"Whatever is good for your soul, do it."

—————

I thanked Mia as she dropped me home. Before I could open the door, It already opened showcasing Ian. His eyes flickered to my neck.

'What happened to you?'

'Nothing.' I walked past him but he followed me.

'Elle, tell me.' He demanded.

'Abigail.' I answered.

'She did this?' His voice rose from anger.

'Chill, I'm fine.' My phone beeped and I looked down to see comments.

I opened the GiF I was tagged in only to see myself being extremely rude to Ryan as I pushed him away. They all commented how mean I was or how badly I treated him. I bit my lip. I knew Abigail did this, she just couldn't stand me with any boy.

Ian was to say something before I hugged him goodnight and went upstairs to my room. I was in no need to hear any other lecture. I kicked off my boots, took my jacket and jumped on the bed.

I scrolled through the comments that just keep on coming.

She has no manners.

She a rude bitch🤑

Maybe Ryan couldn't satisfy her enough

Frustrated, I closed the comment section. Suddenly, Mia's voice boomed in my head telling me about Ryan's videos on his insta. I searched his profile to see 709k followers. I scrolled through his profile and clicked on his video of singing in another party. He sang like he did now.

I watched other videos of him and suspected the same mistakes as today. He needed to work on his pitch and to control his voice.

Just as I was watching his videos, my phone beeped and a notification of a text popped out.

Mia: Are you okay?

Me: Yeah. You? I'm sorry you had to leave because of me.

Mia: Nah, it's fine. You know what? He gave me his number!

Me: Yeah he gave me too

Mia: Why would he give to you?

Me: Because you asked me to get to his number

Mia: Oh! I was talking about Yang. Ryan's friend.

Me: oh, that's nice.

I turned my phone off. I laid my head on the pillow and stared at the ceiling.

Abigail's words roamed around my mind telling me my worth. She was right though, I did have a bad history with boys and I won't add Ryan to my list.

I changed into my Pj's, took out Ryan's handkerchief and washed it. I cranked my neck to see the bruise that was still red and smudged blood covered neck. I washed it and put a large band aid on it. I  tried to drift back to sleep which didn't come again because of my phone that beeped numerous times. I looked at it and saw a few more posts of me pushing people away and then many were of me and Ryan, he being sweet and I being a bitch. It was much of a reality. He had been nice to me up till now but I was scared of him getting closer.

I considered going to garden but I remembered he might be there so I rather consider turning and tossing on my bed than going to him as sleep finally came.

Next morning, the alarm ate my ears. With dreading eyes, I stood up, brushed my teeth and climbed downstairs. There was Ian, sitting on the table scribbling something down. 'I thought you had written the story.'

'I did but I need to edit it. It's so much messed up.' Ian was fond of reading and writing. His stories were his life and as much he tried, he couldn't get them published. We could use Mom's connections but Ian wanted to do that on his own and I was okay with it.

'I want to read it once you are done.' I made hot chocolate to wake myself up,  ate my breakfast that Ian had made and got ready to go to school.

I parked my car on the parking lot, picked up my backpack from the seat and got out. Just as I was to walk away, a car pulled up instantly next to me.

Ryan got out and smiled at me while I decided to run away. 'Good morning.'

'Morning.' I greeted as I walked to the building but Ryan fell to my steps instead.

'How are you?'

'Good.'

'How's your bruise?'

'Okay.'

'You won't talk to me?'

'No.'

'Any reason?'

'No.' I ended his line of questions as I sprinted to my class. I sat down on my seat with Ryan entering after me. Whispers and gossips arose from around regarding the posts but I rather decided to ignore them. My neck still hurt from Abigail sharp nails but I remained quiet. Ryan didn't sit with me, he found his seat.

The first half of the school went by as usual for Abigail didn't taunt me. Just as the bell for the break rang, I found Mia as she told me about her talks with Yang. 'But you liked Ryan.'

'I know but he doesn't seem to be interested in me.'

'Because you have not talk to him properly.' I stated.

'He didn't even look at me.' I decided not to argue anymore.

We entered the cafeteria who shushed for a mere second just to absorb our entrance and then engulfed into their conversations.

'So...' A girl brunette with blue eyes and crook nose that was way too much contoured addressed me.

' So?' I raised my eyebrows.

'Are you dating Ryan?'

'Why would I be dating Ryan?'

'Er... because of the --

' Say the word 'post' and I'd kill you.' I said. It was a routine for Abigail to bully me if any boy start to take interest in me and for the students to judge me. I flipped my hair and turned around to see a pair of brown eyes looking at me.

Ryan.

At first, he flickered them off to something else, pretending he didn't see me but then they were back on me.

I stared back at him thinking that maybe he'll break the stare. He didn't. And so did I. Our game of stare was interrupted by Mia's hand in front of my eyes. 'Jane, are you with us?'

I blinked. 'Yeah totally, Why?'

'Well, we were talking about going on shopping. Would you come?'

'Nah, I'm tired. Might go tomorrow.' I said and diverted my eyes at Ryan who was looking at me. He smirked and quirked his eyebrow. A sign he showed to celebrate the little victory in The Staring Competition. I simply rolled my eyes.

Boys.

***

I thanked Mia for dropping me home who in return blew me a kiss randomly earning a chuckle from me. I would with her but she had Anastasia and Shania besides, I was tired and I had to go to work.

With the keys, I unlocked my door and let myself in. The creak of the floor under beneath my feet whispered the silence of the house. Ian was not home.

I walked towards the kitchen, throwing my backpack on the couch. I opened the door of the fridge to stuff myself with some fast food but found a box sealed with aluminium foil with a note attached to it.

I smiled. His pasta was my favourite. I refrained myself before eating it as a thought of mom jumped in my mind but I pushed it away. She always encourage me to go on diet but I couldn't. I was happy with myself.

I scrolled through Instagram and watched Ryan's singing videos again. He just needed some practice and he'll be so good. I always had that thought for no apparent reason. Why would he even practice with me?

After my homework, I wore black pants and shirt to go to my work. I sat in my car and drove to The Joe's, a cafe.

I put on One Direction's You and I as I drove, drooling over zayn's vocals at the bridge. His voice was just magic.

I parked my car as I picked up my backpack and got out. I furrowed at the close sign. I knocked at the door and a girl , acknowledging me, ran up to the door and opened it.

'Hey, Sarah.' I greeted her. 'You forgot to turn the sign?' I asked her and placed my backpack onto the table. 'Where are the customers? What happened?'

Sarah fiddled with her apron. 'We're ransferred to another branch.'

'Why?'

'Some people have claimed that this branch is illegally built,' Sarah explained. 'The property issues are going on and due to this, it will be closed for a couple of days. And the staff of that branch is not regular so they fired a handful of them. We need to take their place. They emailed you this morning. Didn't you check?'

'Er... no, I forgot actually.' I said.

'It's ok. I'm going to the other branch. Yours other one.' She sent me the location.

Bidding her farewell, I got back in my car while Sarah sat in her old truck of her brother. We both have been working for long enough but I didn't know much about her except that she lived with her boyfriend who was not proposing her.

I entered the building. It was same as of my previous one. Though a bit smaller. I didn't need instructions of what I had to do, I knew it all. There was only one boy, of my age , struggling to take orders and make up them at the same time. I went straight behind the registration counter. 'Hey I got it from here.'

The boy had a dirty blond hair that were sticked sleekly on his head. He wore glasses which I assume were a bit big for his face and had freckles underneath. He was cute.

The boy smiled at me. 'Janelle Margot. Transferred. Good at taking orders.' I outstretched my hand.

'Did you say 'Margot'?' My smile faltered.

'Yeah.'

'You're the daughter of Stephenie Margot? The designer?'

'Yes I am.' I knew exactly where this conversation was going.

'Why are you working then I mean I'm just asking. Your mom is pretty famous.'

'I just like to and I know she is.' My tone ended the conversation.

A elderly man walked up to me. 'Hello young lady.'

'Hello sir.' I greeted them.

'You don't work here, do you?'

'No sir, I'm just transferred.'

'Ah, hope you like it here.' His smile seemed so familiar.

'Thank you sir. What would you like to have?'

'Can I have two blueberry muffins with that granulated sugar?'

'Sure,' I slid back the glass door of the pastry case. 'Er, would you like to take it with you or eat here?' I asked them.

'Here my dear.' I smiled and placed the muffins in a plate and passed him. He paid and went to sit at comfy chairs beside the window.

'How's is it going?' Elijah walked up to me as I handed him an order of a venti' coffee.

I shrugged. 'The usual. It's not really crowded.'

'Yeah,' Elijah took the order while I wiped off the counter. 'It's not quite popular. It just have a few of regular customers. Three in the morning, one is that man and the last one would usually visit by seven or eight.' Elijah explained.

'Oh okay.' I said. 'How long have you been working here?'

'Not much. Just started my job when I was seventeen.'

'And how old are you now?' I asked. The way he waved off the word 'seventeen' , sent me the vibe that he is quite older than that.

'Eighteen.' He said with a laugh and I laughed at his laugh. It was really cute. The one with the random breaks.

'How long have you been working?'

'Just three months.' I replied.

'Yeah, she is.' I said. The lady for the coffee murmured her thanks to me. The couple had already left an hour ago and now, the cafe was empty.

Me and Elijah wiped off the tables and set the chairs waiting for another customer. The opening and shutting of a door chimed in my ears and I whipped my head in the new customer's direction.

My smile faltered and I gulped down. Surely, he was the last person I wanted to see.

His smile took my breath away. He would smile so widely with his eyes and the those dimples would add in more effect. 'Janelle Margot. I missed my garden buddy last night.'

'Since when have I been your garden buddy?' I titled my head. Did he really expect me?

'Since you made me a serial killer.'

oOo

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Love 💕 , huz