Page 101 of Giving In

Cole Cooper asked me to go with him and since Emily is going with Luke, I gratefully accepted. We usually only hang out because we’re both co-presidents of the student body. He’s a handsome guy, sadly he’s only a jock trying to get extra credit.

He’s truly the typical high-school lacrosse player. Blond hair, pale blue eyes, big square shoulders. We never have deep conversations, but I guess he’s not horrible to be around. When I told Nathan and said we were purely platonic he laughed and said I was cute, but that he wasn’t worried about a high school kid stealing his girl. Apparently, I’m too ‘mature’ for that. I wish that was applicable when it comes to Jake.

I’m lucky tonight, we’re closing in half an hour and every customer is gone already. I’m cleaning the counter when the bell rings as a group comes in. I knew it was too good to be true. When I realize who the girls walking in are, my heart accelerates. Beth and three of her cheerleader friends are walking in followed, lastly, by Camila.

I let out a huff as the five of them sit down at a table. Last week was hard enough at school. I’ve turned into the girl that wears a skirt without stockings in cold weather, the one who shows her legs to attract the guys’ attention. I’ve become the girl who shows up with Jake and leaves in his car.

Beth and Camila have taken pleasure in getting their friends to fill my lockers with dirty condoms full of God knows what and tearing my textbooks apart. I had to buy a new calculus textbook twice now, and everything I’ve saved for my dream dress is slowly but surely disappearing.

I don’t even bother saying hello when I get to their table. “We only do take away at this time.”

“I’ll take a caramel latte, soy milk, zero-calorie syrup, oh, and make it foamy,” Beth replies in her annoyingly nasal voice.

“You can order at the counter,” I coldly retort before heading behind the counter. Strangely I feel safer behind here since all of them are about a head taller than me, except Beth.

They all get up and walk to the counter. The three extra cheerleaders push their chairs hard enough for them to fall over.

I roll my eyes at their childish acts and wait to take their orders. Beth tells me everyone’s order and I know she’s making them complicated on purpose. She’s not destabilizing anyone though. I’ve worked in this café long enough to be an expert in basic bitches’ drinks.

She gives me a hundred-dollar bill to pay and I look at her deadpan.

“It’s $24.89, Beth.”

“It’s all I have,” she shrugs. “You’ve probably never seen one of those, have you?”

I clench my jaw to stop myself from replying. This shift is almost over. Just give them their coffee and close up.

“I’ll be back,” I smile tightly.

I walk to the back to get more change and check the authenticity of the bill according to employees’ guidelines. This machine is old and slow, and it takes ages for it to process a single bill. Without surprise it comes out a minute later with a green light, confirming that it’s real. I walk back to the café floor and can’t refrain from gasping.

Camila and her posse have turned everything upside down. Chairs are on the floor, the cups, straws and cup sleeves are spread out everywhere. They’ve thrown and crushed all the small cream packs on the floor, all the way to the front door. They even went behind the counter, spilled the milk cartons, emptied the sticky syrups on the counter and floor.

“Are you out of your minds?” I scream at them as they head for the door.

Camila is the last one to get out and she turns back to me.

“I hope Jake pays for your dates, Goody, because you won’t be able to afford much when they fire you.”

“What is wrong with you?!” I hurry to her but as I’m closing in on her I slip on the cream on the floor and land on my back.

The hard floor knocks the air out of my lungs, and it takes me a second to bear my surroundings again. Camila is standing high above me, her stilettos making her more impressive than she should be.

“What’s wrong with me? I’m just a girl who got cheated on and dumped without respect for a two-year relationship. I’m a hurt woman. And you? You’re a slut disguised as a saint. Don’t think this is the end of it.”

I want to reply but the shock and pain from the hard fall crush the words in my chest. I hear the front door slam and I just stay where I am. Lying in cream and cup sleeves.

I try to push back the pressure behind my eyes but it’s all too much. I let the tears flood my face. It doesn’t take long before it turns into full-on sobs. If Jake’s harassment wasn’t enough, the bullying from his ex is surely too much for me to handle. I start to feel like a stupid little girl when I suddenly feel the urge to call my mom. Maybe if she was here this wouldn’t have happened? Who fucking knows?

I don’t hear the door open again and all I see is a man suddenly towering over me.

“Are you okay, miss?”

“Oh my God.” I jump to my feet, wincing at the back pain from the fall, and wipe my tears with the back of my hands. “I’m so sorry.”

I adjust the apron on my hips. “I’m sorry about the mess. There was...there was....a...dog.” I finish my sentence and don’t even expect him to believe me. “What would you like,” I eventually ask.

“Are you alright? Do you need help cleaning up?”

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