Unravelling My Past

7. Cafe is Closed for Today

My eyes flutter open, darkness enveloping me as I realize that morning has yet to come. I look at my flip phone and check the time.

5:15.

I sigh, laying my arm on my face, covering my eyes. I silently get up, looking down only to see Adam in his sleeping bag, snoring silently.

Now's my chance.

I walk quietly to the kitchen cabinet, grabbing my four bottles of medication, chugging one pill at a time. When I finish all my pills, I eat some yogurt and a bit of bread to allow for better digestion. I don't take these often, but I guess I have to now. I'll stop when the bleeding stops. Hopefully.

I know I won't be able to fall back asleep so I walk into my designated room to grab a jacket. I put it on and wait a few minutes to warm up, I let out a sigh of content. I walk and open the sliding door to the terrace. My feet feel the tender wood as the sounds of small creaking are created from the weight shift come out as I walk. I lay against the cold, black metal bars, staring into the sky. The stars aren't there with all the city lights. How did I see them before? Maybe it was off?

I sit on the wooden terrace floor, proceeding to lay down. The cold air surrounds me. I know it's bad for my health, but it feels so good. So I knock out...

~•~•~

The smell of eggs and bacon enters my nose, causing me to drool. I take my sleeping bag off.

WAIT WHAT? I thought I fell asleep outside??

I quickly turn around to see Adam cooking. Apron on and spatula in hand. He turns around and locks a look on my eyes. He smiled and laughs.

"Did you carry me back in?"

"Well it would be unkind of me to let you sleep outside since I'm the guest. Amber would kill be if you got sick."

"OH WHAT TIME IS IT?" I shout in anxiety as I realize that we are probably late for work. "We are so late!! They must be struggling in rush time, no time for breakfast, we have to go!" I scramble to my feet to look at the clock.

9:57 AM

I begin panicking as Adam just stares at me like a lunatic and laughs at my situation. I glare at him.

"It's almost 10! What are you doing Adam, come on!"

"Hazel," He looks at me. "Calm down, the cafe is fine. We don't need to be there today."

"Huh? What do you mean?" I slow down my pace and walk towards him, curious of his calm words.

"The cafe is closed today. You need rest and a caretaker so two people obviously can't hold the shop down, you need at least 3 and that's not happening. Today is all about taking care of you." He gives me a reassuring smile.

I stare at him, blank faced, confused. "So what is taking care of me going to be like?"

"Shopping at the mall. Getting a pedicure or manicure. You know? A girl's day out, but just with me and Ruby with you."

"That's a lot of money I don't have. I think I'll have to decline." I gently say.

"That's where you are wrong. You won't be paying. I will." He smirks.

"It sounds like I'll owe you later on." I squint my eyes at him.

"Hmmm... who knows." He smirks again. I gasp in shock and fake betrayal. "Get dressed, I'm going back to the cafe to get dressed and to get Ruby. Take your time." And then he leaves my apartment complex with a note and a couple hundred dollars on my counter. I shake my head while shoving the money with a heavy heart into my wallet.

Mrs. Hoover is not going to be happy about this. I gave her a call at this thought and she said "Well I hope you have your rent." And I did so I gave her my money that I earned this week. I change into my nicest clothes for going out, out of the 10 outfits I currently own. It consists of a baby blue blouse with a simple design of a hummingbird at the hem, my simple matching bra and undershirt that went under it, of course, cotton underwear, and skinny jeans that made me look nice yet were so comfy and stretched enough to let me do the splits. Ah, if only I could.

I grab my small bag and stuffed my keys, phone, wallet, and thin jacket inside and walk out with my sandals. I tie my hair back, messily, and head towards the cafe where Ruby has a pink shirt that says "I love shopping, I hope you can afford me ;)" and dark wash denim. She has a pair of nice black wedges and a black overcoat. I turn to Adam to see he is wearing a comfortable jacket with a black shirt that says "I can't afford her because she's my sister :/" with black sweats and black shoes, looking quite intimidating in my book. I comment to them about their shirts and they laugh, saying that they were given these shirts not too long ago. It was perfect.

We walk to the bus stop, waiting for the transit, and a food stall came by with roasted, candied peanuts.

"Morning! Do you think I can try a sample?" I ask the kind old man that was running the stall. He looks tired but he was generous and gave me three pieces. I gave one to Ruby and to Adam. When I take a bite, I chew in delight because the salty sweet combo was just what I needed. I bought five dollars worth and may or may not have shoved it down my bag while keeping a handful in my hand. I give the kind man a twenty dollar bill for his generosity. He doesn't want to take it, claiming that it's not fair to me and it would be against his conscience to do so.

"Kind sir, please take the money, I can tell you work really hard and honestly, please accept the offer, take it as credit for next time?" I ask with pleading eyes. He gives in and gives me a hug and a smile, the smell of nuts encompassing me. He cries a bit before saying "you're a kind soul missus. I'll remember your graciousness and help you when you want me too," And with a nod of the head, he walks off with his stall, hoping to gain more customers.

"There's twenty five dollars out of your pocket in five minutes huh?" Adam comments.

"Look, he works hard and honestly, and the peanuts are really good, he even threw in some cashews!" I whine. He chuckles while the bus rolls to our stop. We get in and pay for the ride.

"Is it common for the cafe to close this often?" I ask.

"No it happens once in a while," Ruby answers.

"So what made you want to go to the mall?"

"You need a break, I love shopping," She gestures to her shirt. " and Adam has a blind date." I go wide-eyed and violently whip my head towards Adam.

He blushes, and for a man, it's pretty darn cute. Yikes.

"Yeah..." he places his hand behind his neck, a tell-tale sign.

"With who?" I question him earnestly.

"It's a blind date, how am I supposed to know?"

"Oh right.... I forgot!" I laugh it off.

The bus stopped in front of the mall and we stepped off.

Ahhh you thought. Sorry but not yet, if you know what I mean ;)

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