"I have a job." I said to Tina as I shoved my books into my locker.

"What? Really." She looked at me in surprise, "Where?"

"You know that coffee shop, Cofeesio, that used to be in the mall," I closed my locker. "Well it's moved. And it turns out, it's now just a couple of blocks from my house."

We started making our way to the gym for our PE class. The first day at school wasn't bad, things seemed pretty normal. Skyler was right, everybody had  forgotten the mishaps of last year.

The best news was that Sabrina had left. I didn't know why or where too, but I didn't care. She was gone and I couldn't have been happier!

"So how did you get the job?" Tina asked as we walked into the female changing room.

"They lost a few employees upon moving, so they were quite short on staff. I went there and spoke to the manager and she offered me the job." I placed my gym bag on the bench. "For now it's just Saturday's, but she said they'll see how it goes and maybe give me more hours."

"Sounds cool, look at you, Riley, being independent!" Tina threw her hands up in celebration.

I laughed as I slid on my gym shorts.

"So how was your last week of summer?"  I'd barely seen Tina this summer, because her family had decided go visit their relatives in Canada. She'd only come back in the last few days.

"It was relaxed. I was pretty jetlaged when we first arrived, so I spent a few days sleeping, because you know I gotta get my sleep!" I laughed, I could just imagine Tina with unkempt hair and huge racoon circles around  her eyes. "The rest of the week I just prepared for the new school year, oh and I met up with Georgie on Monday."

I nodded, "Sorry I couldn't meet up with you yesterday," I still felt bad for having turned her down, "I had Claire's fashion show. It was really cool though like the-"

"Did you go with Skyler?"

I faltered in my sentence and turned my attention back to her.

"Uhhh, yes I did. Why?"

"I knew it." Tina said bending down and doing up her shoelace.

I frowned at her, "What? How did you know I was with Skyler?"

Tina gave me an exasperated look. "Your neck Riley."

I felt my heart drop into my stomach as I subconsciously placed my hand on the bruised area on my neck. I'd done a lousy job in trying to cover it up, I realized. I'd thought a high hoddie would do the trick.

"No point in trying to hide it," Tina scoffed, turning around packing away her bag, "Your t-shirt won't cover it and you can't do PE with your hand on your neck."

"Wanna bet?"

Tina rolled her eyes at me.

"Riley what are you doing?" She sighed turning back around to face me.

"Getting changed for PE, how about you?" I replied, even though I knew that wasn't what she meant.

"With Skyler." I met her chocolate brown eyes.

"Umm," I hesitated.

"Do you like her?" I bit my lip.

"Well it's complicated..."

Tina folded her arms, "No, not really. Do you like her or not?"

"We enjoy each other's company."

"Surely there's another way to 'enjoy each others company' without devouring each other!"

I didn't reply. I didn't have an answer for her.

"Look," Tina walked around the bench towards me, "I don't mind who you're with, as long as you're with them for the right reasons..." She met my eyes, "Which I can't say I'm sure that you are?"

I sucked in my cheeks and looked to the side. The design of the lockers was really quite beautiful, who knew reddish-brown could go so well with -

"And Riley, Skyler! Of all people to mess around with, you choose the Lesbian Goddess of Death!"

I looked at her again with knitted brows. "Don't you like her?"

"No." I felt my heart drop, Tina's unwavering honesty was commendable. "But that doesnt matter," She said moving back around the bench, "What matters is if you like her! And aren't just using her as a distraction or rebound?"

I thought about this for a second. "Skyler isn't a rebound..."

"Then is she your girlfriend?"

"No she isn't but-"

"Sounds like a rebound to me!"

"Listen, thanks, but I know what I'm doing." I said to Tina, "Neither one of us want a relationship."

"Are you sure about that?"

I sighed, "Yes I'm sure about that."

"Okay. I just don't want you to get hurt. And I can't believe I'm saying this, but I don't want you to hurt Skyler either."

I nodded slowly. Then Tina added, "Partly because she's freaking terrifying."

I sighed, Skyler was just misunderstood.

After a moments silence I mumbled. "I think PE has started."

We made our way out of the changing room and into the gym.

¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥

I pulled up in front of the brown little coffee shop. It lifted my heart to see its large sign Cofeesio hanging above the door.

I climbed out of my car, or should I say my mother's old car, she'd recently purchased a new Hyundai Tucson, meaning I got to drive the blue Suzuki Ertiga.

I walked into the bistro, the scent of freshly baked scones and chocolate croissants wafted into my nose. I grinned, I couldn't believe I'd landed a job at my favorite coffee shop.

It was like a 8 year old kid being told they were allowed to live at Toys Emporium!

I'd made up my mind that while I was here I'd be sure to eat my favorite Cofessio delight, the Cherry Custard Pastry!

"Riley, hello." I turned to see the manager, Angelina, walk into the room from out some kitchen swing doors.

She was a large woman with light brown  skin and wavy black hair. She had a bubbling energy, and seemed to light up every room she walked into. She was one of the main reasons I was so sad when I'd thought Cofeesio had closed for good.

"So are you excited to work here?" She asked, her round face beaming down at me.

I grinned at her, "You better believe it! I love your café."

She nodded appreciatively, "You might change your mind when you've put on 10kgs."

I laughed, however I cautioned myself to maybe not dive into the cherry custard pastries too quickly.

Angelina clapped her hands together and she walked over to the counter where they served the drinks. I stared, fixated, at the gleaming rows of delicious puddings behind the glass counter.

I would be working behind there! I would be the face at the front saying,

"Goodmorning sir/madam what can I get for you today?" Then they would nod and say, "Three custard pastries please," Then I would beam and say, "Great choice sir/ madam, the custard pastries are simply delicio-"

"It's really nice to have a new, younger, eager addition the team." Angelina interrupted my thoughts, "I do believe we really could use it."

I smiled at her, "Thank you Angelina."

She waved a dismissive hand, "Oh please call me Angel, Angelina is for my landlord." She laughed, a beautiful, hearty, resonant laugh!

"Right," She looked down at me, "I'll find you a t-shirt and I'll get someone to show you the ropes." She bustled around counter and got me a clipboard with a sheet of paper on it, "This is the contract of agreement. Just saying that you'll abide by all our rules, customer care and all that fun stuff."

I glanced down at the clipboard then looked back at Angel, she was making her way to the kitchen doors.

"I'm just going to grab one of the employees to explain everything to you, they know all the intricacies." She chuckled and walked into the kitchen.

I walked over to one of the tables, pulled out a chair and sat down. I clicked the black pen absent-mindedly as I read through the contract.

"- Show her the menu and show her how all the different machines work, remember to tell her about the lever on the coffee grinder." I heard Angel's muffled call from inside the kitchen.

Angel came out of the kitchen. "She'll be with you now." She jabbed a thumb at the kitchen doors behind her and then  went into another room which I assumed was a study.

I grinned to myself as I continued to fill out the contract. I was halfway through it, when I heard the kitchen doors swing open again.

I looked up.

In a black Cofeesio shirt, demin jeans, and an apron folded around her middle - Margot Saunders walked out of the kitchen.

My pen cluttered noisily to the floor. 

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Avid reader, @NailaCouvrette 🌟came up with two ship names Marley (Margot + Riley) and Skyley (Skyler + Riley).

Are you team #MARLEY or team #SKYLEY? 

Thanks for all the support!