MIA HENSHAW

MIA HENSHAW

I sagged against the door as I got home, tired from the day's experience. Cindy and Tina had made me go home before closing hours after my encounter with Mr Popular-Xavier.

His behavior was even worse than I imagined. He was truly the definition of ‘conceited’. I didn't understand why people

worshiped people like them.

He called me a fan. Jokes on him as I had no idea who he was.

I stood up from where I sat on the floor and dumped my bag on the chair. Katie wasn't home yet and was probably not going

to be home until very late which meant I had to prepare dinner.

However, that was the last thing on my mind. I went to the living room where our jointly-owned laptop sat on the coffee table.

I waited for it to boot after which I connected it to the router. Going to Google, I typed in Xavier Banks and began my research.

~•|~•|~•|

The sound of shuffling feet and clanking of metal woke me up from where I had fallen asleep on the floor, Xavier's portrait

staring at me.

“Katie, is that you?” I asked, getting to my feet.

“Who else is it going to be?” She replied from the kitchen. “Why were you staring at Xavier's picture? I'm even surprised you

know who he is or did you get there by accident?” She asked, rinsing her hands and proceeding to dry them on the napkin.

“You know him, also?” I asked as I helped her set the table for dinner.

“Of course. Who wouldn't know one of the hottest men to ever walk the planet? Ahh, there is you.” She said, shaking her head.

“I was trying to watch a movie of his but I fell asleep.”

She let out a shocked gasp. “You were trying to watch a movie? Are you okay? Did someone say anything to you? Are you

heartbroken?” She bombarded me with questions.

I laughed. “Is it so unusual?”

“Yes. Very much so. Did anything happen today?” She asked, dropping a jug of water on the table and setting down cups.

“Did you cook or you ordered?” I asked, stalling for time.

“I ordered. Somehow, I knew you wouldn't be able to cook today. Mondays are always hectic for us.” She replied, sitting down

and dishing out a plate. “So, what happened today?”

“I found out what my mysterious customer's name is.” I muttered. “I also saw his face clearly today.”

“It's always nice to put a name to a face.”

She responded. “What is his name?”

I let out a breath. “His name is Xavier Banks.”

“The Xavier Banks? The one whose picture you were staring at before you slept off. He is the customer with the nasty temper

who likes giving away his money?” She shouted.

“We had an argument today, also.” I mumbled, toying with my food.

“What did you just say?” She screamed.

“You had a fight with Xavier?Am I dreaming?”

“Stop being so dramatic. I wouldn't call it an argument. More like a misunderstanding.” I explained to her. “He left his wallet, I found it and he thought I was a fan because of how nice I was to him.”

“Oh my. Are you okay, Mia? Hope he didn't say anything offensive?” She asked. I looked at her food, sitting untouched and

smiled at her.

“He called me an obsessed fan and a thief but I'm fine. Tina and Cindy stepped up for me and were able to convince him that

I didn't know who he was since I do not watch movies.”

“What? How dare he?” She said, “I'm going to…”

“Before you do anything, know that he has apologized and we've cleared the misunderstanding. Everything is settled now.”

She sighed. “I didn't think he was like that. He always seemed calm and cool headed whenever he was captured off set. I find

it difficult to think that he really is like that.”

I nodded, putting a piece of chicken in my mouth and chewing happily. During my ‘research’ on Xavier, seventy percent of the

results were blogs about him. Rumors about his affairs, his family and his health.

In a way, we were similar. We had both been abandoned at one point in our lives and betrayed by people we trusted. That's

probably why I wasn't taking offense at what he said — I was still angry back at the cafe but because of Cindy, I had to lie

that I had forgiven him.

“Why are you smiling like that?” Katie asked, interrupting my train of thoughts.

“I was just thinking about something.” I chuckled. “Why are you staring at me in that manner?”

“Do you have a crush on him? I'd totally understand but I have to break it to you that you do not stand a chance of winning

his heart.” She said with a face so serious I burst out laughing.

“You are hilarious, Katie. Who crushes on someone who has been nothing but rude to them?” I said amidst laughter.

She shrugged. “Some people have that fetish.” She replied. “Weren't you the one that came home gushing about the handsome

side profile and beautiful eyes of your mysterious customer? Was he not rude then?”

I chuckled. “You never give up. How is law school going?”

She let out a deep breath before she started explaining and narrating everything that happened during the day.

~•|~•|~•|

I was up early the next day even though I had slept late after binge watching almost all the movies Xavier has ever acted in

with Katie.

Afterwards, when Katie had fallen asleep, I decided to follow up on his latest scandal. The one about his birth.

I couldn't bring myself to imagine how he must have felt when he found out about this. According to an exclusive reporter,

Xavier wasn't even aware that the person he thought to be his mum wasn't the one who birthed him.

The only way I could help him was to continue to be nice to him and fill him up with sugary comfort.

That was my motivation as I marched to the bus stop in the early morning’s cold weather, my trench coat keeping me from

freezing.

I had also ditched my backpack for a small handbag today since I only had two lectures in the afternoon. The bus was about

to move when I got there. I was able to get on, fortunately, otherwise I'd have had to wait in the cold for another bus to

come.

I plugged in my earpods and let the nineties' hip-hop drown out the surrounding noise as I rested my head on the window, watching people walk by.

The bus soon came to a stop at FIU where I alighted and continued my walk to Sugar Cubes. I unlocked the door and went in, turning on the lights as I made my way to the locker room.

After changing my shirt, I went to the kitchen and began to bake the pastries that would be on sale for the day.

When the day finally got brighter, my first customer walked in, ordering a cup of coffee. He walked straight to the booth in the corner and sat down, whipping out his phone.

“One cup of steaming hot black coffee and a cookie on the house.” I announced as I dropped the man's order in front of him.

He looked like he was just coming back from a run, or going. I couldn't tell.

I went back to the counter after making sure he was satisfied. Tina didn't usually come in early on Tuesdays since I was free

in the mornings.

When I first got employed here, Tina was very prickly to me and didn't interact with me unless necessary. It bothered me until

I heard her arguing with her mum over the phone about her daughter.

I had expected her to get angry and yell at me for listening in on her conversation but instead, she hugged me and started

crying.

Apparently, she had gotten pregnant when she was in high school and had to drop out. Her dad disowned her, leaving

her to fend for herself and her unborn child. It was Cindy who took her in.

Since then, we have been as close as ever even though she was a few years older than me.

I watched the clock ticking, bored out of my mind as no one came in to patronize us.

“Waitress, can I get a few more cookies?” The only person present in the cafe asked. I beamed, getting up from my seat and putting more cookies on a plate for him.

It always made me happy when customers came for second rounds.

“Here you go.” I smiled. “Is there any other thing you may need?”

“Actually yes.” He said, pushing his cup towards me. “I need a refill.”

I smiled at him. “Coming right up.” I skipped away happily and was back in no time.

“This is your coffee.” He reached for the coffee and let his hands linger on mine. I smiled uncomfortably and dropped the coffee

on the table. “Enjoy.” I said and turned to leave.

I was suddenly pulled to a halt as the man's clammy hand encircled mine. “Why don't you join me? Let's have a warm cup of

coffee and warm each other up?” He asked from behind me. I heard his chair scratch against the tiled floor as he stood up

and leaned into me.

I looked up at the clock. It was only a few minutes past eight and Tina wouldn't resume till ten o'clock. The alley was quiet and

usual and I knew I was on my own this time.

Tina usually told me about her experiences with men like this but it was the first time I was going through this. I let out a

breath and turned to face him, my eyes searching for the easiest escape route.

“I'd love to join you for coffee but someone has to man the counter. Thanks for your kind offer though.” I said to him,

attempting to remove my hand from his tight grip.

“No one seems to be coming anytime soon. Why don't you spare me a bit of your time?”

He insisted, his second hand trailing

down my face.

It was now or never. I stomped down on his toe hard and pushed him backwards, causing him to land on the floor as I began

to run towards the exit.

He shouted a string of curse words, springing up immediately and coming after me. Just as I opened the door, I felt his hand

grip mine.

I should have taken Laura's advice and signed up for a self-defense class.