Pulling Pieces (girlxgirl) Book 1 Puzzle Pieces

Chapter 2

I get back to my room after a long day. I should take a shower before I even go to work in an hour. Being a working student is really hard but I have to keep the money rolling so I won't have to ask anything from my parents. It's such a shame if I ever have the guts to ask them for anything at this age.

Only a few months left and I'd be graduating college. I take a towel to the bathroom for a cold shower to wake me up. I decided to put a teal cotton shirt on and comb my hair. Having straight thick hair is having its disadvantages. One of them is blow drying. I shall be done in ten minutes so I won't be late for work. It's refreshing to work in a coffee shop. You learn a lot from meeting new faces, mixing new drinks you didn't even know exist. I'm not even a coffee drinker, that's why I humbly enjoy the fruit juices offered for free during breaks. Somehow, it makes me feel refreshed and ready to face a ton of new people once again.

Joe's Coffee Park is a pretty good spot located on the corner of the main street. It offers a variety of drinks, from juices and coffee based. They also serve breads, cakes and some pastries. It's quite known among the office workers and the students around the area who are considered as patrons who regularly visit the place. The prices are also bordering from cheap to average to accommodate their university customers.

I am squatting on the floor, wiping the doors of the bread counters when I see someone peeking at me through the glass. I am caught off guard that I stand up and gape at the counter waiting for her to emerge and show herself.

As expected, she stands and smirks that signature smile with eyes like laughing, laughing at me. "Surprise, surprise." She says like it's completely boring to her.

"Are you following me?" I pointedly ask her and she looks at me like I must be kidding.

"I was just looking through the desserts available. Do you mind if I order?" She asks taking in the customer mode. I sigh and walk to the cashier to take her order. I am trying very hard not to sound rude but I can't believe what effects she has on me. It's like I'm all messed up whenever she's around.

"What do you want?" I ask mumbling like I am not even interested.

"How about the cashier?" she asks unexpectedly. I was taken aback that I unconsciously narrow my eyes and ask her again. She is really messing up with me for she's now all smiles and looks like she's about to burst out laughing.

"Good afternoon, may I take your order?" I try again trying to sound friendly this time. I even smile for the sake of the line of customers next to her.

"Yes you may, I really like to take the cashier tonight for dinner. That is, if she's available."

Incredulous! She's really trying my patience! I inhale and relax as I ignore her and start to ask and gesture for the next customer.

"Hi, welcome to Joe's, may I take your order?" I smile at the woman behind her and dismiss her already unbelieving face. She doesn't look like she's fazed with my dismissal instead she stands next to the isle with arms on the counter like she's waiting for her non-sense order.

I take the orders and is finished after four customers. I go to her and face her. I chastise myself for being annoyed at her. This must be her way of making friends and apologizing, while I am completely a mess in front of her. This is way too awkward. "What are you doing? What do you want from me? I don't even know you." I ask controlling my irritation. Some customers look at us so I smile as if I'm talking to a friend.

"Blake." She replies in a heartbeat, extending her hand for a shake. I look at it for a second and realizing I'm not taking it, she takes it back. "Now you know my name, I guess introduction is out the question." She says as a matter of fact as I wait for her answers. "What am I doing? I'm currently standing inside the coffee shop and try as I might, the cashier won't let me make up for what I have done earlier today." She responds subsequently. If humans can shape shift, I'm pretty sure I'm seeing a puppy face right now. She wants to make it up with me. I think I'm fine, she doesn't have to complete these fuzz by taking me to the movies.

"You're forgiven. It has been half a day, I've forgotten about it. I seem fine and I can already walk without limping. I was sore earlier though, but I am fine." I emphasized. "So you don't have to do anything. It's not like your conscience will kill you tonight if I will decline the offer." I whispered and mumbled at the same time, still trying to look like I'm smiling.

"You're cute." She says as she moves her face closer to mine looking like she has to memorize the details of my plain face. My eyes widen at the closeness. I huff and turn around looking for other things to do. She stays where she is and it's sickening to see her still looking at me. I face her back for the last time creating enough distance. I really wish she'll go away and stop bothering me while I'm working. I become edgy with her stares.

"You're a lesbian." I conclude with my eyes on slits. I really hope she'll find me scary. She smirks wider and looks at me in the eyes.

"At least you can smell me and catch me in your radar. See you around." She says unperturbed and turns away. She waves and leaves me gaping at the entrance.

It hasn't been twenty-four hours since I went home drunk from last night's party and a lot has happened. It's quite a relief not to receive a call from Tia asking me to go with her for another night of clubbing. I plop into bed with my sling bag and all, feeling the effects of the day. It's obvious I still can't get "Blake" out of my mind. I was able to look at her closely in the coffee shop. The way she stares at me like everything she sees in me is amusing. It's a first that someone even bothers to waste their time of the day for me. I don't even see myself interesting. What could she possibly see? I already know her name but I still don't know her. There seems to be gnawing feeling that I need to know her, really get to know her and what she wants from me. It's just an accident, no big deal but... I don't know her for God's sake why can't she leave me be? I am so tired that I slept in my clothes, bag and sneakers.

It's been a week since the last time I saw "Blake" lurking around. I now find it troubling not being able to feel her presence. Somehow, I am thankful that she might have fled, walked away from all of this ridiculousness. Maybe she'd manage to wake up and realize I'm not worth the time or anything. Aside from that, I don't even see myself with a woman. Surprisingly, I have these kind of thoughts in the corner of my brain. Where did that even come from? Hell, I'm outright straight, for crying out loud!

I may not have a history of boyfriends but that doesn't mean I'm not into guys. I had my first crush when I was in first year high school and unfortunately, he was also the last. I can still remember Mike with all his glory. He's smart, very friendly and he is of course, good looking. I can say that we had our moments together but not on a romantic level. He has been kind to me and he also defended me one time I was being bullied in school. Yes, I was a weakling, aside from being a loner who is so engrossed with reading. I didn't have the time to flirt, it was not part of my teenage years. I am not much of a looking type. Maybe I am imprisoned within books that I lost track of time and forgot to allot some time into crushes and dating. That doesn't make me gay you know? I have nothing against them but I am definitely not one of them.

I was having this conflict in my head in the bleachers while I was picking at my bag's lose thread, my head down and just staring on the ground when I see shoes in front of me. I think I already know who owns the set of feet in leather boots and slim denim, that I am surprised and afraid to even look up. Holiness! I thought she's gone?!

"There you are! I have been gone for a week and when I come back I find you sulking. D'you miss me?" I am still not looking for I'm already sure she's wearing that smirk on her lips. I am even astonished that she has the guts to sit beside me. I'm still not looking. I have been stuck in place not knowing what to do or say. I don't want to just melt here, you know?

"Baby, you should not be sulking. I'm back and I've returned for you." She continues as she crosses her legs and relaxes into the seat. I even feel that she drapes her arm on the back of my seat. The nerve!!! All I can think about is the confident predators of heroines in the pocketbooks. Those guys who knows how to collect women and drop them like hot potatoes. I don't know how she pulls this image.

I breathe and plan on leaving when she stops me upon saying, "You always run away. You always push me away. Even if I'm sure I am dressed perfectly and smells heavenly, you always run away from me. What? Are you a homophobe?" she asks not looking exactly at me but I know she's talking to me.

I look at her sideways, disbelieving what she just accused me of. I'm not running today. I should face her now or never. "You always give me bullshit answers. I have been asking you like for the nth time 'What do you want from me?' Why can't you leave me alone?" I emphasize the last word to convince her that she's already getting into my nerves. She endures my tirade and knocks the breath out of me by looking my way and staring straight into my eyes. I restrain myself from averting my stare. For all she knows, I am ready to back out and run for my life.

"I already said what I wanted. I don't think I made myself clear the first time for you to be asking me again." She said not moving just staring into me like this time she is serious and means what she says. I'm not sure if she knows that I am on the verge of passing out from not breathing. Her confidence seem to swoon me from breathing.

"I already said you don't have to make it up to me. You're forgiven. So what's more?" I blurted calmly.

"I didn't say I want forgiveness. I said I want to take you out." She defiantly croons and I chew my lips flustering.

A minute of silence and staring contest and I give in. Maybe this one time, she's leaving me alone if I say yes. "Okay. Let's go out tonight if that's what you want!" I say and start to leave. My feet doesn't want to move but my mentality is stronger. She just got back, after all, some parts of my brain misses her.

"I don't know where to find you so meet me in the cafeteria around five." She shouts while I'm taking my steps back inside the building. I hide the queasiness in stomach thinking about what will happen tonight. Lunch break over.