Solitude ➳ a.i.

4

Shit. I felt terrible.

I quickly put my apron on and went to the back of the counter.

"I'm so sorry I'm late. I slept in." I said to Luke, starting to immediately take orders.

"Please don't do it again. I'll let you go this time. You only have another hour to work anyway." He sighed.

Before long, Ashton was next in line.

"Usual," He read my name tag. "Eliza."

"It's just Liza." I chuckled.

"Liza." He repeated, as if to test the way it felt to say my name.

It took a while, but he eventually got his order.

"Thanks for the free coffee, Liza." He said and went to sit at a table as usual.

I found it weird how we had barely talked at all and that all changed within a day. One day we were strangers, not that we're friends now, and the next day we're acquaintances.

My shift ended and the shop cleared out, but I noticed Ashton still at the table.

I took my apron off and gathered my stuff to leave. Ashton looked up and got up to follow me.

"Hey." He said, as if we weren't talking not even an hour ago.

"Hi." I said back.

"Ive seen your drawings, they're pretty good." He said, making small talk.

"Thanks." I replied.

"I draw too, just not in public." He said.

"Why not? I'm sure they're fine."

"I just like to keep some things personal." He said quietly.

"Oh. Same." I replied. I sang a lot, but nobody knew. I'm not perfect, but not bad either. Just something I like to keep to myself.

"Well, bye Liza." He waved, and I waved back.

Just then, Michael walked up to me. "Hey Liza!" He said happily.

"Woah why are you in such a good mood this morning?" I wondered.

"I passed a test that I thought I failed." He replied.

"Cool." Honestly, the smallest things make him happy, and I noticed that he was always a very happy person.

"So how about you? You had a good morning?" He shoulder bumped me and I winced, feeling a large bruise already forming on my back and shoulders where I had hit the wall.

"We first, I was running late. Then, in order to save myself I ran. I hate running. Then, I got the wind knocked out of me and I basically almost fell through the wall from the impact." I said dramatically.

"So you tell me how it was." I finished.

"Woah. Sounds pretty shitty." He laughed.

"It was pretty shitty." I sighed as we reached our first class.

We sat in our normal seats. And the class began.

"What the hell is this? I'm so confused." Michael whispered and groaned.

"I have no clue." I replied.

"Well you're the smart one! Make something up." He joked.

"No. I'm at least gonna attempt it." I whispered back.

Just then Mr. Smith's deep voice boomed through the room.

"Collins. Clifford. Shut it." He said.

I felt my face heat up. I hated attention. And now everyone's eyes were on us.

"Sorry." I mumbled, and was quiet for the rest of the class.

The day went by as normal, but I received a wave from Ashton this time as he still sat in the same far away seat.

School was over and I began to walk home. Ashton joined me since I didn't drive again this morning. We made small talk on the way there.

"So, you're the annoying drummer?" I asked.

"So, you're that snappy old lady down stairs?" He fired back.

"Old lady?" I asked, faking hurt.

"Well you banged on the ceiling. I figured it was just some old lady who went to sleep early banging her cane against the ceiling." He shrugged.

"I'm the snappy old woman." I laughed.

"I'm the annoying drummer boy." He also laughed.

We made it to the apartments and took the elevator up. The doors opened on floor 4.

"By Ashton." I waved.

"By Liza." He replied, waving back.

I walked in my apartment and sighed, happy and relieved we were finally able to talk.

And all it took was patience and a few bruises.

A.n.
This chapter is crappy. And a little shorter than the others. But im still alright with it. I plan to talk to about macy in the future soo don't be too confused on her yet! I'm honestly so happy that I'm at over 50 readers as of now. Thanks for reading my crappy book!

~maddi