CHAPTER ONE

I typed through the machine taking down the customer's orders.

"That'll be 10.99, ma'am,"

She smiled and brought out her wallet, I, on the other hand, was trying my hardest not to fall asleep, everything was annoying me, it felt like the room was closing in on me and my big black-rimmed glasses were squeezing the life out of my face.

Okay, Zuri, you're being overdramatic.

I felt a hand tapping my shoulder and I would've snapped at that person cause I was so freaking hungry right now but then I remembered I was still at work, with that, I turned around to grab a hot latte and a croissant and handed it to the customer as she paid.

With a long sigh, I took off my hat that was shrinking my head and went to the washroom to wash my hands, I didn't do anything but my hands were extra sweaty today.

Ugh! Why am I so annoyed today? Is it that time of the month?

Oh yeah, no, that's not it, I was too busy binge-watching old shows last night and I kind of forgot I had both school and work today and now, I need my sleep.

Do not mess with me if I feel sleepy.

I was about to take off my apron that was supposed to be a uniform but in my humble opinion, it was awful, I came to this job late and now, I'm stuck with some old man's apron, who apparently did not know the concepts of a freaking shower!

Anyways, I was about to take my apron until I heard someone calling my name making me remove my hand from the rope to untie my apron, I looked to the side of that voice and said timidly because as people know me for, I'm shy, "what is it?" I asked my manager.

"You're shifts not over yet," He said and I narrowed my eyes at him.

Oh my god! Why do people even go to cafes? Lattes and croissants are NOT that hard, there's google for a reason.

Of course, I couldn't say that to his face because for one, I was a coward so I decided to smile nodding my head heading towards the cashier's side that was my pose, would you believe me if I say I was the only one at the cashier point?

Yeah? No? Okay then.

I didn't look up once I heard the footsteps coming closer to the cashier point, I just waited till the person was closer so I could ask for their order, I might sound a little grumpy, "Welcome to Rainbow Café, what can I get you?" I tried to sound all giddy and all because that's what they wanted to hear but I'm sure no one could notice that I was almost reaching the point of breaking something.

"Oh my! Where is that customer kindness, dear?"

NO

NO

NO

NOOOO

Not him.

Calm down, Zuri, you're stressing over nothing, there are millions of voices like that, like...like...like...HARRY STYLES, yes, him.

I know my husband's voice from anywhere!

Oh, cut the crap! Zuri, it's him.

I looked up slightly to confirm and I swear to god, I almost fainted, it is him.

No, no, no, I turned to look around to ask anyone to cover up but sadly, I couldn't do that, that was just my mind thinking I have any power over this.

Screw you, mind!

With a sigh, I decided to bury the hatred and loathing I had for this boy and brought up the courage to ask again, "Welcome to Rainbow Café, what can I get for you?"

Obviously, the bastard smirked because that's what people like him do as if he doesn't have any more facial expressions.

We are standing before the one and the only, Heath Collins, yeah, him, as cliché as it is, he's the school's jock, everyone loves him, he's the talk of the town, every girl wants to be with him, every guy wants to be him, you know, the usual, blah blah blah.

Damn, did I enter some terribly awful teen fic?

Heath was also the school's player, yeah, he plays for our school but...the different type, he sleeps with millions and I say, millions, of girls then the next day, he dumps them, actually the next hour, he dumps them, I somehow ask myself why my gender would stoop so low?

He was...okay, with his dirty blonde hair, bright million-dollar smile, toned abs, the most athletic person ever at our school and I mean all of that was great but it wasn't something to drool over.

And I'm sure you're asking...

Are you even human?

Do you live with aliens? Blah blah blah.

Trust me, I was one of those love-sick girls that thought they could change the bad boy \ player but then I got a little something called reality.

"I would like to have...actually, what do you recommend?" He grinned leaning more to the counter.

That sly bastard...

I had no other choice than to reply because I love this job very much and I'm the school's nerd, I can't talk back to these people without thinking of wetting myself.

"There's the Caffe Misto, Oat milk Honey Latte, Blonde roast," I actually didn't read from the big light menu held up behind me, I actually had to learn these words till I finally got it, it took me a day or two because I'm pretty good at rehearsing lines, "and finally, the customer favorite, dark roast," yes, I did just throw a small shade but I didn't make it sound so obvious, I'm sure he wouldn't notice it.

He let out a deep chuckle as his hazel eyes stared at my blue ones through my big glasses, "I'll have the dark roast, Zuri,"

I sighed cursing him out, in my head, of course, with that being said, I typed down his order, he looks around taking in his surroundings, it was obvious that it's his first time here, I'm not one of those people that are embarrassed or ashamed by the fact that they work, it was going to happen sooner or later but I didn't broadcast it to the world and he's kind of the only kid that knows I work here, except my friends but I wouldn't care if it was any other person but Heath is one of the -­no- he is the richest in our school and the most popular.

I just know he's going to shove it in my face.

But I have to say, Heath Collins was the last person I ever expected to be here, for one, it's 7:00 am, he's supposed to be getting ready for school, having his millions of servants and maids serve his breakfast and whatnot, what's he doing here?

Someone tapped my shoulder and I knew instantly that it was his order, so I turned around and took the hot cup filled with coffee, "That'll be 5.99,"

He nodded, for some unknown reason, he chuckled, what's so funny? I would like to laugh as well.

Nevertheless, he paid and took his coffee and finally, he left, everything that I kept holding in scared and terrified of letting out, well, I let it out now, I sighed, my hand went up to my forehead rubbing it smoothly which was no use, my head was still pounding.

No matter, how godly he looked and he had the personality of the very devil.

I sighed fully removing my apron, hanging it on the hook that said my name, "I have to go to school now," I called out, I didn't give my manager time to call me back, I just had to catch the bus.

As seen already, I am Zuri, Zuri Scott, there wasn't really a proper explanation about me except the fact that my personality matched a blank paper.

I didn't go well at looks, at all, I had brown golden skin, long frizzy black curls that reached my back, my height was the most interesting thing about me, I wasn't tall, I was the average height, you know, not too short, not too tall.

Closing the door shut, the hot heat contacted with my skin and I was slightly uncomfortable about it since my fashion choice wasn't the best, I was wearing a crop top black fur sweater that showed my belly button and was also long sleeve, I also decided to pair it off with denim shorts, the down parts of my shorts were already rolled up so I didn't have to do it myself and I decided to plait my curls to pigtails.

Everything was okay but my mind couldn't help but drift off to the other side...why was Heath there? I always work a morning shift and I had never seen him come there so why in the love of God was he here? More importantly, why would he even want to stand in a place similarly close to me? Didn't he-

Go Pass it, Zuri, it's in the past.

The sounds of wheels screeching to the hard rock ground caught my attention pulling me away from my thoughts that would always get me in trouble, I didn't waste any time but to get in once the door opened wide for me.

As expected, everyone ignored my existence and I wasn't surprised, it always happened, I was just another person in the world that didn't matter to them.

Not complaining though, attention isn't what I would want.

I looked around seat by seat, everyone ignored my presence but suddenly a hand wrapped around my arm pulling me down making me yelp from the sudden action, I turned around only to see that it was Nia.

Nia Patel...

My best friend, I've known her since the 7th grade, she was the first person to say hi to me, she was also a nerd, she had big black glasses like I did, braces on her teeth and she always seems to borrow her grandmother's outfits...

Even if sometimes, Nia does some questionable things, what I loved about her was the fact that she was confident, she knew people called her Freaky Nia but she didn't care, she rather embraces her name.

"Hey! Stop doing that!" I whisper shouted at her; I didn't want people to turn their head's over us.

"Never!" She yelled in an anticlimactic way, a few heads turn and I buried my head at her shoulder because of that, I told you I was shy, "mind your beezwacks,"

They turned back to the front, ignoring us and I sighed in relief as I removed my head from her shoulder, I looked at Nia to see her grinning from ear to ear and I raise my hand up to hit her shoulder, "Bitch! Don't ever do that again,"

She rolled her eyes and groaned, "Geez. What got you so glum? Is it Harry Styles again?"

Okay, I'm just going to let it out...

I have an unhealthy obsession with Harry Styles.

It's just-He's soo dreamy, smart, and damn him and his British accent, guys with accents are the hottest things ever.

I had a life plan for myself, marry Harry Styles, make bed-shaking love with him, have his kids and die Notebook style.

Don't look at me weird...I wasn't always Harry Obsessed, I had eyes for someone else, it was way worse than me pining for Harry, and well, reality struck through me so I moved my attention to someone miles away to ever happen.

Hence, Harry Styles.

"No, it's just, I forgot I have early shifts every Monday and I decided to pull an all-nighter," I groaned rubbing my forehead, I tried keeping my eyes open, I didn't want people seeing me sleep and hearing my obnoxious snore.

"Well for what it's worth, we don't have that many classes on Monday," She said trying to cheer up my mood and IT WORKED!

We continued on talking letting time pass us by, Nia was the kind of friend that wasn't off-limits to me, I could tell her my deepest darkest of secrets and she would hold me and be with me as I cried my eyes out, she could tell me her darkest secrets and I would hold her till there are no tears left.

The things she has done for me...it's way beyond what a friend could do, she helped me survive, helped me move past life and discover my potential and move on!

She helped me survive the temptation of Heath Collins.

I had so many reasons to loathe every inch and part of that boy...