Chapter 3
Treck
Ever since I woke up in the alleyway I always go to, my head has been throbbing. Luckily, I was late for class for 30 minutes so I had to stay in there for only a short amount of time. Mrs. Kingsley was pretty irritated but just lightly threatened me and continued with her lesson. I glanced at the clock every once in a while. I sighed and put my head in my hands. My head pulsed but I concentrated on the fact that there were only a couple hours of school left. I sat through everything until classes were over then rushed through the halls of the school, rudely pushing past the other students hurriedly trying to get to the big doors in front.
I got to my bike and peddled down to the tiny coffee shop down the street, Warm Mugs being the name. I parked my bike somewhere secure then headed for the back door. I took a black apron and wrapped its straps around my neck and waist. The smell of coffee welcomed me warmly and I inhaled its scent, enjoying the warm feeling it gave me. I acknowledged my co-worker, Emily with a nod then made my way to the coffee maker.
I heard the bells of the shop ring and the next thing I knew, I was given an order to do. I started on the order immediately and worked with the ingredients and machines with ease. I called up the customer in no time and gave him his order. When he got it and I had nothing else to do, my hands twitched to do something. That's something my body does here. It has the urge to do something with all those aromatic ingredients.
Coffee-making has become some sort of passion of mine. The warmth I feel when I make coffee is just so welcoming. Mom did love to make coffee. I remembered the smile on our faces whenever we made coffee together. It was so cozy and inviting. It comforted us and made us feel safe and at home. We were actually a family at one point, smiling and laughing. We were actually happy. Until all the stress and bad stuff came along and plagued Dad's mind. I guess those moments didn't last forever.
Maybe that's why I love Warm Mugs so much. It reminds me so much of that home I used to be so familiar with. Now it just feels like a distant dream. My happiness seems to be a dream, so far away that I can barely keep ahold of it. My life at the moment is just a bitter cup of black coffee. I don't think any amount of sugar can sweeten this anytime soon.
Emily gave me another order and I started to work on it. As I was pouring milk into the drink, someone bumped into me and caused me to spill some of the milk. I glared at the sputtering mess, apologizing to me at the speed of light. I scoffed and recomposed myself to put more milk in the drink. Furrowing my eyebrows in confusion, I put down the cup of milk and turned to the boy now fidgeting at the counter.
I finished up the drink, gave it to the customer, and walked to Emily at the counter who looked like she was teaching the chestnut brown haired boy. I tapped her shoulder then rose a brow at the mess of a human nodding at my co-worker. I nodded towards him and asked, "What's with him? Isn't he supposed to be on the other side of the counter?"
She laughed and patted the boy's shoulder. "This is Tyler. He's going to be our new co-worker here," she introduced. He kept his eyes on the floor and twiddled his thumbs. I squinted at him and looked him up and down. His hair was chestnut brown and looked fluffy and soft and covered his gray eyes that had specks of blue in them, downturned and doe-like. His nose was kind of big and his pink lips were thin. He had a thin structure but was shorter than me, his head reached my eyebrows. He was clad in a huge sweater that hung off his hands. He looked kind of...cute. I nodded and turned my back to them, going back to the coffee machines.
"Just don't get in my way." I peeked to see Tyler vigorously nod his head behind me. I smirked. This is going to be interesting.
---
A couple of hours passed and it was 5 pm already. I guess it's time for me to take out the trash...and maybe take a little smoke break. I walked to the back doors, a trash bag in either of my hands. There were three trash bags today so I'll get that third one once I put these down. As I pushed the doors open to get the remaining trash-filled bag, Tyler bumped into the door, holding the trash bag. He squeaked and stared at me, looking like a deer in headlights. I let out a breathless chuckle and closed the door in his face, making him open the door for himself.
I saw him huff and open the door, dragging the trash bag to the dumpster. Since I don't have any more trash bags to throw, I leaned against the outer walls of the cafe. It was beside a flower shop so it created a little alleyway for the dumpster and people like me. I took out my packet of cigarettes and took one out. I lit it and smoked, leaning my head back.
Wait, that kid's still here. When I turned my head, sure enough, Tyler was still there. He somehow has a book with him and is silently reading. I cock my head at the silent figure. I guess it's his break too?
We sat in silence for a couple of minutes, minding our own business. Amidst the silence, I could hear sniffling. Curious, I turned my head to Tyler. Surely enough, I found the culprit of the sniffling. I chuckled at the sight. The poor child was crying, and I don't think he realizes it. Tears streamed down his cheeks, glistening.
I craned my neck to look at the book he was reading. Notes from the Midnight Driver. That doesn't really sound sad but you can't judge a book by it's cover.
At first, I didn't really pay attention to the weeping human near me but it soon became sobbing. My eyebrows shot up at the sudden sob that erupted from his mouth. I gawked at him, slightly weirded out. I finally found my voice and asked, "Uh, hey. Are you...alright there, kid?" I was kind of surprised by his answer, to say the least.
"I-I'm not. Sol! SOOOOLLL!!" he cried, his words lined with a slight and barely noticeable British accent. Realizing his little slip, he slapped a hand over his mouth and stared at me in disbelief. A smirk graced my features as I stared back at him, amusement in my eyes.
"So you do talk," I teased. He fumbled around with the sleeves of his swear and wiped the tears that were still streaming down his face.
"Uh, sorry about that... I do that when I'm too engrossed in something."
"Mhm, you sure are engrossed in that alright." I shook my head and chuckled at his silliness. He blushed and caressed the book he held. An awkward silence surrounded us and I shifted in my spot uncomfortably.
"So, what happened to Sol?" I asked, trying to start a conversation. Luckily, that seemed to have lifted the tension just a bit. Tyler raised his head and his eyes found mine. They had a tiny twinkle of passion in them and I questioned my life decisions then and there.
"You wouldn't mind the spoilers?" He shifted in his spot.
"Don't worry. I don't think I'll ever touch that book." I smiled at him and urged him to go on. Wait, why am I urging him to go on?
His lips spread into a tiny smile and he started to summarize the whole story. Apparently, it's about a teen who had to repay for his "crimes" and ended up taking care of an old man named Sol. A bunch of things happen, some things about music I guess. Tyler ends it with a really heartfelt summary of Sol's death, causing him to cry once again. Being nice for once in my life, I crouched down beside him and comforted him with an awkward pat on the shoulder. He seems to have appreciated it and gave me a thankful smile. He ended his little rant and before I knew it, it was a quarter to six. I actually enjoyed that.
"So that's the cause of my little episode awhile ago. Sorry about that," he concluded timidly, stretching the hem of his sleeves further along his hands. I stood up and held a hand out to him. He reluctantly took it and I helped him up.
"Well, I guess I understand a bit now." I smiled down at him. "I'll see you tomorrow then. Bye." I didn't give him a chance to reply since I went inside, untied the apron, got my bag then went outside again. I guess he followed me in and headed straight for Emily, probably to help her or something. I got on my bike and peddled home, a smile subconsciously making it's way to my face.
---
The smile I previously wore disappeared once I got home and parked my bike in our unkept yard. I tiptoed around the house, cautious at the fact that dad might be home. My prediction was proven true when I smelled the strong scent of alcohol fill my nostrils the moment I walked into the kitchen. Pressure thickly coated the air as I walked past the kitchen to get to my room.
"Buck. Not gonna have any dinner?" Crap, I was noticed. I shook my head and continued to walk down the hall, begging my feet to go faster. "Why not? Iris and your mom are seated, you should be too." I sighed and turned around, facing the voice belonging to the one person I hate with a passion.
"I don't want to eat, Dad," I seethed between gritted teeth, "I'm not in the mood."
He pushed back the chair and walked towards me, glaring at me. He towered over me and pressed a finger to my chest. "That's no way to talk to your father, Buck. Now, be a good boy and join us at the table," he threatened with a glare.
I stood my ground. "No." I turned my back then took a step closer to my room until I was shoved onto the floor.
"No one says no to me in this house! Now, if you don't want me to touch a single hair on your mother and sister, I suggest you get your ass seated at the table," he fumed.
I glanced at the fear-stricken faces of my mom and sister. As much as I didn't want to, I got up, sent a glare to my father then sat down at the table. Why does he want me here so badly anyway? It won't make any kind of difference, aside from Mom and Iris getting hurt. My eyes widened in realization.
I turned my head to my father, eyes full of disgust. "How much," I ask in a low voice.
"What was that?" Tch.
"How much money do you need?" I ask lowly, louder this time.
He swallowed a piece of meat. "Just enough for a couple of weeks. 100, maybe." Gritting my teeth, I stomped to my room, coming out with an envelope with 100 dollars inside.
"If I give you this, you won't lay a hand on them and won't come back for however long it will take. 100 dollars will get you by," I consulted through gritted teeth, staring him right in the eyes.
He swallowed a piece of meat. "Deal." He took the envelope from my hands, counted the money outside then just left.
Once the sound of the door closing echoed throughout the house, Iris ran up to me and hugged me tightly. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as I pat her head trying to calm her down. Mom ran up to me and embraced Iris and me. She whispered apologies under her breath as tears streamed down her pale face. I smiled sadly at them.
"Treck, I-I'm scared. He hurt you! D-dad hurt you! I don't want that to happen again. P-please be okay," Iris sputtered out, holding onto me tighter, unable to keep her tears back. "I don't want him to come back, Treck. W-why won't he just leave us alone!" I crouched down to her level and mom's hands went to my shoulders, trembling slightly.
I took Iris's head in my hands and made her look at me. "I know it's hard Iris. I don't want him to come back either but it just doesn't work like that. This is his house and we can't kick him out. I don't know why he keeps coming back to us but he must have a reason. We'll just have to bear with it for a little more, okay? We'll get through this, I promise." I stood up again and Iris went back to hugging my waist. I looked at mom and smiled sadly.
"It's alright guys. As long as you guys are unharmed, we'll be okay. Besides, he won't be coming home for awhile, hopefully." I embraced Iris tighter and put a hand on mom's shoulder. I'll keep protecting them, no matter what happens.
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[Two updates in a row :3]
/11/12/17/
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