Only Human

.5

Even though we didn't meet the goal of 3 votes on the previous chapter, I posted this one. I am the only person invested in this story at this point, and I just had to be okay with that. I understand now that by posting this, it isn't for the reads. It's for myself. So thank you for reading, thank you for voting, and thank you for giving me a platform to create on! 

I woke up groaning. The McCleary's took the kids with them on a business trip to New York and hadn't given me a set time they would be back. They said a month, so I wouldn't have any income for a month. 

I had applied to a cafe and they accepted my application. Today was my first day as a waitress. It was in a sort of sketchy little place, on the corner of the 'pub road' as the locals call it. 

I hadn't seen Gabriel since the slip N slide day. I hadn't been avoiding him. It was just never... convenient for me to call him or text him back. It had only been a week, but he hadn't stopped texting me. 

I was scared. I was scared of what I felt for him and I was scared of how fast things were moving. Then I was scared of how obsessive he seemed to be. I was nervous he was just going to show up at my apartment so I avoided being home. I was spending a lot of time at the McCleary's house, and a lot of time between classes in a small corner of the campus gardens. Sometimes I hung out with Michael. 

I won't lie and say I don't miss him. That's part of the problem. We met a week and a half ago, talked a few times and now I miss him? 

I put on the uniform for the cafe, a short black skirt and a light blue deep v-neck tee embroidered with the logo. Not the most modest of outfits, but they hired me right away and in a college town that is remarkable, so I took the job. 

"Good morning!" I greeted the shop owners, an older couple, Marie and Greg. 

"Morning! We've got an apron for ya in the back, and there's another gal back there to show you the ropes. You are the right side of the cafe, and Margret is left," Marie informed me, turning back to Greg. 

"Okay, thank you!" I smiled, walking back to pick up my apron.

"Hey. You must be the new girl. I'm Maggie. Have you ever been a waitress before?" A tall, bubbly brunette skipped over to me. 

"I used to in high school," I replied, giving her a smile. She laughed, before tying a small white apron around her waist. 

"Perfect! I'm in high school! Senior year actually. This is how I'm planning on making enough money to go to college next fall. Since you've done this before you should be all set, right? I'll see you on the battlefield!" She saluted me before bouncing out of the room. I held in a chuckle at her behavior before I tied my own apron around my waist and headed out of the breakroom, notebook in hand. 

After a quiet morning of waiting tables, I took off my apron and grabbed my backpack, heading out the door. 

"Bye guys! I have class now!" I smiled, opening the door up for a customer. 

"We'll see you tomorrow, Hon," Marie called after me. I gave her a little wave as I walked out. 

I ran into someone right after I exited the cafe. Sparks. I looked up in shock to see the person I had been trying so hard to avoid. He reached out towards me the moment he registered who I was. I saw his eyes darken in anger and I knew it was time to make my exit. 

I had been avoiding any form of communication from him and it was just pure chance that he happened to walk by and bump into me. 

"Oh hey, Gabriel! Nice to see you! Gotta run!" I sent him an awkward little wave before turning on my heel and running down the street towards the education building. I heard footsteps pounding behind me, and I encouraged myself to run faster.