Chapter one : Everly

Oh no I missed it again, after snoozing my alarm at least five times, I was late again. No matter how hard I tried I always slept in. And now here I was again, missed the bus, missed the subway. There's no way I was going to make it in time. I fished out my phone to call Peyton, my saviour. I met her at the university, a senior and she kinda took a liking to me but it was fun to have her around. "Hey Peyton–"

"You slept in again. I'll talk to the boss don't worry." She sighed into the phone.

"Thank you so much. I owe you big time." I hung up.

Finally after waiting for another thirty minutes, I managed to get a bus. Even for my fun weekend all I did was work cause a girl's gotta do what girl's gotta do. I was raised up in foster care and as soon as I turned 16 I was out of it. I moved out, found myself a place to live and worked hard to pay for my expenses. I managed to get a scholarship to a prestigious university and got in for a major in statistics. Time had flown by since, it was already my last year at the university and soon I'd be a graduate. I already had job offers from some prestigious firms, so as soon as I gave my final exams I'd be qualified to join them.

The bus halted at the stop and I got off. The café I worked at was ten minutes away from here. I entered through the emergency exit to avoid getting caught. I tiptoed to the locker room. "Well isn't it Everly." I froze and turned to look at the man standing in front of me, Mr. James, my boss. He was an old man, probably in his early fifties. "You're late again."

"I'm sorry. I missed the bus and the subway too. And then–"

"Okay I get it. Get to work now." He waved his hand.

"Thank you and sorry. I'll get to work now." I ran to the locker room.

I decided to meet Peyton who was in the kitchen. "You're finally here." Peyton smirked.

"Oh hell yeah, I made it. I just came to say hi, now I gotta go." I rushed to my place behind the counter at the cashier's spot getting to work. It was weekend and the café, as usual was filled with customers but since I was already late I had to make it up. I got into my work with a smile and the happiness of having the rest of the day to myself.

When I looked at the clock it was already seven, the time to get off work. "Hey Eve. Nice work today?" I turned around to see Jamie, his curly hair a mess.

"Hi." I said with more enthusiasm than I intended. "So since you're here I can get off now. Isn't it?"

"Yeah sure." He scratched his hair. "See you."

Reaching the kitchen I saw Peyton sitting on a stool, her head in her hands. "Hey, what's up with you?" I slapped her back.

"It's nothing. I needed an off today but my boss refused. My parents are staying at my place today, I hoped to spend time with them. But now it doesn't seem so." She sighed.

Being with Peyton for so long, I sure knew one thing, she loved and cared for her family a lot. So without any second thougths I spoke up, "I'll go. No big deal. You've saved me a lot of times. Today's my turn." I shrugged.

Her head flinged up, "You will?"

I nodded. "Look Eve I'm serious. You really will go in my place?"

"Yes I will Peyton." I nodded again.

"Oh thank you so much." She launched herself at me, taking me by surprise.

"Okay. Easy. But where am I supposed to go?"

"Oh the store I work at, Fresh Point, in downtown Street. I start at eight, you still have an hour."

"I see. So there's no point going back home. Inform your boss about it and off you go."

"Yeah sure. Oh Everly, I'm so grateful. I owe you big time." She hugged me again, a bear hug this time.

"Get off me and leave before I change my mind."

Hearing this, she rushed out of the kitchen. "Okay so it's gonna be a busy day today." I shook my head and untied the apron from around my waist and put it down on the counter. Now I got to eat something before I started there. I grabbed my stuff from the locker room and saying goodbyes I headed to my usual diner, Big Joe's. It's a place which gave a hearty meal at an affordable price. A perfect place for me. Sitting at my usual table which overlooked the street, I ordered my usual. The food came in an instant, I dug in without waiting, looking at the street. Just like everyday it was almost deserted with just a few people walking by. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a car. It passed by in a flash from in front of the diner, certainly some rich brat showing off. I concentrated back on my food, I needed to eat and hurry to the store.

The store was enormous, I'd heard of the big chain of Fresh Point. It was a place for the rich, even buying an apple could cost half of my salary, not exaggerating anything. It was expensive, just too expensive. I made my way inside to the manager's cabin. The manager greeted me with a smile and I started doubting everything Peyton had told me about him. He handed me a green apron and a cap, with the store's logo. Then he went and gave me a badge with Peyton's name on it, "Peyton told me everything. It is the inspection day today, so I couldn't accept her leave. But she sent you, make sure you work carefully. Any mishaps affects her job." He eyed down at the badge in my hands.

"Don't worry I'll take care of everything." I nodded and left the room. Going to the locker room, I stuffed my bag in Peyton's locker. I tied up my hair, not that they were too long, they just brushed my shoulders and then put on the cap, tying the apron I moved out. The head gave me a gist of my job. I had to move around the aisles and help out the customers. Easy. Just wander around in this store as big as a football field and help people. I could do that with my eyes closed.

Well that's what I thought. When he said 'help' he actually meant pushing the carts for the customers and running around to gather the items they asked for. Not so easy. This was not a job, it was a freaking workout session.

When I finally helped a total of five customers, earning myself a hefty amount of tip, I decided to take a break and wander around.

I walked around different aisles, grocery, meat, skin care, cosmetics, clothes, shoes. This store had everything I couldn't even dream of. There were things costlier than my monthly apartment rent. So instead of touching things I tucked my hands in my jeans pocket. I got back to work, this time my client was a woman with nosy attitude. Walking through the aisle, I heard someone shouting, somebody messed up. And my cliente was more than interested in the feud and headed in the direction, I followed reluctantly.

At the scene a man was shouting at an employee, even with his back to me I could actually sense the anger he had. His voice was deep, the kind that could give one goosebumps, at least that's what it did to me. He was in a suit, which was definitely custom made looking at how well it fitted his body. "Don't you have any idea how you're supposed to treat a customer?" He shouted. The employee in front seemed so small and scared, "I'm sorry sir."

"Sorry? What am I supposed to do with that you idiot!" He roared.

Okay this was heating up. "Shouldn't you stop it." My customer nudged me.

"I'm sorry but that is their business. I have no reason to interfere." I said.

"Here you go, shirking off your responsibility aren't you." She smirked.

What was the matter with her? Why was she so interested in getting me entangled in that fight. I had no interest in getting into that mess, I pulled the cart backwards but before I knew it my own customer held me by the shoulders and pushed me in front. I bumped directly into the man's back "You should help." She smiled.

It felt like I hit a wall, I straightened myself up and the man turned around and looked down at me. His deep brown eyes were full of rage and I froze under his glance. I could feel it was not going to end up good.