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LUCAS
“Hello,”Isaycheerfully as a group of girls step forward in the line. “May I take your order?”
“Yes, I’ll have a small soy chai latte,” says one while she flicks her brown hair over her shoulder. She bats her eyelashes at me while her two friends giggle.
“And a small black coffee,” says her other friend, a plump girl with bright red lipstick.
“And a large mocha,” says the last girl, peeking behind her friends.
What an odd group. They come in nearly every day, in a group like this, giggling and batting their eyelashes at me as if that’s somehow going to convince me to give them my number. Fat chance. I’m taken ladies.
“Alright, that’s one small soy chai latte, one small black coffee, and a large mocha. Anything else?”
“Nope, that’s it,” says the leader as she hands me her card. Her finger slides against mine as I reach for it, my skin crawls.
I chuckle nervously as I hand it back to her, hoping she leaves quickly so I don’t have to put up with her for much longer. After working in the service industry, I have decided that I will forever be kinder to waiters, fast food workers, bartenders, pretty much everyone. With the amount of rude customers and sexual advances I have to put up with, I don’t think I will be the same ever again. And that’s just at a cafe. I’ve definitely heard worse about other places.
I shake my head as I work on the girls’ order. I really shouldn’t complain. They’re just being nice. Maybe a bit too nice, but it’s not like the girl grabbed my dick or anything. I glance over my shoulder, finding the girls watching me intently. I think the worse thing about this set up is that I can’t leave and I can’t tell them to leave me the fuck alone, since they’re regulars.
What a horrible world we live in.
I set the mugs onto a tray, ready to walk over to them and hear whatever annoying comment they plan to make, or feel another finger graze across my hand, when Jason steps in front of me. He gives me a stern look and takes the tray from me. “Wash the dishes. I’ve got this.”
Completely stunned, I watch Jason turn around, a forced smile on his lips as he approaches the group of girls. “Hello ladies!” he says in an overly cheerful tone.
Before I can turn around and begin washing the stacked mugs in the sink, my phone vibrates. I stifle the need to groan, already knowing who it is. Still, I take a moment to grab my phone, rolling my eyes when I see it’s Mom. She’s called already five times today. Can’t she take a hint? I’m working and busy with school. I have no time to put up with her and Dad’s abuse.
I press the end call button and decide to go one step further by turning off the annoying thing altogether, but I pause, my thumb lingering above the button as I see there’s something in my email inbox.
Probably just spam, I think. Nevertheless, my curiosity gets the best of me and I open it, my eyes widening on the name. John Mann, it reads. He was one of the judges for the poetry book contest I won last year. Why is he emailing me?
I open it quickly, scouring the first two sentences, my heart stopping immediately as I read the words: We enjoyed your submission so much. Please, submit another piece to be published in our literary magazine.
They want me to submit more?
They like my work?
How is this happening to me? Am I living in a little fantasy world where all my wishes come true? Is there a little pixie flying above me right now, making all my dreams a reality?
“Hello!” Someone shouts, their voice laced with irritation. “Can I get any service here?”
I shove my phone into my pocket, wincing when I realize I forgot to turn it off. Mom will be call me back in another five minutes or so. Great.
“Sorry about that,” I say cheerfully, forcing a smile, that immediately begins to disintegrate as I see the man in front of me, leaning against my counter, having the audacity to look at me as if he is better.
I’d recognize those fucking annoying black rimmed glasses anywhere.
Josh.
“How may I help you?” I ask through clenched teeth.
Josh tilts his head, looking me up and down. My back straightens as I loom over him. This guy is going to be a dick, I just know it. He has the look. He sees he has power over me in this position. Well, if he asks for soy milk, I’m so giving him almond.
That’s really the worst I can do, but I will still do it.
“Where’s Rachel?” Josh asks while looking around, still leaning against my counter.
I force a smile. “Not here.”
