And just like that, Zadia lost her calm. "Sir, with all due respect the only reason why I'm sweating is because I had to walk ten blocks to get here and yes, I know you can care less about that fact but seeing as there are people here who clock in way later than me, all the time, I'm sure it's in your best interest to get off my back!" She snapped. "I'd hate to have to call corporate."
Her boss looked at her, taken back before quickly regaining himself. "I'm letting you off with a warning, now get to work." He said, before walking away.
Zadia couldn't help but roll her eyes at the brown-haired man. She didn't understand how someone with such beautiful grey eyes, could be such a dick, but then again, she could. Shaking her head, Zadia made her way to the bathroom. She locked the door and took some napkins before dabbing her face. Her legs were sore, all she wanted to do was sit down and catch her breath. But she knew she couldn't. Once she was done with cleaning herself, she got to work.
When she first started her job, she was horrible at making anything coffee related. But now, after working at a coffee shop for nearly a year, she knew everything about making coffee-related drinks. "What can I get for ya?" Zadia asked the teenage girl.
The girl started to speak, but then stopped. "I'll get a—-" she trailed on, looking at the menu. Zadia hated customers like this. She didn't understand why they didn't look at the menu before getting in line, it was bad enough the place was always busy. "Let me get an iced mocha with three pumps of red-eye."
"Alrighty," Zadia said with a fake smile. "That'll be five dollars and seventy-two cents. Also, what name should I put down on your cup?"
The teenage girl pulled out a twenty-dollar bill from her back pocket, before handing it to Zadia. Zadia accepted the bill and gave the girl her change. "You can put the name down as Tiff." She said before, walking away.
Zadia's day continued on as she took the orders of various people. Her body felt like it was cramping up, so when it was finally her break she quickly dashed through the doors of Starbucks and went straight to the nearest Barnes and Nobles. It was the only place in downtown Phoenix that wasn't packed. Zadia figured it was because most people nowadays didn't like reading. And the fact that it was easy to just read from your phone or anything else that was technical.
"Zadia? Is that you?" She heard someone call from behind her.
Zadia's eyebrows knitted together at how familiar the voice sounded. She decided to ignore it and keep her focus on the cracked Samsung galaxy six that was in her hands. The phone was very old, seeing as how the latest version was the ten. She thought about getting an update, but then slowly put that thought to rest since money was tight. Eventually, she'd get a new phone but only after her rent and car insurance was paid off.
"Zadia?" The same person called again.
Zadia sighed, giving in. Her line of vision averted from her cell phone, to whoever that was calling her. Her eyes widen, seeing who it was. "Sam..." She said, taken aback. This was the last place she was expecting to see him. "What are you doing here?"
"Meeting a friend." He responded simply. He looked at her in question. His eyes glued to her Starbucks apron. "You work at Starbucks?" He questions. "That must suck, the pay is so low over there."
Zadia bit the inside of her cheeks, suddenly embarrassed. Sam was the last person she wanted to see, and she sure as hell didn't want him seeing her in her uniform, nor knowing where she worked. "Umm... yeah. Kinda, sorta." She cleared her throat, wanting to leave. "It's time that I leave." She said, standing up. Her eyes landed on his well fitted dark blue Dolce & Gabbana suit, before moving down to look at the all gold Rolex on his risk.
Sam chuckled a bit, it looked like he just got a haircut. He had a fresh low fade, along with waves at the top. "I can't believe I'm seeing you like this right now, you look so different. So much skinnier." He said, which caused Zadia's face to heat up. "I'm in law school you know, about to graduate."
"That's great..." Zadia said, not really knowing how to reply. "I'm happy for you." She smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "I should go now."
"Cousin." He called before she even had a chance to move. He pulled out his wallet from his pocket. "You should take this." He said, pulling out two one hundred dollar bills. "From the way, you're dressed and that crappy job you have, I can tell you need it." Zadia looks down at the cash and gulps. Did she need the money? Yes. Would she take it? Hell no. "You know, it's never too late to go to college, I'm sure Auntie Angie and Uncle Keith will take you back. It's better than being homeless."
Zadia felt her heartbeat rapidly in her chest. She could feel her anger rising. "Cousin." She said with tight lips. "For your information, I'm not homeless. I have a roof over my head and I sure as hell don't need your money." She licked her dry lips. "Take it and shove it up your ass! And since I already know that you're going to call my parents and everyone else in that stupid family to tell them about us seeing one another, be sure to tell them that I said kiss my black ass." With a huff, Zadia walked away leaving her cousin speechless.
She made her way out of the bookstore and back outside. It wasn't as hot as it was before. The sun was going down and soon she'd have to make her way back to work.
Zadia felt a bitter taste in her mouth as she walked. Her head began to spin, causing her to feel a little woozy. Wiping at her face, she realized that she was sweating... a lot. "Fuck!" She mumbled, realizing why she was feeling this way.
She forgot to take her insulin.
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Alrighty, I've decided to release the first chapter of this story to see if it peaks anyone's interests. If it does, then I'll continue on with it. If it doesn't, I'll stop writing. I know that I have other stories that need to be updated (I'm working on it) it's just that this story has been on my mind for the past two months now and it's been driving me insane.
