"I bought your tarts", I announced as soon as I entered the library. Surprisingly a girl was sitting in the reception. Might be his daughter.

I approached her, "You waiting for Ralph? His daughter?", I asked noticing no Ralph in vicinity. The girl stood up and answered in a high pitched voice, "Darling I am waiting for my Daddy". My opinions on her went very bad when she licked her lips trying to be seductive. Disgusting.

"Daddy?". Could be Ralph right?

"Ryder. Well, that's none of your business", she waved me away.

Ew. No surprise. Wait. Wasn't she the pink hair? She cut her hair and dyed purple. No wonder I didn't recognize her. My poor nose was burning from her cheap perfume and not to mention her Puberphonia.

"What are you doing here?", asked a Bass voice. Ryder's turtle neck shirt and ripped pants were sprinkled with dust. His hair was a mess and his eyes were glowing. I turned around to control my heartbeat.

"Baby, just talking to this girl", she hugged him. He turned his face away from her. I wasn't the only one suffering.

"Who is she, baby?", she asked. Girl, tone down. My ear drums were crying. "You know some girls look for innocent rich boys. To lure them and enjoy the luxuries, maybe give something and take something." Okay boy. That's it. I kicked him in the shin. He stumbled down with the girl landing on the floor. I flicked him off and went inside with a smile. That was easy.

"I bought you tarts", I handed over the bag to Ralph, who was inside the stock room. "Thanks, honey", he smiled. I looked at him surprised. "What?", he asked. I shook my head. I texted Papi. I updated him everything including Ryder. He wasn't saying anything. He then told, more complained, about everything.

"I'm coming home next weekend", I said walking to the Mocha. "I guess you know what should be done", he said. I laughed, "I know. I love you. I'll be home" .

"I love you too, honey"

"Dustin?", I asked the cute hunk. He scratched his neck, "Hi Emily". I smiled back, "Hi, what's your order?". He looked around for someone. I decided to remain clueless. "Abby?". I shook my head. "Sorry, Abby is out of stock. Any other?", I smirked at his flushed face. I was going evil these days.

"I wanted to talk to her", he mumbled. "Then you should've known that her shifts starts are 8, in ten minutes and for TMI she'll be here in five minutes." He ordered a cappuccino and took a seat. I pretended nothing was going on when Abby came. The day was pretty dull and I was sure they were gonna take long. I was even ready to take over the shift. Acting Cupid? I was Cupid.

Abby stood still when she saw Dustin and ran towards me, "Please tell I am not imagining Dustin over there sitting cute as hell?", she pointed to where he was sitting. "I am sure that's Dustin", I said the same moment Dustin looked over to us. He shot up from the seat and held her elbow, "We need to talk". She looked at me, "Can you take over?". Did she give in that easily?.

"My body is aching", I said pressing my shoulder. "Please? I really want to talk to him. Today, either it's lips or fist. Pretty please", she acted cute making me cringe.

"Get lost and be home before I come", I said and turned towards Dustin calling him. "Good luck and if that girls comes home crying, I will make sure no one can discover your body", I said in a low voice folding my sleeves glaring at Dustin. He laughed and nodded. Luke ran off as soon as the shift ended. "So, it's us today", Matt sighed. "Yeah"

"Where's your car?", I asked him coming out of the cafe. My head was aching along with my legs and my stomach couldn't stop rumbling. It embarrassed me rumbling in front of a customer though I earned a $10 tip. "It stopped midway. I sent for service", he said. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?. I am hungry and my legs are paining", I whined. "God, stop it. Let's eat something and go home" and that put a smile on my face.

We went to the nearby restaurant and ordered pasta. The hot pasta smelled like heaven in front of hunger. I inhaled deeply and devoured my plate. I was out of breathe when I finished my plate. "You want something else?", Matt asked wiping his mouth. "Well, Ice cream?", I asked sounding innocently. He went to the counter to buy ice cream.

My crave flew out of the window when I saw Devil enter the restaurant. Was he stalking me? We made eye contact but he turned away as if not noticing me and settled in the seat behind me.              

Until then I didn't notice the ex-pink.

Matt came with vanilla ice cream. He eyed me up. "Don't like it?". I pulled the cup to me, "Don't even think about it", I said taking first lick.

"Isn't that the girl from library?", the pricky voice asked. Almost 5 tables turned to her voice. There wasn't any reply.

"Where were you yesterday?. I saw you with Connor", Matt asked me. Out of all time and out of all places, he asked me now and there. I hesitated but wasn't afraid. "Connor saved me from Luke and we just hung out for a little bit"

"She's a bimbo", Devil spoke the time I finished. "I didn't know that, babe", the girl screeched with disgust. Matt was looking at me with shock. I tapped the table and got up.

"Who the hell did you call bimbo?", I asked gritting my teeth. He looked at me raising his eyebrows. "Isn't it obvious? People who go after rich are called that", he said. Anger raised like a fire in oil.

"Do you have birdbrain? How do you think she'll feel if she hears you say that?", I said pointing at the girl next to him. He quickly managed to cover the shock but that girl didn't bother as her mouth fell open. Before she opened her mouth, I continued, "Don't worry. I am here for you. I won't leave him like that after what he said even if he is a stranger".

The girl's face turned to a fury, "What the hell bitch? I am his girlfriend". I fake gasped and looked at Ryder, "I thought the girl you brought home yesterday was your girlfriend". The fury turned into misery and she choked, "You have another girl, babe?". He looked at her with a bored expression, "Cut it, Mia".

Hell broke lose when she started throwing tantrum. I pulled Matt with me. A sense of pride took over as I channeled my anger into something useful. Like a scowling Ryder.