I yawned loudly, my eyes still closed

I yawned loudly, my eyes still closed. I rolled over my bed, and hit something hard. I mumbled quietly and rolled back to my original spot. I opened one eye half way to glance at the clock. It was eight o'clock. Shoot, I was going to be late for work. I got up quickly and realized what the obstruction on my bed was.

Jacob, my best friend, was sprawled against the bottom of the bed, snoring loudly. I rolled my eyes. Night shifts as a security guard really knocked him out. If he was too tired to drive an hour to reach his house he would stop by mine. As I moved into the kitchen to grab myself some food, I had realized the couch was a mess. I walked to it, my finger scratching my chin. Oh. I realized, with a sharp pang of guilt that I usually made Jacob sleep on the couch. Considering how tall he was, I was surprised if he could even half fit onto the couch. I frowned, no wonder he had to catch some sleep on my bed.

I grabbed a granola, brushed my teeth, and changed into my jeans and a camisole. I got out of the apartment and into the elevator in a flash. I glanced at the clock in my hand; I had a half hour to get to work. As I stepped outside the building, the rush of fresh air was exhilarating as I started on my way to work. I walked through the parking lot, and down the many roads that comprised of Main Street till I reached the small coffee shop on the corner.

I walked in through the door and the smell of coffee and cake swirled around in the air. I grabbed my beige apron and got behind the counter. My co-worker and friend, Angela, smiled at me as I approached.

"Hey Ang, how are you this morning,"

"Same as every morning, it's going to be really slow today…" she mused.

"How can you tell?" I asked, pleased.

"Just a hunch," she shrugged and gave me a quick grin before heading out to serve an elderly couple making their way into the shop. I sighed as I began my day.

"I need two decafs, and four croissants!" Angela yelled at me from the front of the store. I turned on the coffee machine and went to fetch the croissants. When the coffee was finished, I carefully poured it into two cups. A month ago, I had spilled the coffee on my hand; thank god it wasn't fresh from the machine and saved me a trip to the ER. I smiled to myself remembering the clumsy memories. I got the order and brought it out to the front and gave it to smiling couple with greying hair. Huh. I walked back behind the counter. The day seemed to take forever to finish. This was the one day I worked full time. On weekdays, I worked part time to fit in school.

"We closed down the store; I guess were free to leave." Angela smiled warmly at me as she took off her apron. I held back a yawn, and also removed my apron.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Ang!" I called over my shoulder as I exited the store. The familiar chime sounded as I opened the door and steeped into the dark night. A gust of wind bit my cheeks and I snuggled into my jacket. I started walking down the street; it was quiet, too quiet. The usual amount of cars, nosily passing by, the tourists pointing at objects and talking in a foreign language, none of those things were present tonight. I wondered if that was a sign, maybe a bad omen. I shook my head and got rid of the thought as I decided to take a shortcut home. It went through one of the alleyways and relatively safe. As I entered the alleyway, I heard thunderous laughing from behind me. I rolled my eyes, drunks. I shook my head and continued walking. As I let my head wander into thoughts of cappuccinos and beaches, I had a hard time ignoring the faint footsteps and snickers coming from a few feet behind me. I quickened my pace and told myself it must be a cat, or at least a dog. As my mind attempted to wander back to happy thoughts, the faint footsteps got louder, faster. My eyes narrowed, before I could further quicken my pace, a firm, warm hand grabbed my wrist so tightly, I gasped in pain as I slowly turned to face the three men in front of me.