33 Night shift ( 1 )

33 Night shift ( 1 )

Lyla

After my ‘ heroic ‘ act in the cafeteria , I tried to remain as invisible as I could .

Someone had recorded me in action and the video was making rounds in our social chat network .

I was so ashamed of myself .

I wanted to stop them from bullying me and not become like them .

So , when the final bell rang , I hurried out of the school building , ignoring pleas from some of my classmates ‘ who were trying to offer me a ride .

It was a weird feeling , to be pooular .

As I made my way out of the building , my mind was still reeling from the day’s events – my confrontations .

with Marissa , the new transfer student , Xander who had a weird aura around him and the unsettling presence of Mr Dupree his father .

But there was no

time to dwell on those thoughts .

I had a shift at ‘ Coffee Nook ‘ to get to .

The quaint coffee shop stood on the corner of a sleepy

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33 Night shift ( 1 )

village ( I liked to call it that because most of the residents around the coffee shop were mostly seniors and were our main customers ) .

As I pushed open the door , the familiar scent of freshly ground coffee beans and pastries greeted me , bringing a sense of comfort I

hadn’t realized I missed .

“ Lyla ! You’re back ! ” the enthusiastic greeting came from Sarah , one of the baristas working in the cafe .

She was done with high school and was applying for college , so the café was just her trying to save up enough money before her admission .

She was one of the many human friends I liked who genuinely liked me back .

In the past , we would greet with a hug but today I felt out of sync , so I managed a

small smile .

“ Hey , Sarah … yeah , I’m back .

I made my way to the back room to change into my uniform when I caught sight of my Nanny , Miriam or Mrs Grayson , as she was known here – peering at her laptop with glasses perched on the bridge of her nose .

Mrs Grayson was a name we had come up with and the story was ; that she was a single mom , with a

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runaway husband .

always loved the

so ours always sold

! ” she called out with a

I’m sorry , ” I said

weird

you the details later

” I called over my shoulder as I pulled on

– black pants and a white shirt – but it felt like a shield , a way to blend into

a freak or a girl on

just Lyla , the

It will be fine as soon as I figure out

replied in our

sheets .

so

drawing a

say you need my help , ” I chuckled and went over

to her .

how to enter data on the Excel sheet

calculations .

I took my place

noticing immediately that

19:24

Night shift

bustling with regulars .

back ! ” said Mr Howard , an elderly man who always ordered the same thing – a black coffee with two sugars and a

window table every afternoon , reading the newspaper

and disappeared on us

I smiled warmly .

Just took some time

see my grandparents ,

But I’m back

Usual ? ”

me a wink before going

paper .

Mrs Nguyen , a middle – aged

chamomile tea after

! ” her

arched dramatically “ Where have you been ?

the other day and she said

, preparing

You know me – I never stay away for

that , a gruff but friendly voice belonging to Mr Thompson , one

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who’s

came in every day at 4 pm for his afternoon

you around here , kid

alright ? ”

a warmth spread through my chest at his

Everything’s fine , Mr

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