Those facts just make us more curious about why she keeps her private life so hidden, even from someone who’s seemingly close to her. What is she hiding or running from that not even her co-workers are aware of? Or is she really that mundane?
As we pull up out the front of the cafe, both of us look inside the windows and we instantly notice Orion, sitting on a stool at the counter. The girl, Lisa, appears very animated as she talks to him. However, I don’t see Evelyn around anywhere. She must be out in the back or somewhere near; Orion wouldn’t sit there if she weren’t around at all.
* * *
Evelyn
The week goes by quickly. Reaching the cafe, I quickly unlock it and apologize to Lisa who is already waiting outside for me. She has a smoke between her fingers as she greets me with a smile.
She isn’t the only one waiting, though. Orion is also waiting for the cafe to open as he leans against the hood of his car, looking graceful despite his enormous size. Lisa heads straight inside to turn everything on and heat the stoves along with the deep fryers.
Shoving the key in the first padlock, I unlock it, lift the roller shutters on the window, and quickly move to the next one. However, much to my annoyance, the key doesn’t go in this time. The lock mechanism appears to be frozen. I jiggle the key for a few seconds, a feeble attempt to fix the mechanism without really trying. It still doesn’t work, so I drop my bag off my shoulder and crouch down so I can see the lock better.
“Let me try,” Orion says, suddenly standing next to me. He bends over and inspects the key. Then, he jams the key in, and it does the same. Lisa comes out to hand me my apron. I glance at Lisa and then the next moment, I hear metal hit the ground and realize the padlock is broken apart on the ground.
“Whoops,” Orion drags out with a mischievous grin on his face.
I raise an eyebrow as I hold out my hand for the keys, which he places in the center of my palm. Somehow, his fingers graze my wrist, making me jump, when I feel sparks rush up my arm. I pull my hand back, eyeing him, and he has a lazy smile on his lips, which confuses me more.
Lisa’s voice pulls me out of my awkwardness. “Cheap bloody locks. I have to go to the store to grab bread. Do you need anything?” she asks, looking at me.
“Yeah, can you grab me some smokes?” I tell her as I focus on rummaging through my handbag. Finally, with a smile across my lips, I hand her some cash.
Lisa takes it and leaves the cafe, walking toward the corner store.
Throwing the broken lock in the trash, I walk inside and head behind the counter. The first thing I do is turn on the coffee machine. Once it is done, I pour three coffees, one each for Lisa and myself, and then hand Orion his one. He sits at the counter, watching my every move, making me nervous.
“Must you always stare?” I ask, as I turn around to pull the cash tray out from the safe and drop it into the register.
“No harm in looking,” he says.
I roll my eyes at his answer, but thankfully, Lisa is here to get him off my case. As soon as she enters the cafe, she throws the pack of smokes at me.
“When are you going to get an ID so you can buy them for yourself?” she asks.
“One day when I get a day off,” I tell her.
“You are the only person I know that didn’t rush to get their ID the day they turned of age. Don’t you go out or anything?” she asks, pressing the subject of the lack of my ID.
“And do what?” I ask, with my back to her.
“You know, drink or party – like people our age do,” she states.
“No, I prefer my own company,” I tell her.
“Why?” she asks, and I suddenly wonder what it is with her questions.
Usually, we chit-chat, but not about our lives, though I know a lot about her because she isn’t exactly a private person, but I am, so her questions feel a little off to me. Like she is prying too deep into territory which isn’t her business.
“Because I don’t like people,” I tell her, and she pretends to be offended.
“You don’t like me?” Lisa gasps, sarcastically, placing her hand over her heart.
“No, you’re different. I know you,” I tell her.
“Then explain. Your answer makes no sense,” she says, as she places her hand on the counter and stares at me. I notice that Orion has eavesdropped on our conversation and is waiting for my response.
“It’s just easier that way. It’s pointless to make friends for them to disappoint you when they walk out on you.”
“Well, that’s depressing,” she states.
“No, it’s the truth. Everyone leaves. Eventually, they realize you have nothing more to offer,” I tell her and stop explaining myself once I notice someone else walking in.
For the sake of killing this rather odd interrogation, I focus on work and walk over to the newcomer to serve him. I can hear Lisa happily chatting to Orion behind me, and I quickly jot down the man’s order before handing it to Lisa. I watch as she darts out the back to start cooking while I bring him his coffee.
I find Orion following me around while I do things. “Don’t you have a job or something? Why are you hanging around here so much?” I ask, as I walk outside to have a smoke.
“Lisa doesn’t seem to mind?” he says, crossing his arms across his broad chest as I sit on the milk crate, lighting my smoke.
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