I notice some customers look up at the sheer loudness of her voice.
"No he didn't just randomly drop by, he came to give me back my English book and do you have to be so freakin loud?" I say avoiding her gaze and wiping the counter.
"Why did he have your English book?" she asks in a stage like whisper.
"I left it in his car."
"WHAT?" ok- back to Radio Izzy. Broadcasting to the world. "What the freak were you doing in his car?"
God, I will never understand how Izzy manages to make the most innocent action sound like it could have been a porn movie or something.
"He gave me a ride cos it was raining." she's giving me the look. Y'know that 'ohhh suuurre….he gave you a ride cos it was "raining"' look. "What?" I demand.
"You like him don't you?" she grins slyly
"No."
"Ok."
Silence…. I keep my eyes on the counter but I can feel her eyes on me and I can feel my face heating up.
"YOU SO DO! Look at you! Blushing like a little tomatoe!"
"NO I DON'T!" "Who would've thought," she continues ignoring my outburst, "Innocent Haley James and the big bad basketball star…"
"Shut up." I growl between gritted teeth.
"Don't worry I wont tell anyone."
"That's because there's nothing to tell." No seriously. There isn't anything to tell…except…last night…it's just he was…so…I don't know what the word is. But last night when he was talking about his family…my heart just went out to him. He sounded so sad and so lonely. And scared. I wanted to get up and hug him. But I was pretty sure he wouldn't be too impressed with that. Maybe I've started to see Lucas as more of a nice guy as opposed to a stuck up jock, but that doesn't mean I like him or anything. I mean it totally doesn't mean I like him right?
"Hales I'm your best friend! You might as well just admit it! There's nothing to be scared of."
"That's it- get out." I'm resorting to drastic measures.
"What? You can't kick me out."
"Sure I can. Julia's not here so I'm in charge and you're distracting me from working to my full potential."
She pouts her glossy pink lips and shoves the bobby pin that she's been playing with into her hair, joining all the other bobby pins haphazardly keeping her hair from falling into her face.
"Fine. I'll leave. But this isn't over Haley James."
She marches out of the coffee shop and I sigh wearily. Having Izzy as a friend is incredibly tiring. And I have to work all day- we're catering for some big party this evening. I'm so not in the mood for prancing around serving fancy people fancy food. I groan loudly. No early bedtime for me tonight.
I've been working at the Coffee Bean since I started high school. I work most weekends and some week nights. The pay is pretty good but I save most of it to go towards my collage fees so there's isn't much left to spend on other things. I don't care too much about clothes and stuff like that though- half of my stuff belonged to various siblings at one time or another. That's what comes from being youngest I guess. I suppose it would be nice to have a wardrobe full of new, super fashionable, super expensive clothes but I can honestly say I don't really care. Waste not, want not. For example, what's the point in throwing out a pair of slightly unfashionable jeans if they fit you and their still in good condition?
Anyway, Julia- that's my boss- started her own catering service last year, and that's on top of running the coffee shop, so I usually help her out with that as well. I basically help prepare the food, help with delivery and set up, and then waitress with 2 other girls for the rest of the evening. It's a pretty full on job.
We arrive at the house at about 5:00. Apparently the party doesn't start till like 7:00 so we've got plenty of time. I'm wearing those slightly unfashionable jeans I mentioned earlier and a plain black t-shirt. My hair is still damp from it's wash, pulled into a messy bun and I'm not wearing any make-up. It's not pretty but it's practical!
Obviously, I have to be a little more presentable later on, when I'm "waiting" on people but I usually get changed at the last possible second. I hate wearing skirts.
I lift a tray of little lemon meringues out of the back of the van. "Where do you want these meringues Jules?"
"Oh just take them through to the kitchen hun."
I walk slowly into the house. I'm incredibly clumsy- you would not believe how scared I get carrying trays of other peoples food.
Wow. This is some place. The entrance hall is huge- with one of those awesome staircases- You know, the giant grand ones- like in Titanic. I always wanted one of those staircases when I was little. When I went through my princess phase.
After about 10 seconds of admiring my surroundings I start to carry on into the kitchen when a voice sounds above me.
"Hey."
Oh no way. This is just not happening. I slowly turn around.
"Oh! Hey…" It so is happening. Lucas Scott is stood at the top of that big grand staircase. Shirtless. Very shirtless.
I gulp. I've gone red. I always do in these kind of situations. Anything involving shirtless people. I can't even watch some bits in movies with my mum without getting embarrassed. I guess you'd call me a bit of a prude. And this blush… it's not a cute little rosy cheeked endearing blush. My whole face, my neck- even my ears- go completely red. Pillar box red.
He's just so tanned and gorgeous. With his scruffy blonde hair sticking out at odd angles- it's so adorable. I tear my eyes away. God this is painful. What's he even doing here?
"So…what are you doing here?" he says- repeating my thoughts.
"Um I'm helping with the party… catering and stuff…" I trail off feeling like a silly little child. For some reason I suddenly remember that I'm not wearing any make-up. And these stupid jeans. Who cares about practicality? Their freakin ugly.
He smiles at me. It's such a friendly smile, I suddenly feel bad for every time I ever thought he was a snob.
"So what are you doing here?" I ask just trying to find a way to break the silence.
"My house…my party."
Right. Of course. Wouldn't you know it?