Experiencing the Unknown

7. Night Watching

It was early Sunday night, and I was working the closing shift. I didn't mind working the closing shift because it was slow, meaning I had more time to get lost in my thoughts. I kept checking the door, but Lucas didn't come through. Maybe he wasn't coming tonight I thought to myself.

At least I had Liam here to keep me company, even though I didn't know him. My old co-worker didn't really talk to me, and I never tried to with him. Besides, he gave me the creeps. He was in his mid-thirties, and tried hitting on all the teenage girls that came in here after school. At least that was what it seemed like to me. I shuddered as I thought about it. Luckily, he doesn't work here anymore. Plus Liam was my age, who didn't hit on the girls, instead, the girls hit on him.

Ellie, as she said, came to the cafe today, just to ogle at Liam. I didn't blame her though, Liam was good-looking. However, Isaac came in looking for her, asking why she was here. She lied, saying she was here to see me, but I knew the real reason, she was infatuated with Liam.

I washed down the dining tables, pushing in all the chairs, which screeched across the tiled floor. The cafe was closing in half an hour, and I wanted the place as tidy as possible. Picking up mugs that people left behind, I went outback to wash them. 

I found Liam outback as well, stocking coffee grinds and flavor shots onto the shelves. We haven't really spoken much all day, just talking whenever there was an order, or if he needed help, which he didn't because he was better at this job than me. Even though it was his second day. I smiled as I passed him, and he smiled back.

I started washing the dishes, humming to myself. Getting lost in my thoughts, I felt a presence behind me. I turned around, startled to find Liam there. Putting my hand over my chest, I started to laugh.

"Sorry," I started off with. "I thought you were a random person."

"A random person, huh?" Liam asked with amusement in his eyes. "I just wanted to see if you needed any help."

"Oh yeah sure. If you want to start drying those dishes and put them away, that'd be great," I said, motioning to the dishes that had already cleaned and rinsed. Grabbing a towel, he started wiping down the wet dishes, putting them away in their correct locations. 

We worked in silence, just the sound of the water running when I rinsed off the dishes. After a few moments, I looked at Liam and asked, "are you from around here?"

He stopped what he was doing, and gave me a confused look. "I've lived here before, then I moved to a different town, but now I'm back. I thought you'd remember me Malia Riley."

I looked at him as if he had a 3 heads. How did he know my last name? "Wait. How do you know my last name?" I asked my thoughts out loud.

"I knew you wouldn't remember me," he said sheepishly. "I was in your sixth grade class. Liam Hudson." 

Staring at him, I didn't have any idea what he was talking about. I raked my brain for a "Liam Hudson", but nothing came up. Giving him a skeptical look, I slowly turned around to finish the dishes. Liam Hudson? Liam Hudson? I repeated to myself in my mind, hoping that repeating his name would help.

After a few minutes, though, everything clicked. "Oh! Liam!" I said loudly. I looked at him wide eyed. "You're Liam? As in Liam?" 

"Yep," Liam said nonchalantly. I was utterly shocked. 

"How did you-" I asked, stopping myself so I wouldn't offend him. 

"Get decent looking?" He finished for me. Oh buddy, you're far from decent looking I thought to myself. It would've made things super awkward if I said that aloud.