FIVE

Elsa

"What are you doing?" This is the question that he asks me.

Well dude I'm drinking milk.

I raise the glass in my hand for him to see and he nods his head.

He walks past me to the fridge as well and grabs a bottle of water.

"Are you dating Zayn?" He asks. Why is everyone talking about Zayn?

I just want them to stop bringing up his name to me. It is disturbing.

"We're not,” I utter and gulp down the milk then rinse off the remaining in the washing basin.

I place back the cup from where I got it and start walking out of the kitchen.

"Stay away from him," Mace says all of a sudden. I stop walking and wait for a minute, trying to let his word sink in.

What does he mean by that?

I start walking again without stopping.

I've gotten enough. I'm tired of everyone trying to warn me as if I don't know.

I know what this is. I know what I'm getting into and that is why I'm trying to stop this as soon as I can. I know this.

Even his friend is warning me about him.

Zayn is dangerous. I can't get acquainted with him or I'm finished.

******

When daybreak I left the Black's mansion. It is Saturday morning and I have to join my mom to sell fruits along the road. Our morning business.

I dress up in loose jeans and a spaghetti top.

Mom already left before I come back so I'll just have to join her. 

I flag down a taxi and quickly enter. I tell the driver where I'm going and look out of the window as the taxi speed off.

"Elsa, I've told you several times that I can do this by myself, just focus on your studies." Mom frowns immediately she sees me.

I roll my eyes and grab a tray from her head.

" I'm going to look for a job, Mom. I can't let you be carrying the weight of our livelihood alone." I say, I wonder how much she's hurting. Sponsoring me in an expensive school like Eastwood High and saving up for my college, I just can't imagine how her health must be fastly deteriorating.

"You can't do that, Elsa."

"Yes, I can, Mom. I'm 18. I'll soon enter college, I've to work and fend for both of us, it's time we both do something." I say and turn to face her. " Your health is the most important to me, Mom."

With that being said, I walk away from her.

It will hurt her but just for a little while. A time will come when she will be happy that I am helping.

****

I left Mom a few hours later to go job hunting.

I've gone to almost everywhere that I know but they're not interested in hiring a student with no working experience.

Getting a job as a first-timer in this country is hard.

As I walk along the sidewalk, my eyes catch a bar at the corner.

I should go and check it out.

I walk towards the bar and pushes it open.  I step inside and glance everywhere. There are just a few people inside.

I walk toward the bartender and sit down on a stool.

"Hi," I greet him. He looks up at me and cock his head to the side.

"Yes, how may I help you?" He inquires and I frown my face.

"That's rude," I remark. "Is that how you speak to your customers? I need to see your manager."

How can he be so rude and unprofessional?

He chuckle and put back the glass he was cleaning on the counter.

"What is an underage girl like you doing in a bar parlor?" 

" I'm not underage, I'm 20." I lie.

The guy who is probably in his early 20s blows a strand of his hair off his face and places his hands on the counter, his eyes prowling into mine.

"Lie. I can tell just by looking at you that you're a teenager." He stated.

I look away from him and blink my eyes.

"That still won't stop me from reporting you to the manager," I murmured.

If I'm immune to blushing then my whole face would have turned red at the moment from his stare, but thank God for my skin.

"What are you doing here, you shouldn't be here."

"I want to see the manager." I insist.

" I am the manager." He says and my eyes widen for a moment then I start laughing.

This dude thinks he can fool me.

How can a guy in his 20s own a bar this big?

"Tell me another lie," I say in-between laughter.

" Carl, I need something with a bittersweet taste to it." A young woman says as she sits down beside me. The guy, Carl nods at her and gets into work. 

I watch as he mixes the drinks for her and shakes them then puts some ice and milk inside, shake it again, and hands it over to her.

Wow!

Incredible!

After settling the lady he turns his attention back to me.

"So….."

"I'm sorry for saying that you're rude," I say and steal a glance at his beautiful gray eyes. "I just thought you were rude about your choice of words." 

" I'm the rude one, I'm sorry too." He smiles. " What are you doing here?"

I straighten my back and place my hands on the counter. 

"I'm looking for a job, Sir. I can clean, I can serve, I can also learn how to mix drinks, I'm a fast learner."

" You can't work here, you're not old enough to work here, I'm sorry." He states calmly.

Oh crap. Not again.

"Please, I need this job. I'm 18. I'm old enough to work here. I'm an adult already. I swear I'm 18." I say, bringing out my ID from my wallet and handing it over to him. " I'll be a good employee and stay out of trouble, please employ me, Mr. Carl."

" I can't…." 

" Please Sir, please," I beg vehemently.  Carl sighs and looks at the lady beside me.

"You should employ her, Carl. I haven't seen a girl that makes you speechless before." The girl says and winks at him before walking away.

Carl looks back at me and stretches his hand towards me.

"You can call me Carl." He says. 

I accept his handshake with a smile. " I'm Elsa, Elsa Jameson."

His eyes sparkle as he stares at me and his lips stretch in a wild grin. 

That look….