The sweet, toasty smell of pastries was in the air, but I wouldn’t have known it was morning if I hadn’t checked my phone. The floors, walls, and ceiling were all made of dark brown wood. The lights that drooped from the side of the walls were a dim yellow. Circle tables lined the walls with tall vases of red roses that my Mama said gave the place a ‘mature feel’.
“Teya, did you sweep yet? It’s five minutes ‘till 11:30 and you’re still sitting in that chair foolin’ around,” Mama said, wiping off the top of the glass display counter.
I looked up from my phone and huffed. Why couldn’t I just read in peace? I slid from behind the table and walked over to the back of the restaurant to grab the broom.
I reluctantly got to sweeping the dark wooden floors. “Mama, why’d Pops want our third location to be in this city? I think this place has enough bakeries already.”
“You barely gave here a chance! Try to enjoy the city, make new friends, see new places. Don’t knock it before you try it, Teya. More importantly, have you eaten today?”
Uh. More nagging. “Mama,” I started.
The bell tone at the front made a dull ring.
The boy who came in was tall, with messy black curls and orangish-brown skin, the type you might see in cinnamon powder.
His green eyes slid across the bakery and then he took a moment to look at me.
He turned to the counter and looked at Mama. “Hey, this place is brand new.”
“Mmm-hmm. This is our third location, woo! My husband’s so proud!” Mama smiled at him.
“Yeah, nice to see another sweets shop in town. My name’s Michael.”
“Well Michael, I’m Salisha. That’s my daughter Siteya over there. We call her ‘Teya’ for short.”
Mama pointed over the counter at me, and I felt all my confidence in speaking drain away from me. I resorted to waving, and Michael gave me a cheek-rounded smile and waved back.
He then picked two strawberry pastries and an orange juice. He gave Mama facts about the city while she bagged his pastries.
After sweeping, I went back to the table I had been sitting at and picked up where I had left off on my Ebook.
The girl was about to fall in love with her best friend. He had just saved her from a burning building and was carrying her out, bridle-style. I just loved it when ships did this in romance stories. The bridal-style carry never got old to me, and for a minute I let myself imagine I was the girl and- and then I heard the booth seat whoosh as Michael had decided to sit right next to me.
“Hey,” he smiled at me, then took a huge bite into one of his strawberry pastries.
“Um, hey.” I said, pulling my phone higher and closer to my face. He slid his other pastry at me. “Want this one?”
I looked at him with lowered eyelids. Did he just offer me one of the pastries my Mama made this morning? If I wanted one I would’ve gotten one ages ago! I’ve had hundreds of her jam-pies throughout my life and knew the recipe like my phone passcode. Jesus, was he flirting, or was offering stuff you just bought to the employees considered general courtesy around here?
“No thanks,” I said politely, though I was kinda hungry. Truth be told, I had skipped breakfast today.
He laughed awkwardly and said, “‘You explored the city yet? The place’s cool once you get used to it. There’s some places around here that are great for reading and stuff.”
“Nah, I haven’t really gone anywhere yet,” I said honestly. But I didn’t wanna go anywhere ever. I wouldn’t mind staying home and reading YA contemporary fiction forever.
“Then you gotta come with me to the plaza one day,” He named a street I knew I wouldn’t remember for anything, and began blabbing about more gibberish that didn’t matter.
“Sure,” I said, barely listening to what he was saying. I was beginning to sweat, and I felt weak, as if holding my phone was a burden. I raised my other hand, and watched it subtly vibrate. Oh no. Was it happening? I snapped my head towards Michael, who looked like he had three heads. That’s when I knew it was happening.
I was having an episode!
“Mama!” I gripped the table and held my head with another hand. My phone fell to the ground. Plap!
Michael stopped talking and looked at me with wide eyes.
“Are you okay!?” he got up. His voice sounded muffly. My heart began to pound against my rib cage. Oh no, was I gonna pass out!? I hadn’t passed out in a long time! I don't wanna pass out! Please, not today!
“Teya don’t worry, I’m coming! Did you eat this morning?” Things were blurry, but I could see the shape of Mama rushing over to me.
“Teya’s diabetic, this could be a hypo episode,” Mama told Michael.
I slipped, but before I fell to the ground, Michael lifted me up in his arms, bridal-style. At least now I knew how the girl in my book felt when she got picked up: helpless and weak. Probably not as thrilled as I thought since when you're in danger, you’re not really focused on having romantic feelings.
He sat me in my chair at the table and handed me his juice. “Here, drink this!” he said, and I did as told.
I drank, then we all stood silent for a moment.
My heart was still racing. I hoped it wasn’t serious. I didn’t wanna die at 17. Why hadn’t I just ate that morning?
“‘You feeling better?” Mama asked.
“A little bit.”
“Well, in fifteen minutes we’ll test your blood sugar,” Mama said, and she rubbed my back. “I told you to eat this morning.”
I stared at the floor as my eyes watered. I had already embarrassed myself in front of our first customer.
“Thank you, Michael, for helping my daughter.” Mama smiled at him. “I’ll get you a new juice.” She began to walk to the counter.
Still embarrassed, I looked up at Michael, though it felt like trying to look at the sun. “S…horry I drank your juice. You…you didn’t deserve that,” My voice was waving more than a flag on a windy day.
Michael put up a hand. “It’s fine. Y’know, last week a friend of mine was about to pass out at school. He has asthma, and it was field day,”
He began to tell me stories from his days in school. Some of them were super-interesting, and some were really funny. As I laughed, I began to feel better. Michael was pretty neat after all! And sweet like sugar if I was being honest.
“I’m starting my senior year this fall,” I told him.
“Me too!” said Michael.
“Maybe we’ll see each other at school,” I smiled.
“Or before then. My family’s having a barbeque this weekend. Up for coming?”
I glanced at Mama, who smiled and nodded, and so I said, “Sure.”
Truthfully, I was a little shy about meeting new people, but I knew I had to give this place a try at some point, and Michael was the one shot I had at making a friend.
We talked for a while and he stuck around until I tested my blood sugar levels, which thankfully were back to normal. When he got up to leave, I said. “Wait, I wanna give you another drink.”
“I told you, it’s fine!” he waved me away, but I shook my head and said, “I insist!”
I quickly took a napkin and pen and scribbled away. Then I wrapped the napkin around his juice and handed it to him on his way out, just as another customer came in.
I then zipped to the aprons to tie one on. “Hey Mama, after my shift I wanna take a walk around here.”
“Sounds great!” Mama smiled at me. “Finally givin’ this place a chance huh?”
I laughed.
I then went out the front door and let the sun beam on me a minute, and looked around. The sidewalks were filled with people walking and talking by, and the fancy buildings across from us had their window shades half open. Stores illuminated the bottom floors of buildings. This place wasn’t so bad. I just had to give it a chance.
“Teya!”
I looked down the sidewalk and smiled. Michael waved at me one last time and began to read the napkin. My heart raced. Hopefully he’d call me!
Hey there! I’m Shila! I’ve loved books since I could read, and decided I would write books I wanted to see written for others! Check my children’s book Imagination on Amazon!
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