Chapter 11 Going to the senior party
Alex
I wiped down one of the empty tables near the window while an elderly couple argued softly over whether blueberry muffins counted as breakfast or dessert.
Nancy stood behind the counter taking orders while humming badly to some pop song playing through the speakers.
The evening rush had finally died down, leaving the café quiet.My phone buzzed in my apron pocket and I pulled it out immediately.
Cecilia: I’m not doing that assignment
A smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth before I could stop it and I typed out a response.
ME: You haven’t even looked at it yet.
Three dots appeared instantly and then disappeared and then appeared again.
I chuckled under my breath.
Cecilia: because I already know I hate it
ME: dramatic as always
Cecilia: says the guy blackmailing me into academic slavery
I leaned against the counter while typing back.
ME: slavery is a strong word, Celia
Cecilia: stop calling me that
ME: no
Her response came almost immediately.
Cecilia: anyway I’m busy
ME: doing what?
This time her reply took longer.
Cecilia: getting ready for the senior party unlike some miserable people
I paused and let out a deep sigh. The senior party. Right. I had completely forgotten about it.
Honestly, parties at Blackwood were the last thing on my mind these days. Between school, work, bills, tutoring Cecilia and trying not to lose my mind at home, partying felt like something from another person’s life.
ME: finish the assignment first
Cecilia: no
ME: do you want Watkins to receive a certain video tonight?
The typing bubble appeared immediately this time.
Cecilia: you are literally evil
ME: answer the question
Cecilia: you’re such a buzz kill
A second later, a GIF popped up on my screen.
A cartoon character aggressively throwing both middle fingers at the camera.
I began to laugh before I could stop myself.
“What’s funny?”
I looked up too quickly to see Nancy standing in front of me holding a tray of dirty cups, her eyebrows raised suspiciously.
“N…nothing.” I stuttered.
“Uh huh.” She narrowed her eyes. “You’re smiling at your phone like an idiot.”
“I am not smiling.”
“You literally are.”
I immediately wiped the expression off my face.
Nancy snorted.
“Oh my God.” She gasped dramatically. “Is this a girl?”
“No.”
“You hesitated.”
“I did not.”
“You absolutely did.”
I rolled my eyes and shoved my phone back into my pocket.
Nancy leaned against the counter with an annoyingly smug expression.
“She’s that girl?”
I let out a deep sigh. “I’m supposed to be tutoring her and she’s giving me a hard time and talking about attending the school party.”
Nancy grinned. “You’re going right?”
I let out a dry laugh. “With what time exactly?”
“You could make time.” she shrugged.
“I have work.”
“You literally finish by eight.”
“And then I go home,” The words came out flatter than I intended.
Nancy’s expression softened slightly.She sighed and placed the tray down.
“Alex, you can’t spend your entire life working yourself to death.”
“I’m not.” I argued.
“You practically live here.”
She was right, but I wasn't going to give in that easily. “That’s because Barry likes threatening to fire me every two business days.”
“And yet you’re still the best employee here, better than me even.”
I snorted. It was rare to hear her admit that I was better than her.
Nancy folded her arms. “You should go to the party.”
“No.” I shook my head.
“Yes.” she insisted.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
I shook my head and returned to cleaning the counter.
Nancy stayed quiet for a moment before speaking again. “You only get senior year once, you know.”
Something uncomfortable twisted in my chest.
I hated when people said stuff like that. Because they acted like everyone got the luxury of enjoying high school.
“I can’t just leave them alone all night,” I muttered.
Nancy’s voice softened. “Your mom would survive one evening without you there.”
I didn’t respond.
“And Josh literally worships you,” she continued. “He’d probably think it’s cool that his brother went to a party.”
I looked away. “That’s not the point.”
“Then what is?”
I opened my mouth and then closed it again.
Because I honestly didn’t know.
Maybe I just didn’t fit into that world anymore. The world of parties and expensive clothes and stupid high school drama.
Before Nancy could continue interrogating me, the bell above the café door jingled loudly.
Barry walked in. He had that same irritated scowl etched on his face. But his frown deepened the moment his eyes landed on me.
“You’re late cleaning table six.”
“It’s already cleaned.”
“Then clean it again.” he said firmly.
Nancy rolled her eyes behind his back while I bit back a response.
Barry was in one of his moods again, which meant that everyone else had to suffer too.
He stomped behind the counter muttering to himself before suddenly turning towards me.
“And where were you yesterday?”
“School.” I swallowed. I didn't like when he questioned me like I did something wrong.
He frowned. “You’re always at school.”
“Yeah. That’s usually how being a student works.” I grinned.
Was that statement probably going to get me fired? Probably yes, but it wouldn't be the first time he fired me. I just resume again the next day.
He narrowed his eyes at me.vNancy quietly choked on laughter beside me.
Barry pointed a finger at me. “Don’t get smart with me, kid.”
“Wasn’t planning to.”
He grumbled something under his breath before reaching into his pocket and pulling out an envelope. He shoved it against my chest begrudgingly. “Your wages.”
I blinked in surprise. Usually payday wasn’t until another two days. I grabbed the envelope carefully.
“Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” Barry scoffed. “I had to cover your shift twice this week because you keep disappearing for those damn extra lessons.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “They’re mandatory.”
“Everything is mandatory with you kids these days.” he grumbled.
Nancy leaned towards me and whispered, “Take the money before he changes his mind.”
I almost laughed.
Barry glared at both of us suspiciously and Nancy grinned widely until he turned around and walked away.
“Promise me that you’re going to go to that party,” Nancy said.
I nodded. “I’ll think about it.”
As soon as I got home, I was surprised to see the porch light was on.
I frowned. That was strange.
For the past week, we’d been keeping most of the lights off to conserve power after the electricity got cut.
I stepped out of the car slowly and that was when I noticed it.
The living room light shining through the curtains and the noise coming from the TV.
I walked faster toward the house and pushed the front door open.
The lights were on, Every single one of them.
The old standing fan near the couch rotated lazily.
The television blasted some cartoon Josh liked.
And in the kitchen, my mother stood near the stove stirring a pot while humming softly under her breath.
For a second, I just stood there staring. My mom looked up first. The second she saw me, her entire face brightened.
“Alex!”
Josh came running from the living room at full speed.
“We have electricity again!” he yelled dramatically before crashing into me.
I let out a grunt as I caught him with one arm. “I can see that.”
“They turned it back on like an hour ago!” he said excitedly. “Mama paid them!”
I looked toward my mother in surprise.She smiled tiredly and wiped her hands on a kitchen towel.
“I got a call back from the company.”
Something in her expression made my chest tighten.
“How did your interview go?” I asked carefully.
She leaned against the counter and exhaled slowly.
“I think…” She paused like she was afraid to say it out loud. “I think it went well.”
Josh gasped loudly. “Does that mean you got the job?”
She laughed softly. “Not yet, honey. But they said they’ll call me back next week.”
“That means she got it,” Josh whispered loudly to me.
I chuckled quietly.
My mother rolled her eyes affectionately before turning back to the stove.
“There’s rice on the table,” she said. “And chicken.”
I blinked. Chicken. Not toast or cheap canned soup. An actual chicken.
Josh pumped his fist into the air dramatically.
“We’re rich again!”
My mother burst into laughter while I shook my head.
I dropped my bag beside the couch and sat at the table while my mother brought over the food.
She sat across from me while Mateo rambled endlessly about school and cartoons and how one of his classmates swallowed glue accidentally.
My mother noticed me glancing toward the ceiling light for probably the fifth time and smiled knowingly.
“You can stop staring at it,” she teased. “It’s not going anywhere.”
I chuckled at that.
Dinner ended with Mateo nearly falling asleep on the couch halfway through his cartoon.
Mom carried a blanket over him while I cleaned the dishes quietly.
When I finished, I checked my phone absentmindedly. Cecilia still hadn’t replied to my last text.
Later that night, while lying in bed staring at the ceiling, I found myself opening Cecilia’s messages again.
Then another thought slipped into my head.
I wanted to see how she looked in a dress. I wanted to see her at the party.