Blaze

Chapter One

The harrowing sound of rain hitting onto the delicate wooden windows finally disturbed me from my peaceful slumber. When deciding to make the move to Alaska, I never knew I was setting myself up for this kind of despicable weather. My legs outstretched under my coverless duvet, I had yet been able to make the small one bedroom rented apartment feel homely, most of my possessions still littered in cardboard boxes.

My head tilted to the side, my sleep ridden eyes squinting to see the time which lay on the rusty clock, 9:30a.m. I shot up from beneath the covers and scrambled out of bed. I had thirty minutes to make myself presentable and arrive on time at ten for my interview at the local cafe, if I were to be staying here then I would have to make some cash -- I couldn't nor did want to rely on the grant my parents had blessed upon me. I wanted to prove myself for me not for who my parents were.

At 9:45, I was showered and dressed, my black hair still damp around my shoulders lay in small little curls. Sighing a profanity under my breath I searched for a hair tie, finally resting my hands on one and lifting the raven mess to sit on top of my head in an oddly fashioned bun. Picking up my jacket on the way out the door slammed behind me. My feet hurriedly rushed over to my car and before I knew it I was on the short drive towards the little town where my interview was at, if I had not of over slept then I would have greatly appreciated the walk. Ever since I had gotten here, my bones and body had felt stiff, there was a weird feeling that I could not quite shake off, especially after leaving the forest clearing two days ago. It was certainly weird, but I dismissed it to a little of home sickness no matter how much I did not want to admit it.

Pulling up into one of the vacant spaces outside the small cafe, I gave myself one last checkover in the rearview mirror, regretting the fact that I hadn't applied any make up, but who needed it anyway? Working in a cafe would surely mean it would just sweat off.

As I pushed open the door to the cafe the small bell rang altering a customer had arrived. For a small place it was certainly busy, most of the tables all by a few were occupied with different walks of life. I walked over to the counter whilst observing my surroundings, at the table to my left sat an elderly couple both sipping their steaming cups of tea or maybe it was coffee. To my right sat two men and a woman, one of the mens eyes locked with mine, their green irises felt like they were trying to find their way to the deepest part of my soul. The woman's gaze shifted when she noticed his stare, her eyes seemed to light up, my gaze drifted back to his stare, I cleared my throat nervously before setting my sight on the young man dressed in the cafe's attire walking my way. From the corner of my eye I could have sworn I saw the man who was staring at me so intently try and stand only to be pushed back down by the man beside him or perhaps it was just my tired mind conjuring up sights I were not witnessing.

"Hello ms, what may I get you this morning?" The young man who was making his way over to me was now directly in front of me. I attempted to talk but no words came out, clearing my throat once more I was able to talk, telling him how I was here for the interview I had seen in the window. Whilst speaking to him I suddenly noticed his apparent nervousness as his eyes darted over my shoulder in the direction where the guy with the staring problem sat. "I'm sorry but we recently took on a new member of staff and have no--" he stopped abruptly as he stared in the direction again, I was about to turn and see what he was staring at when he carried on speaking again. "But I'm sure we could do with another member of staff, let me just go and speak to Marie for you, she's the manager here". He smiled and was about to turn and walk off until he stopped again. "Sorry how rude of me, could I get you anything whilst you wait?" He was shuffling on his feet his eyes never staying still.

I smiled at his offer. "A cup of tea would be nice please". I reached into my bag searching for my glasses.

He cleared his throat again, this guy really was nervous, I was starting to question whether he was really cut out for such a job which involved dealing with people everyday. "Is there any particular way you would like it?" He questioned. So far this cafe seemed far from the usual, normally they gave you a basic tea not tailored to how you liked, I scanned the counter to see sugar sachets, so why was he asking? Still I took him upon his offer, deciding it would save me he time. I told him my preference of three sugars and watched him scurry off towards a woman in the back counter who I only could assume was Marie. Their conversation was brief and short especially after the young man had altered his attention behind me again, Marie following his gaze, she smiled warmly and started walking over to me.

"Hello". She greeted. "I'm Marie, Thomas was telling me you're here about a job?"

"Rain, and yes that's correct". She looked puzzled before she started talking again.

"Yes the weather outside is dreadful outside today--".

"Oh no, sorry my name is Rain". I laughed nervously.

"That is indeed a unique name, have you had any experience working in a cafe before?" She questioned and I proceeded to tell her about the work I had done in cafe's throughout my years at university. "The job is yours". She smiled. "Can you start this weekend?" I must've looked taken aback because she continued talking. "I don't see the need to interview a bright young lady like you, you seem like you know what you're doing to so no induction day will be required, so Saturday?"

"That would be great, thank you so much, I won't let you down". She proceeded to tell me what time I should be required Saturday and then walked off around the counter, I looked over my shoulder and saw she was headed toward the table where the man had been staring but he was no longer there.

The young man, Thomas, came walking over to me with my tea in his hand. "So you got the job then?" He beamed as he placed it down in front of me.

I laughed a yes, "thank you, whatever you said to her, I appreciate it". He smiled nervously and walked quickly off into the kitchen. I took a sip of the tea and noticed a set of hands on the counter next to me. They belonged to a man and I slowly looked up to match them to a face, the further I got up to his face the more they seemed to grip the metal bar of the counter, almost like he was resting from doing something. It was then I could have sworn I had heard the word "mate" fall from his lips, his eyes once again meeting mine.

Mate? What was he going on about? I was not his mate nor did I like his choice of words of replacing it with the word friend. Mate? Friend? I did not know the man, feeling slightly freaked out I swallowed nervously, placing down some money on the counter which would cover the cost of the tea and pushed open the door to the cafe.