The Wishing Flower

Chapter 5

I sat all the way in the back of the bus, watching the rain droplets race each other down the window. I tapped on the window lightly, so the raindrop I had my eye on would roll down faster than the one beside it and win the race. I lost, damn

The bus pulled over to my stop.

"Shit", I pulled my jacket over my head as I stepped off the bus. I haven't even been working at the restaurant for a week, and something goes wrong everyday. Today I would come in soaking. But then it hadn't even been a full week since my sister went missing and I was forced to be back at work, because how else would I afford to get food in my stomach?

"Hey, Lacey," I greeted my boss as I walked into the restaurant.

"Zee, thank God you're here, the place is packed", Lacey said back to me, without even looking up from the orders screen. "Quickly, get ready and get out there, will ya".

Lacey was right, the floor was super busy, I was running down all the aisles all day. However, despite the rush I noticed a face I hadn't seen before, a new waiter. He was tall with jet black hair and deep set eyes that made him look mysterious and creepy all at the same time. I never failed to get distracted whenever I saw him waiting the tables. He was either flashing his pearly whites at customers or carrying a tray of food on his shoulder, I would always catch him from the corner of my eye. He also seemed to notice I was watching, and would glance back at me every now and then.

"How are you beautiful ladies today"?, my ears perked up as I heard his voice . I looked up to see a table of three women giggling, charmed by the waiter. He was definitely handsome, but I guess you could say he wasn't exactly my type. The way he acted actually kind of bothered me, like he knew what all these women were thinking about but seeing how everyone else became giddy with excitement when he spoke to them I was wondering if I should be feeling the same thing.

Distracted by the new waiter, I bumped into Lacey who was bringing drinks to one of the tables "Zee! What are you doing, walking with your eyes closed?', she yelled as the orange colored drink fell all over my apron.

"Lacey! I'm so sorry. I just-"

"Nevermind that", she snapped at me, "there's no time for that! Just watch where you're going."

"Yes, I'm sorry, I will" I apologized and headed over to one of the tables.

"Zee" Lacey called out to me "you can't walk around looking like that". She pointed towards my apron that now had two large orange stains on them/

I ran to the back room to change into a clean apron, but as soon as I was going to walk out, someone walked into the room. He looked at me with a smile. "Hi there", he said playfully. It was the new waiter.

I looked at him with an awkward smile, "Yeah" I said nervously. I never knew how to introduce myself to people. The man stood there and just looked at me. Was he waiting for me to say more? Because I wasn't going to. He stepped in closer and put his hands out towards me. "I'm Alexander, but call me Alex. Alexander is a bit of a mouth full", he said as I shook his hand.

"Zee", I replied back

"Zee, that's cute. Is that your actual name or-", he asked.

"Yup. That's my name", I said shaking my head slowly. "Cool, well I gotta get out there."

I walked past Alex, but as soon my handle reached the door handle he called out to me, "Wait".

"Yes?" I said, but before I could even turn around I already felt his hands move to my lower back working at the strings of my apron. As he looped the two strings he pulled at both ends, pulling my body closer to his. He brought his face closer to mine, and whispered, "Your apron was untied".

I felt a shiver crawl up and down every inch of body, with the pressure of his tall frame leaning against mine. I clenched my teeth together and shut my eyes tight. It was almost as if my body had a mind of its own, and it was having an adverse reaction to him. I felt like I was going to be sick. I pulled away from my back still facing him. I stood in front of the door for a moment, unsure what to do. My body was burning hot, and aching from disgust and anger. I didn't know what to do, but I had half a mind to grab the folding chair beside me and fling it at him. I decided it was best for me to just go and get out of the room.

"Have fun out there", Alex called out before I left. With a sharp and swift movement I turn to look at him. The last thing I remember before closing the door is seeing his facial expression changed from smug to mortified.

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Finally, as the store was closing up I walked up to Lacey who was standing by the cash register. She looked at me and gave out a breath of relief "Whew. We got that done, didn't we? You almost killed me back there, but we got through", she said.

"Yeah, glad its over", I said sheepishly, but something else was on my mind.

"So, Lacey", I turn to her, "what's up with that Alex guy?", turning my head to the tall waiter wiping down the last tables.

Shocked by the question, Lacey laughed out loud. "Oh I see", she said playfully.

"He is literally the biggest flirt you'll ever meet in your life. Probably has slept with all the women working here. Maybe even the men, too", she said laughing hysterically.

I looked at Lacey and wondered if she was part of "all the women working here".

"Did he pull a fast one on you, too"?, she said curiously, probably wondering if I'd be his new victim going home with him tonight.

I didn't know if I should tell her what had happened in the backroom "No, he didn't do anything" I lied "I was just curious".

Alex finished wiping down the tables and walked towards Lacy. "Hey Lace. Did I ever tell you how pretty you look standing there by the cash register?", they both laughed at his cheesy line and Lacey playfully slapped him across the arm.

Ready to leave, I grabbed my jacket from the coat rack and headed for the bus. I walked down the block in a daze, still unsettled by everything that had happened in the backroom. I was trying to figure out why I seemed to be the only one who was disturbed by Alex and his so-called flirtatious charm, when everyone else seemed to be head over heels for him. My head was aching, I just wanted to go home. A darkness enveloped the streets, and you could hear was silence except for the. I walked faster until I was stopped dead in my tracks by something in front of me, or rather someone standing directly in front of me. I stood face to face with Alex. I instantly spun on my heels and walked back where I just came from. My stomach tightened as I tried to get as far away as possible. There was something about that man, that made me want to run the other way. I was so caught up in trying to get as far as I could that I didn't notice the footsteps running behind me. I jumped as I felt a hand touch me on my shoulder.

"Hey Zee", it was Alex. However, this time his something seemed different than before. He didn't see as smug, he might've even looked a little worried. "I'm sorry if what I did made earlier made you feel uncomfortable", he said.

I was taken aback by his apology, that was the last thing I expected to hear right now.

"I'm just very open around people and I didn't realize that you would react that way", he continued.

I needed a moment to figure out how I should react, "Well. If your apology is sincere. It's alright", I said before pausing, "I guess".

Alex let out a breath of relief "Okay good", he laughed, "because when I saw your face in the back room, I saw my life flash before my eyes. I thought you were gonna kill me. Night, babe", he winked at me.

I nodded my head and we parted ways. What was he talking about? I didn't do anything for him to think I was going to kill him. Rather I thought he was going to kill me right about now. No I couldn't think about murder right now, it was still too soon.

My thoughts raced around as I sat on the bus back home. See, Alex is a good guy. He ran after me just to apologize, maybe he's not so bad after all. I kept telling myself this over again. I always struggled to trust men, because I had seen the same pattern all my life. First, they strive to build up your trust and once you think you can lean on them, they break that trust completely and let you down. So, I couldn't tell if Alex was actually a bad person, or was it my own fears that kept me from accepting him.