Chapter 25: *CHAPTER 25*

I brushed one of Mrs. Nisbitt's stray cat hairs that had clung to the hem of my skirt as I leaned against the service counter. This was getting out of hand. Way, way out of hand. But it wasn't like I could miss any more days of work. I might need to pay for a new car and the mortgage this month since I haven't heard back from David about the payment. Not to mention school expenses. I had an academic scholarship, but I still needed money for housing.

A ball of stress wound its way into my stomach as the list of things to worry about progressively got longer. It was going to be fine. I took up that mantra in my head with a few deep breaths to steady myself. It was just a rough patch, but I'd get through it. And then I'd be off to college. I'd start a new phase of my life, and leave this mess behind me. I always managed to figure things out and I'd do it again now.

Even still, the beginnings of a migraine took root at the back of my skull. A dull aching throb that was building to something uncomfortable. Standing in the service area, I pulled out a mug to work on Malcolm's coffee. As I thought of his smug voice, I felt my jaw clench again, annoyance rekindling.

He'd ordered coffee with nothing in it, but something came over me in that moment. Something petty. With a wide—and I'm sure slightly manic smile—I poured enough sugar in his coffee to make even an Oompa Loompa wince. I stirred it into his coffee with malicious glee. It was beyond childish, I knew, but if he was going to sit in my section and take away from my tips, at least I could get a little entertainment out of it.

Malcolm didn't acknowledge me as I placed his coffee mug in front of him on the table, though I could feel the weight of his attention. He was slouched in his chair, typing away at his phone. When I stopped by to place mugs at the table next to him, from the corner of my eye, I saw him lift the mug to his lips. He visibly flinched as he took the first sip of his coffee and I had to grind my teeth together to keep from laughing out loud.

The heated glare on the side of my face was back, but I saw him take another sip of the drink. Like it was a challenge. A game he planned on winning. The next time I passed his table, his mug was empty. Thankfully, though, Malcolm had done what I'd asked and kept the glaring to a minimum, working on something at his table. Though I felt his eyes on me from time to time. The stress migraine that started when Malcolm showed up continued to get worse as my shift wore on.

I could feel a cold sweat breaking out on my skin. And I moved more and more slowly around the cafe.

When there was a lull in the customers, I made my way to the break room, needing to sit down. I plopped into a chair, leaning back as, and closing my eyes in an attempt to ward off the migraine.

I was taking a sip of water when Lauren came into the break room, "You okay?" I heard the chair next to mine scrape as she sat down, "You're looking a little pale."

"Migraine," I grunted, taking another sip of water.

"Hold on, I keep some Midol in my bag."

More rustling from across the room, the tiny scraping sounds making my head pound like there was a jackhammer rooting around in there. I felt her cool hand on mine as she slipped some pills in my hand.

"Have I told you how amazing you are today?" I slipped the pills between my lips, only choking on them a little as I swallowed them down with water.

"You could stand to say it more," There was a smile in her voice, "So..." more scraping as she sat down in the chair beside mine again. I knew what was coming before she spoke by the tone of her voice, "You gonna tell me about that guy, or should I just keep making these wild assumptions that would probably piss you off if I said them aloud?"

"There's nothing to tell."

"Really? Because he's been here a long time. Mostly watching you from what I've seen."

Watching? Plotting my death more like it.

"He's a jerk. He's just here to be a pain."

There was a long pause as she considered this, "You want me to tell him to leave? I'll do it, you know I will. I'll punch him in his hot face if he's bothering you."

In spite of myself, I choked out a laugh, making my head throb in the process, and I winced, "Stop making me laugh, it hurts too much."

"Seriously, Kass, you want me to get rid of him?"

I let out an amused grunt, picturing Lauren kicking Malcolm to the curb, then let out a resigned sigh, "It's fine, he's just making sure I'm okay. He's being annoying about it, but he's not a pervert or anything. As far as I know anyway."

"Well, if you're sure."

"I'm sure." I opened my eyes then, blinking against the blinding fluorescent lights of the break room, eyes watering against the brightness of it all. "I should get back out there."

"I can get your tables their checks if you want," she offered, taking a sip from the overly large water bottle that she carried with her everywhere.

"I'm okay, the medicine should be kicking in soon."

I pulled myself to my feet then and immediately regretted it.

The room around me started spinning. The furniture turned blurry and fuzzy. Everything went hot, then cold. Then hot again.

Spots of different colors danced across my vision.

And I was gone as everything went black.