Broken

chapter six

A month later.

As I walk past the church and through the town square, I pick up my pace, hoping to make it to my shift on time. I spot Emily as she goes through the Brew's entrance. She's stood waiting behind the counter when I go in.

"Hey, Em."

"What are you doing here?" she asks, surprised.

"My mom's throwing a faculty mixer tonight and I have to be there, so I exchanged my shift with Sabrina," I explain.

"Aria, you're on cleaning duty today," Nicole says as she hurries past me and into the kitchens.

I exhale; I'm both exhausted and annoyed by her.

"Your shift is short today, just try and ignore her." Emily touches my arm and I nod.

It's not until my shift is over that I see Ezra, but this isn't unusual. I don't see him as much as I used to, and, surprisingly, it works fine for me. It had started to become difficult to navigate the professional relationship we had to maintain and the feelings for him that had emerged from nowhere. He mentioned in passing once that he tends to venture out of Rosewood on his days off, drive as long as he's able to.

As I sip on a hot mug of coffee, he takes a seat opposite me.

"How are you?" he asks, politely.

"I'm good. You?"

"Hm," he nods. His eyes wander around the café floor. Searching for something? Someone? I don't know. But if he is, he doesn't find it.

I look into the foam on my drink to avoid the awkwardness that hovers over the two of us.

"Do you want me to get you anything?" Our new baker Lulu has been trying out a new cookie recipe if you want one."

"No, I'm fine, thank you. Besides, I should be going soon anyway."

"Let me fix you up with some to take home at least-"

"Ezra, I said I'm fine!" I snap.

He raises his eyebrows at me.

"I'm sorry," I say, sincerely. "There's just a lot going on at the minute. With school and...other stuff." I lie.

"Aria, I told you, if you ever need any extensions or help, I'm here."

"I don't want preferential treatment. But I appreciate you offering."

"It's not preferential treatment, Aria. It's my job," he states, matter-of-factly.

"Well, whatever it is, I don't need it," I snap. Again. Guilt settles in my chest.

"What is going on with you?" he asks, and I can't tell if he's annoyed.

"I don't know. I didn't mean to snap at you, you didn't deserve that."

"Don't worry...I'm kind of used to it," he looks towards the stairs leading to their apartment. "Anyway, your mom invited me to the faculty mixer later."

"Will you be there?"

"I wasn't planning to be," he replies.

"Why?" I ask, more than a little disappointed. It would be nice to see a familiar face among my mom's other colleagues.