the coffee counter watching people on their first dates, or with their heads hidden behind laptops.
Julian's was pretty quiet. I was working with Jessica who was nice enough, but we didn't interact a lot. She was a graduate student who worked for extra cash and took any shift available. She'd trained me and other than normal chit chat, I knew little about her.
I busied myself but I could only wipe down the same empty tables so many times. To ward off boredom, I'd tucked a mystery novel in a shelf with napkins and stir sticks and given the chance, I'd casually read a page here and there. Jessica didn't care and often had her books out too. Reading for fun was getting harder and harder to do with all my school work mounting, but since I was lacking in the friends department, I enjoyed a fictional escape here and there.
"Any éclairs?"
I jumped and smiled when I saw Zach standing at the counter. "Sorry, I'm still perfecting those."
He leaned back and perused the glass display counter. "What's good?"
"Everything, but I recommend the coffee cake. It's a secret recipe."
"Then I'll have that. Large black coffee too. And whatever you're having."
"I've already had three today, but thanks for offering."
"Do they give you a break?"
"Go ahead, take fifteen," Jessica said, overhearing us. She had her tablet out and was tapping away. That's how busy we were on a Friday night.
"Thanks."
We sat at one of the many empty tables and I watched him devour my coffee cake.
"Shit, this is good," he said, licking his lips.
"I told you. So what brings you out here on a Friday night? No frat parties?"
"No, I'm done with those. I just came back from a study session with some people from class. We have a project coming up. I was driving by and thought I'd see if you were working. How have you been?"
"I'm good."
"And how are things with Jake?"
"We're co-existing right now. I decided not to tell Dad and see how things go with Jake. I've managed to avoid everyone from the cabin. Thankfully I don't have classes with them."
"I think you already know this, but Jake is an asswipe."
"But he's still my friend."
Zach cringed. "He's not your friend. A friend wouldn't do what he did."
"I know you don't understand. Bianca has this strange hold over him and eventually he'll see the kind of person she is."
"And come back to you?" he finished.
I looked away from Zach's suffocating stare. "I didn't say that."
"I know you like him and I wish I could say that he feels the same way about you. I'm not telling you this to hurt your feelings, but he isn't going to wake up one morning and realize he's loved you his entire life. This isn't a fairy tale."
"I don't feel that way about him."
He smirked. "I'm going to call bullshit on that."
"You can call it whatever you want. I don't care."
His eyes scanned me, looking for a crack, wondering if I'd crumble. Little did he know that I'd spent my entire life with the façade of apathy. My survival and sanity depended on me not being broken. I put up an Iron Curtain and Zach Walker wasn't getting through.
"Well, when you finally realize what an ass he is, I can help you find a place to live. But the longer you stay in that apartment, the harder it will be to leave."
"I appreciate the offer."
He stood to leave. "Let me know when you get those éclairs in."
"I will."
He waved and left. I resumed my position behind the counter with Jessica staring at me. Did I spill something? I checked my black Julian's apron and saw nothing out of the ordinary.
"What's wrong? Is there something on my face? Did I get something on me?" I asked.
"No." She paused as if to ponder something. "How do you know Zach Walker?"
"Long story. Why?"
"He's the senator's son. You know that, right?"
"Yes, so?"
"Are you dating him?"
"No!" I said it like it was the most disgusting thing in the world. "He's a friend."
"He's a good friend to have."
I smiled. "Yeah, he's pretty nice."
"If you like him, be careful. He leaves a trail
Dave Nasser and Lynne Barrett-Lee