Saved By The Bell

Ana

My phone had been ringing off the hook since I resumed my shift. I knew it was my sister, who was probably calling about my son.

I answered it on the second ring.

“Beth?”

“Ughh. I'm tired Ana. Little One is crying for his mama.” She whined over the phone.

“Stop calling my child that. His name is Liam, and he'd grow up to be a great man.” I chided my sister for the umpteenth time. But she doesn't listen.

“Seriously Ana, when will you be home? I need to get ready for practice, remember,” she said.

My sister was the sweetest, helping me care for Liam while I worked to put food on the table.

“Give me an hour, two max,” I answered.

“But two hours is too–” she started to complain but I cut her short.

“Sorry, Beth. Gotta go. My boss is here.” I dropped the call and heaved a sigh.

I'd lied. But it was a necessary evil. I needed to work at least two more hours if I was going to successfully dodge Tony today. And the queue was getting longer.

“Hey sweetheart, get me a black coffee with sugar, will ya.” A gruff voice demanded.

I hated the term ‘sweetheart’, especially when it comes from a fat, balding old man with brown teeth.

He leered at me and I had to hold myself back from throwing hot coffee at his face.

So instead, I gave him my best polite smile and handed him his coffee. “Here you go sir.”

This was the only way to survive at my job. Pretend you don't care and move on to the next customer.

Five minutes later, Tony walked into the coffee shop. I was only able to notice because his figure towered above everyone else's and cast dark foreboding shadows on the counter where I stood.

Goosebumps erupted on my skin. I shivered visibly and swallowed hard. I'd thought he wouldn't be here until I had to leave. I'd made sure of that. How come? Why did his stalker schedule change all of a sudden?

Tony was 6 '7, quite hunky, with logs of wood for arms and legs. When he smiled, no, when he sneered, he exposed the most beautiful set of teeth you'd ever seen. His gray eyes made him look like a psycho god, but a psycho nonetheless.

He was beautifully made, but he was also crazy. Psycho-level crazy. Only people who didn't know him would think otherwise.

I expected him to try and jump the queue as usual but instead, he turned right and took a seat at the window side of the coffee shop.

It was a vantage position because he kept stealing creepy, unwelcome glances at me as I worked.

The crowd was thinning and I tried my best to ignore him until my boss came up to meet me.

“Ana, I need you to go and serve that gentleman over there.” He said and pointed towards Tony.

But he didn't even need to point, Tony was the only person seated in the booth. He was relaxed, gladly taking his sweet time.

But I pleaded nonetheless. “Could you get James to serve him please?”

He thought about it for a second, noticed my fearful demeanor and nodded. “Okay, sure.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. 30 more minutes and I'd be out of here. I plan to head home straight to my son.

But I saw my boss coming back almost immediately and knew that something was wrong.

“James left for an emergency, and you're the only waiter on ground. Sorry, but you gotta serve him.” My boss ordered and left.

Damn it!

Tony's order was ready. I wiped my hands on my apron and carried the food, walking towards him with caution. It was a public place and I was ready to scream and shout if he tried anything funny.

He watched me like a hawk as I approached, his gray eyes roving around my body in the most disgusting manner.

I got to his table and placed the food in front of him. He didn't move, didn't say anything. He just watched me.

I quickly turned around to leave, but he grabbed hold of my hand, and pulled me carelessly towards his body.

I tried to fight him off but his pull was so strong against my weak protests and in seconds I found myself seating on his lap.

“Tony let me go, you swine!” I yelled and clawed at his face. But my kicking was no use compared to the strength of the buffoon.

He laughed casually and announced to the few people who were now staring at us, “Don't mind her theatrics folks, she's my girl.”

They seemed to believe as everyone turned to mind their business, and the fact that I was seating on his lap didn't help my case.

I felt so humiliated and tears starting to gather in my eyes. And to make matters worse, the few people around just stared, unwilling to help.

“Let her go.” A voice ordered out of nowhere. I looked up to find a man dressed in an expensive-looking navy suit.

He wore glasses that made him look like he couldn't hurt a fly. He looked like he should be seated somewhere in a high rise building, attending corporate meetings instead of challenging hoodlums.

And I hadn't seen him around before.

Tony's eyes widened in utter disbelief that someone had the nerve to challenge him and he unconsciously released his grip on me.

I fled from him immediately, successfully putting a lot of distance between us.

Knowing what Tony was capable of, I was scared for the man. I went and hid behind the counter, from where I watched the rest of it unfold.

Tony stood slowly, his eyes a mix of venom and anger as he reached where the man stood. But the stranger was unshaken, he didn't even flinch as Tony approached.

Tony's face was inches away from the stranger's as he snarled, the veins threatening to burst out from his neck.

The stranger had a strange look on his face, an emotion I couldn't quite place. But one thing was sure, he wasn't scared of Tony, not in the least.

He calmly leaned in and whispered something in Tony's ear and then stepped back, carefully watching his reaction.

From my hiding place, I saw Tony's eyes widen with what looked like fear, but I wasn't sure. This was Tony after all. He once used his hands to beat a man to death, right in my presence.

I continued watching and opened my mouth in shock, when Tony raised his hands in surrender. He walked out of the shop, without looking back.

The man glanced towards my direction and started to walk out too. I ran after him, wanting to show my gratitude.

I stopped him just as he reached for the door handle. I took a deep breath and smiled gratefully.

“Thank you for your help back there. My name's Ana, and you are?” I stuck out my hand for a handshake but he brushed me off and opened the door.

He didn't so much as acknowledge me. Strange.

I stood there staring after him. From the glass door, I could see him enter a sleek, black car, its glossy paint reflecting the light.

The car's door closed with a soft thud, and the engine roared to life, its sound like a low growl that seemed to vibrate through the air.

He sped off, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.

I was grateful, but I couldn't help but wonder, “What exactly did he say to Tony?”