22) Sweet Sweet Revenge

As I enter the cafe I'm immediately engulfed in a tight embrace. I struggle to move from the firm grip, it pretty much feels like they're trying to push all of the air out of my lungs and suffocate me.

"Where were you?" A flustered Charlie holds me at arm's length, looking me up and down checking for any sign of injury. "When you didn't turn up to class this morning Zoe and I were worried that something had happened to you. Then by lunchtime, we had decided that you were most chance dead or had run off to Peru to start a Llama farm."

I step back and turn in a circle "Well I'm here in one piece so you don't have to freak out anymore."

Charlie follows me behind the counter and into the steaming hot kitchen "Considering the last time we saw you, you were leaving the party with Sam we assumed that you did something to annoy him so he had killed you or sold you to some Italian mobsters."

"After all that's happened this weekend I think being held hostage by hot Italian gang members sounds like a pleasant vacation. Think of all the pizza and gelato!" my stomach rumbles at the thought of the meaty cheesy goodness.

He pulls us into the small cramped storeroom and shuts the door behind him. We are standing toe to toe next to bags of sugar and flour, well isn't this cosy. "Something bad happened on the weekend didn't it...?" Charlie asks with concern rubbing circles on the top of my clammy hands "Did you kill someone?" he lifts an eyebrow.

"NO! Why does everyone assume that I severely injure or even kill people all the time?" I try to step back to give us more space but I hit the shelf instead which leads to watching blocks of chocolate fall to the floor. I'm not cleaning that up "The only thing I've ever kill are mosquitos and that's because they are the devil's insect. And once a bee, but that was their fault. They stung me and should have known the consequences- I've gone off topic, haven't I?"

He gives a slight nod getting me back on track "All you need to know for the moment is that Sam shed some light on a particular situation and now that I'm aware of the problem I want proper answers. Okay, scrap that. I would like to have a calm and level-headed chat with the person the rumours are concerning. But we will talk about this later because right now I need to feed people so I can get money to feed myself."

"You know you can tell me anything right? That's what best friends are for," he pulls me closer towards him which seems impossible in this tight space.

I hesitate "Have you heard about a bet that's been going on-"

Before I can finish my sentence the door flies open with Tiffany staring at us with a giant grin plastered on her face "I KNEW IT! Just to let you know that I approve and totally ship it." I look at her in confusion. Ship?

Charlie and I try to exit the awkward situation but are stopped again by Tiffany.

"Let me start again, " she closes and then reopens the door "There you two are, I thought you guys had run away together. Now that I have found you guys *cough cough* obviously not making out in the storeroom I have to ask you to help out front to serve some people," she winks at us as we go to grab our aprons.

I pull Charlie back before he leaves to serve a table full of girl that are giving him googly eyes "Question. If you were so worried about me why didn't you think about texting or calling?"

"In my defence, the Italian mobsters could have tracked my phone and come to kidnap me as well."

We're back to the mobsters again.
I'm never going to get a serious answer out of him I swear.

Walking up to the counter I notice the cafe is completely full and there are more people lining up to get take away. Maybe if I go back in the storeroom I can hide there until my shift is up.

I try to slowly back away but I caught by a pair of arms "Don't you even think about running away. I want you to take table eights order please, " she gives me a slight nudge almost making me trip over my own feet "By the way, two guys at the same time, you're an ambitious one aren't you?" I'm so confused.

My body freezes when I see ahead with perfectly styled blonde hair at a table near the window which also happens to be table 8. This is going to be fun.

I take a deep breath and approached his table. If I keep calm and ask nicely about the situation maybe he'll be able to explain it to me.

"Hey there Aaron. It feels like I haven't seen you in forever. I bet something interesting happened over the weekend." I ask with a friendly smile.

He shrugs "Not really. Me and the guys went to Troy's house and played the latest-"

"Yeah, I have no idea what you're talking about... Can I get something to satisfy your sweet tooth today?" I ask taking out my notepad and pen.

"A chocolate milkshake will be sufficient enough, " he winks. Why does everyone keep winking at me "but not as sweet as a kiss from you sugar lips."

Sugar lips. That's a new one.

I scribble down his order "Sure sweetie pie, " I give him a sickly sweet smile.

After taking a couple more orders and trying to avoid reading the entire menu to a customer I start making all the drinks.

I stay away from the coffee machine because of my last incident where I may have turned the frothing knob the wrong way and the milk went everywhere.

I walk back over to Aaron who is sitting by himself.

"One chocolate milkshake. Extra cream, " I place the drink carefully in front of him.

He looks down at the milkshake than back at me. "Sorry I asked for a strawberry milkshake."

I may be forgetful but I am not deaf "Sorry," I respond "we just ran out of strawberries and milk . What a pity."

He offers me the seat in front of him and I take that as an open invitation.

As soon as I sit down he tugs me forward and almost over the table."When I didn't see you at school today I thought you might have been sick. So I went up to Zoe at lunch to ask if she knew where you were she said you'd be working this afternoon so as soon as school finished I rushed over here to see you." He looks deeply into my eyes. I can't tell if he's attempting to show concern or have a staring contest with me.

I pull my hands from his grasp and try to get the blood moving through my fingers again.

"I know this is a super random question but do you know anything about like a wager or bet that's going on with the guys in our year?" I blurt out not wanting to wait any longer.

He instantly stiffens but brushes it off as a cold shiver "I'm not sure what you're talking about. What you heard was probably just a rumour someone made up," he takes a couple sips from the milkshake.

"So you haven't heard a bet about someone kissing me. Which is ironic because from what I've heard you're the one that has to do it," He chokes on his drink. That's always a good sign "I personally don't blame you for being hesitant. Who would want to kiss these inexperienced chapped fish lips anyway, " I pucker my lips like a duck. I still don't understand why girls pose like this.

"I will," a random voice volunteers from a group of 13-year-olds with flat caps and braces.

I turn around in their direction "It was a rhetorical question and I wasn't talking to you either so mind your own business. Go back to Snapchatting your friends and using ridiculous filters."

Aaron snatches up my hands again. Why does everyone have an obsession with holding my hands? "Whoever you heard that from is lying." He tilts my chin up with one of his hands

"They're probably jealous of me and are trying to get attention. Don't worry about it okay, by next week the whole thing will be over." his reassuring smile does nothing but make me more suspicious.

"See here's the thing" I fold my arms together "I was talking to Sam when he mentioned this crazy rumour. Even though I thoroughly dislike his attitude and entire existence. And even though he has never really given me a reason to trust him I doubt he is lying to me. He's too smart and not motivated enough to lie. Don't tell him I said that, " I whisper the last part.

He scoffs to himself obviously not believing me. Leaning back in the wooden chair he scans me up and down "You're trusting a guy that you hate's opinion over mine?"

Maybe it's because of the heat of the moment or maybe I've finally lost the plot but I start to laugh hysterically. I also may have snorted.

Catching my breath my eyes lock with Aaron's once again "Sam and I might be, at best, frenemies but we don't hate each other. Too much effort involved in that."

I scoot my chair closer to the table, clamping my hands together and giving my best poker face "So are you going to tell the truth, or are we going to sit here and intensely staring at each other for the next half an hour until you crack. I'm just letting you know that within the next 3 minutes Tiffany and Charlie will realize something is wrong and will kick you out. I can guarantee it won't be pretty," I say kindly as possible.

It takes exactly 48 seconds for Aaron to start talking again "So what if I made a bet with the guys about kissing you? It's just a kiss anyway. It won't mean anything to either of us. It's harmless."

I don't know if I sigh in relief or because of disappointment "It might not mean anything to you but to me, it matters. I don't want to be forced into doing something I'm not interested in."

"It's all a little fun bet Mac. Me and the guys do things like this all the time. You don't have to get all defensive about it." He leans back in his chair crossing his hands behind his head.

"What in your right mind makes you think that it's okay for you to do something like that? Nothing can justify your actions as you play with people's lives and hearts without their consent. It's NOT okay. Do you know how many people you could hurt with your stupid bets?" My face is starting to get hot and my fists are clenched.

I really need to leave this conversation and cool down. I stand up and straighten my apron and give Aaron a condescending smile before I start to walk away.

"Don't you think you're being a little overdramatic?" Aaron's voice smoothly says behind me.

I stalk back towards him again and stand right in front of him "You think I'm overreacting? A LITTLE OVER DRAMATIC YOU SAY. If I wanted to do be over dramatic I would slap you. I would say I'm the next Virgin Mary. I would scream at the top of my lungs saying that you are an idiot who is not worth anybody's time." I close my eyes and take a deep breath "but I won't because I have dignity and self-respect, unlike you. "

He stands up from his chair, towering over me. "Whatever. Go running back to your stupid friends and live your dull life. Where you're too scared to do anything that will make you more likable and less pathetic."

He tries to push past me but I stop him "You made a bet about the wrong girl." Reaching down beside me, I pick up the half drunken milkshake and dump it on his head.

I watch as the chocolaty goodness runs down from his hair to his face then his shirt.

I've always wanted to do that.

A bit anti-climactic though.

Without another word, Aaron storms off out of the cafe with a disturbed look on his face.

I won't be talking to him for a while.

"You realise you have to clean up the mess right," a voice says from beside me. I turn to find Charlie beaming down at me.

I look down at my feet not wanting to meet his eye "You saw everything didn't you?"

"Yep. And it was epic! Remind me never to get on your bad side," he puts his arm around me and leads me to the leftover baked goods

Cupcake Theory #22 Revenge is sweet especially when you get to dump it on someone's head.

:):):)

So I've got a cold and I'm seeing double of everything but that's okay I'm still alive

Sorry for the shorter chapter I'm about to fall asleep but I needed to finish this before I passed out

I wanted to remind you that you are amazing and so very very loved. Even when you feel like your alone and nothing is going right. Someone loves you. You are worth it. Nothing is impossible.

Three things that happened this week:
- I bought 'Tower of dawn' and didn't move from my spot for 7.5 hours. Damn that book
-I became intolerant to dairy and wheat. There goes all good tasting food
- I rearrange my bookshelf now I can't stop staring at it

Love you like a chocolate milkshake
Theforgottonone