'Some days, she wished she could be free... from everything.'
~JRP
The small bell at the entrance of Cakes & Coffees rang, signalling the door opening. Usually, it meant a new customer. This time it was just Hayden. She hurried and kept the package in her hands on the cashier table.
There weren't many customers in the pastry shop, and Hayden was glad. The backdoor was closed, so she had to use the main entrance.
She swept her brown hair from her face, wiping some sweat as she did so. Who knew carrying a package for ten minutes will make me like this? Her beige skin was full of sweat, her lungs aching to catch a breath.
As she glanced at the homey shop, she felt slightly at home and safe from the bustling life of the city. It was a Saturday, and she had spent the better part of her day there.
"Thank you for helping me with this, Hayden," Mr. Brown said. Hayden gave him a slight smile and a nod. She was going back to her duty when she felt a little tap on her shoulder.
Turning around, she found a smiling Wren. "Hey, I didn't know you work here," she said.
Hayden's heart was racing because of the sudden movement. She took a single lengthy breath. "Uh, yeah." She laughed awkwardly.
"I've been coming here for a while, and I've never seen you before," she pointed out.
"I work in the kitchen."
Wren smiled. "You must be really good to work here because the food is amazing. Hence my coming here always."
Hayden didn't know what to say but a small thank you. Wren really was the nicest person she knew. "What are you doing here, though?" Hayden asked. She tried playing with the edge of her shirt. What would Wren say about her working?
"We're here to talk about the project." she said, pointing at the pile of books on the table of one of the window booths. "I was waiting for the guys when I saw you come in. You're Calvin's partner, aren't you? You should come join us," she offered.
"Sorry but I have to work," Hayden said. "Maybe next time." She couldn't blatantly reject her friend's request. It would hurt her.
"Oh, right. Maybe when you're done," Wren said.
"Yeah." Hayden smiled before carrying herself to the kitchen.
Wren was the last person she expected to find.
***
Hayden was almost through with her work when Lyra emerged into the kitchen with a suspiciously mischievous look in her bright blue eyes. She wore jeans and a sport shirt beneath her coffee-stained apron.
"Hayden, someone's here for you," she said, smiling more than necessary.
There was a small smile on his face when Hayden found her 'visitor'. He was wearing blue jeans with a top and blazer, typing away on his phone.
She took three breaths, admittedly to calm her erratic heart and to form a visible response to the stranger that looked for her.
"Here we are. A friend of yours?" Lyra asked, watching Hayden's expression with keen interest. Hayden shook her head, albeit a bit too fast. "More, perhaps," she added slyly, winking to finish the look. Once directly in his gaze, Lyra spun around and left.
"Thanks," he murmured with a small smile playing on his lips. "Hello, Hayden." His smile became wider as he also keenly watched Hayden. Somehow, he waited for her to take her breaths before continuing, voice just enough for her ears only, "You must be surprised seeing me here."
She wondered if it was the assessing look she gave him or her nervous antics that gave her away. She offered a smile of her own, hoping to match his, and willed her mind to say something meaningful despite the war raging inside her.
"Why did you ask for me?" Her voice was inaudible, lower than his could ever be, with a guarded look shielding her eyes.
"Mason and Wren are here to discuss the project, I thought we could start as well," he said.
Hayden looked around until her eyes settled on the now filled table, alive with chatter. True to Wren's words, the guys had arrived as Mason was telling her a wild story while she was laughing, clutching her stomach with one hand and trying to remove her glasses to wipe away some tears.
"Maybe you can take your lunch break now?" he offered
Hayden hated to be the one to crush the dancing hope in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I need to-to think this through." Her voice wavered as she spoke. Calvin came close to hear what she was saying.
With relief she wasn't expecting, she found Calvin's hope not crushed but brimming like a fire raging in the woods. "You're quite... different, I must say. Well, I would be right here if you change your mind." He pointed at the table, which had quieted down a bit, a hopeful smile on his face.
Lyra approached her as soon as Calvin was out of her sight. "What was that?" she asked curiously. Hayden knew she wanted to know what was up, but decided she would keep her mouth shut. "I might have overheard some parts of the conversation." Hayden looked horrified but not as one would expect while Lyra grinned, brushing it off. "If this has anything to do with our 'conversation', I say you take his offer."
Hayden silently acknowledged her help but said nothing. She adjusted her apron and went back to her rather boring dough making. Her mind couldn't help but grill her co-worker's advice.
Should she accept Calvin's offer?
***
Hayden's shift for the day ended. She removed her apron and put it in her tiny stained locker. The backdoor was closed, so she went with the front one
From the corner of her eyes, she saw Calvin's little gang still there, laughing and chattering away. Determined to go by unnoticed, Hayden pulled her hoodie over her face and quickened her steps.
Almost there. Almost there. Almost...
"Hayden!" A voice she was familiar with said. She tried to remember where she knew the voice from when her gaze landed on her short friend. She would be able to recognize those glasses, bright smile and upbeat attitude anywhere. "Where are you going?" Wren asked.
Taken by surprise and not knowing what to say at the very least, Hayden spluttered, her trusted method failing her. "I," she cleared her throat, "I'm going home."
"You should join us," she said, her grin spreading ever so efficiently. Hayden had a feeling she knew when her shift was over, but stiffly shook her head.
Although she desired nothing more than a much-needed distraction, she knew it would be a terrible choice to sit with one who she had rejected, and another who deemed it perfectly well to glower at her any chance he got. "You promised," she reminded her.
Remind me why I told her we could hang out next time, Hayden sighed.
Wren's infectious grin almost affected Hayden before she caught herself. Without realizing much, Wren nuzzled her in the table's direction she had ashamedly been looking at. Her surprise was not well covered, as her touch did nothing to affect her. She found it as harmless as Lyra's occasional touch.
Once in front of the table, Calvin offered her a seat which she took unwillingly, staring at her with a strange expression marring his face. Mason ignored her, kissing his girlfriend softly on the cheek when she sat beside him
It took some seconds before the awkward atmosphere Hayden had created died down. Their former conversation continued.
"I vote we go to Calvin's house," Wren said, while Mason pouted at her. "Oh, come on, or do you want us to go to your house?" A dark look spread across Mason's face. "It's good you remember what happened last time. Besides, I need some time away from Akio's annoying ass," she mumbled, rolling her eyes.
"Calvin's house it is, then," Mason agreed, as did Calvin. Hayden stood out like a sore thumb; not knowing what to say.
"Hayden you should come with us," Wren offered.
Lyra approached the table with a failed attempt to disguise her grin. "Is there anything else I can get you?" They all answered with a no, except Wren.
"I would like two apple-crusted pies and an iced latte to go," she said.
A notepad in hand, Lyra swiftly wrote her order. "Hayden, are these your friends?" she asked. Hayden looked back and forth between the group and Lyra. What is she trying to achieve? "I'm Lyra, Hayden's roommate and co-worker."
Mason's head immediately raised. "We're not frie—"
His girlfriend interrupted him quickly. "Nice to meet you, I'm Wren," Wren said, smiling at her. "How do you do?"
"Oh, I'm marvellous and I simply love your name," Lyra said, a small grin on her face.
Wren grinned back. "If you love my name, then you'll go crazy over my siblings' names. My parents insist on giving us unique names. Like one of my brothers, his name is Bohai."
"Oh, my God." The two burst out laughing. They were hitting it off pretty well. "Is it Korean, though?" Lyra asked.
"No," Wren waited till she calmed herself before answering. "It's Chinese."
"Oh, I used to watch some Korean movies back in the day, when college wasn't whopping my ass," she snorted, "which is why I assumed it was Korean."
"Yeah, not a lot of people here really understand the difference between the two. They think we're all the same." She laughed. "It used to bother me, but I guess I'm used to it now." She gave a smile that appeared natural but was fake.
"Right. I suppose you don't mind telling me who these two are."
"I'd love to. The blonde one is Mason, my boyfriend, and the other one's Calvin. Now, we were hoping if your roommate would love to hang out with us? Help convince her for us?" Wren and Lyra shared the same wicked look before Lyra faced Hayden.
"Hayden, you should go with them. They're nice enough to come see you at work, and you want bail on them? That doesn't seem fair." Hayden was struggling to reply when Lyra continued. "Besides, you'll be alone at the apartment. I'm going out with some friends."
Hayden attempted to speak again, but Wren beat her to it. "It's settled then."
"But I don't have a ride home," Hayden said.
Calvin spoke for the first time since Hayden joined them. "I'll drop you home," he said. She weighed her options. It wouldn't hurt to go out with them. They wouldn't harm her, right?
"Okay, but you have to drop me off before midnight," she said, her eyes knit in determination.
"All right, Cinderella." Calvin grinned as everyone on the table laughed. Even she couldn't help but smile.
Lyra no longer had to hide her grin as she and Wren shared yet another look. "Your order will be right up, and you'll be ready to leave."
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WASH YOUR HANDS AND STAY AT HOME.
~R.