Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The Past (2 years earlier)

"You're late, Benley," my manager informs me, tossing the apron my way.

I catch it in one hand without lifting my eyes from the tiled floors. "Like I care," I mutter under my breath as soon as he turns his back on me.

It's unprofessional of me but this dead-end job doesn't matter to me anymore. Nothing does. I shouldn't be an alcoholic with no friends and a broken heart. I've wasted so much valuable time on people who never deserved it. 

He stiffens, making it obvious that he heard me. "Look," he sighs, his back still to me, "I heard some talk from your co-workers. I heard about the rough break-up you're going through, hence my patience with you. But you gotta stop making a habit out of being late. I can't cover for you for much longer."

I instantly feel like crap. Before I can take my words and attitude back, he's already tending to a customer.

I run a hand down my face, exhausted. I spent the entire night drinking away my sorrows. It didn't work.

How did I end up here?

I'm supposed to be in law school, married to the girl of my dreams. I stuffed up. I've messed up my life. I'm on a spiraling trajectory course. This is what happens when you make one person your entire life.

Now, I'm a failure who can't even face his own parents and ask for financial help to get back into law school. I need to pursue my dreams but I don't have the means to do it, at least, not anymore.

It will be too humiliating to explain all my countless mistakes to my parents. I mean, it's already bad enough that I have to show my face around here, knowing that everyone knows.

"MacAllister!" Liam, one of my co-workers, snaps at me in impatience, tearing me from my depressing thoughts. "Table 6 is waiting," he tosses my name badge to me before shoving me out of his way.

I glare after him. He always thinks he's the top dog around here just because he's a charmer. I guess he can be cocky because all the customers do seem to love him. He's a people person.

I tie my apron around my waist furiously and put on my badge before storming off in the direction of table 6. My anger spikes when I see that it's a couple on a date – something that I don't have anymore.

I suck in a deep breath and try to console myself before approaching them.

The guy immediately gives me his order, making it obvious that he's been here before. It's the girl flipping through the pages of the menu like a moron that keeps me waiting. She squints down, trying to understand the foreign words written on our classy, greek menu.

"You ready to order, ma'am?" I ask, my patience wearing thin. Clearly, she doesn't belong here. She looks so out of place.

She nods, lifting her hazel eyes to mine. "I think I'll just have water and a hamburger—"

"She'll have a Zymarika too," her boyfriend finishes for her, sending her a reassuring grin.

I roll my eyes. A hamburger? At this restaurant? Is she stupid? Thank goodness for her boyfriend or I would have lost my cool by now.

"And to drink?" I ask, pretending to jot down her order. The owner of the restaurant, Meg, insists that we write down every order so as to prevent making mistakes and displeasing our customers. If she had to look at my notepad now, all that she'd see would be doodles of a broken heart instead.

The boyfriend turns to look at his girlfriend. She just shrugs, taking her sweet time.

I tap my foot impatiently, restraining myself from acting on the current emotions I'm feeling.

"I'll take a coke," she finally says.

I instantly frown. You've got to be kidding me!

"I mean," she hesitates at seeing my face before changing her order, "I'll take a chocolate milkshake."

I merely stare at her. If she wasn't so annoying and if I wasn't so hung-up on my ex, I'd find her cute with her blonde hair, doe eyes, and simplicity. But, right now, I can't see past her annoying nature.

"No, no, wait!" she stops me again, unable to make up her mind. "I'll take the fudge, choco-moco espresso."

I mentally sigh. It's going to be a long day.

"That's not on the menu," I tell her bluntly.

"How about just an espresso to-go then?" she questions, blinking up at me, seeking my advice.

"But this isn't a 'to-go' order. You're sitting," I point out, now beyond irritated.

"Okay." She stutters nervously, "Um, jeez, this is a strenuous exercise, no pressure...um...a—"

Before she can finish, I flip out on impulse. Rage fills my mind as I think back to Bex and Oliver. I throw down my notebook and badge, not really knowing what I'm doing. "I quit!" I shout at the top of my voice, making sure everybody knows.

The girl flinches at seeing my reaction and I almost feel guilty about it.

Unaware of what I'm doing, I barge out of the restaurant, attracting a large audience along the way. I don't miss the curious gazes of three friends not sitting too far away from table 6. When they see me looking, they quickly duck behind a menu.

Weirdos.

*~*~**~*~*

I drop my head in my hands, again, while sitting on the curb outside the back of the restaurant. It's been a couple of days since I quit. I'm here to beg for my job back. I have since realized how stupid I was to let my emotions get the best of me. I have bills to pay and it's not like I have anyone to turn to for help. I made my bed when I moved out of my parent's house.

Still, I can't quite make myself do it. Begging...it's too degrading.

Liam would love the sight of me groveling. I thought my pride had been knocked dead after Bex and Oliver but I was sorely mistaken.

And my parents...they'll lecture me before helping me. Like I don't already know how much I've screwed up. I'm stuck without a job, without a girl, and without a friend. My future isn't looking bright and I can't help but feel incredibly alone in this dark period of life.

I've never felt so defeated and worthless as I do right now.

"'Sup, Looney Tune."

I turn my head to see familiar doe eyes staring down at me in nothing but empathy.

"What do you want?!" I snap, wishing to be left alone.

Just great! The girl I treated like trash is standing right in front of me. Of all people to see me moping about, it has to be her? I bet that she'll take delight in seeing me like this.

"I'm here to lighten your world," she replies in ease, a genuine smile on her face.

I scoff, taken aback by her reply. "Really? Because you're kind of casting a shadow over me," I tell her, gesturing to her silhouette and then to the sun. She's blocking out my damn sun.

Amazingly, my words don't deter her. She takes me by complete surprise when she takes a seat beside me, unfazed by my comment. "I'm sorry about the other day," she says softly.

"Shouldn't I be the one apologizing?" I ask, puzzled. Who is this girl? "How'd you find me anyway?" I change the subject, refusing to dwell on how I behaved the last time I saw her. I'm kind of ashamed about it. It was so immature of me. She didn't even do anything wrong other than frustrate me to no end.

"I've been stalking this restaurant for days," she confesses, unashamed about it.

"Why?" I frown again, at a loss. "Do you want to kill me for being a jerk?"

Honestly, I'd kill me.

She shakes her head. "You give yourself too much credit; I've been treated much worse," she jokes and smiles at me.

Her smile does something to me; I finally lower my guard and start to feel myself relax in her presence.

I stifle a grin. "Why are you here?" I press, curious.

She shrugs before giving me her answer and showing me her heart in the process. "You've been on my mind. When I saw how you reacted the other day..." I cringe in embarrassment and she seems to notice because she immediately drifts from it, "well, I know I don't know you but are you okay?" 

Her concern for someone she doesn't even know is touching, at least, to me it is. It's not something I'm used to seeing. In fact, it's not something the world is used to seeing.

"Where's your boyfriend?" I prod, skeptical.

"Don't have one," she answers calmly, picking at her vibrant nail polish. "You didn't answer my question," she reminds me, having noticed me try and dodge it.

"I didn't want to," I admit.

"Are you okay?" she stubbornly asks a second time, not letting it go.

"Far from it," I finally confess, twisting my head to look at her.

I never really looked at any other girls when I was with Bex. I didn't have any reason to. But now I'm free to look, and I like what I'm seeing. She may be the opposite of Bex but there's just something about her that's drawing me in.

Her hazel-colored eyes are framed by her long eyelashes and her gaze manages to pierce right through me. Her smile leaves me feeling at ease and her general aura is soothing. She seems too good to just pass by.

Also, I'll admit it, she's smoking hot. I'm just sorry I only noticed after my shameful meltdown. This could have played out so much more smoothly. I don't even want to know what she thinks of me right about now.

"Thought so," she nods before tossing her long, blonde hair up into a ponytail. "What's wrong?" she asks me quietly. "That is...if you want to tell me."

I hesitate for a second before launching into my story. I end up telling her just about everything.

There's something so comforting about her presence. Maybe it's because she makes me feel less alone in the world, or maybe it's because she, a stranger, seems to care more than my girlfriend or best friend ever did.

At the time, I didn't know that Aqueela Lawson was about to flip my upside-down life the right way up again. I didn't know that she'd become one of my best friends, and I certainly didn't know that she was about to make everything better.

Never did I think that I'd find a real friend in her. Never did I think that she'd restore my faith in people. Never did I think that she'd leave.

But she did. She did all three.

And my heart kind of broke again.