5. Stella
Stella
T here is nothing better than feeling the sun shine on your face while a light drizzle of rain falls from the sky. It’s beautiful and refreshing, and the pick-me-up I need this morning after watching my mom fight her addiction all night.
She was so proud after her meeting, feeling hopeful for the first time, but then the cravings hit. And the battle was hard.
When we got home from the beach, she’d asked me to help her dump all the liquor in the house.
I was the one who caved around midnight and offered to get her a bottle of something.
She was so strong, and I was so proud of her.
Thankfully, by the time I left for work, she’d fallen asleep and promised to text when she woke up.
The bags currently under my eyes are worth every agonizing moment of the night. It’s been so long since she’s even attempted to get clean, but this is the first time it’s been for herself, which is why I believe she’ll succeed.
Walking into Blue Heights, a few customers eat breakfast, while Martha engages in a heated, albeit quiet, argument with Chet in the kitchen.
I think they need to hook up already. They’d be a cute, if not slightly unstable, couple.
Tanner waves from where he’s clearing tables with Leslie in her section.
“Morning.” I smile at Taylor as she comes from the back with a grimace on her face. “The fighting that bad?” I hesitate to enter the employee lounge and instead store my purse under the cash register. I’ll put it in my locker later.
“Girllll, Chet had a woman drop him off this morning, and he’s letting Martha believe it was someone he’s seeing, and she’s pissed.” It’s miraculous how Taylor’s able to keep a straight face.
“Who was the woman?” Poking my head around the corner, I see Martha waving her hands around, and I wouldn’t be too surprised if she grabbed a frying pan and bopped the poor man over the head with it.
“His sister. She’s in town this week and wanted to borrow his car today for some shopping and house hunting. Guess she’s moving here.” Tay shrugs and goes back to filling the sugar containers while I get the bag of creamers in the fridge and start piling them into bowls for the breakfast rush.
As one table of customers leaves, two men enter.
Instantly, the air crackles, and the hair on the back of my neck rises because their heads remain down.
Shaking it off, I say, “We’re not busy, so sit where you like, and I’ll be there with coffee and menus in a second.
” Maintaining friendliness when customers don’t is rough, especially with a gut screaming something is wrong.
Turning back around, I grab two menus, a bowl of creamer, and as I reach for the coffee pot, I hear the telltale click of the front lock clicking into place. Setting the creamer down, I meet Taylor’s eyes, and I can see something is happening from the way she’s paled, and her eyes glow with fear.
Slowly spinning around, I’m met with two men, now masked, and the barrels of two weapons pointed right at us. From the corner of my eye, I see Leslie and Tanner frozen in place as they assess what’s happening.
“Th-there’s not much in the register, but you can take it.” I don’t know how the words come out, but they manage to, sounding mostly steady. When I shift to open the register, a gun cocks, and I freeze. Ears ringing, my stomach rolls over with terror.
“Don’t fucking move,” one guy commands, the masks now making it hard to identify them. “Where the fuck is Reggie?” he snarls.
“He was fired,” Taylor whispers. “He was stealing.”
The two men share a look and step forward, pressing the muzzle of a gun to Taylor’s head. Tears stream down her face, eyes closed, chin trembling, and I can tell she won’t last on her feet much longer.
“Last week. He left, and we don’t know where he went.
” I try to divert their attention, which is stupid, but I can’t stand my friend in the line of fire.
“Please, just take what we have and go.” My own tears streak down my face now.
“Please.” Whispering my plea makes them glance around to see who else is here.
I don’t know what Reggie did for them to be here like this, nor do I care; I just want them gone and for no one to get hurt in the process. Unfortunately, from the stony looks in their eyes, I don’t think that’s going to happen.
“What the hell is going on out here?” Chet comes storming out.
Big, burly, and angry as a bull in a China shop.
He halts as both weapons are pointed at him, frying pan in hand, and I’m not sure who is scarier here.
Chet huffs and puffs, his eyes narrowed, looking like he’s about to attack the two men.
“Put it down, big guy,” one masked man warns.
“Get out,” Chet snarls, hunching a little bit.
Grabbing Taylor’s arm, I slowly tug her back, knowing this won’t end well. Through the service window, I see Martha rummaging through her huge purse, likely for a phone, when she knocks over a cooking utensil. The sound ricochets like a bullet, causing us all to freeze again.
“Everyone, come out here now!” the other man screams, firing a wild shot into the dining area.
Someone cries out, and my head swivels to find Leslie on the ground, eyes wide open, blood pouring from a wound in her forehead.
“Oh my god,” Taylor gasps, covering her mouth quickly to avoid the robbers’ unwanted attention.
Tanner’s immobilized next to Leslie’s body, appearing ready to pass out, but he doesn’t move.
The two tables of customers crouch low in their booths, trying to hide.
Hopefully, one of them called for help, but I don’t hear sirens, so there’s no way to know.
“You killed her,” Chet growls and charges both men, hand swinging wildly with the pan. The men back up but start shooting. Taylor and I turn to run when her weight slams me from behind, and we crash to the ground.
“Taylor, get up, we have to run.” My words ring hollow as my head turns to see she’s dead too. Blood pools under us, and I’m stuck in place as chaos ensues. Everything turns red, and my chest refuses to expel air, so I stay where I am and pray they think I’m dead and leave.
Silence after the madness is deafening. It’s a challenge to relax my body and keep my eyes shut tight when I hear their footsteps moving around.
Their menacing presence is felt with every tiny inhale I manage to take.
The whimpering of customers as they rifle through everything, searching for something until finally arguing about leaving, is the only sound I can focus on.
I don’t know if they’ve gone; I’m too afraid to chance checking. My heart pounds, my ears continue to ring, and Taylor’s blood soaks me as I lie beneath her lifeless body.
Two of my best friends are dead. Chet is likely shot, same with Martha, and I don’t know about Tanner or the customers. The children have stopped crying, and I don’t hear their parents whispering.
I begin hyperventilating, and soon my limited vision blackens, and all I can hope is that someone finds us soon.