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Mibba

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Mainstream

Chapter Fourteen

Another day at work, another day without Katy. In her absence I’ve taken over in the back in order to avoid working the front as much as possible. The other employees have accepted my leadership for the time being and still don’t think much of Katy’s “sudden need to take a holiday.” Yeah, they still don’t know that I just have no idea where my best friend in the entire world is.

The back is nice. I mostly just make sure the counter is fully stocked with all of our muffins and other fresh baked treats. Toward the end of each work day I check the stock and make any necessary shipment orders for ingredients we’re low on. I’ve also gotten into the habit of reorganizing everything, like, a lot.

“Lina?” Damian calls. I hum in response as I straighten out a carton of milk. “Honey, are you okay? This is the fifth time today that you’ve shifted the milk.”

“I’m fine. These cartons just keep getting unaligned. No biggie.”

A few shuffled footsteps indicate that he has stepped closer. “Right… Are you sure you’re fine?”

I huff, frustrated. “Yes, it’s just these damn milk cart-”

“Lina,” he cuts me off abruptly. “It’s not just the milk. It’s you hanging out in the back, counting stock when it’s clear we’re fine. It’s you showing up bright and cheery every morning just to give everyone a cold shoulder and hiding back here until it’s time for you to leave.” Damian goes on for another minute listing all of these oddities that he and some others have been noticing. I put my head down as a few tears start to fall. “So what gives?” he finally finishes, but I’m silent. “Oh my god, are you crying?” Oh, no, here it comes.

I can’t help it as I start to sob. Damian pulls me to him, wrapping his arms tightly around my shaking body in a comforting hug. With thoughts of Katy engulfing my mind, I know that I just need to get it out. I pull back and look Damian in the eyes. “Katy’s gone,” I’m finally able to say.

“Aw, sweetie, I know, but she’ll be back soon, won’t she? We all know she needed this break.”

I shake my head. “No.” Sniff. “Katy’s not on holiday… She’s gone missing. I-I don’t know where she is.”

And so I let the Katy-bomb slip. It only took the day for everyone at work to find out and while there was general concern, I gave everyone peace of mind with the assurance that if we could ourselves fine for the last two weeks without her, we could continue to do so until Katy came back. I just know that she’ll come back. I just don’t know when…

It takes just three days for the news to settle and for everything to go back to business as usual but still minus Katy. My breakdown makes me realize that I can’t hide in the back all day and let information like that build up in me again, so I spend most of my shifts at the register now. Sometimes it gets tough, but I know that I just need to put on a smile and power through. It’s a little easier now that I have the support of the staff to carry on with my days.

Two weeks and five days since Katy has been missing, I decide to stop by her place after work. After all this time apart, I just want to feel close to my bestie. Using the key she gave me, I let myself inside. I walk around aimlessly for a bit, recalling some of the stupid things we’ve done in this house. I wear myself out pretty quickly though because the next thing I know is that I pass out on the couch.

~

Eyes closed, still in a haze of tiredness, someone begins to poke my face. Ugh, how annoying. I just swat the hand away. Just as I’m about to doze off again the poking continues. I tiredly half open one of my eyes to see what the heck is happening. It’s kind of dark but the kitchen light is providing some light on the figure. Looks like a woman? Long hair, maybe blonde—wait. I sit up in a swift motion, but that’s a mistake because now all the blood is rushing through my head and I’m all dizzy and slightly vision impaired.

When my eyes open, they go wide. “Katybird, is that really you?” Tears start to well up in my eyes, and I pray that my mind isn’t playing tricks on me. When she reaches out to wipe away a fallen tear and starts to cry herself, I know this isn’t a dream.

“It’s really me, Lina.” With that we throw our arms around each other, half crying but half laughing in relief. “I missed you so much, Li. I’m so sorry for running away and not contacting you. That was really stupid of me, and I understand if you’re mad at me.”

I squeeze tighter. “You’re right—you’re absolutely stupid… but I’m just glad you’re home and that you’re safe.”

“Lina, there’s something else I need to tell you…”

The unease in her voice draws me to pull back from our tight embrace. I grab her hands instead. “Katy, you know you can tell me anything, right?”

She nods. “Of course. I just… Please don’t get upset. Or try not to? I mean, I know I can’t control how you’ll react to what I’m going to say but I don’t want you to be mad at me even though I have a really strong feeling that you will be—just please please please try to keep your cool because I don’t know if I can deal with you being upset with me any more than—”

“Katy, just spit it out!” I laugh. “I’m sure it can’t be that bad, I mean—”

She stands up quickly, letting go of my hands. “I got married.” She holds up her left hand to show me a simple band I hadn’t noticed until now. Harry walks into the room and grabs her other hand while giving me a nervous look. Katy clears her throat. “Um, we got married actually.”

“You what?! Are you insane?! I know you guys have a history, but marriage?? Now?? Guys, this is a huge commitment—what the hell were you—” I stop. Okay, deep breaths, Lina, deep breaths. “You know what? You are both adults, you can make your own mistakes—decisions! Sorry, I mean decisions… Actually, no, I’m still completely appalled by your actions at the moment, so I’m going to go and process this. I’m sure my thoughts will come around tomorrow, but I should really be going. Um… congrats…” Oh, boy, what have they done?

~

It takes me nearly a month to accept the news that my best friend got married. The marrying young thing definitely was what was holding me back most, but Katy and Harry have honestly showed me that they are committed to this relationship. They maturely handled their messes with Niall and Taylor, not that either party had any reason to be surprised or upset. I’ve witnessed them have mature discussions about living situation and finances. Oh, and they decided to have an actual wedding for relatives and close friends only. So yeah, twenty-two year olds adulting… They’ve totally got this…

Speaking of adulting, I’ve been sitting at the counter trying to organize stacks upon stacks of bills that I’m, unfortunately, behind on. I hadn’t realized it, but around the time Katy went missing I also kind of sort of started to run out of the cushion money I had received as somewhat of a “severance” from my adoptive parents. So basically, I have no cushion and no way to get all of these bills paid right now, but I’m working really hard to figure out how to pay off the ones I can now and smartly delay what I can’t. It’s pretty stressful actually, and no matter how much tea I drink, my nerves will not calm down.

A knock on my door interrupts my calculating and budget crunching—thank Jesus. I put my tea down and hurry over to see who it is.

“Zayn? What are you doing here?” He just kind of smiles and by his shivering I can tell he’s just super cold and waiting for me to invite him in, so I move aside and close the door behind him, leaving the cold out.

“Well, as you may have heard already we are starting up a new tour in January.”

“Of course. I’ve heard plenty about it from Liam. Didn’t you get that new break out star, um, Holly Mason!—yeah, that was it!—to be your opening act? I love her new EP!”

“Actually, that’s kind of what I’m here to talk about.”

“Oh?”

“We’re not really sure what the circumstances are but Holly can’t join us on tour anymore.”

“Okay… and you’re telling me this because..?”

Zayn scratches at the back of his neck. “Well, the team still really wants a new rising star to open for us, or even better, someone completely new to the scene. They’re looking for someone with a fresh voice, and I may or may not have suggested you.”

What? Did he just say—“Me?!” I’m so confused. “Why would you do that??”

“Just hear me out—remember back in high school when we took music together? Well, I knew you had an incredible voice and back in music you used to write songs so I figured yeah, you, Lina. And hey, it’s not like you’re in just yet—we’ll have to talk to our tour organizers and they’ll have to hear you perform and all that but I just thought it’d be cool if you got to come along with us and the world finally got to hear the astounding Lina Ellis. I really believe you’ve got what it takes to make it big. I always have.”

I shake my head. “No… no, I can’t… January is just so soon and I can’t just up and leave my life here. Hell, I’ve got all these bills I’ve got to worry about and—and what about my job at the coffee shop—and Katy? I can’t leave Katy. No… I-I can’t…”

“Trust me, you won’t have to worry about bills if you get this job. And Katy? She can visit any time.” I run my hand through my hair. Ugh, my head is pounding. This could honestly be a really great opportunity for me. “At least try it out. Please? For me?”

I let my thoughts swirl around my head for a few minutes as the silent tension grows between us. This is all happening so fast—like, extremely fast. So many possibilities right now. I could sing for all of the world to hear. Not gonna lie, I’ve always dreamed of doing that. Or I could just stay here and be a barista for the rest of my life, struggling to pay the bills and—oh, who am I kidding? “Alright, I’ll give it a shot.”

Notes

This is so cringey but I'm leaving it because I'm trying to finish this. I just got kinda held back by vacation plans out of the country and otherwise out of town. I visited London actually and it was hot but such a beautiful city.

So I feel like this is becoming less and less of a parody but oh well--it must get done. More cringe to come soon xx

posted 06.08.18

Comments

I love this :') think its fab and so well written!

Loving it! Cringey, Cheesy, Loving every bit!

Plz update I love it

yay i cant wait :)

So good to know you are both fine and writing! It'll be great to have you back :)