Chapter Four

He paid with card and signed the receipt with his number . I took the receipt and scratched off his number and put the receipt back to the till .It was a boost of confidence but he wasn't my type.

when he left Laura finally entered . She was wearing a pair of oversized sunglasses when she walked in .

"You are late !"

I announced and came over to give her a hug.

"I know".

"Let me see those sunglasses."

I stepped back and glared at her

"Why? they are just sunglasses, Laura began to pull back and as she walked backwards . I followed her .

"Those aren't just sunglasses, if they were ,you would have left them in the car like you always do ."

"Oh come one, I can't change my style up a bit?"

"You got shit housed last night!"

"I did not" she was holding an energy drink.

"Tell me what happened, I'm craving a human conversation right now." I laughed

"You sure it's not because you mad I came in late today."

"That too , but honestly Laura am dying out of curiosity. All I think about is this friggin bakery."

"Oh I know"

Chloe took off her apron from the hook and tied it around. I have been telling you , all you do is worry about this shop and you refuse to do anything else with your time and that my friend is not healthy for you."

"I won't budge" I went into the walk-in and grabbed a crate of blueberries while Laura struggled to get the cauldron sized mixing bowl out from underneath the sink.

"That's your problem Maya , you are so fixated on your carrer that you forget everything else that is happening around you. There are alot of beautiful moments, beautiful people to meet as well, if you just take your time and listen."

"This was not the conversation I was hoping for"

"And that's why you are lonely ,"Laura said as I walked out with the blueberries.I pulled a bowl from the shelves above the sink with a box full of sugar .

"I found a recipe that I want to try out."

"Really?"

Laura, lat me change the subject .

"Yeap, apricot streusel"

"I don't know ,it sounds a little weird."

"Not if you do it right, it's actually pretty good" I pulled out my phone to show her the recipe .

"That's sounds so good"

"I Knw right"

"But we can't make them."

"Why not?"

"Because we'll be making scones all day ."

Laura wrinked her nose."It's cause am late right"

"Yeah , but I was late too." we both laughed

"I refuse to believe that ."

"Well believe it."

---

The door rang so I went over to help the customers.Two twins stood at the shop ,both with shaggy hair. They looked like they were in their early twenties. One stared at the menu while the other stared at me with a grin in his face that run from ear to ear.

"Hi, how can I help you guys ?" the twin that was staring over my shoulder next to the wall looked down.His eyes had caught something,I took a quick glance through the shop. Laura was giving him a seductive smile .They were closing in now, coming closer to the counter. The twin who'd been smiling at me leaned in.

"Just two coffee"

"That's all" Laura asked .

I glared at her .

"No", the other twin interjected, I was waiting for him to say something instead he pulled out his phone and said , "You should give me your number "

she blushed . "Give me one good reason why I should do that ."

A good night out, maybe more ,it's worth the risk."

To other twin nodded letting his eyes go through my body.

"We're heading to the club Tonight, you guys should join us . The more the merrier"

"I don..."

"Ofcourse we will, why not"Laura interjected.as she pushed me aside and went to the register where she took two pieces of clean sheets of paper and gave me one of them.

"Cammon it will be fun" Laura said as she scribbled her number to her piece of

paper.

I had to options either to rub my ego and this came at the expense of losing two customers in a rather slow day or leave my life at the hands of a complete stranger for a whole night. ofcourse I picked the latter cause I wasn't ready to loose money because of my ego.

"okay I guess"I said as I wrote my number on the piece of paper and gave it to the other twin.

''Whats your name?' he asked .

''Melissa'' I said lying . ''

''Whats yours ?''

''Bryson.'' He extended his hand for a handshake.''Nice to meet you.''

''You too'. I shook his hand .

''You guys sure you just want Coffee?''

''I'll try one of these apple scones ,''Brysone said .

I bagged one up for him and walked back to the register where Laura was leaning overe the counter, talking to her twin quietly.

I cleared my throat.

''Oh sorry'' Laura stepped awy from thr register so I could get to it , and her twin followed her over the to the pastries. when he stepped aside I saw Mr. Beetle looking in the window smoking a olled up cigarrette.

''Oh, thats so disgusting ''Laura pulled a blueberry scone out for her twin and brought it up to the register.''

Ge's going to stink the whole place up.''

''You want me to get rid of him ?'' her twin asked.

''No ,Brandon . Its okay . But i'm not helping him'' . She turned to me.

''I want him gone.''

Banning a customer was against everything I believed in . He had real money and I needed every coin I could get. ''I'll handle him .''

Mr Beetle turned around to look inside again then threw his cigarrette and leaned against the wall.

''You sure?" Bryson asked

''Yeah , Iam . He's never given me any trouble before.''

''All right.'' Bryson shrugged .''Are you guys coming tommorrow?"

''We'll be there ,'' Laura said .

Bryson looked at me . He clearly wanted an answer.

''We'll see.'' That was the best he was going to get.

''I'll text you.'' The twins grabbed their bags and walked outside .

''What was that Melisa crap?"

Laura asked as soon as they were gone.

''What?''

''They were supermodels .What were you thinking?''

''That I dont know them.''

''Maya, if you dont let loose , you're gonna loose your mind.''

''I just didnt want to get pressured into getting with some random starnger.''

''Well , what else are you going to do? You've gotta get out and meet people .Its not just about sex either . You've gotta netweork.''

''Laura...''

''What?''

''Look.'' I pointed outside . Mr Beetle was running up to the twin's car, his head down like he was about to headbutt one of them . Then they got in the car , and he headed straight for the back window. The red lights flashed in the back of the sedan . He jumped back and ran over to the front door where he picked up his cigarette butt and lit it.

''All right, that's it.'' Laura pulled out her phone.

''What are you doing ?''I asked her.

''What do you think I'm doing ? I'm calling the cops. He just tried to attack two of our customers .''

''He's not a acriminal. He 's mentally ill.

''I...''Mr Beetle walked in the door. Laura turned around and walked back into the kitchen . ''H's all yours .''

He seemed like the sensitive type , definitely an outcast . I'd always have a soft spot for people like that , but the smell of him was horrific . It was like rotten urine mixed with the festuring odor of old sweat and feaces . Probaly the result of years withou showering.

''Hi,''I felt a was of bile rise up in the back of my throat .

''Hello, Maya . How are you today ?''

''Good , what can I get ya?''

He cocked his head to teh side , just like a pigeon , and said, ''Well , dont you want to know how my day went ?''

''I hope it's going well. We have some apple scones if you'd like one ''

He held his head low .''No , no . That's okay '' He turned around to walk out , the stopped and met my eyes for a second . It was like somebody had thrown a abucket of ice water over my head . Ther was something in that look.

''Is everything okay?''Laura stpped out of the kitchen.

''Yeah , its fine .''I said .

''Excuse me sir...''

I glared at Laura and whispered through clenched teeth ,''Dont you dare.''

''I'm sorry sir.''Luara stpped foward defiantly to address Mr Beetle who was facing the door.

''You're gonna have to leave''

He spun around , walked right up to her , and said , ''You leave , I'm not here for you.''

''Laura..''

''Fine.''She walked back into the kitchen

''I'm really sorry about that ,'' I said .

''Its fine.''He started looking overe the pastries .

''Was there something you wanted ?" I asked .

''An apple scone.''he said definitely.

''Coming right up.'' I rang him up as fast as I could , witha sweet smile and a touch of compassion.

Laura walked in as soon as he left .''Did you hear what he said ?''

''I dont wanna think about it , I'm tired , and we have work to do. It's nothing but work for you . You need to get out and have some fun.

You've got cabin fever.''

''You're right .'' I hadn't done anything for myself in what seemed like decades .

''So, you're going to the club with me tomorrow then ?''

''Yeah, I guess I am.''

''Good ,''Layra laughed finally satisfied. ''Lets get to work.''