Chapter 1 Unusual

"One cherry cola." I slide the drink over to the little girl in front of the counter, smiling down at her.

"You are so pretty." She beams up at me, her innocent eyes glistening.

I simply smile back. I get that a lot, especially from kids and women. They think I'm pretty with my light blonde hair and sky blue eyes, but I don't see anything special when I look in the mirror.

Looks don't matter when you're just trying to survive another day.

"Can you come in tomorrow morning again?" Shannon, the owner of the popular cafe I work at asks with a wince. "I know you worked a double today, and that you're busy writing finals, but you never complain and..."

"Okay." I interrupt her, because I need the money, and because I'm exceptionally good at school, to the point where I answer questions incorrectly on purpose.

I'm turning eighteen soon, and school will also be over. I don't know what my future looks like then. I accepted a scholarhip to a good university, but there's a whole summer before then where I thought I could work doubles every day to save up.

I don't see a dime of the welfare check my foster mother receives for me from the government, so I'm pretty much on my own, her house merely a place where I can lay my head down.

I ride my bike home as quickly as possible, a gift I bought myself because I felt too unsafe walking home.

My foster mother, Glenda, glares at me when I enter through the kitchen door. "I didn't save you any food, you're late."

My stomach growls at just the mention of food. I was on my feet the whole day, weekends being busier than most, and I didn't get a chance to eat something. Guess the joke is on me, I should've gotten something at the cafe.

"No problem." I smile stiffly, and go to my bedroom to hide my bag with all my tips in for the day before going to the bathroom for a quick shower. The water is never hot whenever I use the shower, and I yet again wonder why the hell this woman even opened her door for a foster kid when she clearly doesn't even like having me around.

There's a loud knock on the door just when I step out of from under the lukewarm water, before someone rattles the handle. I always make sure the door is locked, always. Nothing has ever happened to me because I always make sure that I'm as safe as possible. I have heard some horror stories from kids in the system, and I vowed long ago that will never be me.

"Nevaeh." Howard, Glenda's son's lewd voice comes from the other side. "I know you're in there, open the door. I need to use the toilet.'"

I sigh and briefly close my eyes before I quickly get dressed again, unlocking the door only to find him blocking it and looking at me with eyes that I want to poke my fingers into. I hate him. He's always rude and watches me when he thinks nobody is looking.

"Excuse me." I say when he doesn't give way, my heartbeat ramping up with adrenaline.

His eyes slowly go over my frame, undressing me with a smirk that reeks disgust. "You are so pretty."

Funny how the first time someone said it to me today, it sounded like a compliment, but out of his mouth it just sounds like a curse.

"Thank you, can I pass now?" I've learned that when I thank him for his unnecessary comments, he usually leaves me alone, but this time it takes him a beat before he moves away.

Howard is already twenty-one, and he works on a construction site. His body is muscled and he looks way stronger than my skinny body. If he were to ever try something, I wouldn't be able to fight him off.

I make sure my door is locked that night, and I even push my dresser in front of it for extra security, yet I still sleep with one eye open, waking up exhausted for my next double shift at the cafe.

Sometimes, just sometimes, I wonder why the hell am I supposed to live like this? I look at the other kids at school who are loved and cherished, and I ask myself, why me?

Most of the time I don't have time to dwell on the what ifs, so I usually just try to block the reason of my existence to the back of my mind, but this morning as my legs wearily cycle to work, I wish I didn't have to do all of this.

As always, Shannon is already at the cafe, and the smell of fresh croissants wafts through my nostrils as soon as I open the back door.

"Good morning my favorite employee." She smiles at me and holds a plate out with a croissant, which I happily accept. "You are truly a life saver, what would I do without you?"

Maybe hire more employees and actually pay them a decent wage? She's getting away with me, because she pays me in cash, and on the minimum wage line. I'm not complaining, I need the money and the hours, and she's generally very nice.

By noon, my legs are feeling like jelly after helping a ton of customers who come in looking for Shannon's spectacular chocolate croissants, the soles of my feet burning. I wish I could take a bath, but what would be the use if the water is lukewarm and people banging on the door for me to finish?

Things start to quiet down after the lunch rush, and I feel a tad but dizzy, needing to sit down just for a second, but the bell at the door rings, signalling another customer.

A gentleman in his fifties I presume, wearing a tailored, expesive-looking suit with greying hair at the temples of his dark hair, walks up to the counter with a warm smile looking straight at me.

"Good afternoon." His voice sounds as smooth as butter, somehow having a calming effect on me. "I heard you had the best chocolate croissants this side of the country."

"That would be true." Even though I feel like falling down, I can't help the smile on my face."

"Well then, can I please have two?"

I bag the two croissants for him, and he hands me a crisp one-hundred dollar bill. "Please keep the change."

"No sir, that is way too much." I chuckle.

He grabs my hand, slapping the bill into my palm, and the strangest thing happens.

My mouth drops open and he smiles at me, the kindest and warmest expression in his eyes that I have ever seen, like a mug of hot chocolate on an ice cold day.

A surge of energy rushes through my body all the way to my tippy toes, the burn and weariness I felt in my body instantly gone.

"See you around." He nods, turns around and leaves.

Leaving me feelin like a brand new person and completely flabbergasted.