CHAPTER 3

When Monday morning rolled in, I was happy to leave my bed. The sun was glaringly bright at the sky and I closed the curtains. I went to take my shower and do my daily works. After the good ten minutes bath, I walked out and wore the first thing that I reached in my closet. It was a black high neck top with long sleeves and also dark blue jeans to go with them. I tied my hair in a high ponytail and checked at the mirror, I looked different.

While eating my cereal I thought how the whole week had went on in the cafe. It was easy and has been able to take my mind off the other disturbing things. Standing before the counter and watching the people come in and out helped me to view it in a different view. Jake's words still ring in my ears. Enjoy the little things in life, the more I realized I never given a chance myself to enjoy other than burdening my heart with the thoughts of my mind.

After putting the bowl in the sink, I grabbed my bag and went to the lobby. After a few minutes, the bus arrived and soon I was standing in front of the cafe where the smell of coffee spread around. The little bell chimed as I entered and Scarlett looked up from her phone and gave me a small smile before returning to watch another tutorial video of makeup.

Scarlett was a girl who has built thick walls around her. We worked side by side as she made the bill and I filled the tray but other than a couple of mono-syllabic words nothing was exchanged between us, not that I was interested.

"Hey angry bird, you are early." Jake commented as he came through the door. He smiled at me before ruffling Scarlet's hair lightly. She jerked his hand and scowling she went out with her phone still in her hand.

"Morning to you too," I said through gritted teeth and went to keep my bag in the locker. He chuckled before doing the same.

Jake Adams was full of surprises. He is perfect in everything and when I said everything I meant the whole thing. He bakes the best cakes here that many of them come for it even from miles away. He is the one who designed the cafe which attracted the old people and also little kids. There was this smile on his face which makes me pause and stare. Sometimes I wondered if his cheeks hurt after smiling so wide all the time but it wasn't fake but real and genuine.

"Hey, Grace. Will you do a favor?" Jake asked while I was half way through my morning cup of coffee prepared by the golden boy.

"What?" I asked annoyed.

"Erin wouldn't be able to come today as she is sick. It would be really great if you fill in for her today. I will add the bonus too." He said with puppy eyes and pouting lips that no one can resist.

"You better think again because Erin's position is of a waitress. The worse department for me." I stated the obvious.

"It's going to be okay. You have to go with a notepad and take the order. Pass them to Scarlett. Just mirror the actions of Cole." He said and I nodded my head. It was kind of him to give me a job that I didn't deserve so at least I have to do this.

"Okay..." I agreed and he grinned before hugging me tightly squeezing the life out of me. I was frozen because I have never been this close to a guy. There was a weird feeling in my stomach like the fluttering of butterflies. When he realized that I didn't return his hug back he stepped aside keeping a safe one arm distance between us.

"And don't break any glasses losing your temper to one of the customers." He winked and went off to kitchen like it was not a big deal.

I sure am going to kill Amy.

"Hi Nora, Jake said you want some help?" asked another employer of the cafe. He was this cute Chinese boy who has lived his entire life in New York.

"Oh yeah, it would be nice to have you around since I would be taking Erin's place today." I told him and his eyebrow knitted together.

"She called in for sick? What happened? Is she alright?" Cole asked with worry and everyone here can understand that he feels more than a friend for her.

"Hey lover boy, your girl is all fine. She said she wanted to go out and get some things with her mother." Jake said wiping his hand in his jean but stopped when he saw my angry glare. He told she was not well but seriously I have to take her place because she wants to shop with her momma bear.

"Hey, I'm sorry Nora..." He smiled sheepishly at me. Instantly I regretted for thinking like that about Erin. She was a sweet girl who tried to be a friend and she treasured her relationship with her mother. I heard her dad passed away while she was so young. Jake's smile was all it took for the fire to put down.

"It's okay." I mumbled and saw Cole's priceless expression. His whole face was burning in fire and like he was caught red hand.

"Screw you, Adams." He said and sped outside. Jake laughed before giving me a thumb up, only if he knew I was more terrible that he thinks at this job.

Customers have started piling in and Cole went for the first round. He smiled at them before politely asking what they would like to have and when they are done he noted in his notepad and passed it to Scarlett, who in turn took it from him and gave through the gap of the kitchen wall. I took a deep breath and approached a young couple.

"What would you like to have?" I asked as I tapped my converse on the wooden floor. The couple looked at me and went through the menu once again.

The boy cleared his throat and said "I will order a mocha latte and for Gina, her favorite blueberry muffin with strawberry milkshake." He said smiling. I nodded my head and was about to write when the girl stood up harshly.

"Strike it; he doesn't even know what I like. It's red velvet muffin and chocolate milkshake. I hope you enjoy your date with yourself, Brand." She scoffed and took her silver purse from the table and burst out the door. I gave a poor look to the boy; he shrugged his shoulders and went to chase her down.

Ladies and gentlemen, that's how my first order went flying out of the window.

But I managed to get two orders after them and it went good. I just repeated what I did before and I'm grateful that they didn't make me wait long or else they would see how my straight expression face turns to an annoyed one.

"Do you ever smile?" I was caught off-guard when Jake asked from behind. The playful smile wasn't not in his face but a tight line like he was serious.

Smile.

It was another thing my parents took away when they went. Amy was the only one who witnessed me smile but she earned it. For some strange reason I stopped smiling at one point and now it feels faking for me whenever I stand in front of the mirror and twitch my lips upward, it looked empty and depressed.

"I think there is a new customer." I said as I felt the atmosphere feel heavy. Sometimes I missed the old me and my smile. It brought memories of me smiling as mom poured the batter for cupcakes, smiling when dad threw me over his shoulder and ran around the kitchen while I burst out laughing, smiling when we all walked through the beach in bare foot holding hands. My eyes blurred and I quickly turned away and wiped them with a napkin. I'm not going to let Jake see the broken soul in me.

"Hey, are you okay?" He asked gently tapping me on my shoulder. A shiver ran through my spine at his touch but I brushed it away. Nodding I turned and faced him. "Cole is taking the order from the customer but you need to smile you know. It's a crime for not flaunting that smile." He said in his soft voice slowly.

"Look over there, that red haired women and the baby." He gestured to a corner table where they were seated. The woman was too absorbed in her phone that she didn't realize that the little child has stuffed her whole face with the frosting cream. The baby looked around with her blue eyes twinkling ready to get scolded by her mother. "Smile." Jake ordered and nudged my shoulder. I looked at the cute girl and smiled not the genuine one but one that I give my mirror. She caught mine and smiled widely showing her dimples at both cheeks and waved her hand in a friendly and cute manner.

Children are pure and innocent souls. They don't mask their emotions but they show what they feel. They don't have any burdens on their shoulders and even a candy will make their day. They cry when they are sad, smile when they are happy and frown or shout when they are angry. There is nothing fake about them and everything is from the bottom of the heart. My childhood was the best part of my life apart from a few bad times stained by Kiara. Kids are so adorable and no matter even if they are going to die next minute they will enjoy and smile making the most out of it.

"You are smiling." Jake said as he held his phone and clicked a picture with a beaming smile on his face. It's incredible how he can smile like that and with the white T-shirt and light blue jeans he wore made him more attractive. His brown hair messy as always or it was like he kept them like that on purpose knowing he looked hot that I want to run my fingers through it. God, did I really say that?

"Yeah...." I shifted my gaze to the floor.

"Just smile, Nora. You don't know how much a smile can change something. It has a lot of power and sometimes it would only take a smile to stop a war. Smile for no reason, it's a gift and something that we doesn't have to pay tax. So what's stopping you from smiling? Smile, smile and smile." He said with a smile and I nodded my head taking his words in.

"Okay..." I trailed off looking anywhere but not his chocolate brown eyes.

"So it's lunch break. You can have an hour break and can go wherever you want but be back on time. The other option is you can stay here and order some sandwich or something." He said and I opted the second, there was no way I'm taking a bus to have lunch.

I nodded my head and went to remove Erin's black apron. I called Amy to check if she was nearby and she attended it in the second ring.

"Hey girl, how are you? How's work going on or is your handsome boss around you? I bet you people - Scott I'm buying that dress - Orange is a lovely color, what's wrong with it?" She said over the phone and so Amy was with Scott shopping and poor boy, she must have driven him crazy.

"Shut up." I said and it worked.

"Did you have your lunch?" She asked and I looked over the menu once again.

"Not yet."

"Great, get ready buddy we are on our way to pick you and we will be straight at Cinderella's." She said laughing.

"You know how much I hate to third wheel with you guys." I said.

"We will make sure you have company, girl. Bye, see you soon like in ten minutes." She said before ending the call.

I was about to throw my phone in when it buzzed and an unknown number popped in my screen. Except messages from Amy, I don't receive any so I was curious to know it and one look; I knew who it was from.

I stole your first smile, I mean after a long time.

Instantly my lips tugged up and I smiled. This boy was different. "That's a second, angry bird." He called out from the kitchen door before going inside. I settled on a table as I watched Scarlett talking to someone on phone. I wondered if she was going to have lunch alone.

Another message came up but this time it was Amy. 'We are outside.'

I picked my bag and walked outside to find Scott's black car parked in the view. She rolled the window down and waved at me. I rolled my eyes before getting inside and shutting it behind me. Amy and Scott exchanged a look before the back door opened again.

He stood there with a smirk and sat beside me. "What the hell?" I asked throwing my hands and my best friend and her boyfriend burst out laughing. "You planned it out, didn't you?" I said looking at them and Jake beside me.

"I know you said you don't want to go with them because you will miss me so why not make it easy for the way you want." He said and I scowled.

"I hate you."

"I know you mean the opposite, babe." He winked and I turned to the window letting the scenery take away my mind.

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