Elle's POV
I stood barefoot on the soft white sand, the sun melting into the horizon in hues of gold and rose. The sea breeze danced through my hair, carrying the faint scent of salt.
"Elle, com'on. You've been playing in the sand for hours now."
"I love the sand, this is my favorite part of the beach" I smiled, turning to face Noah.
He sat a few feet behind me, elbows resting on his knees, watching me build a castle that kept collapsing each time the tide rolled in.
"I know. But that's enough for today.The sun's beginning to set. Grams would be really worried."
"Okay, I'll stop playing but can we watch the sun set before we leave, pls Noah, plssssssss" I pouted giving him my cutest eyes.
"Alright…..Get over here"
"Yay!!!" I brushed off the sand off my hands before sitting beside him.
When the last of the sun slipped beneath the waves, he came up behind me and tucked something into my hand. "I got u something"
A small, white flower.
"I saw this and thought of you," he said. "Fragile but stubborn."
"Am not fragile" I giggled
"Do you like it"
"Noo...I love em. Thanks Noah."
Anything for you Elle....
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Elle! ….Elle! ….Wake up Elle
"Am up! Am up!" My eyes flew open. The beach was gone. I was back at my bedroom.
"You're late again, child!" Grams said from the kitchen.
"Crap." I shot up from the bed,my sheets tangling around my legs. My alarm clock blinked 7:42 a.m. in bright red digits. My morning shift starts by eight. Oh gad, Am gonna be late…."
"Grams, why didn't you wake me up earlier. Mrs Sylvia won't let me off the hook this time" I grumbled to grams who was standing in the doorway, gray curls sticking out from under her scarf, her arms folded and she has that look she usually has whenever she wants to scold me "You keep dreaming about that boy"
I froze "What boy? Noah?"
"I didn't dream about him," I muttered, though my voice cracked halfway through. "I just overslept."
Thankfully she didn't press further. "Alright, just get ready quickly. The bus would soon leave."
"Got it," I said, already halfway into my uniform.
"Grams, am leaving" I hurriedly climbed down the stairs. Downstairs smelled faintly of coffee and the lavender oil grams always used on her joints. I grabbed my apron, shoved a piece of toast into my mouth, and ran out before she could ask me to have more food.
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The bus has left me, wasn't really surprised. But there also wasn't any cab. "Am losing my job today" I pulled at my already scattered hair.
Maybe I'll walk… But it's a 30 mins walk, I'll be very late.
"What if u don't find a cab in an hour" My subconscious mocked.
Alright, two mins and if I don't get a cab, I'll walk.
"Elle, just walk" My mind yelled, urgency dripping from the silent scream.
Aarghhhh, am going...
-----
The café was already buzzing when I arrived. The smell of roasted beans,clinking of mugs and chatters of the customers thick in the air. It's 8:35, Mrs sylvia would have lots to say. Maybe I could sneak in through the side door,slide behind the counter before anyone notices.
I made my way to the counter trying to stay out of her sight but turns out I have the worst luck.
"Elle Hayes."
I froze.
That voice right now was more terrifying than a gunshot.
Mrs Sylvia stood by the espresso machine, arms crossed like she's been waiting for me.
Yo, Mrs Sylvia...What's up? Looking really good today.
"You're thirty minutes late….again." Her folded hands dropped.
"I…uh…traffic?" I blurted out the first excuse I could think of. But if u think about it, wasn't entirely a lie.
She sighed, pinching the bridge of hee nose in annoyance "You've used that. Try again."
"I overslept." My shoulders fell. Am sorry, won't happen again. I lost track if time.
"Finally, some honesty." Her eyes narrowed. "But am not letting u off unpunished this time,This is coming out of your paycheck."
Oh com'on, Mrs Sylvia please. This would never happen again.
"Already made a decision. Now get to work."
I mumbled under my breath, slipping past her to start brewing coffee.
As soon as she left, I gritted my teeth "This is all your fault, Noah."
I've always hated Saturdays. I have the worst lucks on this day. But today is way worse. July 24th. Every July 24th, my world felt really heavier.
Three years ago today, I found out that Noah had left without seeing me for a last time. This day always bring back those memories.
I slammed the coffee pot a little too hard onto the counter, earning a glare from one of the customers. I forced a smile, muttered an apology, and kept working.
I had gone to his foster mother's place since we hadn't spoken for a week. That wasn't normal because we never spend a day apart and it was a week already.
I already called severally but no one answered. Dropped a bunch of voice mails but still nothing. I was beyond shocked when she told me he left with his blood parents. She tried to make things better saying "He must've forgotten" but that only made me feel worse. I was his goddamn best friend. I asked about his parents address but she acted strangely, asked mr to leave.
If there was one thing I hated more than my job, it was remembering him.
The worst part was, I couldn't even stop myself.