The Bakery

1

It was a Tuesday. A day like any other for Genie. She got to work at 8:58am, left her rust bucket of a car and went into the back and put her apron on. She folded her jacket into the drawer with her name on it and went into the main cafe section to sweep the floors. The way she did every morning. One of her only friends, Isla, was working this morning, so they exchanged a quick catch up when the cafe was empty. The cafe was down a side road so the only time they got customers was walkers, the 'lunch time rushers' or when Harry came in.

After around 20 mins of chatting and sweeping, the door bell dinged. Genie looked up from her brush to be met with the eyes of an old couple. Sweet, she thought. With her brush in hand, she lead them to a booth and told them their server would be right out. It was just her and Isla today. The boss barely ever came in as she knew it wasn't worth it. She must trust Genie. After all she had worked there for a little over a year. Genie went to the back and told Isla that the couple in booth 3 were waiting. Isla smiled as she passed Genie and went to collect their orders. The bakery was split into two. There was the café, which Genie pretty much ran, and there was the bakery window, where people could collect 'artisan baked goods' but she never worked there. Genie looked at the clock whilst making up the pancake order. 9:34. She put the pancakes on the plate and rung the bell for Isla to collect it. No later than that, Harry walked through the door. 9:36. Right on time. Genie looked up from the counter and met his eyes. Damn. His eyes were so pretty. Emerald green, piercing through her own as if they were looking into her soul. She nodded at him and started to make a small pot of black coffee. He sat in the booth and she brought it over to him and sat opposite him.

"It's been exactly 11 hours and 36 minutes since I last saw you" Genie states. Harry merely smiled one of his soft smiles and cocked his head to one side. He studied her face carefully which made her blush.

"Why doesn't the other waitress serve me?" Harry questioned. Genie thought he was being sarcastic so gave a small laugh.

"You're my regular. No one else gets to serve you but me" she said whilst winking. "Would you want anyone else?" Her voice held sarcasm and she glanced at the clock yet again. 9:42. Time was moving quickly. Harry was quiet today, not that that is different to usual but she just wanted to get him to give her a heartfelt grin.

"How are you?" Genie broke out of her trance at Harry's sudden words. She was staring at his face. Oh gosh, how embarrassing. She blushed and subtly covered her cheeks whilst nodding.

"I'm okay. My sister tried to call me. She wants me to come home"

"Why don't you?" Finally, talkative Harry was her favourite.

"You know why, Harry. They put me down, trying to convince me all the decisions I've made are the wrong ones. I'm not good with confrontation. I'll end up agreeing to move back home or going back to uni." She admitted sadly, looking at the table as she said each word. She felt a hand on her cheek, pulling her eyes up to meet the familiar green ones. She blushed at the contact, forgetting what she had previously been saying. Harry stared at her before slowly opening his mouth to speak.

"Well, you never know until you try."