Chapter 2: Undone
The day was long and agonizing for no matter how hot it became, Remea was not allowed to use the frappuccino machine for herself. She watched longingly as customers peacefully ordered and received their teas and such, and sat down outside to enjoy them under the summer sun. Sometimes watching too long made Remea's eyes water and she had to turn away before she was blinded with tears.
Multiple times Olette smiled at her or waved even though they were only passing by each other, or trying to grab the cinnamon from a different machine because they were out. Remea did her best to smile back, but it usually just came out half-heartedly and forced. She wondered if Olette noticed or felt her pain, or if she did and simply didn't let it bother her. Remea was envious. Olette didn't have to deal with the pressure Remea felt, with a thousand or more memories tugging at her soul every single day; making her feel like the world was empty and pointless. Somedays the memories pulled so hard that she would forget to do something simple, like brush her teeth or wear socks with her work shoes(causing her feet to be remarkably smelly at the end of the day). Other days it felt like someone was pressing down on her heart and forcing her to listen, which caused her to mix up peoples names and miss work for a day. And some days the voices got so bad that she even forgot who she was and what her point was in life. Of course, she didn't know that last part anyways but it still got worse. Remea considered going to a psychiatrist, but she absolutely knew that wouldn't help.
As she was pondering over thoughts and decisions, a backhand to the head snapped her out of her trance and caused her to spin around quickly. Unfortunately she had absent-mindedly been holding a metal pitcher of cream at the moment, which, when she spun around, flew out of her hands and onto her attacker; which happened to be a fellow, not so friendly, co worker.
Cream splattered everywhere, all over the girls apron and finely ruffled tank top. Even into her carefully curled hair. And if that didn't get everyone's attention, the next part did.
"Oh. My. GOD." The girl screamed above the ruckus in the coffee shop. Heads automatically turned towards us and stared silently. The girl(whose name tag read Amber. This was new to Remea considering the only co worker whose name she cared to learn was Olette. She was sure that Amber felt the same way about her) stood like a statue. Her arms were arched carelessly on either side of her, allowing the cream to drip off, and she looked down at her outfit with a most certainly angry expression on her face. She looked like the abominable snowman, and the thought caused Remea to giggle. Wrong move.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Amber whined, looking angrily up at Remea, "Look what you've done you careless little-" She stopped, suddenly realizing that everyone was staring at them. Including children. Remea swiftly moved from her nearly frozen state, leaned down, and scooped the pitcher into her hands. At that very moment the manager came speeding out of her office and to the scene faster than you could say spilled cream. She quickly scanned the scene, with me holding the pitcher and Amber looking like the victim., and glared at me.
"I want you out. For good." She snapped. When I did't budge she leaned in closer, "Now." She growled. I obeyed and began to leave when she stopped me with an open hand, "The apron." She said. I untied the grass-green waist apron and folded it and set it in her hand, then trudged to the door; eyes following me the whole way.
"Remea!" Olette called after me and I spun around. She tried to run after me but was stopped by the manager.
"Get back to work." She hissed at Olette, then yelled at everyone else, "Now! All of you!" And everyone went beck to whatever they were doing, as if the cream catastrophe never happened.
Remea could tell Olette wanted to chase after her, but she knew she couldn't. That was her job, she couldn't just leave it. Remea respected that.
She gave Olette a half-hearted smile and wave and flew out the door in sudden tears, stopping suddenly in the middle of the street. A strange cloaked figure stood across the parking lot, staring eerily. Remea tilted her head questioningly. That's when she realized that the car speeding towards her on the street didn't see her in time to slow down.