Mistletoe

December 1st

Monday December 1st

05.46pm

There were several different ways I'd imagined celebrating my seventeenth birthday; a family get together, shopping trip with my mother and sister, and also licking up sun with my family in Hawaii, all of these options of course included cake and a birthday wish. My reality, however, was a little bleaker.

None of my birthday scenarios included me being home alone while my family was having fun in Hawaii without me. I looked at the clock on the wall as I tied my hair up into a ponytail. 

"And now I'm late," I mumbled to myself — the sour tinge in my tone was not lost on me — and grabbed my bag off the kitchen counter as I sprinted past.

"Bye, Sergeant. See you in a few hours!" I shouted at my German Shepherd while aiming for the door, but he honestly couldn't have cared less judging by the look he gave me.

In that moment I cursed my boss for not being able to give me time off to go on vacation, I also cursed my parents and their need for spontaneity. Maybe if I'd had a little more than two days notice I could've come as well. Not only was I alone on my birthday, but I was also fairly certain I was going to be a few minutes late to work.

The walk to Pleym Coffee House was usually fifteen minutes if I took my time, ten if I speed walked. Today called for more of a jog and speed walk crossover, and even then I might not fully make it.

I think it was safe to say this hadn't been one of the best days of my life so far, but maybe because of that it wouldn't be the end of the world if I was a little late. I ran through the doors of Pleym at six on the dot judging by the clock hanging behind the counter.

"Hey, Em!" I greeted before making a beeline for the staff room, quickly ditching all my stuff and tying the designated apron around my hips before joining Emma at the front.

Emma smiled at me as I let out a long sigh, finally letting myself calm down now that I'd made it.

"Bad day?"

I rolled my eyes and went to the register as the door opened, "Don't even start."

For some reason this just made her smile in that wistful way of hers, it was a smile that made you feel like she knew something you didn't. Personally I found it unnerving most of the time.

"Happy birthday," she said before leaving me to the new customer, going off to clean tables herself.

Instead of acknowledging her words I plastered a cheerful smile on my face and smiled at the guy now standing before me. "What can I get you?" 

"A vanilla latte with an extra shot of espresso, please." 

I put all the info into the register and let him pay before turning around to make it for him. It was easy enough and the familiar movements helped calm my mind, and for a moment I could pretend that this was just another day in another week in another month.

"You're working on your own birthday? That's gotta be rough," came a voice from the other side of the counter.

And moment gone.

I angled myself so I could glance at him while talking. "Out of my hands really, but it's not like I have anything else to do." This might have been too much info to share with a complete stranger, let alone a customer, but my filter for today was long gone.

"It's your birthday, surely you have someplace to be? Family to see, cake to eat, stuff like that?" He had a pleasant voice and for some reason it didn't seem like he was capable of not smiling.