I pull up into school parking lot and turn off the engine. I lay my head on the steering wheel, wondering why I even came. Math is my first class which would mean to face Miss Jennson's empty desk.  Taking deep breaths, I get out of my car and start walking towards the building.

I hear my name being called, so I turn around. Jacy envelops me in a hug. I hug back for comfort, not that she needs to know that.

"Ohmygosh! Callie, I don't know if you've heard, but the police found Miss Jennson dead! Dead! Can you believe that? Our math teacher dead on the second day of school!" she cries out exasperated.

My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach. So they've already announced it. Man, you can't keep nothing to yourself.

"Oh..." I say sullenly.

Jacy gives me a look of concern. "Hey, what's wrong? You know you can tell me," she tells me soothingly.

I sigh as tears whell in my eyes. Jacy's eyes widen, and she starts leading me inside. "Not out here, Cal," she mutters.

She pulls me into an empty classroom, and I start crying rivers of water. Jacy stays quiet but wraps me in her arms. She's about two inches taller than me, so I can easily rest my head on her shoulder. 

"Sorry," I sniffle,"I know this is your favorite shirt." I gesture to her navy blue, pelpum top, but she waves her hand.

"I'm more worried about you than I am about my shirt. You wanna talk now?" she asks, rubbing my arm.

I take in a shaky breath. "I...I saw...Xaiver and Jenny kissing," I tell her. Hey, it's part of the truth.

Jacy gasps then her look turns into a look of anger. "That no good, flithy, slimeball-," I stop her.

"Hey, no need for such language," I chuckle. "But, yeah. It's silly, and I should be more adult about this, but I just...I don't know." I finish with a sad look.

"Honey, you have nothing to feel silly about. It's natural feelings. Xaiver is just a player, and we both know that. But it seems as though something else is on your mind," she assures me.

Dang, she can read me like an open book.

I fake a smile and wipe the remaing tears away. "That's it," I lie.

It leaves a sour taste in my mouth, and I feel guilt creeping into my bones. Jacy eyes me curiously, knowing that I'm lying. I continue to smile. She sighs in defeat.

"Fine. Once you're ready, come talk to me," she says with a wink.

I laugh and nod. We link arms and skip into the hallway. Rowdy teens crowd into the hall talking about teen things. Jacy starts going on about some new shoes that she spotted at the mall, then she stops and gasp.

"Hey, did you want to see that um, thing over somewhere near a place?" Jacy stammers. I give her a confused look, but she ignores my glance.

I stop in the hall and unlink our arms. Jacy looks at me with panic on her face.

"Cal-"

"Hey, Callie!" 

That voice.

Jacy looks at me with a look of pity. She mouths "I tried." I nod and take a deep breath. His hand touches my shoulder, and I tense up. His hand quickly falls limp.

"Can I talk to you?" he asks in a small voice.

I look at Jacy and give her a nod. She glares at Xaiver for a minute then nods at me. She walks away without looking back, and her head held high. I take a deep breath and turn around.

"Yes?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Can we talk in private?" he asks. Xaiver's dark blue eyes look pleadingly at me.

I sigh and start walking towards my locker. I hear him follow behind me. 

"There's nothing to talk about," I say as I open up my locker. He sighs and leans against his locker.

"I'm sorry, Callie. I have no feelings for Jenny. She was just a fling," he explains.

"So what would that make me? A fling too?" I ask angrily, slamming my locker shut. 

He flinches but holds my gaze.

"No, I really want to take you out. Callie, you're unlike any girl that I've ever known. You're so honest and open, and you're always yourself," he answers.

Yeah honest.

I shake my head and start walking to class. Xaiver grabs my arm and turns me to him.

"Please," he whispers.

My body is comforted by his presence. His arms seem so welcoming and inviting. I feel myself slightly leaning into his touch. I quickly bring myself to earth and shake my head.

"Sorry, Xaiver, it's already the second day of my senior year, and I plan to make the best of it, and I don't need relationship drama," I answer.

Then, I turn around and walk to math. I sit in my seat and look at the white board. Miss Jennson's writing from yesterday is still planted on the board. I sigh and lay my head on the desk, wanting the day to be over already.

~~~~

The day is finally over, and the weekend is here. That's right, school started on Thursday. Jacy runs up to me and grins.

"Is it girl week yet?" she squeals.

I sigh. "Not this week. I have overtime at the cafe all this week. Maybe we can hang on Sunday?" I ask.

Jacy looks down for a minute before brightening again. "Yeah alright! It gives me an excuse to prepare all of your makeup materials for your extreme make-over," she replies.

I smile and nod. "Sounds like a plan!" I unlock my car and throw my bags in.

"Alright cool! See you Sunday!" she says, walking away.

I smile and wave, then hop into my car, and drive to the cafe. I get there and see business is hopping. I run in and see my mom working her tail off.

"Callie! Thank God you're here! Help me out please!" Mom yells over the chattering of the customers.

I nod and put on my apron. I get to the register and start taking orders and giving everyone their orders. Flour, frosting, and liquids end up in my hair and on my body. The rowdiness finally dies down, and the cafe goes a little quiet.

My mom runs a hand through her hair and blows out some air. "That was something," she mutters.

I chuckle and nod. "You're telling me."

My mom gives me a tired look. "I'm going to the bathroom real quick. Watch the counter," she states.

I nod and start washing my flour-caked hands. The door rings, and I quickly dry my hands. I walk up the register and look at the customer.

"Hi, welcome to Chloe's Cafe. What can I get you?" I ask.

My heart skips a million beats when the brown eyes of the handsom customer meet my green eyes. His face is chiseled with a slight scar running from the corner of his left eye and stops at the corner of his lip. His lips are full and pink, making them look so lovely to kiss. He has curly blond hair, but not extremely curly. He smiles at me with pearly whites.

"I would like a chocolate chip muffin," he answers in a husky voice.

Oh my stars...that voice could cure world hunger.

I nod and type it in the register. "Is that it?" I ask, looking back into those eyes.

He smiles and nods.

"$1.78," I tell him.

He gives me the money, and I give him the muffin. He looks at me and takes a bite then winks.

"Thanks, muffin." Then he walks out of the cafe, strutting.

I pick my jaw off the floor and fan my face with my hand. That man is beautiful.

He is just...a beautiful man.

And I didn't get his name.