Lost

Chapter 2

ELLIE JONES

"Just a chocolate croissant and latte?" I ask while keying in the order.

"Yes, thank you" The customer in front of me replies.

It was nearing the end of the day and I can't help but dread the celebration tonight. I know my mum puts some effort into the dinner, and I sound incredibly ungrateful, but my mum has a habit of making these things about herself. Not that I mind much, but it wouldn't hurt to be the centre of attention at my birthday dinner. Instead, I have to hear about how it was so difficult for my mum to give birth to me years ago and how grateful I should be to have lived such a life. I quickly avert my focus to methods I could use to escape the dinner halfway through. Maybe I could say that I was sick? I quickly reject that suggestion when I realise that it would be way too obvious. She might be an absentee and self-obsessed mother, but she is not stupid.

After battling with my thoughts for a while, I decide on the perfect excuse. I would say that I have an assignment coming up soon and have to finish it. She values education, or rather having a trophy daughter, so I am sure that she would not object.

Just as I am rehearsing what I will tell my mum and how exactly I will say it in my mind, Alex informs me that there is an emergency in his home and that he has to rush off immediately.

"I am so sorry Ellie. I know that it's your birthday today and you probably have plans, but this is extremely urgent. Could you please help me close up today?" He asks. He has no idea how happy I am that I now have an official excuse to be home late and at least delay the dinner I've been dreading. I keep my cool and agree to help him close up later. He thanks me and rushes off soon after.

When it is finally time to close up, I slowly clean up the dirty tables and plates and  arrange the tables and chairs neatly even though I am not required to do so. It's my way of delaying time. After spending an extra hour just cleaning unnecessarily, I go into the staff room to remove the apron and cap. Taking a second look at the mirror, I can almost hear the girl behind the mirror laugh at how pathetic I was, and my subconscious agrees. I then grab my bag, exit the room, and walk over to the drawer where the keys to the store are usually kept. I rummage through the messy drawer trying to find the keys only to realise it isn't there.

"Shit," I said to myself. Alex must have forgotten to place the keys into the drawer after he reached the café today. I sit on one of the chairs and contemplate if I should call Alex to find out where he is, or if I should stay in the café until he returns the next day.

Wait, this could be a blessing in disguise. I could stay in the entire night and avoid the birthday dinner completely. With that, I grab a chair and bring it out behind the cash register so I can guard it. Maybe today will be different after all.

"Hello? Excuse me?" I hear a faint voice and I open my eyes.  I take a quick look at my watch and realise it is already 11:00 pm. I've been asleep for 4 hours even though I promised myself that I would only take a five-minute nap. As I groan and brush my hair back, I remember that I have company. I look up to see a tall, unfamiliar man with dark black hair, wearing a Black shirt, jacket and jeans looking down at me. My god, am I still dreaming?

"What...who are you and how did you even get in here?" I quickly ask, wiping away any evidence of drool from my face, not that he hasn't already witnessed it, but still.

"The door wasn't locked, my phone is dead, my wallet is gone, and if you haven't already noticed, it's pouring outside" He points towards the window like it was a very natural response to look for an unlocked store and just waltz in.

"And you thought it was okay for you to just walk in here? How long have you been in here anyways ?" I ask, sitting up just a little taller to hide my subtle uneasiness and confusion.