Broken Without You

CHAPTER 10

Emily's pov

Finally! It's Friday. Oh how I love Fridays. It's by far my favorite day of the week.

I get up and head to the bathroom to take a shower. I look at myself in the mirror, and I have faint, hardly noticeable bags under my eyes.

I barely got any sleep last night, I kept tossing and turning, trying to get Axel's expression out of my head.

He looked so vulnerable and sad, as if whatever caused him to move here replayed in his head.

I feel so guilty for making him remember what happened...

I shouldn't have opened my mouth and been so nosey. God Emily you're so stupid!

I get under the running water and let it's warmth engulf me and take my mind off the rude boy I'm starting to care for.

When I finish, I slip into some dark blue jeans, and put on a white flowy shirt and exit my room.

When I reach downstairs I hear Max shout goodbye and leave for school.
He attends a different high school, since he got expelled freshman year for gluing all of the teacher's belongings on the desk and to top it off, putting glue on the teacher's chair as well.

That's a pretty childish and common prank, I know, but that's Max Brown for you.

"Honey, you have a shit at Mary's today right?" Mom asks as she's descends downstairs in her scrubs.

"Yeah, I get off at 8." I tell her and get ready to head out.

I miss the bus again, I don't want a repetition of yesterday's event.

You know you liked being that close to him. My subconscious says.

As much as it pains me to adimt, I did, his intoxicating smell still lingers in my nose.

"Alright, bye mom, I have to go." I kiss her cheek and leave the house.

When I get to school, I see Axel pull into the parking lot. He gets off his motorcycle, glances my direction, yet completely ignores me and greets Liam.

I sigh and head inside, not wanting to deal with the situation, or possibly make it worse by trying to talk to him.

The rest of the day goes by the same, Axel sat next to me in History class and never even spared me a glance.

Huh, so this is how it feels to get ignored. Just yesterday the roles were switched and he was chasing after me to ask me to tutor him.

When the final bell of the day rings, everyone including me get out to the parking lot and scatter into different directions.

I won't be taking the bus today since I have a shift at Mary's cafe, which is a ten minute walk from my school.

I get my earbuds out, plug them in and start walking. About halfway into the walk I scold myself when I realize I forgot to wear a jacket today.

I should've known better than be fooled by the morning sunshine and the warmth it brought.

I finally see the outline of Mary's cafe, and the barely visible blinking lights of the sign pointing at the cafe and welcoming the customers.

I pull the glass door, and enter. No matter how many times I have seen this cafe, it never fails to mesmerize me. The golden fairy lights on one side of the wall compliment the one across from it, which has a big mirror covering half it's surface.

I started working here when I was 15 years old. It was my first ever job over the summer. I loved it here, and the owner, Mary Reed and her husband Mr. Reed were so nice.

I started off just helping around, and cleaning up after closing, but later got promoted to the job I have now, a barista.

"Hello dear, just put your stuff in the back and get started, we need your help!" Mrs. Reed greets me with a warm smile and a rushed voice.

I nod and look around, it's packed in here, this is gonna be a long day.

I finish punching my last customer's order in and sigh.

Mary wasn't kidding when she said they needed my help.

I stayed behind and helped clean up, before I gathered my things and left.

I'm thinking about walking home, but the setting sun is convincing me otherwise.

I ignore the warning bells in my head and start walking.

The chilly September weather is nipping at my bare arms, reminding me that I made a bad decision.

But I have walked halfway already, it would be a waste of money if I got a cab.

The crowded busy street ahead encourages me to continue.

I push through and walk further, I check my phone, 8:31 p.m.

I sigh, I should've just gotten a cab, mom is surely worried sick right now if she's home.

I have to get home as quickly as I can.

I contemplate continuing on the path I'm currently on, or try a new shortcut.

I choose the latter.

I turn a corner and face an alleyway. Is it worth going through this alley just to get home 10 minutes earlier?

I decide it is and begin to cross it.

No sound but the thumping of my footsteps is heard.

I get a weird feeling, that someone's watching me...

Just then, I hear the weirdest voice I have ever heard.

"What's a pretty girl like you doing in an alley at this hour all alone?" The voice asks.