Coffee Shop

Chapter Two

Amelia parks her car on the street and walks up the steps to her apartment building. It was a cozy three bedroom one bathroom apartment. The price was a little high for the ghetto, or so she thought, but it is what it is. Amelia takes the decrepit stairs to her floor and unlocks the apartment door. She lived in better when her parents were together but she told Mom that she was having nightmares and couldn't sleep well at night anymore. Her mothers' response pack up herself and the kids and move to an unsafe part of town. 

It wasn't that it was necessarily unsafe but it definitely didn't have Housing Authority. Her mother being a single parent and having to work two jobs did the best she could. Amelia had to step up to the plate and start helping take care of her little brother. At the time she was twelve almost thirteen and her brother was three almost four years old. Amelia resents her mother but ultimately understands in order to survive you have to do what you have to do. 

Grabbing the mail off the floor of the apartment she starts to reminisce about the good days. Her mother and father got along. Amelia was an average child. She got good grades, had friends and ultimately did normal child to teenage things. Her brother was born and things started going downhill. Her mother couldn't work due to having two kids at the house and not enough money to afford a babysitter or daycare. Her father would go to the pub and get drunk two to three times a week. At first, no one would fight. Then it started as calm arguments that eventually turned into her father abusing her mother. 

Amelia shakes her head to get rid of the memories. She had to protect her brother from the mess that was their family. She lost so many friends because of that night but Amelia knew what would happen. She had to protect her family if not her brother. She grabbed her headphones, favorite book, and her bag and headed down to the café. She could walk there within five minutes. At her old house it took around twenty to thirty minutes but it was worth it. No one ever bothered her. The café had great wifi and she had a table all picked out. She shut and locked the door to the apartment noting that she had at least four hours worth of reading, music and homework. Then she had to walk to her brothers' school to pick him up. 

Opening the door to the café she was greeted with a whiff of coffee, vanilla and pastries. She detected a hint of pine-sol but it wasn't strong so she didn't freak out about cleaning supplies being mixed in with her food smells. She ordered her hot chocolate and turned to her table stopping just shy. She tilted her head to the side as she realized the new student was sitting at her favorite table. Studying him she realized he was doing homework and a little smiled played on her lips. 

All of a sudden he jerked his head up and their eyes met. He started packing his things up apologizing, " I'm terribly sorry I hope I didn't intrude or take your spot. I just love all the natural light that comes in. I can move."

"Um..no ", Amelia spoke quietly at first before realizing he couldn't hear her. " You're fine. I can find somewhere else to sit. You're my partner in history right?" For the life of her Amelia couldn't remember his name or why the class had partners in History. For crying out loud it was History. What can she do besides go with the flow. She wasn't the teacher.

"Are you sure? And yeah my name is Benjamin Matthews. But you can call me Ben for short. Say, why do we have partners in History." He smiled at her and Amelia felt like he was being friendly but she didn't have time for it. She needed to study and get in some reading before she had to get her eight year old brother from school. 

"Honestly, I'm not sure why we do in History. I'm not the teacher. Don't worry about moving but I will find somewhere else to sit. I normally sit here but it's ok." Amelia could feel herself start to shrink away into her shell. She compared herself to a turtle a lot. 

"No really it's not a big deal. My Dad will be freaking out that I'm not home anyways. But before I go, I have to ask. Is the coffee any good here?"

Amelia chuckles. Of course this coffee is good. It's cheap too. It's a safe place, her safe place. Her home away from home. Is he stupid? What kind of question is that? But instead of voicing her thoughts she simply says," Yeah." Nodding her head she continues, " It's really good. I work here and lately I have had a hankering for the hot chocolate."

"Ok. Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow." Ben packs up his stuff and leaves. Amelia sets down her coffee and plops in the chair. Always facing the door. She connects to the wifi, pugs in her headphones and disappears into the world of Aladdin.  After reading a few chapters she starts her homework. She was halfway through a math problem when her phone rings. She glances at the caller and sighs.

"Amelia hey girly. So listen I was thinking since I finished my homework I could maybe come over and help you watch Greyson. I know you don't actually need the help but I miss hanging out with you." Caterinas' voice comes in through the headphones. Amelia glances at the time real quick and sighs. Of course she now had twenty minutes until Greyson got out. 

"Yeah sure Cat. Just you can't eat t my house. We're low and I haven't been able to do any grocery shopping yet. I just hate taking Grey with me ya' know? He wants all these snacks but I can't afford to get them and it breaks my heart when I have to tell him no."

"Mom still isn't home?" Caterina asks. Amelia could feel the disappointment through the phone. 

"No. Not even a note when I grabbed my book and headphones. It's whatever." Amelia grabbed her book and homework stuffing them in her bag.

"I'm sorry. Just shoot me a text when you're on your way home. Okay?"

"Okay. Will do." Amelia starts walking to the elementary school. When she gets there the car rider line is at the road and she silently thanks herself for fighting the car rider deal.