Seeing Macie was weird. She didn't look like my Macie anymore, though she hasn't been my Macie for along time. It's like mum hasn't been dad's Maxey for along time either. Everything was so jumbled up in my head; why didn't I ever catch a break? It feels like my life hasn't been alright since the 90's and that was a while ago.
As I made my way towards my workplace, I began trying to think of an excuse to tell Matt and his mother. I was taken my aliens? The bus was late? Or do I just tell Matt what had happened last night? I hated telling Matt what was going on with Jace and I. He always understood, but I didn't want him to understand. I wanted him to tell me I made a mistake. I wanted him to give me a reason to take Jace back, because I really didn't have one.
Once I reached the bakery, two males in their mid twenties came out the door, smiling and holding some vanilla slices. They both waved at me as they passed. I smiled at both of them and made my way through the door, only to be faced with Matt, who had his eyebrows raised and hands shoved into his floury apron. I awkwardly laughed at him and dumped my stuff onto a nearby table.
"So, give me a reason why I shouldn't fire you." Matt said, sliding into a seat at the table I'd chucked my stuff onto.
I too, slid into a seat. "Because your mother loves me and I do more work than anyone here."
Matt considered my answer for a moment before sighing, "I'm a horrible manager."
"Well I could have told you that."
Matt glared at me and ran a hand through his thick brown hair. "Shut up, you need to take over anyways. I have to go see my boyfriend."
I nodded. I had forgotten that Matt was bisexual. "Well have fun and don't rock the bed too much."
"Ha-ha you're so funny Asher!" He said tightly, patting me on the shoulder as he got up a little too hard.
"You're a little cunt, be gone Matteo." I waved him off and watched as he threw his apron onto the counter and left the bakery.
Getting up, someone else came into the bakery and I went behind the counter to serve them. The girl I was serving looked like she was Indian and obsessed with the punk rock style. She wore studded everything and had bright pink hair. She was also wearing a 'Three Days Grace' tee-shirt.
"Hi! What can I get you?" I asked enthusiastically, while putting on Matt's apron.
I observed the girl as she skimmed through the food on display. "Ahh, could I please get a glaced donut?"
"Sure!" I got the donut and handed it over, "three dollars thanks."
She handed the money over as she took the donut and smiled at me. "Thanks Matteo!"
"My name's Ash." I said, noticing Matt's name tag on the apron. "I forgot to take Matt's name tag off."
"Ah! Okay! Well thanks Ash, I'm Lexi."
Suddenly something clicked. "Lexi? From Melbourne Uni?"
"Yeah!" She said, cocking her head to the side slightly. "Do I know you?"
This girl was the one sleeping with Jace, or at least that's what Delilah told me last night while I was on the phone to her. "Do you know Jace?"
"Yeah! He's my sorta boyfriend."
My jaw dropped. "Since when? I only broke up with him yesterday!"
"Oh shit! You're that Ash. Look I have to go." Lexi said as she left the bakery in a hurry.
What the actual hell. Was Jace like high 24/7 or something? Was someone else sending those pleading messages this morning? So Delilah was right! Why didn't I believe her?
In the wise words of Taylor Swift; Jace and I were never ever, ever getting back together!
~~~
Three hours later, my shift was about to end and it was around 2pm. Matt's mum came out from the back of the bakery and smiled at me just as I was about to leave.
"Ash! Where's Matteo?" She asked.
Did Matt's mum know he was bi? What do I say? "Ah, he's just popped out for a little bit."
"Oh okay. You're about to leave now right?"
"Yes ma'am," I confirmed.
"Oh, well have a nice afternoon Asher." She said.
I waved goodbye and left the bakery. Once outside, I noticed that high street was really busy. Why was it so busy? It usually was quieter than this.
Curiously, I followed all the commotion and soon realised what the chaos was about. There was a festival down near the beach.
I checked my watch. I didn't have anywhere to be, so on a whim I decided to go check out the festival. Though, it took longer than expected to reach the entry gates considering the line was so long.
Once, I did reach the gates a lady smiled at me. "Five dollars for entry thanks."
I smiled back and pulled five dollars from tips out of my pockets. She let me in happily and I pushed through people trying to make my way towards the food I could smell.
"Oh my god! Street food!!" I yelled, causing people to shoot me odd looks. Shrugging I made my way towards a Mexican food truck and ordered a taco.
Out of nowhere, just as I was about to put my food into my mouth, a random guy came up to me and stole my food right out of my hands. How rude! "How rude!"
He shot me an odd look, like I was the crazy one. "Why you saying things twice?"
"Why are you stealing my food?"
"Why is it the afternoon?"
"Because it is?" I said confused. This guy was weird.
"I know I'm weird, thank you." He said blowing his electric blue fringe out of his eyes and rubbing his eye with the back of his hand. He then continued to munch on my food.
"Give my food back!" I cried, trying to get it off him. "Please!"
He groaned. "Fine, take it."
He handed it back to me. "You're a creep."
He winked at me. "Actually my name is Jamie and those people over there." He pointed to a group of 17 year olds. Or that's how old they looked. "Dared me to do this. I'll buy you more food, I'm sorry."
I laughed. "It's okay." At least he wasn't a creepy and was buying me more food.
"So yeah, I'm Jamie, what's your name?"
"Ash."