" Did it ever occur to you that maybe he isn't interested in you?", Mary said in a surprisingly rude voice," And maybe if you thought of other people for once in your life, maybe you'd realize that maybe other people like him."
Yeah, but that doesn't mean that he likes them back." Ella said, oblivious to the comment," I saw him today, he looked real interested in me."
"Wait a second, you like him, don't you?" Ella said, surprised that her step-sister had such good taste," Well, if you want my opinion, I don't think you stand a chance with people like me standing in your way."
"I didn't ask for your opinion, now get out of my room!" Mary screamed at Ella, furious.
"Don't worry, I'm leaving, but don't forget what I said." Ella said, winking at her step sister as she walked out of room.
Mary sat down on her bed and fell back on the bed. She felt the tears come down her face, but she made no attempt to brush them away.
The next day....
Mary walked into Starbucks for her first shift of the week, the 5-9 shift.
She saw Jeremy and felt the blood rush to her face.
"Hey Mary! What's up?" Jeremy said, handing her a new apron.
" School was pretty boring, but other than that..." Mary started to say when a customer walked through the door.
It was Ella. Mary could tell that she had taken extra care to look good today, and she looked, even Mary had to admit this, gorgeous. Her long blonde hair was in a loose ponytail that hung down her back, and she had on a microscopic black dress.
Ella smiled maliciously as she saw Mary and Jeremy. She sauntered over to the counter and said with a sexy smirk,
" Hi Jeremy, having fun?"
Jeremy glanced at her, smiled and replied,
" I am now. "
Mary shot daggers at Ella and obnoxiously asked,
"Do you want anything?? Because we're very busy and don't have time for social visits."
Ella surveyed the almost empty shop and sneered at Mary. Then she asked sweetly,
" Can I please talk to Jeremy alone for five little itsy-bitsy minutes?"
Jeremy turned to look at Mary and gave his puppy dog face.
Mary grumbles,
" I guess. But five minutes only!"
Jeremy gives a salute.
"Yes Ma'am!" he says cutely, then follows Ella out the main doors.
Mary stares out broken heartedly at them. Ella pulls Jeremy close, and whispers something in his ear that makes him turn a dark shade of red. Ella laughs and then takes out a piece of paper and writes something down on it.
They sit down at one of tables and chat a little while longer, before Jeremy gets up reluctantly to return to work.
Mary is fighting back tears as Jeremy comes in the shop calling out to Ella,
"See you on Friday!"
Mary barely glances at him as he comes back behind the counter.
Jeremy is whistling and smiling as he mixes up lattes for customers, but Mary barely glances at her customers until she hears a vaguely familiar voice ask her,
" Can I have a mocha frappachino with no whip cream?"
Mary looks up and sees Michael, Ella's most recent ex-boyfriend.
Michael looks surprised and says,
"Oh, I didn't know you worked here, how are ya doing?"
Mary remembers the conversations they had had while Michael had waited for Ella. He was extremely nice and didn't really seem Ella's type.
" Yeah, I've been working here for a couple months now. Do you come here often?" Mary said as she handed back Michael's change.
" She screamed out Michael's order for Jeremy to make, then said,
" So how are you doing? Ella was real upset at you on Saturday and she told us what happened. I must say, thank you! She really deserved what you told her and a whole lot more."
Michael looked sheepish and ran his fingers through his spiky brown hair.
" Oh, I'm sort of ashamed that I went off like that. But she was so bossy and overbearing, I felt like strangling her until her face turned blue." Michael said with contempt in his voice.
"When it comes to Ella, we all feel like that most of the time." Mary said, laughing.
" Well, listen, I've been doing some thinking and I was remembering our conversations and I think that, no, I know that I really like you way, way better than I ever liked Ella. Would you go out with me on Friday night?" Michael said shyly, looking down at his feet.
Mary smiled. He's not Jeremy, but he seems really nice. And cute too! Mary thought.
" Yes, I'd love to go out with you." Mary replied, just as shyly.
Jeremy comes over with a weird look on his face.
" Here's your frappachino." Jeremy said gruffly, almost chucking the cup at Michael.
Michael is grinning like crazy as he takes the frappachino and calls out,
"See you on Friday Mary!"
