Celine
“Do you need a hand?” Xavier asked, picking up another apron and putting it on.
“Oh… you don’t have to. I got this.” I responded with a faint smile underneath my mask.
“But I want to.” He answered, turning to look at the next customer. “Your order, please.”
After finding out my father put a bounty on me, I lost focus. I became so disorganized because I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I became slow to prepare customer’s orders and even spilled coffee twice, right in front of the customers.
Xavier must have noticed this and that was why he decided to help.
‘Now, there is no way I’m coming out without a face cap or mask, except I change my look.’
I began to think of ways to do so, and I came up with a great idea. ‘I would trim my hair and put my wigs to work. I’ll learn how to apply makeovers that would completely change my face.’
My father may be a smart man, but I’m smarter.
After managing to get through the day with Xavier’s help, closing time was finally here. I couldn’t wait to get home and start putting my plans to work.
“Do you have plans after work?” Xavier asked as he removed his apron.
“Not really. Why?” I replied, picking up a napkin to clean the counter.
“I want us to have a chat. We can take a walk around town, or go anywhere you like.” He uttered, and I smiled.
“It’s fine, Xavier. I don’t want to bother you. It’s your face day back home. You should spend time with your family.” I retorted.
“Don’t worry about us, Jessica. He can always spend time with us later. You two should have fun together.” Mr. Norway answered from the front of his office door.
I was fully aware that Mr. Norway wanted me to get together with his son, which wasn’t a totally bad idea, but I wasn’t just interested.
My love was filled with enough complications already. I didn’t want to add a relationship to it.
“So…” He uttered, grinning widely.
“Okay.” I answered, and he nodded, smiling.
After I finished cleaning, I carried my tote bag and headed out of the coffee shop with Xavier. I held onto my scooter and pushed it as we walked.
At first, we were both silent, unsure about what to say to each other.
“So, my father told me you are pretty new in Beacon City.” He eventually found a topic of conversation.
“It’s been two weeks, I don’t think I should still be called new.”
He chuckled and raised his hands in the air. “That’s true. My bad. I was just repeating what I was told.”
“I know.” I replied, chuckling softly.
“So where did you come from?” He further asked.
“I came from New York City. I’ve been there literally my whole life. I just wanted a change of environment.” I lied.
It was better that he knew nothing about me.
“That’s great. Can I ask you something?” He asked, and I scoffed.
“You started asking questions already. Of course you can.” I answered, and he laughed.
“You’re right. So here is my question; do you always have that on?” He asked, pointing to my nose mask.
“Yes. Why?” I responded, lifting my head to look at his face from underneath my face cap.
“Nothing. I’d just love to see your face. That’s all,”
“Oh… what’s fun without some suspense?” I replied, and we both laughed.
“Right. But the suspense is killing me. I’ll wait though. Reveal the mystery at your own pace.”
“Thank you.”
We both went silent again, until suddenly he spoke up.
“I have been seeing those posters everywhere.” He uttered, pointing forward. I raised my head to see what he was talking about, and it happened to be the poster with my face on it.
‘Just when I thought I’d escape talking about it with him, he brings it up.’ I said to myself.
“What could such a pretty girl have done?” He further inquired, and I shrugged.
“Who knows?”
“Well, we shouldn’t be deceived by her innocent face. She is probably a criminal. No normal girl will have a $10,000,000 bounty on her.”
“Sometimes people just tend to upset innocent people too. This doesn’t mean she’s a criminal or something. We can’t just decide that. We don’t even know her.” I asserted in a defensive tone.
“Maybe you’re right. But I won’t hesitate to call the number if I see her. That money is a lot.” He uttered.
“What?” I asked, turning to look at him in disbelief.
“It was a joke, Jessica.” He responded with laughter, causing me to force out a laughter too.
Nothing was funny. My father just turned me to a criminal and now the whole state is after me!
“My house is down the street. I should release you now. Thank you so much for walking me home, and today in general, Xavier.” I uttered as I stopped walking.
I walked forward and turned to look at him.
“Oh… I wanted to walk you to your door. It’s late, you know?”
“You don’t have to, Xavier. You have done more than enough for me. And don’t worry, I will be fine. You and I know Beacon is a peaceful place.” I added as I turned to leave.
“Okay! See you tomorrow.” He responded and I waved him goodbye.
“Can I at least have your phone number?!” He asked, and I shook my head as I kept walking.
“Suspense, remember?” I answered with a smirk.
Getting into my apartment, the first thing I did was get rid of my nose mask. The heat that emitted from it was nothing to write home about.
“I can’t continue like this.” I muttered, throwing the mask to the other end of the room in frustration.
Opening my tote bag, I reached for the poster again and stared at it as I slammed into my sofa.
My eyes were fixed on the phone number written on it, and then a stupid idea popped up in my head.
I pulled out my phone from my bag and typed the number in it.
‘What are you doing, Celine? You shouldn’t be calling that number!’ My wolf, Kiara, yelled in my head, calling me back to my senses.
I stared at my phone screen, questioning my decision. ‘She is right. I shouldn’t be calling this number.’
I breathed out deeply and tossed the phone on the sofa in anger.
I removed my face cap and made my way to the kitchen to get some water when all of a sudden, I heard a voice from my phone.
“Hello?!… Hello?!”
‘No! No! No! No! I didn’t dial it!’ I yelled in my head, running to where my phone was.
I picked it up and instantly smashed it on the floor. I began to smash it with my shoes until it was completely destroyed.
“What the f**k.” I mumbled, falling to the ground as I tried to catch my breath.