Chapter 2

The sun streams in through the window waking Jessica up before her alarm. On her door hangs a pair of skinny jean-style dress pants paired with that gorgeous creamy-pearl blouse she saw yesterday. It was truly a beautiful fabric. Great job Mom. She thought to herself proudly as she removed her new outfit from the hanger and dressed up. "You got this.". She told herself again in the mirror before running out the door to catch her bus. The pants moved with her, hugging her snuggly in all the right places. Jessica felt all eyes on her, and it felt great! The flow of her blouse and the way her collar sat on her shoulders just felt so high fashion. Was it too much for a small-town Café? Probably. But that didn't matter because this was her first day at her first job, and she needed this. Hopping off the bus a few stops earlier, Jessica decided to walk a little while before getting to the Cafe. Tom had said he'd call her at 7 pm tonight and Jessica was worried she'd miss his call. She was hoping that if she arrived extra early at the Cafe, Erika might be willing to let her go early enough to catch her bus to be home before 7 p.m.

She passed by the Cafe window and saw Erika chatting with a customer, a scruffy-looking homeless man held the door open and cleared his throat. "After you." He said sweetly, standing in the Cafe door. His voice was velvety, surprisingly and Jessica blushed and thanked the man. She stepped into the Café and greeted Erika, who smiled at her and applauded Jessica's outfit. Erika gestured for Jessica to follow her behind the counter, the homeless man followed close behind her and then filed into the lineup for coffee. "You look amazing!" Erika lushed as she twirled her finger in the air, directing Jessica to do a spin. Gladly, she twirled and posed confidently. "My mom chose this for me! Can you even believe it? Is it too much?" She asked shyer now after revealing her secrets, but Erika's energy was high. "This is PERFECT! I love this, it's so fashionable yet practical. Like what the judges would wear on some fashion judging show." Jessica swooned from the compliments, her high pony dancing as she moved her head. "I think it'll even look good under the apron!"

Erika grabbed Jessica a vibrant burgundy apron, it was solid and rich in color. Jessica bowed her head to have it bestowed upon her. The string that now sat around her neck felt velvety and soft. She tied the waistband herself and pulled her collar through. "Awe, you look so pretty! I want one!! Tell your mom to find me one too!" Erika said winking at her. The girls giggled. "I'm going to clear this lineup and then I can get you trained on the machines. If you want, you can just watch for now." Erika finishes up with the customers and has a pleasant chat with the man who appeared homeless. Jessica came to this conclusion after watching Erika give him free coffee and a scone. After the man left to sit in his usual spot, Erika turned to Jessica and said "He's actually in here quite frequently," Erika gestured to him sitting in the lounger beside the great big window close to the order counter. She lowers her voice to a whisper and continues, "He tries to pay what he has, but I always tell him it's on the house. He's a regular, and very nice." Erika continued, "So I'm sure you drink coffee, let's get you trained so you can make yourself one!". Jessica was thrilled. Jackpot!

After a while, Jessica was starting to get the hang of things. She and Erika would get off-topic occasionally, talking about fashion, chocolates, and boys. Jessica swooned over Tomas telling Erika everything she needed to know. And Erika mentioned a certain somebody she went to school with by the name of Lincoln. They gushed the whole afternoon. It was getting close to 5 p.m. and Jessica realized she hadn't asked if she could leave early. She quickly tidied her area and finished washing the mugs at the back. She nervously walked over to Erika who was chatting with a customer, "Oh hey Jessica! This is Erma, she visits us twice a week and gets a very special blend that we make just for her! Erma, this is my newest member, Jessica. Today was her first day of training! I think she will fit right in." Erma smiled politely and said "Hello dear," and then told Erika she should be going. "Ta-ta, ladies." She said throwing her large bag over her shoulder.

"Hey, uh Erika?" Jessica asked, almost sounding mechanical. "Uh, yes Jessica?" Erika said jokingly, imitating a robotic voice. Jessica chuckled awkwardly and Erika could tell something was wrong. She waited patiently, giving her the time to collect the words. "I… I wanted to ask. Well, I meant to ask you earlier. But, um." Jessica kept stuttering, trying to find a way around asking her new boss what she wanted to ask. Erika smiled an encouraging smile, hoping it would cheer Jessica up. It did, she smiled back and took a deep breath. "I wanted to ask you if I could leave early today. You see Tom said he would call me by 7 pm and it's already past 5 pm, if I miss my bus then I won't be home in time and then I won't get to talk to Tom for like 2 weeks…" Jessica felt herself getting emotional and looked at her feet. Erika was giggling. "Um, you were done hours ago! Today is training so it's usually a 4-hour shift but you were doing so well and you were so eager to learn I just kept you on as extra support. You're free to go." Erika told her officially, laughing at how worried Jessica was.

Jessica smiled and tried to control the urge to hug Erika. She quickly ran to collect her things and her bag. Almost leaving with the apron on, she saw the homeless man chuckling at her innocently. "Oops," Jessica said out loud, acknowledging the man's laughter. He stopped but remained smiling. He had perfect teeth and intense green eyes. Jessica smiled at him and somehow almost got lost in his eyes. She took off her apron and hung it beside the extras. Putting her purse on and packing up her lunch she waves bye to Erika and the man and runs out the door. Jessica could hear the bus coming down the street. Thankfully there was a bus stop close to the Café. Jessica ran down the road to beat the bus to the stop. Sure enough, as she reached the stop breathing heavily and panting, the bus rolled up to the curb. The doors open and Jessica hops on. She pulls her riding pass out of her bag and smiles at the driver as she scans the barcode. A series of beeps confirm her card is valid and Jessica proceeds to the back of the bus. She routinely checks her seat and then relaxes into the chair. What an amazing day! I can't wait to tell Tom all about it! A short ride later, Jessica hopped off the bus and ran down the road to get home. If I get there sooner, I might have time for a shower. Maybe Tom will want to do something tonight before he leaves tomorrow! Jessica thinks to herself hopeful.

Running up the driveway, she hears a car horn right behind her. Startled, she jumps for the grass as if there were an imaginary barrier that would protect her from oncoming traffic. She looks over her shoulder and sees Derrick driving Mom's car. "Beep-beep" Derrick yells out the driver's window at Jessica, who scowls at him. Forget him. She thinks to herself making a run to the house to get that shower first. She enters the passcode into the door to unlock it and then quickly rearms it, to slow Derrick in the process. "Mom! I'm home! Are you here?" There was no answer. Derrick probably dropped her off at the hospital. Her mom was a nurse. She tried to be home most of the time for everyone, but she would pick up shifts here and there to help pay the bills. Jessica kicked off her work shoes and ran up the stairs. She grabbed her robe and towel and locked herself in the bathroom. The time was 6:15 p.m. Jessica planned to take a fifteen-minute shower and then get out with plenty of time to get dressed, find her fluffball, and eat her leftover lunch before Tom's call.