While You're Here

01

I never considered myself someone cursed with bad luck, but today everything seemed to go wrong.

The moment I stepped outside, the heavens opened and drenched me in the rain. It took all of three seconds for me to lift the hood of my sweater over my head, but it was too late. My hair, which I had spent an embarrassing amount of time on, was ruined. The second I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror, I'd either cringe, groan, or do both.

Had I called in sick like I planned to, I wouldn't have been in this situation. A few orders had come through my Etsy shop in the last couple of weeks and in the craze of packing up my life and preparing for the new school year, I'd fallen behind. My deadlines loomed closer and closer and the unfinished jewellery haunted my every waking moment. Only a year into being a small business owner—if I could even call myself that—and I was falling apart.

Needless to say, I needed time I simply did not have.

I grit my teeth as the wind picked up and rain blew into my face. It was September, so the weather fluctuated from deathly hot to windy to thunderstorms regularly. I, who usually put way too much faith in the accuracy of my phone's weather app, scoffed at the potential of rain. The last three days had called for rain and not one single drop had fallen. Why would today be any different?

Except my good karma seemed to finally run out. Not only did I have three—maybe four—orders to finish and deliver, I also had to endure a cold, wet walk to work where a rookie mistake or an insufferable customer would undoubtedly make this day even worse.

On the bright side, Sage would be there.

Sage started at the cafe in her first year. Now she was in her fourth and final year and had plans to quit by May. Not having her around was going to take some getting used to, especially since she'd be moving back to Winnipeg after graduation. Unless she found a full-time job in the city, there was little reason for her to stay here.

The little bell above the door rang when I stepped inside, dripping water all over our wooden floors. There were a few customers, but none looked my way.

"Quinn!" Behind the counter, Sage brought a hand up to her mouth, eyes taking in my haggard appearance. "My love, my heart, my everything—didn't you check the weather before you left?"

A customer looked my way, eyes widening. I smiled back politely, then quickly turned away.

"I was so sure it wouldn't rain," I said, heading straight for the backroom. Sage followed.

I shoved my things into my locker and pulled out my phone, immediately swiping to my camera. Just as I feared, my hair stuck out every which way. Baby hairs I hadn't seen in weeks suddenly became my most notable features. The sweet orange scent of my shampoo was masked by rain. Not a single strand was spared.

"Do you know how long it took me to do my hair?" I whined. "I'm a mess."

Sage whistled. "You are a sight for sore eyes."

"I didn't sleep well last night and it's starting to show."

"I think I need to be removed from this room because I cannot take my eyes off of you."

I let out a laugh at that one. "You're too good to me, Sage."

No one made me feel as good about myself as Sage did and it was hard to imagine that ever changing. Work was always better because of her and she certainly knew it.

The rain started coming down harder if that was even possible. I liked to people-watch through the large glass windows while I cleaned or prepared drinks, but the rain was so heavy I could barely make out any passing figures. Everyone must have cleared out and hurried home. Only a small group of friends seated in a booth and a girl hunched over her laptop in one corner kept us company. For a Friday afternoon, it was eerily quiet.