Chapter 5: Remember Me - Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Side 1 Track 3
New Kid in Town (The Eagles)
Cassie's Story
With different break times sandwiched either side of the lunchtime surge, Cassie wasn't able to snatch another chance until almost 2pm. In between, Lucy took delight in avoiding her silent pleas. When at last the cafe finally emptied, and with Stelios nowhere to be seen, she approached her grinning best friend. 'OK, you bitch! Spill the beans. What do you know that I don't?'
'What do you mean, Cassandra Blackman?' Lucy replied, smiling innocently.
'Just tell me, you cow!' laughed Cassie, as she pinched her friend's arm.
'There was a guy in here yesterday asking about you. He was maybe eighteen or nineteen. Good looking, tall with short brown hair, dark shirt, blue jeans, suede jacket. He wanted to know if you were working'.
It was a description that perfectly fitted the image of the boy she'd seen smiling at her across the cafe. The same boy I can't stop thinking about she thought with rising excitement. 'Is that all?' Cassie replied, making no attempt to hide her disappointment.
'Do you really think I was going to leave it at that!' Lucy huffed, clearly disappointed her friend had to ask. 'I told him I'd be happy to pass on a message of course!'
'What did he say?' she replied, a little too quickly. Breathless, Cassie's heart, which before had been constricted within her chest, now jumped into her throat.
'He said he didn't want to leave a message but he did ask when you were working again. I told him today and he thanked me, ordered a quick coffee and left. Who is he, Cass? I think he must be new in town, he's certainly not local. I've served him a couple of times in the last week but I've never seen him before. You're a dark horse! He's gorgeous! I wouldn't mind a crack at him myself. And here's me thinking you were still pining for Josh.'
'I've no idea who he is', Cassie responded dismissively, glancing away to look at nothing in particular, knowing she'd started to blush. Try to be cool! she told herself. Lucy's such a pain when she gets a chance to wind me up me about boys.
'Ha!' exclaimed her friend mischievously. 'I know when you're hiding something, Cassandra Blackman. You can't look me in the eye! I think you like this guy more than you're letting on.'
Flushing an even deeper shade of red Cassie did her best to ignore her friend's teasing. 'I think you're right though' she continued, attempting to sound nonchalant. 'If it's the boy I think it is, I don't think he's local. He's been in a few times but I haven't so much as spoken to him'.
'Yeah, really!' Lucy said disdainfully. 'Keep playing hard to get Cass, and you'll never get caught'.
'Seriously, Luce, I'm not interested. After Josh, I promised mum I was keeping away from boys until after my exams. You know I wouldn't hear the end of it if she caught me' Cassie responded, keeping her face straight and her voice even.
'Pull the other one! They say rebound boys never work out but in his case I might make an exception. You've waited for Josh long enough. He's not coming back, we both know it. I can tell you like this guy, you should see how you're blushing. And it's obvious he's got the hot's for you. So why don't you just go for it!'
She made a non-committal face and Lucy giggled, throwing up her hands in mock surrender. From the corner of her eye Cassie saw Stelios approaching. With a quiet 'See you later' she turned and started wiping down the empty tables at her station.
With her friend's shift finishing an hour earlier, and having to work on past the 6pm closing time to make up for her late arrival, as Cassie walked to the bus stop she was left alone with her thoughts. Who is he? Why did he ask when I'd be in the cafe again?
And if he likes me, why didn't he talk to me?
-- 👭 --
For the next couple of days – situated in the centre of town the cafe didn't open on a Sunday – Cassie was more than a little confused by her thoughts. All through the weekend she'd found it impossible to put the image of the boy out of her mind. He's so good looking and a few years older than me. He must have his pick of girls she thought gloomily.
He looked and acted so mature compared to her ex. I wonder what it would it be like to be the girlfriend of someone older than me? Someone like him. I bet he's already with someone beautiful, with a perfect figure, who wears great clothes and has a proper job and drives a car. She's so lucky, whoever she is.
But if that's true, why did he ask Lucy about me? And what is it about him that makes my heart pound when I think about him? Cassie tried to dismiss the impossible notion of being his girlfriend, thrilling though it was, from her mind. It didn't matter if she did like him. I'm only fifteen. Lucy thought he might be as old as nineteen. There's no way on god's earth mum will let me date someone as old as nineteen!
As the day of her next shift approached, Cassie was apprehensive about working in the cafe again, taking extra care to wash and condition her hair and starch iron a new crisp white blouse, the creases clean and sharp. Will he come in again? If he does, what will he say?
And what do I say to him? she thought, mystified with what the coming dawn might bring.
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