The day had been a whirlwind of emotions. From being absolutely exhausted to hyper on happiness and anger boiling at my fingertips for admitting I needed help. I always thought asking for help would make me feel worse, more vulnerable or weak, but as a matter of fact it felt empowering because now, I knew I could get my life back on track, not having to hide my struggles from the world.

Lukas had dropped me off at the café and I was more than ready to tag along Zach's shift. I loved this place and a job here would put a smile on my face every day, besides nothing could be worse than the diner. At least here I also didn't have to wear skates or a skimpy uniform. Just a regular black polo shirt, a cap and a love for coffee and pastries. I can already tick off that last one.

I was nervous though, my hand hesitantly placed on the doorknob. I took a deep breath and pushed through, directly heading to the register where Zach was clearly waiting for me. He held up his arm looking at his watch, a smile on his face as he looked at me approach through his thick eyelashes. "You're early, are you trying to impress me?" He smirked, nodding at me to follow him. He had his cap twisted on his head, the way I like it when Lukas does that. Zach's caramel hair stood out against the black of the cap as it messily stuck out from under it.

"Should I?" I chuckled while I tailed him to the back where only employees were allowed to come.

"I think you already got that covered." He said while grabbing something from a locker. "Here's your shirt and cap, you can change in there." He pointed to a door which I guessed was the dressing room. "I'll wait here." He smirked, his green eyes surely shimmering for some reason as I took the shirt and cap from him.

I got dressed in the dressing room, flashbacks of that hideous diner uniform still going through my head. Jesus, I'm traumatized for life by that place. I shook my head back to reality before walking out and my eyes fixated on Zach nonchalantly leaning against the opposite wall, his hands dangling in his pockets. Zach sure is handsome, I would be lying if I called him anything different and not to forget charming, but I don't get Lukas's concern, I could never betray him for a maybe with someone I barely know.

I smiled when he looked up, the corners of his mouth tugging up without mercy. "I'm ready for this." I exhaled, adjusting the cap on my head. Thank god this cap is covering up my poor attempt at a ponytail.

"Good, I'll show you around and teach you how to make some straight amazing coffee." He smiled giving me a once over before he nodded again and guided me out front. My nerves gradually got worse as Zach showed me all the equipment it took to make a coffee, and not one coffee but several types. Why can't people just drink a normal cappuccino like me, I don't need all the caramel syrup things.

"Uuuhm, and how many different coffees am I supposed to make?" I ask him while I attempted to make a regular cappuccino and he nearly lost it with laughter. I was lucky the café was almost empty apart from a couple of girls sitting by the window.

"About 12." He laughed while he saw me struggle with the milk dispenser. Dammit, this is harder than I thought. "I know, people are demanding when it comes to coffee these days." He chuckled, as he took a step towards me, which wasn't really helping with my nerves. "Just relax, you got this." He said softly while taking the dispenser from my hands, his finger accidently brushing against mine. "Like this." He smirked while I tried to focus on the manual actions it took to make a damn single coffee. "It's okay you'll get the hang of it soon. I struggled too in the beginning." He chuckled while I looked up, his eyes comforting and reassuring. There was a certain softness that he carried around him, something that was highly magnetic and probably the reason why I felt a little bit nervous around him, because to be honest I wasn't used to people being this nice to me.

"So how long have you been working here?" I said after taking a deep breath. I couldn't contain my curiosity when his eyes kept fixed on mine.

"Since it opened, my parents kind of own it." He said and I wasn't sure what to make of the expression he was wearing on his face.

He leaned back against the counter as I tried to make the next coffee on the list. A straight espresso, that shouldn't be too hard. I thought as I pressed the button on the machine. "Aha, so you're the one calling the shots here?" I smiled but he didn't return it back. Oh okay I think I said something wrong. Way to go Isabella...

"That's not how it is, I just work here like everybody else. They're living back in New York. They just thought let's buy a coffee house at the university my kid works." He shook his head, clearly annoyed by that fact. "I'm studying business. Son, doing business is in your blood, my dad has been saying ever since I was born." He confessed, his eyes clearly holding a grudge and lack of passion for the subject.

"Oh well the pressure." I shook my head, not getting why parents try to push their kids in to what they think they should do. I was never pushed like that though, I got pushed around instead. "So let me guess...Business wasn't yourfirst choice?" I said, while handing the finished cup of espresso to him. "Here, cheer up." I smiled at him as he playfully shook his head in return.

"I can't stand the taste of coffee anymore..." He grinned, clearly trying to dodge the subject.

"Don't tell me you're a tea kind of guy? You're clearly not a business kind of guy either." My curiosity got the better of me when I picked up the subject. Really smooth.

"Definitely not." He said putting the cup on the counter next to the machine, smiling at me, his eyes holding a mystery and he looked at me through his eyelashes again. Alright how much more smoldering can someone look at somebody.

"The tea or business?" I said, leaning against the counter, mirroring his actions.

"Both." He said softly looking down at his Vans. "You are a curious person, aren't you?" He almost muttered to himself before looking back up, our eyes meeting halfway, but locking instantly.

"Now I surely am curious what keeps you going all day long if you don't drink coffee or tea." I let out followed by a laugh, his eyes lighting up.

He slightly shook his head, playfully and cute, before adjusting the cap on his head a little. "Have you seriously never heard of an energy drink?" He laughed, crouching down to grab something from the little fridge below the counter, seconds later holding up a light blue colored can. "That's what keeps me going. You should try." He smirked, putting the can back into the fridge, where I now knew he kept his stash of energy drinks.

"Yeah, nope. Those taste disgusting." I chuckled while he got back up, leaning his hands on the counter next to me.

"So will coffee if you work here for longer than a couple of months." He chuckled again, the sound of his laugh different than any other laugh and also very contagious.

"I'm not so sure all of a sudden if I still want to work here then, if it'll ruin coffee for me." I said, exaggerating the confusion in my expression by heavily frowning my brows.

"You work here?" A familiar and highly annoying voice said from behind. Alright life, are you fucking kidding me? I turned around meeting the girl that was ready to order a coffee or whatever her apatite desired. Quite frankly I could care less about what she wanted, hell I didn't even want to speak to her right now.

"Jess." I addressed her while I scanned her face, her hair shorter than normal. Guess I got her and her extensions good. I felt Zach's eyes on me as soon as I spoke her name, the annoyance and anger clearly audible in my voice, I wasn't even trying to hide it.

"Unbelievable!" She loudly scoffed. "First you work at the diner, now you're in my coffee house? Are you stalking me?" She hissed like the toxic serpent she was. I tried my best not to burst out in laughter when her delusional words hit the back of my head.

"Sure seems like you're following me around Jess, not the other way around. The only time I saw you at the diner was to tell me lies about Lukas. I think you're the one stalking me?" I said, staring at her like she had the plague. She surely didn't have the plague, at most an STD. "Trust me if anything, I want to stay away from you as far as possible." I said, Zach's eyes still pinned on me. Jesus Bella, now is not the time to spill you're inner thoughts. You need this job and being mean to customers will not be appreciated. Get it together. I balled my fists to try and sooth my anger.

Jess scoffed again, her eyes rolling violently. Please have her eyeballs stay stuck at the back of her head, that would be so amusing. "Why don't you just shut up and do your job. Look at you, working jobs to stay in college. You're actually a perfect example of failing at life Isabella. Don't you get it. People like you will never be on top." She smirked, taking her wallet from her purse.

"I think the only on top you know is not quite the on top that matters to have made it in life, but hey believe whatever you want to believe. If that makes you proud..." Shut... It... Isabella. Why hasn't Zach already pulled me away from behind the register. I looked at Zach and his eyes what I thought were going to be shooting daggers, were watching me filled with amusement instead. What? Suck it up and do your job. Oh my I'm using Gregory's words to give myself a pep talk, I'm losing my mind. "That aside. What can I get you?" I changed the game plan and smiled at Jess, inwardly I barfed but nobody but myself needed to know that.

"Caramel Latte macchiato..." She rolled her eyes at me. Bitch. Of course she had to order something Zach hadn't shown me how to make. I looked at Zach and like he could read my mind he stepped up, or more like stepped in.

"Hey Bella, I'll do this one if you don't mind. The machine sometimes jams when making a latte." He lied, his hand warm when he placed it into the small of my back to push me towards the machine, leaving Jess impatiently waiting for her coffee. "Just watch and learn." He whispered before playfully winking at me. He started making the macchiato but before adding the milk, which I supposed was the next step, he grabbed something from under the counter. A white transparent bottle labeled apple cider vinegar was now twisted in his hands as he tried to get the cap off.

I leaned in making sure that Jess under no circumstance got to see how he made her coffee, because I was pretty sure vinegar wasn't a normal ingredient to make a latte, like ever. "What are you doing?" I whispered secretively.

"Just giving the sourpuss over there a little sour to go with her facial expressions." He chuckled while adding a large splash of vinegar to the cup. He cocked his head to the side, his face joyous while biting on his bottom lip, a smile still lingering on his face. "What? Are you going to stop me?" He chuckled when I furrowed my brows at him.

"Nope, not at all." I laughed silently before putting my hand in front of my mouth. If I hadn't, I would have for sure let out a loud and suspicious laugh. Zach softly budged his elbow against my arm when he added the milk, the coffee looking like any other latte. He's a genius!

"Here you go, Isabella. One Caramel Latte macchiato..." He said with a masterly smirk on his face as he handed me the cup. "With extra flavor." He whispered, both our hands on the cup before he pulled it towards him while leaning into me. "Don't tell anyone." He whispered near my ear, a grin instantly shooting across my lips.

"I'll take our secret to my grave..." I whispered, taking the cup from his hand, his fingers accidently brushing against mine once more which now made me slightly nervous. I walked back to see an annoyed Jess on the other side of the counter. "Here you go. That's 3,50 please." I said in my politest manner.

"So, how's Lukas? Still hasn't gotten sick of you?" She squeezed her eyes at me, while putting exactly 3,50 on the counter. What no tip for me? You scrooge.

"He surely hasn't, thanks!" I stayed extremely polite, for the sole reason I had pleasure in knowing what was in her coffee.

"Well he'll find me when he does!" She shrugged before taking the cup and turning her back to me, dramatically throwing her hair over her shoulder. The image was so cliché it nearly made me gag.

"Hey Jess." I said sweetly which made her look back with surprise. "I'm sorry." I grinned before putting my lips in a straight line, a mere attempt to hold my laugh to myself.

"Fuck you, Isabella." She muttered before making her way out of the building.

"No fuck you." Zach laughed while joining me at the counter, both of our gazes following Jess as she walked past the window at the front of the café. I held my breath when she brought the cup to her lips, taking a big sip from her supposed latte. As soon at the coffee hit her tongue, her face went sour. This is the best thing ever. I laughed, Zach's arm nudging mine, both of us laughing loudly. "Oh shit, she's coming back." He laughed when we saw Jess spitting out the coffee and angrily walking back towards the entrance. "Get down." He laughed while pulling me down on the floor with him behind the counter, my hands covering my mouth so my ridiculous laugh wouldn't give us away. I looked at Zach, he held his index finger to his lips urging me to stay quiet as he had his other arm around my shoulders, keeping us low. I had noticed that by going down so fast his cap fell of his head, his caramel hair messily hanging down his forehead.

"You bitch! What the hell did you do to my coffee?" We heard Jess yell right on top of us on the other side of the counter. I had to bite my lip now in order not to scream it out with joy. "Hellooooo...? Where the fuck is everybody?" She said as the two only people working here were hiding from her. "I'll get back at you Isabella. One way or the other!" She yelled before we heard the tapping of her heels against the floor fade in the background.

Zach slowly dropped his finger from his mouth, his arm however still around me. "Do you think she's gone?" I whispered softly my eyes fascinated by the color of his. Green but a different shade than mine, bluer, more specs of yellow, overall just very intriguing.

"I don't know." He chuckled, his arm letting go of me to pop his head above the counter. "She's standing in front of the window. She'll go away..." He said, quickly sitting back down on the floor with me.

"Zach, you're wild! Why did you do that?" I whispered, playfully shaking my head at his with a smile on my face.

"Do I hear you complaining?" He laughed cupping his hand around his ear while frowning his brows at me until he wasn't able to hold his laugh.

"Ha no!" I said lightly pushing at his shoulder which made him lose his balance for a second. "Do you know her?" I asked curiously, taking my cap off as it was feeling hot on top my head, Zach captivated by my every move.

"No but you seemed to have a problem with her." He shrugged his shoulders, his mouth parting slightly. "And nobody is that mean to the people I work with without getting crap for it." He said, getting to his feet and sticking his hand out for me to reach. I grabbed his hand so he could help me up. My small hand drowning in the size of his. "Especially not the cu-.. Uhm fun ones." He said while he swiftly let go of me, his hand disappearing to the back of his neck to give it a nervous rub.

"So...does that mean I get the job?" I hesitantly asked him, wiggling from one foot to the other while he bowed down, grabbing both our caps from the floor and dusting them off a bit.

"Do you want it?" He said, smiling face wide, his white teeth on display in a happy yet charming way.

"When do I start?" I smiled, trying to contain my enthusiasm but failing when that came out higher pitched than I intended.

"I'll put you on the schedule." He laughed, surprising me by playfully putting my cap on my head and roughly pulling it over my forehead so I couldn't see.

"Hey!" I raised my voice, my laughter loud enough to attract the attention from the two solely customers still sitting by the window.

"Get used to it, Isabella. We're working together now, secretly mixing vinegar and coffee." Zach laughed and it made me shake my head as I enjoyed having that as a memory. The look on Jess's face really made my day.

"I still can't believe you did that." I giggled, putting the cap on my head like I was supposed to, instead of all over my forehead.

"Don't worry, it's not like my parents can fire me. It would be bad for my business experience." He chuckled and at that a group of caffeine addicted college students walked through the door. "Are you ready to make some coffee." He nodded towards the group approaching the register.

"Zach, try to keep up with me will you, I was ready for it yesterday." I joked, knowing that the first coffees I'd made probably still needed some of his guidance in order not to ruin them.

It was nice to work at a place that had such a positive vibe, even if the queen of snakes were to walk in. It was nice to work with Zach too, it was light and fun being around him, and it sure was fun being silly together at the job. I can't wait to tell Lukas how today has been. I really need to thank him for asking Zach about the job here. He knew I would love it and he was right. Accepting his help was the best thing I could have done, I owe him more than I could ever explain.

❤️

💡

➡️

💎

🤩