Chapter 48- Act Normal

"Sam? Sam! Sam!"

"Huh?" I ask once I snap out of my daze.

"I said, are you going to eat that?" George asks me. I push my pizza to him and look around the table. Nobody seemed to be paying attention so I slid away and went to the bathroom.

  I looked at the bottom of all the stalls, and no one was there. I went to the very last stall and locked the door.

Pushing down the toilet seat, I sat down and went to the inside pocket of my bag, pulling out a black pencil case I never use. I stare at the baggie of pills in my hand, a baggie of pills that once had 12, now only have 10. I stared and I stared.

The shame eating me alive, but the shame had a very bad side effect. It made me want them more.

So as I sat there in shame, starring at the bag that once had 12 pills that now only has 10, I made it a bag with 9.

As I took down that pill, with shame. I heard the door open.

I quickly put them away, back to its pencil case and back to its little pocket. I flush the toilet, wash my hands, and leave.

I sit back at the lunch table and look at my friends. They all seemed so happy, so...okay.

None of them needed drugs to feel like that.

"Hey where'd you go?" Gabbie asks.

"Just needed to pee." I say and she makes a fake gag face, laughs and bumps my shoulder. I force myself to laugh too. Praying that this numbing feeling would just go away.

  "What are you doing after work? I want to do something." She asks and I shrug.

   "What did you have in mind?" I ask and she raises her eyebrows in suggestion.

   "Teenage things." Is all she says. I just shrug in submission.

   "I am at your will." I say with a fake bow as she fist pumps.

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"Hey, what's the matter with you?" Ethan asks, as he sits next to me in class.

"What's the matter with you? You're actually in class." I say and he rolls his eyes.

"Your mom saw my progress report. I promised her I'd get my grades up, but don't deflect the question." He says and I roll my eyes.

"Nothing, I'm just tired, I took a 5 hour energy." I say and he looks me up and down.

"I thought it was supposed to make you... you know, have energy? You look a little weird." He says.

"Wow, that's what every girl wants to hear from her drug dealing ex-boyfriend who lives across the hall from her." I say and turn around as the teacher stands up.

I hear a scoff from Ethan and then class begins.

When class was over I collected my things and tried to leave when someone grabbed my arm. I turn to see Ethan.

"What?" I ask impatiently.

"I deserve a lot of things, but I didn't deserve that, I was actually concerned. I wasn't trying to make you feel bad." He says and I sigh.

"Look, I probably shouldn't have said that, but we need to set boundaries. We aren't friends. In fact, I kind of hate you right now. I'll always be here if you need me, but please leave me alone unless you do." I say and walk away.

I don't know what's gotten over me, I just know I have a lot of anger in my heart and today is just not the day.

"Hey stranger." I hear and turn around.

"Oh, hey Brian. You work today?" I ask as I adjust my bag on my shoulder.

"I do. I heard we're putting out a new dessert and if Jane's making it then I'm sure it'll be delicious." He says and I chuckle.

"Yeah because we all know if you make it, it'll be burned like those cinnamon rolls." I say and continue walking to class as Brian follows.

"How was I supposed to know the frosting crystallizes?" He asks and I playfully roll my eyes.

"It goes on after hun, but you tried and I commend you." I say and he laughs.

"Thank you, Well, I'll see you at work, I have a quiz and it's not going to do itself." He says with a wave of departure.

"See you." I say as I wave back.

Damn he has a nice butt.

...what?

I make a face to myself and continue to class in a hurry.

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"Hey there. Ready for another day of muffins and coffee?" Jane asks and I chuckle.

   "Well of course." I say with a smile as I put on my apron.

   "Good, because we might be busy today. I saw a lot of tourists up the street and we have the best muffins in town." She says with a wink and walks to the back.

Best muffins in town... that was not meant to be said with a wink at the end.

  "Something you want to tell me?" Brian asks coming from the back. I raise my eyebrows.

   "What do you mean?" I ask and he chuckles.

  "She knows about your muffin?" He asks with an eyebrow raised.

  "Oh God, Brian you are disgusting!" I say with a laugh.

"Don't tell me your mind didn't go there too." He says and I roll my eyes.

"Yeah, whatever. Just buckle up your seat belt because nothings worst than a tourist at a coffee shop." I say and Brian jokingly rolls his eyes.

"Oh look, they're approaching." He says as he points to the window.

A group of about 30 walk in and my head hurts at the amount of coffee beans that need to ground.

"Welcome to Jane's." Brian says as he takes over the cash register. I give him a bow and go to the coffee machine.

As he is taking the orders I hear a very familiar voice. A voice that sent me into a thousand shivers. I peek around the corner to see the face of the Devil and damn near spill all of the coffee beans.

Oh my God. I have to leave. I have to leave right now. I run to the back in panic. Not knowing what to do.

"Samantha, are you okay honey?" Jane asks and puts her hand on my shoulder. I involuntarily shove her hand away.

  "I'm... I'm so sorry, I just... I.." I peek my head around again and see her. Her.

  "I have to go. I...I have to go. I can't be here." I say hyperventilating and crying.

  "Woah, woah, woah! Do I need to call someone? Are you okay?" Jane asks and things start to sound muffled.

   No! I cannot have a panic attack right now. 

I grab onto Jane's shoulders and breathe.

"No, I just have to breathe... for a second." I say and stand up straight.

   Okay. Samantha. Think. You can't let her know you work here.

"Can I work back here please? I can't go to the front right now." I say and Jane nods, with no explanation needed. I sigh a breath of relief

until I hear my name.

   "Samantha, could you come up here? It's getting pretty busy!" Brian asks.

  Shit! My eyes dart to Jane and she curses under her breath.

   "I have that batch of my grandmother's cupcakes I was making." She says and I sigh.

  "Damn, it's fine Jane. I'll work the front." I say and she looks at me wearily.

   "I don't know, you looked really scared." She says and I brush it off.

   "It's fine, I'll be fine. Just got a little anxiety from all the people." I say and she nods.

  "Okay, but if you need me I'm right in the back." She says and I give her a reassuring smile.

I slowly walk to the front, peeking before stepping out. She wasn't paying attention. She already ordered so hopefully she doesn't see me.

   I take over the register as Brian places muffins and donuts into boxes and bags.

"Hello, how can I help you?" I ask.

"I'm sorry dear I couldn't hear you over the racket, what was that." An elderly woman asks.

I repeat myself louder and suddenly the Devil turns.

   "Oh hell no!" She shouts. Everyone looks at her and I stare at her in horror.

   "You have got to be fucking kidding me!" She shouts again. I start to shake. I couldn't even imagine how I must look right now. I'm pretty sure my body has produced more sweat now than I ever have cheering.

   "You little bitch, you think you can just have a normal life while my son rots in prison?" She says stepping closer to their counter. I can't move, I can't breathe.

   "You whore, ANSWER ME!" She screams in my face. I still can't move.

I don't even think I've blinked.

  "What's going on out here?" Jane says  stepping from the back.

"What's going on is, you've hired a drugged out, lying slut!" I flinch at her words but couldn't do anything else. I felt tears falling down my face.

  This is my worst nightmare.

  "Hold on, that was completely uncalled for! Get out of my shop." Jane says.

  "I'm not leaving until she steps outside with me." She says pushing my forehead with her finger I then feel tight hands pull me back and see Brian step in front of me.

  "She said get out. You look like a competent woman. So why haven't you left?" He asks with a snarl. I've never seen Brian like that. He was... protective and aggressive. He's always been very gentle and sweet despite his masculine looks.

   "Really? You get the big black guy out and I'm supposed to be scared?" She says and I flinch back. Okay. I'm done being scared.

You can come for me, but you can't come for the people I care about and I didn't realize until now how much I cared about Brian and Jane.

   "What is your problem? You raise a demon and get mad he got what he deserved? He deserves worse!" I say from behind Brian. They all turn around at me.

I wipe my tears and step from behind the counter.

  "Hit me...like you did when I was 16 and you'll be in the prison right next to your son." I say and she steps closer.

   "Do it, bitch." I say and Jane pulls me away.

  "Get out or Im calling the police. I won't say it again." Jane says to her. She flares her nostrils at her and me and walks away. When she finally leaves I start to hyperventilate and cry.

Jane holds me and looks at everyone.

  "Okay everyone, the shows over. Either buy something or leave." She says and rushes me to the back.

  "If you want to go home, I can have Brian take you." She says and I shake my head.

   "No, you have all these people. I can work. It's fine." I say.

  "Now Im not going to ask what that was all about. I could see in your eyes from the moment I met you, that you have pain deep within you, but all those awful things she said about you... you're not those things. You're a wonderful young lady. Don't let her get to you." She says and holds me tighter as I cry into her shoulder.

  "I'm going to call your mother. I know you might not want me to, but it's what needs to be done. Okay?" She asks and pulls me away to look in my eyes. I nod and she hugs me again.

I go to the bathroom to clean up my face and walk back to the front. Everything seemed to be back to normal. Most of the people had left after buying there coffees and sweets, but a few people stayed and ate.

   "You okay?" Brian asks.

"No, but is anyone?" I ask.

We finish the shift and Brian walks me to my car.

"You know, you can talk to me about anything right? I know we might not be the closest, but we can be if you need someone." He says and I smile.

  "I'd love to talk to you, but some things are just to painful to bring up, you know?" I say and he nods.

  "Of course. I'm still here, if you want to say nothing and just eat ice cream and distract yourself from the pain." He says with a smile.

"That sounds way too appealing to not say yes." I say. He chuckles, we say our goodbyes and he goes to his car across the street. I ruffle in my bag for my keys and I hear a car door shut. Which was weird because Brian already left and Jane was still in the shop. I turn to see her.

   "I figured this was your car. Nicest one on the block." She says.

  "What do you want from me?" I say with tears in my eyes.

   "I want you dead." She says with a smile and walks away. I'm stuck in my place. She pulls off and I'm still stuck.

   Something told me not to get in my car without inspecting it and when I did I saw the bolts to one of my tires on the ground. I hurriedly call my mom.

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Hello everyone! It's Rebecca your favorite mediocre author! How's it hanging! I realized how funny you guys are and realized I should talk to you all more so comment here so we can chat! We can talk about anything, advice, the story or just joke around! This is a safe space, so no arguing!