• Chapter Seven •

Ariel

"Ariel!" I look up from my book and show a wide smile when I see Steve walk into the shop, his wife waddling in beside him with a hand on her ginormous baby belly.

"Hey!" I walk around the counter and gently take Maria's hand, helping her to a nearby seat. She smiles and sits down, making a small huff when she finally relaxes against the chair.

"Hello, dear. How have you been?" Maria smiles up at me and rests her hand on my cheek, gently pulling me down to give her a hug. I smile into her shoulder and hug her back.

"I've been well. How have you and the baby been? Steve has told me so many stories. I miss seeing you around here every day!" I pull away and grin down at her.

Maria used to work here along with Steve, but stopped shortly after she got pregnant—per Steve's request as to not strain herself. For the first few months she would come and do a little, but recently she hasn't been able to come in at all because of the strain on her back.

"Oh dear, this baby has been a handful. I feel like I'm constantly eating, and don't even get me started on the cravings I've been having!" She breaks off to laugh at herself. "Yes, I miss coming around, too. Hopefully I'll be back in full swing soon enough." She smiles down at her belly lovingly, rubbing her hand over it in circular motions. I take her words in, frowning when I realize that she looks in no shape to be here.

"No offense, but what are you doing here? And don't get me wrong, I love that you're here! It's just that...shouldn't you be at home resting?" I awkwardly fiddle with my fingers as I await her answer, hoping I didn't overstep my boundaries by asking.

She lets out a loud laugh, gaining the attention of a few of the customers that are set up around the shop.

She shakes her head. "No, I've been doing enough resting! I'm here because Steve has been talking about hiring someone but doesn't quite know who to choose, so I'm here to help make that decision." She grins up at me and winks. "I'll make sure to hire a hottie for you, dear." My face flushes red, and she starts giggling at my uncomfortable expression. I open my mouth to respond, but stop when Steve walks up behind me.

"Honey, are you ready? The interviewees will start coming in any minute now." He smiles down at his wife and takes her hand, helping her up from the chair. She smiles at me and winks once more, then they walk back to the main office. I shake my head and walk back to the counter, continuing to serve the mid-afternoon customers.

My mind wanders off into the clouds with thoughts of who the new hire will be, what they'll be like, and if I'll possibly make a new friend. A few hours pass while I daydream in between my work, with only a couple of customers leaving almost as quickly as they came. Only two girls have come in to be interviewed from what I've seen. Thankfully, I brought my new book with me, so I am able to keep busy. The book is amazing, a perfect balance between mystery and love. Just the way I like it.

Maria and Steve finally emerge from the back office, holding hands and smiling at each other. Their smiles are contagious as I watch how they simply look at each other, completely lovestruck. My heart aches as I think back to what happened, knowing there's a high probability that I won't get to have something like that. I don't know if I could ever trust someone like that again...not after what happened.

"Together forever. Right, Elle?" Stan gently kissed my knuckles, his eyes locked onto mine. My heart fluttered, and I remember how big my smile was, almost face-splitting. I remember grinning so hard my cheeks hurt. And the way he called me Elle had me melting in my shoes.

"Always, Henry." His eyes lit up at my use of his middle name. He leaned forward, capturing my lips in a sweet kiss. The cool, crisp spring air around us sent chills down my spine as goosebumps rose across my skin.

He was always so good at kissing. He always knew just what to do to get my toes curling, without ever taking it too far. He was considerate. He always knew how to introduce me to new things without making me feel scared, like the first time we french-kissed. I was nervous, but he convinced me that it would be okay.

"Don't worry, Elle. You'll do just fine." His words were but a sweet whisper against my lips, his thumb hooked onto my chin, gently tugging my lips apart to allow him entrance. I remember fighting him at first; afraid I would disappoint him. But the way he kissed me...the way he held me...I was his, and he was mine. Always.

I blink and quickly divert my gaze to the floorboards, sadness washing over me like a bucket of water is being dumped on me. Pushing back the tears before they can form, I convince myself to stop thinking about it, to bottle it all back up again. Maria comes up beside me and lightly places her hand on my shoulder.

"Ariel, are you alright, dear?" Her eyes are full of worry and concern, both of which I know all too well. My mind, split between two realities, struggles to focus on what's real and what's not. I squeeze my eyes shut tightly and focus on my breathing. I don't want to have a panic attack right now. Finally opening my eyes, I glance up at her then stare down at my hands and nod.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Fine, something we say to avoid talking about what we are certainly not fine with. And I'm certainly not fine, not after what Stan did to me. I don't believe any boy would want me once they find out what happened.

"If you say so, dear." Her voice sounds skeptical, but she leans down to kiss my forehead anyway then turns back to Steve. This is what I love about Maria. She has been like an aunt to me ever since I started working here—always looking out for me, checking in, and being a friend when I need one.

Both her and Steve have taken a huge role in my life. They're family now. Despite not knowing anything about me when I first applied, they worked really hard to make me feel comfortable—all of us, actually—in town and at work. We all think highly of one another, and I know Maria only means well when she tries to set me up with guys. She just wants what's best for me, and being able to move on is just that. But I just can't get away from the shadows of my past.

With a nod towards Steve, I grab his attention and nervously ask, "Did you find anyone to hire?" Curiosity is eating away at me as I wait to find out who my new co- worker will be.
Steve smirks and nods. "Yes, we found someone. He starts tomorrow."

My mouth drops slightly and my hands start to shake slightly. "You hired a guy?" I gulp nervously and stare at them with wide eyes, my heart racing in my chest. "But I didn't even see a guy walk back there?"

"Told you I'd find you a hottie!" Maria winks and laughs at my fearful expression. "Calm down, dear. He's a nice boy, he won't bite." Yeah sure, he'll just do worse. Stan always knew how to do worse. I bite my lip and nod reluctantly, waving them goodbye as they leave the shop. No use stressing about it, because I can't do anything about it anyway.

~•~

Today is the day.

I anxiously bounce my leg as I sit and wait for the new employee. Steve asked me to handle his training when he arrives on his first day—teach him how to use everything, make sure he does well with the customers, et cetera. Steve would have done that himself, but Maria asked him to stay home with her today, so he assigned it to me.

To say that I'm excited would be an understatement. I'm ecstatic really. Yeah, sure, I'm still super nervous, but the excitement of it all has taken over and my nerves are only slightly making themselves known. It's currently noon, which is rush hour around here. I have two hours before the new guy shows up and hopefully things slow down so I can make sure to train him well. It's been extremely busy today, and this is only the second moment I've had to be able to sit down and take a breath. Glancing around, I smile as I look at all the people. The tables are mostly occupied, adults on their lunch break while students study. I reach down and grab my book, quickly diving into another world as I wait.

The two hours pass by quickly. I get so busy tending to people, mixing drinks, and cleaning spills that I don't even notice the time pass by. I wipe my hands off on my apron, the apron I hardly ever wear unless there's a steady rush of customers coming and going, then walk back to my stool behind the counter. I sigh and look down at my bag, excitement taking over as I quickly pull it up onto my lap and fetch my new book again. Lightly snorting under my breath, I think back to the day I bought it, softly mumbling to myself, "Thinks I can't handle myself...pfft."

"You know, talking to yourself is considered weird." I jump in fright, and my book goes falling to the floor. I look up with wide eyes and see Axel leaning against the counter with a huge smirk across his face. He raises an eyebrow at me and flickers his eyes between me and where the book fell. Shooting him a quick glare, I lean down to pick it up and then shove it back into my bag, hiding it under the stool. I stand up and push the hair out of my face.

"What do you want?" I cross my arms over my chest and stare back at him distastefully.

"Um, my apron or whatever it is that says I work here now." If even possible, his smirk gets bigger when he watches my face pale. You have got to be kidding me. Biting my tongue to stop myself from saying some type of snarky remark, I gesture for him to join me behind the counter. I turn to properly put my bag somewhere safe, then turn back around to face him. A soft gasp escapes me when I'm met with his chocolate brown eyes only a few inches from mine, staring at me with curiosity.

"Um, what are you doing?" The close proximity causes me to stutter embarrassingly, a warm, bright-red blush making its way up my neck and to my cheeks. He tilts his head to the side slightly, then moves back and turns toward the cash register.

"So, what's first?" he asks. Okay, so I guess we're going to pretend that didn't happen. I shake my head to rid myself of the awkward moment. He glances around and reaches over to poke the cash register, "How do I work this thing?" The drawer pops open after he presses a button. He raises his eyebrows with surprise as I quickly slam the drawer shut, shooting him a look of disapproval.

"Stop touching things!" He gives me a flat look and shrugs, shoving his hands in his pockets and awaiting my direction. I huff and motion for him to take a seat. "We'll get to that later. First, I'll explain a few things, and then you'll need to learn how to work the coffee machines." I point towards the main machine taking up a majority of the counter space. Beside it, we have our fresh baked items case, then beside that are all of our cups, plates, napkins, and cutlery.

"If you're going to explain to me how to be a pushover, don't worry. I won't be needing that." His signature smirk returns as I glare at him in disdain. He clearly thinks his jokes are hilarious, but they're only proving to make me dislike him even more as time goes by.

Seething through gritted teeth I reply, "I'm not a pushover." I clench my fists by my side and straighten my stance, "If you aren't going to take this seriously, then why are you even here?"

His eyes widen with surprise before he quickly looks away, his jaw clenching as he mumbles a quick, "Sorry," under his breath. I smirk in victory and relax my stance, pride overwhelming me. Ooh, that felt good! His eyes lift up and connect with mine, catching me by surprise. Neither of us break our gaze; just staring, the air around us growing tense. The longer we stare at each other, a feeling of mutual understanding flows between us.

He speaks first. "Let's just start over, okay?" He maintains eye contact, reflecting a sort of hopefulness that has me curious as to what this boy is all about. I find myself nodding in agreement, then I reach my hand out for his. His lips twitch as he holds back a smile.

"Friends?" His hand engulfs mine, making me feel so small.

I lift my chin up and quickly correct him. "Co-workers." He laughs abruptly and stares down at me with a grin, causing a small smile to form on my lips. We shake hands, then quickly pull away from each other.

Silence fills the air. A comfortable silence, one that doesn't demand for some sort of distraction or something to fill the void. My heart eases at the thought of actually being able to get along with my new co-worker, despite who it may be. I take him in, his shoulders now relaxed, and his face graced with a natural, pleasant smile. Not a smirk this time, just a genuine smile. "This doesn't mean we're best buds now. I still don't like you," I quickly add, shattering the silence between us before we can get too comfortable.

He chuckles softy. "I wouldn't expect any less." His eyes feel like they're devouring me, making me squirm under his heavy gaze. I quickly turn away and grab another stool, getting settled so I may begin his training. He sits up straighter once he notices my serious demeanor, ready to listen and do what I say. I smile on the inside, then begin explaining everything to him.

~•~

"Does that make sense?" I finally stop my long explanation with a heavy sigh, my throat now sore from all the talking. Axel scratches the side of his head and stares down at the notes he's been making in the little notebook I provided him. My shoulders slump as I scratch the back of my neck, "I know it's a lot."

"I think I've got it?" His voice betrays him by coming out as unsure and lacking confidence.

"You'll remember it all as time goes on," I quickly reassure him before turning to work the coffee machines. "Next, I need to teach you how to work these bad boys."

"Okay." He snorts back a laugh and turns toward the coffee machines as well. I shoot him a small glare for laughing at me, to which he quickly responds by throwing his hands up in defense as he holds back a smile. I ignore his laughter and check around the shop to make sure there's no one who needs to be served and begin to give him a demonstration.

"Alright, so first you have to get the coffee brewing, and then..." I continue with the instructions. Five minutes later and two regular cups of coffee made, because I have yet to even introduce him to the latte machine, Axel seems ready to try it himself.

"Okay, I think I got it now." He looks at the machine with determination and starts to work the controls. Halfway through, the coffee maker begins to sputter, and then everything goes to crap. I have no idea what happened or what button he may have pushed, but hot coffee begins to spray everywhere. I scream out in shock and pain from the coffee burns, and I put my hands out in front of me, blocking the spray from hitting me as much as possible. Axel frantically tries to stop it, hitting multiple buttons, but nothing works.

"The water valve! Turn off the water valve!" I yell. Axel quickly finds the valve after I point to it, twisting it to stop the spraying. I sigh in relief and look down at my now ruined attire. So much for looking nice today. I look back up and meet Axel's eyes. His his cheeks are tinted red as his wide eyes stare at my wet clothes.

"I am so, so sorry, Ariel." He bites his lip and hands me a towel, awkwardly running a hand through his hair. Then I do the unexpected. I giggle. Then I burst into full-blown laughter when I see the look of pure terror on Axel's face. The image of the coffee spraying everywhere flashes back into my mind. I calm down and look up at him, only to burst into another round of laughter when I think of it all again.

"Uh, am I getting fired right now?" He stares down at me as I pick myself up off the floor from laughing so much, his eyes full of worry and slight concern for my mental stability. I shake my head and reach down to grab my bag.

"No, you're not. It was an honest mistake. I can just go around back and get changed." I smile up at him and see a look of relief, thankfulness, and regret in his features.

"It won't happen again, I swear." He rubs the back of his neck and sheepishly smiles down at me. I laugh lightly and pat his shoulder as I walk past him.

"Better hope not. Then you really will get fired!" I shoot him a cheesy grin and then walk to get changed in the bathroom. This day just got a little bit better.

I smile softly at my reflection in the mirror, the coffee completely covering my sweater and a little bit of my hair even though I have it up in a messy bun. I change into the extra pair of clothes I had brought, an old, faded t-shirt and a sweater. Thankfully, my jeans didn't get much on them, just a few spots here and there. I rinse my other shirts in the sink, hoping that the coffee won't stain.

Once I wring them out, I place them into my bag, mentally reminding myself to take them out once I get home. My eyes flick back up to gaze in the mirror, staring at my reflection. I reach up and gently touch the dark scar leading from the end of my neck down to my collar bone, tears threatening to spill from my eyes when I look at it. I look away and move my hand back down to my side, then turn completely away from the mirror and walk out of the bathroom.

~•~
                   • Author's Note. •

Updated note!

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*kicks door down* It *breaks a chair* is *rips shirt off* FRIDAY!!!!!! Can you tell I'm excited? 😂 I'm so ready to relax!!
Chapter Eight, yay! Man, I get hyped for my own book 😂

What's the weather like where you are? Right now, it is FREEZING COLD where I am! Perfect reason to bundle up with sweaters, hot chocolate, and a good book!!

This is the first of many chapters without warning, are y'all okay? It was pretty light stuff, and remember I'll tag the more heavy chapters, but some will very well border between those two so I beg of you to please be safe. ❤️❤️❤️

Song added: I can't breathe
By: Bea Miller ❤️
                   
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~Molly

Written 11/3/2016