Heartbreak Café

by A. R. Perry

  I step out of his grasp and readjust my shirt. “I’m fine.”

  “Way to go, Bellemore.” A male voice calls from the back of the room. No need to see his annoying face. I know it’s Jesse.

  Flipping him off, I stoop down to pick up my now empty cup.

  Man, I needed that too.

  “Let me help.” Braden bends down, a roll of paper towels in his hand. I hadn’t noticed that he left my side, too focused on the reddening of my cheeks.

  “I got it.” I snatch it out of his hand and proceed to soak up my mess.

  “Okay. Geez.” He stands, throwing an annoyed look over his shoulder before stalking over to the desk next to Jesse.

  “Interesting morning?” Mr. Thatcher asks as he sidesteps me into the room.

  “Delightful,” I respond as I finish sopping up the last of the coffee and stand, depositing a least half a roll’s worth of paper towels in the trash.

  Add killing the environment to my super fantastic morning.

  “Well, take a seat.” Mr. Thatcher motions to the classroom where I have yet to look.

  Out of morbid curiosity I risk a glance and notice the typical fan club standing around Jesse and Braden. Rolling my eyes, I snag the first open desk so I can put my back to them. I’m only hoping Mr. Thatcher doesn’t make these our permanent seats because I hate sitting up front.

  The moment I’m settled, I feel eyes boring into the back of my head and takes everything in me to keep from turning. I know it’s not Jesse. When his focus is on me, there is usually an overwhelming urge to murder him. This, this feels different. And I don’t like it.

  English class passes in a flash ending with homework on the first day. You would think teachers would go easy since it’s senior year, but nope. Fifty pages by tomorrow in some archaic book I’m surprised isn’t banned yet.

  Second and third periods pass by just as quick and, wouldn’t you know it, more homework. Thank goodness my schedule isn’t completely booked. I planned on picking up more shifts at work, but I guess I’ll have to use that extra time for schoolwork.

  By the time I walk into the cafeteria, I’m starving. Zari waves from her table, surrounded by the rest of the popular girls. The first few months they gave her strange looks. I kind of miss the pissed off reactions because it meant they were acknowledging their judgment. Maybe one of these days, I’ll take her up on her offer to sit with them and watch their eyes melt out of their heads from shock.

  After grabbing whatever craptastic food the cafeteria is serving I find an open table. Most days, I go out to the quad and read, but today I need the noise to drown out my thoughts. As much as I hate it, I haven’t been able to dislodge Braden from my mind. Before this point we’ve spoken a total of ten times. He moved to our town sophomore year, falling in with the popular jocks right away even though he doesn’t play a single sport.

  He’s never been a dick to me like most of the guys, but that still doesn’t give him a pass for how he treats other women. Women he’s blown through in the past three years. Michelle was the longest relationship he had, lasting half of junior year and into summer. Wasn’t good enough to keep around for a fresh year though.

  God, I blame Devon’s gossip for me knowing about Braden’s love life.

  And that’s what occupied me all morning. Round and round. Trying and failing to place him. Until I ran into him, I had pegged him for the same old guy, but where the class, Jesse included, would rather taunt me, Braden wanted to help.

  Me being me, I told him to stuff it.

  But still…

  I peer across the room toward Zari’s table, checking if Michelle has shown her face yet, when a pair of blue eyes lock me in place.

  Braden sits next to Jesse, one table over from Zari’s, fixated on me with such intensity, I’m amazed my head hasn’t exploded. I clear my throat, trying to force myself to look away, but I can’t. And what’s more frightening, I kind of don’t want to.

  His dark brown hair is cropped on the sides, the middle swooped up and back with some serious volume. It must take him hours to get it that way, but I’m not complaining. The style gives me an unobstructed view of his face. And what a face. Square jaw. Full lips. Dazzling eyes. Exactly the type I go for. The type that will get me in trouble. The boy is gorgeous and, man, does he know it too.

  The second that thought enters my head, Braden’s lips tip up into a smirk. Damn it. He totally caught the admiration on my face. My mom always said I have a hard time hiding how I’m feeling.

  Cursing myself, I break the contact, focusing instead on the sandwich in front of me. It’s supposed to be turkey, but I don’t remember turkey being this color. Or dry. No longer hungry, I shove the tray away and pull out my phone. Devon has texted me seven times. What could have happened during three classes is beyond me.

  As tempting as getting sucked into someone else’s drama is, I ignore the messages. He’ll fill me in during gym and I don’t want to be subject to it twice. Instead, I open Instagram and scroll as people’s conversations buzz around me. If I listen hard, I can catch bits and pieces, but really I want to be absorbed in the noise. No rhyme. No reason. Just noise.

  “Hey!” Zari plants herself across from me, making me jump. “Sorry,” she giggles and tosses her bright pink backpack on the tabletop.

  “Hey,” I sigh, and shut down my phone. So close to being left alone for a solid half hour.

  “I heard what happened first period. You okay?”

  Jesus. Gossip travels way too fast even without Devon at the wheel.

  “I’m fine. Tired because my coffee is now in the trash, but I’ll survive.”

  “If only you worked somewhere with an endless supply of caffeine.” She grins, popping her dimple.

  Seriously, the girl is perfect. Most days I want to hate her, but she makes it too hard.

  “A few more hours.”

  “Was Jesse a total jerk?” She pops the top of her water bottle, bringing the spout to her lips.

  “Nah. Just his usual self.” My fingers pick little pieces of bread off the nasty sandwich. I swear most days I don’t even eat what they serve. I have no idea why I weigh so much. “How did you hear about it already?”

  “Oh, you know Jesse. Regaling our table with the whole klutzy story.” She smirks. “Including the fact that Braden offered to help, and you blew him off. Probably a first for the guy.”

  “I kinda feel bad. He was just trying to be nice.” My attention drifts to his table. He’s deep into a conversation that has Jesse waving his hand in the air like a maniac. After a few seconds, almost as if I summoned him, his eyes shift my direction. I quickly look away to find Zari staring at me with a weird expression on her face.

  “What?”

  “Do you…” She leans closer lowing her voice. “Do you like him?”

  “What?” The word screeches out of me, drawing the attention of the people close by. I pray Braden didn’t hear, but I don’t have the guts to confirm it.

  “You totally do.” Her mouth drops open, eyes bugging out.

  “I totally don’t.” My scowl deepens, bring my sour mood down another peg.

  “Okay.” She throws her hands up in defeat. “I’ve never seen you look at someone like that.”

  “No look.” I stand, slinging my bag over my shoulder. I’d rather get a head start than stay and listen to this. “I got bio. See you at work.”

  Zari’s face says she doesn’t believe me, but nods anyway. “Yeah, see you at four.”

  I skirt around the table, forcing myself to stare straight ahead and not where Braden is sitting. I don’t know what’s gotten into me but I need to reel it in. He’s an asshole. Like every other guy at our school. For crying out loud he dumped Michelle in a public place yesterday. Even if I was looking to date, which I’m not, it wouldn’t be a guy like Braden.

  I make it to my next class before the warning bell even rings. It’s fine though. I don’t want another embarrassing run-in. The room is empty so I slide onto
a stool toward the back. Of all my subjects, science causes me the most pain. It’s a miracle I’ve done so well because I’ve never gotten into it and could have gone without it this semester, but my mom insisted.

  The bell sounds seconds after I plunk the big-ass science book on the table. It doesn’t take long for the room to fill and I’m glad I snagged a back seat. I’m also glad I don’t have to do the awkward walk in like the rest of the class.

  Our teacher Mr. Brown saunters in with a wide grin, radiating joy.

  Not good.

  I tap my fingers on the chipped surface of the desk and contemplate a fake sickness. The last time a teacher looked like that, she made us play a stupid game where you have to announce the person to your right as if you’re talking about yourself. That means conversations with a complete stranger and public speaking. So not my thing.

  Right as I’m about to stand, vibrant blue eyes freeze me in place. Does he have to be in so many of my classes? For crying out loud, I only have a half-booked schedule.

  My butt slams into the stool. There is no way I can leave now. It will seem like I’m running after the incident this morning.

  Braden stops at the front of the room, gaze on the vacant seat next to me. For five agonizing seconds, I hold my breath, praying he doesn’t sit there. I can’t handle sitting so close to him every single day. He does something to my brain. Something that has never happened before. I don’t like it.

  As if reading my thoughts, he veers right and chooses a seat toward the front next to a peppy blonde I’m sure is more his type.

  Mr. Brown calls the class to attention right as a girl zips into the seat beside me. Head down, earbuds hidden beneath voluminous hair. She’s more my type. From the looks of her, she won’t talk unless necessary. Total bonus points. I can only hope she’s good at bio so I can pass and never think about it again.

  “Good afternoon, class.”

  A mumbled response from the kids around me makes Mr. Brown smirk.

  “Well, that’s not the kind of enthusiasm I expected from seniors.” He places a finger on his chin, tapping as if deep in thought. “Maybe it’s because you need a jolt. Something to shake up your day.” He grabs a baseball hat off his desk and walks to the first table. “Pick a piece of paper. Whoever’s name is written on it will be your lab partner for the year.”

  Moans erupt throughout the classroom. I join in because I was perfectly fine with my lab partner. All of us tend to stick to our groups, avoiding ones that don’t mesh with our level of popularity. If I get stuck with one of the damn pom-pom shakers, I will for sure be carrying the bulk of the load this year.

  Mr. Brown motions to the hat. The kid in front of him, a jock judging by his jacket, sticks his hand in and swirls it around before coming out with a white piece of paper. “Joshua Lee.” He looks around, until a kid to his right raises his hand.

  “Congratulations. Please go sit with your new partner.” With that, Mr. Brown moves to the kid now left alone.

  I slump in my chair as Mr. Brown moves around the room at random. The only good part about this whole thing is that it’s eating up time. With any luck I’ll make it out with no homework. My mind drifts to all the things I need to finish tonight after work, and I’m constructing a plan to knock it out when my name is called.

  My spine stiffens and I lean to the side to search for the person who said it. Mr. Brown smiles as my face falls. He motions for Braden to join me in the back.

  Deep breathing can’t save me now as my heart rate spikes to a dangerous level. No way. No freaking way. It’s as if the universe has it out for me today. I blame it on Devon. I fell into his gossip mousetrap and this is my punishment.

  I scoot my stool to the furthest edge of the table, vowing to abstain from gossip. If this is what I get, I don’t want to see what else karma has in store.

  Braden slides into the seat that my preferred partner vacated and gives me a warm smile. I avert my gaze, focusing on the peeling corner of my science book instead.

  Maybe I can switch my schedule. I don’t even need this class. I could have had another elective, but my mom insisted. Said it would appeal to colleges.

  But right now, all I can think about is escaping. When the room settles and Mr. Brown moves to the whiteboard I can feel Braden’s energy flowing into me. He’s right there. Close enough to touch. Comfortable with where he stands at this school and in his classes. His stupid even breathing shows me that this whole thing has little effect on him all while I’m having an internal meltdown of epic proportions. If bio didn’t make me nervous already, now I get the bonus of my lab partner being best friends with the asswipe that would do anything for information he could use to torture me. And my epic struggles in this class is plenty of ammunition to fuel his fire.

  That’s when it dawns on me. I haven’t heard a single word Mr. Brown said. Braden scribbles away in his notebook, which tells me it’s probably important.

  Freaking great. I’ll need to ask him for his notes now and let him know right away that he’ll be picking up the slack this year.

  Something pokes me in the arm and without meaning to my head whips in Braden’s direction. He taps his pen on a piece of paper between us.

  Breathe. The chicken scratch says.

  Well at least he’s not perfect after all.

  I scrunch my nose. What the hell is that even supposed to mean?

  He rolls his eyes and jots something else down.

  I haven’t seen u take a full breath in five minits.

  I laugh. Loud.

  Mr. Brown cuts off his lectures and at least half the class turns in my direction. My face burns. Braden slips the paper under his binder.

  “Something funny about my itinerary?” Mr. Brown asks, in the sternest voice he can muster.

  It almost makes me laugh more. I’ve had him before in one of the lower level science classes before he took over AP Bio. The man is a softy. But, instead of getting myself in more trouble, I shake my head.

  “No. Sorry. I smashed my finger and I laugh when I get hurt.”

  Snickers roll through the room including the boy who got me into this mess. Or maybe it’s just that I’m a mess around him in general. First coffee, now an embarrassing display in the middle of class.

  “Okay,” Mr. Brown drags out the word making me cringe and the class laugh. “Well please keep your idiosyncrasies to a minimum and at a lower volume.” He turns back to the board where he has written key dates in the year with percentages marking points where I will be having a panic attack in an effort to cram and keep my grade up.

  For some reason my attention is pulled back to Braden. When I catch him staring at me I know why. He doesn’t flinch though or do that thing where you glance away and pretend that you weren’t gawking. Instead, he smiles and mouths good job at me before turning back to his notes.

  This time I manage to hold in my laugh but that’s only because of the horror I feel at the realization that Braden might not be as bad as I first thought. Even if his top pick for best friend is the spawn of Satan.

  “So, idea!” Zari says as she rounds the counter tying her apron. “I signed up for tutoring today and—”

  My head snaps up from where I’m crouched, wiping off the refrigerators that the opener should have done before leaving. “Why the hell do you need tutoring?”

  She waves me off before typing her employee number into the computer to clock in. “I don’t. I signed up to tutor other students. Mrs. Rivera said it will round me out and make me more appealing to colleges.”

  “Why is she always trying to round us?” I grumble as I scrub at a milk stain on the steel door.

  “She’s the guidance counselor. It’s her job.”

  I snort, but Zari continues without acknowledging it.

  “So I was thinking on the way over here that you do really good in your classes and maybe you would want to spend a couple afternoons tutoring as well?” I open my mouth ready to tell her all the reasons that’s a terribl
e idea, but she speeds through the rest of her thoughts. “It does look great on applications and you are fantastic in English. Way above average. We could help make sure kids have a fighting chance at passing all while upping our appeal to colleges. And I know you’re going to say no that’s why I already told Mrs. Rivera you’ll do it.”

  She recoils, bracing herself for my wrath because she sure as shit knows it’s coming. Luckily for her, Melody comes out at the exact moment I stand up. My insides boil, but I clamp my lips between my teeth. If I said all the things I want to in front of my boss, I would be fired in a heartbeat.

  “Ladies,” Melody sneers. “We don’t pay you to chat.”

  Well, she doesn’t pay us at all, but I keep that to myself, faking a smile instead. The universe is for sure tempting me today. As if it senses when things are already crappy and decides to add to the pile.

  “Of course not.” Zari throws me an exasperated look over her shoulder as she zips into the back.

  Melody turns to follow, but only takes two steps before swinging back around. “Doing all your side work now will get you out of here earlier. I expect you to do this all again after closing.”

  And there goes any grasp I had on my temper. “Well, I wouldn’t have to do it twice if the opening shift actually did it before they left. I was stupid enough to assume you check as thoroughly as you check mine. That doesn’t seem to be the case lately.”

  Melody’s mouth pops open, face turning an impressive shade of red. Before she can rip me a new one, the front door jingles. Both of our gazes whip toward the noise. I’m thankful for all of a nanosecond before I recognize the two faces who just entered.

  Jesse smirks when he catches my eye. I try my best to keep the scowl from my face, all it ever does is egg him on, but know I’m doing a crap job when he quirks a brow and saunters over to the counter. Braden follows close behind, gaze locked on his phone.

  Teeth clenched, I attempt to make a run for the back, but Shredder’s arm shoots out blocking any escape.