Chapter Ten

"How are you?" I asked, sipping my mocha carefully as I waited.

We sat outside, soaking up the warm morning sun as we drank our hot drinks. His hair was as messy as I had first seen it and his lips piercing glistened in the light. His eyes were shielded by dark tinted sunnies as I sat here wishing I had gotten mine. He smiled, taking sips of his drink while thinking about how to respond while something told me this wasn't going to be the last time I saw him. So much for never seeing him again like I had told Lissa maybe I should start listening to her some more. Even if is going to turn into useless optimism. Just in case.

He looked completely average sitting across from me in black jeans that had rips over both knees and a plain navy blue tee. He made me feel over dressed. If I had known that I was going to run into someone so relax I would have gone with my skinny jeans this morning. Not that it mattered now. I kept my eyes on him as he continued to sit there with a grin on his face and his drink in his hand.

"Nobody's perfect and I am nobody so I am perfect" he looked like he thought he was so smart.

"You're hardly nobody," I grinned into my cup; "Almost getting run over by people proves that" I smiled at the memory but wouldn't look at him.

I really wanted what he had. I really wish I could walk out of a building and have people screaming for me. I wanted the risk of being swamped by people, all asking them for my autography or a picture with me. I wanted people to know who I was. He had it but clearly thought indifferently about it.

"Thank you" he dragged my attention away from my thoughts.

I assumed he was talking about the night of the party and how I had put him in the room instead of leaving out where happy snaps could be taken. I could imagine it now; people would have seen the pictures on the internet by Monday at least. I smile at him taking another sip of my coffee.

"No, I mean it. I was a jerk" he looked at me, meeting my eyes.

"Don't worry about it, I think we all had a few too many. Even I woke up with a splitting headache" I tried to laugh it off.

"Well, okay. Never would have thought I would see you here. How long have you been working here?" his voice was generally curious.

"Ever since I left school, it pays the bills while I'm between jobs" I shrugged, taking another sip of my now cooling drink.

He looked at me in wonder, as if he had come in here before and hadn't noticed that I was one of the main waitresses. It was believable though; I was never here on time except the first couple of months that I had worked here before I got my first modelling job. Somehow I didn't picture Andy as the type to get up early though and to come in when I was supposed to be here. There was always the day I wasn't here. Depending what week it was, I would only be here three or four days a week. This week was a three day week but because I had a day off last week I had an extra day.

I was supposed to work Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Today was Monday, not only a day I was supposed to have off but it was the first day of a working week. I would normally be really tired on my first working day and Mondays always made it worse but today I felt rather energized. I was kind of chipper actually. I didn't have any worries. I smiled at Andy as he looked at me. He smiled back, the smile reaching his eyes and making the stud in his lip shine under the light. It looked as if he could be laughing.

"Hey, Rose we need you back inside" Ava spoke quietly as she popped her head outside of the door.

"Um, okay," I looked at her from over my shoulder; "I'll see you later, Andy" I waved, drinking the rest of my drink as I went back inside.

I thought I saw him say something out of the corner of my eye as he waved back at me but the noise that flooded out the door was overwhelming. How many people had slipped inside the café while I was taking my break? I looked around the room quickly, seeing almost every table was full while a line that went along the length of the counter. I went to the locker room without a second thought. I took my apron out, fastening it around my waist and taking the cloth I used to wipe down tables.

I set to work as soon as I was past the counter, grabbing an empty tray before wiping down the nearest table. I put all the cups onto the tray then moved to the next clear table, doing the same thing all over again. With the tray now full, I went back to the counter, barely smiling at Logan who now occupied the computer. I put the full tray of dirty cups and plates on the bench against the wall beside the door to the kitchen. Nathan's door opened, slamming against the wall, not hard but forcefully. I went to the next table with my head down, barely looking at anyone.

Keeping my head down I tried to not drag any attention to myself and hoped I wasn't the reason for his anger. I pushed my fringe out of my eyes as Ava walked past me with a smile. Leaning over the table, I concentrated on a stain that was permanently fixed on this table. Nathan walked out of his office with a grim look on his face. Please say I hadn't put it there. I was having a good day; I didn't need to be yelled at. I had come to work on time; I was even working fairly hard. I watched him carefully as he walked across the room.

"Logan, I'm heading out, I trust you to make sure this place doesn't burn down" he gave a grim smile.

I let out a breath that I didn't know I had been holding as I watched him walk to the door and leave. I smiled, moving onto another table. Maybe this was going to be a good day. What could go wrong?

Walking out of the Coffee Emporium at four o'clock, I couldn't think of a better feeling. I had gotten to work on time, I hadn't gotten yelled at by Nathan which I was starting to think was going to become a routine between us and I had gotten off work on time. Not to mention I had run into Andy who was still a bag of mysteries under the confident exterior. I walked to my car with my head high, a good feeling washing over me. I should really try this more often. This getting to work on time and having no one angry at you felt good. I could get used to this easily.

I reached into my bag absentmindedly, going for my phone which was turning into a routine. I touched the screen lightly, waiting for it come to life as I continued walking. When nothing happened I tried the power button, smiling when it turned on quickly. Hearing footsteps in front of me made me jerk my head up, almost running into a familiar face. I stared into the different coloured eyes for a moment before I broke out into a smile.

"Rose, I was actually going to call to you" he smiled, a mouth full of perfectly white teeth, "I really wanted to tell you how well the shoot turned out" he motioned me to walk with him.

"Thank you," I smiled, turning to walk with him, "So, am I good enough to feature in your magazine?" I turned playfully serious.

"Feature? We're using your picture as the cover" he looked genuinely shocked.

I did my best to keep the shock off my face and to keep my jaw from dropping. I don't think I did a very good job though my mouth stayed shut. He smiled as if he achieved something that was hard to get. He was yet to realise I was pretty much an open book, my emotions portrayed on face for the world to read. There were only very few moments when I could actually hide what I was feeling though I tried often. He opened the door carefully, allowing me to enter as he held it. It took me a moment to snap out of my shock and to step through.

"Didn't expect to see you back here so soon, you finished only five minutes ago" Ava gave a smug smile as she walked to a table holding a plateful of drinks.

I was tempted to trip her but not only would that lead to me getting yelled out, we would probably lose costumers and this place didn't need it. So holding my head high I cursed her in my head.

"So, my picture as the cover?" I spoke just that little bit louder than I needed to, making sure Ava could hear.

"Not only that, I was wondering if you would like to work full time?" he stepped up to the counter.

He ordered his drink and offered me something but all I could do was shake my head as I processed what he had just said. 'I was wondering if you would like to work full time' his words running over and over in my head. Was he kidding? Of course I wanted to work full time but seriously, was it that easy? How did I land this? I smiled as I got ready to tell him I accept but Lissa's words floated through my mind. 'I saw the way they both noticed you' maybe this was wrong.

Maybe he didn't want me for my talent. No, that couldn't be it. I tried to force those thoughts out of my mind. Jake wouldn't do that; he wouldn't let his personal feelings cloud his business judgement. He shouldn't… I didn't really know him. I didn't know him at all. I automatically shut myself down when those thoughts passed by. I was over thinking it again. Take an opportunity as it passes, if I keep doubting things I was never going to get anywhere.

"I would…" I started before my phone started, "Hung on"

I looked down to my hand, watching my screen flash as I pulled it closer to face. Nikky's names flashed along with the screen. I was about to decline call, thinking I could call her back later when it clicked into place she was supposed to come into work today. She was supposed to take the shift after me, therefore coming in just before I left. I smiled an apology, telling Jake I had to take this. Walking back out to the front of the café, I picked up just as I stepped out of the door. At first, I was smiling, happy to hear Nikky's voice but that quickly changed.

"Rose, help me! Caleb, he…" her sob sent me on high alert, "I need you to take James to Ben" her voice wavered before suddenly there was no sound coming from the phone.

"Nikky, I'm coming," my voice strained, I waited for a sign that she was there, "Nikky? Are you okay? Nikky?"

I stood with the phone on my ear for a moment, ready to hang up when I heard the distant sound of screaming. My eyes went wide as I realise Caleb was still there. Nikky was yelling at him but it wouldn't take long for the tables to turn if he decided he didn't like something. What she had seen in him to begin with I never really saw and now I had moments where I wanted to smack her hand lightly and say 'Well, that was a smart one wasn't it' with as much sarcasm as I could bring up. What was I supposed to do? I hung up immediately, jogging onto the café just as Jake got served his drink. I tried to give him somewhat a smile but he seemed to instantly know something was wrong.

"I would love to take the job but I really need to go, I'm really sorry" I gave him once last look and he saw something in my eyes.

As soon as the words telling me I could go left his lips I was off and flying. Running to my car the thought past again about what I was going to do when I got to her but it wasn't hard to forget this time. Pulling my bag off my shoulder, I tried to find my car keys without wasting any more time. I didn't take long for me to get frustrated with everything I had. Like everything that was needed at the time, it was either at the bottom or just plain unfindable. I opted for grabbing at random objects that could have been keys but each time I pulled out something that wasn't I grew more and more angry. How could I still be here? She needs me, Nikky needs my help. I felt like throwing everything out onto the tarmac but with one last grab my hand wrapped the cool metal.