"So stop your sighing, be happy again
Keep on smiling
'Cause when you're smiling,
The whole world smiles with you."
-Louis Armstrong

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It had officially been one month and two weeks since the café opened, I couldn't actually believe how great things were going, it still surprised me how many customers we got per day. Of course, it could never compare to those big coffee franchises but for a small Cafe located downtown our sales were definitely going great. But it wasn't easy, not a single bit. Having to open the Cafe early everyday of the week and staying for over eight hours per day sometimes definitely had an effect on me, but the happiness and desire to keep going was greater than any type of tiredness.

But I don't think everyone was feeling the same way I did.

Everything seemed normal, but I started noticing each day more and more Olivia's expression change, she was no longer as friendly with anyone and not her smiley and optimistic self. I knew something was going on, but every time I asked her, she would avoid the topic.

That was until I started noticing some more worrying signs, like the bags under her eyes, the way she would complain about a migraine that would not leave and the way she would sometimes zone out or just randomly confuse orders or make them incorrectly. That's when it hit me. She was overworked.

I couldn't help but feel terrible as she had been working over eight hours a day, seven days a week without complaining a single bit. It made me feel worse the fact that she was doing this because she knew we were not able to get someone else to help since our sales were not that high yet. But it is not fair to her.

That's when I decided to hire a new barista, which Eli recommended. his name is Lucas, thankfully he seemed very nice when I interviewed him, gladly, we both came to an agreement he would work temporarily three days a week, specifically on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, that way Olivia could have a normal job and stop overworking herself.

"Hey girl, I have some news for you." I smiled at Olivia, knowing this would definitely make her feel better. She gave me a confused face, which also seemed to be completely unamused. "I know you have been working very hard, and I really appreciate it, but I've seen you're overworked and I cannot allow that, so I hired a new barista, his name is Lucas, and he's starting this Friday." after I spoke, I could see her expression turn into a completely different one.

"Wait are you serious? No, stop, we can't hire more personnel, we are not ready yet, I really don't mind-" I put my hand over her mouth to stop her from talking. I knew she would say something like that.

"You will be working from Monday to Thursday and Lucas will work Friday to Sunday, so there's no loss." I gave her a proud smile, letting her know I had carefully calculated every move beforehand. I swear I could see her eyes becoming glossy, but all she did was laugh and roll her eyes then went back work, this time, her expression completely different from last week's. She won't admit it but I know she loves me.

"Well guess who's here, our favorite customer." I heard Olivia's chirpy voice as Eli slowly walked towards the counter, never removing his gaze from me, which made me giggle a little.

"You seem a little louder than usual, did something good happen?" Eli smirked as he looked my way. I mouthed the word 'Lucas' which made him understand the situation.

"You would be absolutely correct, just because of that I will make a special drink just for you." with that, Olivia made her way towards the kitchen to make whatever she had planned.

"Thank you, for recommending Lucas, I couldn't take it anymore seeing Olivia so done with life all the time." I gave Eli a sincere smile as I slowly wiped the counter.

"Oh come on, that's what friends are for." Friends. That word remained stuck on my brain. Are we friends? It seemed like it had been a long time since I made an actual friend.

"Thank you anyway." I realized I had zoned out for a little bit but tried to mask it carefully, trying for him not to notice his previous sentence had an effect on me.

We remained in silence for a couple of seconds until Olivia came back with the drink she had prepared. Which definitely looked like something that was not on the menu.

"Thanks, I'll definitely enjoy it." with that, he paid and went to sit at his normal table not before giving me a smile, to which I replied with a warm smile as well.

"Is there something going on that I just noticed? Is there something you're not telling me April Hart?" oh right, I hadn't told Olivia what had happened the day I went on my 'date' with Andrew.

It was definitely something I really enjoyed, but ever since that day we had not spoke or hung out other than when he came to the Cafe every morning and the small talk we shared. So I didn't think it was necessary to tell her. "It's nothing, you know I barely know him anyway." I hoped that would give her the hint there was nothing going on, besides, my head and heart was still focused on someone else.

"So something did happen!" she gasped suddenly, and remained silent as if she was expecting me to tell her what she wanted to know. Not happening. All I did was laugh and walked away from her to avoid anymore of the topic. "Yeah yeah, run whatever you want, you'll have to confront your own feelings at some point." damn how deep.

Suddenly I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket making me instantly open it and smile at the screen like a teenager.

Andrew: Hey gorgeous, I hope you're having a nice day, don't forget to eat well. I'm working till late but we'll talk tonight, k?

Me: Sure! Have a nice day :)

After our date, Andrew and I kept texting each other almost everyday. I couldn't help but feel weird having someone text me every morning after a long time, but I have to say it felt good.

The day went by pretty fast and finally the evening arrived. We made sure to clean everything up and close everything once it was time. I removed my apron and hung it in the office, then the guys and I said our goodbyes they left, I went out a few minutes later after making sure everything was completely safe and the way it should be.

"I get why Olivia feels so overworked, you guys do close this place late."A masculine voice spoke which made me jump a little as I made my way out. I turned to look at the person who had spoken and it was no other than Eli. Seriously what it wrong with him.

" Why would you scare me like that, I thought you were some creep?" my breath was faster than before now and I struggled to calm down. I guess he noticed that I was not pleased with what had just happened because his actions changed from laughing histerically to worrying.

"Hey are you okay?" he extended his hands towards me, as I took slow and deep breaths trying to calm myself down. I know it might seem exaggerated to some people but a few years ago, I used to struggle a lot with anxiety, to the point where any type of strong emotion would cause me to have an attack, even if they were good emotions, I could not handle the feeling of intense emotions. Thankfully, I recovered from it, and Holly was one of the reasons I was able to, but I sometimes still get some minor attacks, like when I'm startled for example.

"Yes, I'm okay." I spoke coldly as I gathered myself and started walking towards the usual direction I go to get to my home.

"Hey, hey I didn't mean to scare you, I was just messing around." Eli had caught up to me and put himself in front to avoid me from walking any further. God, can I just go home? "I'm sorry okay?" I looked at him and his expression seemed genuine, which made me furious inside, I wanted to be angry but for some reason I just couldn't.

"Why were you even there?" I crossed my arms over my chest, which caused him to blink a few times.

"I was waiting for you to get out of work." he spoke in a tone as if he was stating the obvious. "Let's go, let me walk you home. It's close from here right?" yeah.. Should I tell him it's almost thirty minutes away on a bus?

"It's okay, you don't have to do that Eli, I bet you are tired from work." I didn't even know what type of job he did, maybe he would tell me now, at least I'd know he's not jobless.

"Don't think about that, let's just go." with that, I felt his large hand grab my arm as we both started walking towards my house, but how would he even know where I live.

"Where how do you know where I live?" I stopped and slowly released myself from his grip. I swear this guy gets creepier by second.

"I have no idea where you live, you were walking in this direction so I just assumed you'd guide us. And could you please stop thinking I'm a creep? I already told you I'm not." then stop acting like one.

I had no idea how to reply to what he said so I just started walking once again towards the closest bus station before the last bus would leave.

"So, you have not told me what you do for a living?" I looked at him expectantly. I could tell he was looking at me from the corner of his eye, and he smiled slightly.

"I'm an architect." He replied simply. I was hoping he would elaborate more, but he remained quiet after that answer so I just assumed he did not feel comfortable talking about it. "I actually do free lancing, architecture was just my college major." so I guess that is why he always wears casual clothes and doesn't seem to have a schedule.

"And is that what you want to do?" I couldn't help but notice the way he got quiet the minute we started talking about that topic. Which made me wonder if there was more of the story.

"Well, couldn't say I was excited at first but I've gotten the hang of it. My grandma wanted me to be one since my grandfather was a great architect." His words slowly became more paused, as if he was thinking carefully what to say.

"You grew up with your grandparents?" I was hoping a wasn't crossing a line that was not meant to be crossed, I tried reading his expression carefully to see if there was any bit of discomfort in his face but there was none.

He simply nodded, then we both fell into the silence, all that was heard were our footsteps, and of course all the noise of the loud cars and people around us.

After a couple minutes we finally made it to the bus stop, just in time for me to take the bus.

"I think I'll be good from here, this ride will take approximately twenty minutes so, you should get going." I spoke softly as I made my way towards the bus.

"Sure then. See you tomorrow?" He added simply but I could tell in his eyes there was something he wanted to say, but seemed to keep it to himself.

"Sure.

See you tomorrow."

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So this chapter was kinda longer than the rest of them. I'm kind of exciteeeed.

And if you thought on Lucas, once again from NCT you are correct.

This mini encounter between Eli and April was too cute. I can't.

Please show this chapter lots of loooooove.