Beautiful Scar

JENNIFER'S POV The bustle of New York City always takes me out. At this point, I don't know if that's what I hate about this city. I sit behind the counter and prop my hand under my jaw, leaning my upper weight on the counter and I watch the activities happening outside the glass doors animatedly. People-gazing sometimes has to be the best sport of all time, just that people aren't aware of its benefits. I glance at my wristwatch while bobbing my right leg impatiently on the stool I am sitting on. I hate this part of working so much, especially since Amanda is the one taking over my shift. That girl never understands the art of punctuality, and it scratches my gut that she has to be the one working after me—now don't get me wrong, I absolutely like Amanda, she is a ball of sunshine, and she is so bubbly and at the same time, a nice soul, and I wouldn't have minded her lateness one bit if I didn't have a place to go. Talking about going somewhere, I dig my hand into my baggy pants and dig out a piece of paper folded neatly. I peel it open to go through it once more. An eviction notice! My homeowner is the absolute worst — No, he isn't, and I’m just flat broke. I received an email last week pending the expiration of my rent, but I was flat broken, and I still am. I had to do what a girl had to do; I had spent my entire week sneaking in and out of the apartment so that he would never catch me one-on-one. I woke up this morning, ready to carry out my criminal routine of sneaking out, when I saw a piece of folded paper beneath my door; he had threatened to lock me out of my house, and Oh! He really can. I just have within today to get myself a lot of money to hold down Landlord's rage a lot of money for my pocket, but it isn't a lot of money, since I live in a dingy f*****g basement. This week has been a blessing in disguise: Ellie called in sick, Lexi is on leave, and the Manager has traveled to another branch in the next city for God knows what. This means I will get a pay worth three people, which will do a lot of good to my pocket. Thank God it's Friday, I will just swerve to HR at the back to get my pay for the week. The door chimed, and I raised my head, praying I would be seeing Amanda as I raised my head, but not to my disappointment, I saw a man in a tux stepping in. Eli. He glances at the counter, catches my eye, and spreads his lips in a broad smile. I try so hard to fight the smile threatening to escape from the corner of my lips, but when my stupid lips give up on me by flashing itself to him, I do not blame it either. Eli has been my friend since college, my very good friend. As recently as the last two years, he bagged a great job as the PA to the CEO of Sterling Corps, which is so huge. People would die to see such an aristocrat of society talk less about working directly under him. I had started working here earlier this year, and to my utter disbelief, I saw him walk in here on my first day; after three years out of college, I hadn't seen him till then, and it was a pleasant surprise. He walks up to me and my inner teen gushes over him as he makes his way forward. Eli has always been my crush since I was a first-year student. He was a handsome and nerdy boy who still managed to be popular around school and maybe because he had consoled me when I wiped my tears out when he held my hand, he looked more handsome to me. Now, he has grown even more handsome, breathtaking, and brain-numbing (in a sexy way, though). His sandy hair curling neatly on his head, his oceanic and green eyes that are so soft it would make Grandma cry, his nose which is small yet straight, and lips, oh lord! His lips are so enticing that I can just— "Down to Jen". A snapping of finger drags my attention back, and he is now leaning close to me over the counter. Wait, how did he get so close? I cleared my throat and plastered a friendly smile on my face, "Hey." "You always zone out, Jennie." He smiles softly but says it, which I don't take offense to because it is kind of true; you don't want me telling him that I was secretly drooling over him instead, would you? "Eli, how are you? "Where to pick your boss' favorite coffee?" Eli chuckles, “Usually, he is in a hurry.” "Right", I bolt up with relative speed and move over to get the coffee ready. Eli's boss is quite temperamental, so I've heard. I have heard a lot of complaints and praise at the same time about this man. Eli has a great adoration for the man, though he would refuse to admit it, but you need to see the way he gushes over his boss and when he hates his boss, too. It always gives me the vibes of a nagging girlfriend, not the bad part though. I would have thought there was something fishy if I didn't know that Elijah was as straight as a plastic ruler. Besides, who will have to be at the bottom? Eli? Nope! Eli is the definition of masculinity at its peak: his muscles, his features, his marriage, and everything about him. Well, you never know with men. I immediately set the cup of coffee on the counter and winked at Eli, who shook his head and smiled. "You owe me a drink, remember? "I'll text you a date and time, and no excuses, Jen." He whispers and then proceeds to leave like he came in earlier. Can I give an excuse now? I part my lips, ready to give an excuse, but his damn legs stretch out so long that he leaves the café before I can even speak. My weekend is packed. I have piano lessons with kids on Saturday morning, a personal painting session in the afternoon, and I have to binge-watch this Japanese movie I downloaded recently; I can't let the movie go to waste! The doorbell chimes once more, and I hope it's Eli so that I can spew my excuses once and for all, but when I see a redhead, I know that it's Amanda. Finally, I heave a sigh and peer at her, trying to look offended, but I know it's futile because that girl has a truckload of excuses ready to go, and we will both know that she is seriously lying through her teeth. Okay, so, 1-2-3-4 aaaaaaannddddd— "I'm so sorry I'm late, Jen sweetie, my gran is so sick, I am just coming straight from the hospital." You see? A lie: She said her gran died last month, but we all know that Amanda does not have a grandmother, to begin with. "You need to keep up at this point, Mandy." Jen started, "I know, but I do not have control over this one, you know—" But I interrupt her before she ventures into a non-existent sob story, a smile on my lips, "You said she died last month, I mean, keep up with the lies, will you?" "Urghhhh! "You got me there." Amanda drops her act immediately, the sorrowful look previously plastered on her expression quickly wiping off of her face. She reverts to her usual self, "Honestly, I am so sorry for being late, but if you take me back in time? I would do the same," God, No! We are not going to go down this lane today. We shouldn't. Amanda is so quick to share personal details; she rants a lot, which I do not mind since I get to source out free gossip, but some things are just too personal that I have to protect my ears from hearing, and that is where she is headed I am sure of it. 1-2-3 aaannnddd — "You wouldn't believe who I saw today, so I came across Jason, the brown-skin-sexy guy from Block B across the street; we got a little dirty, you know, and guess what? He is so good! You needed to have seen his—" "La la la la la!" I immediately blocked my ears to stop hearing whatever she had to say. I do not want to destroy the mental image I have of Jason because Amanda will go on to tell me about his c**k size and details I do not want to hear about. "Alright, alright, alright. "No more details." Amanda raises her hands in surrender. "I need to get changed and get going. ""You know I have a program I have to catch up with, I told you," I say. "Oh, whatever! You are such a bore", Amanda sniffed. She began to undo the jacket button, exposing her work shirt which had previously been hidden. "I saw our hottie, Eli, banged him yet?" I shook my head, an incredulous look on my face, "Amanda, I'm seriously done with you." I move out of the counter and rush inside to get changed. I can't afford to be any more late than I already am. I can hear Amanda calling out to me with something like, "He is so hot." I can't make out the rest, and honestly, I don't even want to. The only thing on my mind is to finish up on time and head to my next job, which I certainly do not want to miss.