the lonelier version of you

busted

I walk quickly down the snow covered sidewalk. I was late, but I could always blame it on the knee. No, I had never used my knee as an excuse and I wasn't about to start. I walked through the doors and the smell of fresh coffee hit me. I looked to the counter to see the tall short haired girl at the counter doing two jobs, mine and hers.

"I'm so sorry Jess." I said apologetically with a matching look on my face. I grabbed my apron and threw it on and put my bag in the back break area.

"you're fine Ris. I had you covered." she said while making a coffee with her usual dark curly hair up in a bun and her nose ring shining in the light. I thanked her and took my place behind the counter to take orders. the line of customers was almost to the door and some of them already looked pretty pissed. I change when I come into work. I am normally crabby old me that has a problem with everyone but as soon as I step into work I become a different person all together. maybe its because this place is like my second home, or maybe its because the people I work with here are like family. I've worked here for three years, before my life was a mess. they gave me paid time off during the accident and came to visit me in the hospital. I remember Jess and Tim staying up every night for weeks with me as I cried after I got to come home from the hospital. but that was then and this is now, and right now I should be working harder.

I look down the long line of disgruntled people to see a familiar light brown head looking up at the menu. I walk over to Jess in alarm.

"Jess, switch me, please." I whisper to her begging.

"why?" she asks.

"there's this guy, I think he's stalking me. he's the guy in black with the glasses."

"I'm sorry, you know you can't, your knee" she said. my damned knee. I went back to work at the register.

"what can I get for you today?" I asked less than thrilled without looking up.

"just a green tea, Iris" the voice from yesterday said. shit. "the other people in front of me just walked off" he added probably seeing the surprise on my face.

"one green tea Jess!" I shouted back to her.

"I herd the man" she said and smiled at me. Patrick paid andstepped aside so I could take the next order.

"so you work at a coffee shop?" he asked.

"is that a problem?" I growled at him as I took another order.

"no, its just kind of funny that you would guess that about me since you work at one." he shrugged while leaning on the counter.

"it was just a stupid guess" I said flatly handing him his tea.

"right" he said smiling at me then going to have a seat.

soon the crowd had cleared but Patrick still sat at the little corner booth with his lap top and tea.

"what do I do? he's been here like three hours?" I whisper to Jess who shrugged.

"leave him alone, he's not bothering a soul. besides he looks busy, he may not even know he's been here that long. do you know his name?" she whispered back."

"I think it's Patrick, I don't know. he kind of tried to follow me home and ask me a bunch of questions." I said

"do you like him?" she wiggled her eyebrows at me.

"no, I don't know him." I replied trying to keep my voice down.

"why not? you can't deny he's cute" she said.

"uh, ladies, I can hear you." Patrick interrupted now standing up and pushing his chair in.

"sorry" I said feeling caught and embarrassed.

"now I know you think I'm creepy, and I really didn't mean to stay so long. I was just doing some work and the WiFi is out at my hotel." he said as he picked up his computer.

" she actually thinks you're hot" jess said making me elbow her in the ribs. "you should stay for a free green tea on the house" she continued as if the elbow to the ribs didn't phase her. Patrick was trying to hold back a laugh as he slowly began to walk toward the exit.

"no, but thanks" he said looking at us still stifling laughter and looking at us as if were insane.

"Iris works tomorrow too if you want to come back in!" jess shouted after him before he went out the door.

" what the hell are you doing Jess!" I growled and she burst out into laughter in the now empty coffee shop.

"calm down! I'm just trying to make you some friends" she continued to laugh.

"it didn't look like you were just trying to make me a friend" I said angrily.

"don't worry, I think you pissed him off, me might not even come back" she shrugged.

"I pissed him off? I think you were way more sufficient in that area." I said.

"do you or don't you like him? because you're not making too much sense here." she said dryly.

hey guys! be sure to leave a like and/or vote if you like this! also check out my other stories if you like this. I just wrote the beginning of a new one called "the future of love"