found my odd sense of humor again.  "Five? What are you, a rabbit in need of diabetes?"
He raised his eyebrows.  "No?"
I grinned and leaned my elbows on the register wedged between him and I.  "Don't you need some espresso to go with the cookies?  You look a little droopy eyed."
I was certain I was going to get fired the day I started.  Never mind the fact that my employer was off the premises.  My neighbor's stare was boring a hole into my head with every silent second that ensued. 
Finally, I got my senses back.  I waved my hand and held out a receipt. "Never mind. Ignore my previous remarks.  Your stack of cookies is on the house."  I crossed my fingers that that decision was not strike two; strike one being verbally attacking a cute customer.
He took the sack of chocolate from me and handed me a five-dollar bill.  When I scrunched my eyes and did not snatch it, he pushed it across the glass case.  "Keep it.  No need to get caught passing out free food." He winked and I lost my voice again.  He walked out of the shop and Alyssa appeared next to me.
"Where did you net that hunk and does he have a brother?" She sounded like a drooling fangirl. 
I sidestepped my coworker and put milk-glazed spoons in the sanitary water by the sink.  "He's just my neighbor, Alyssa."
She nodded.  "Mmmhmmm and pigs can fly."
I laughed.  "One thing I think we can agree on, is that right now, with this job and that handsome face, my life has no more lemons."
We locked pinkies on that discovery.