28. twenty eight
twenty eight
LYSANDRA
I hoped Ezra had forgotten how easily my ecstasy had ended when he called me beautiful. Truthfully, I didn’t know why I had reacted like that. I didn’t mean to, but it was like I couldn’t control myself. Like my pain, my trauma, my ghosts had taken full control of me.
I wasn’t beautiful. How dare he say that?
No. I was wretched, broken, and horrifying.
However, he was my friend, so I would continue to speak to him as if nothing had happened. Maybe I could apologize for pushing him, and we could go back to normal. I also didn’t want to trigger any of the ill memories that he kept in the back of his mind about his own family.
My anxiety made me wrap my fingers around my notebooks more tightly. His raven-black hair faced me, and I tapped his shoulder. His sharp ocean eyes turned to me, a slight sparkle gleamed in his gaze, before he looked away. “Hey.”
A cold shoulder. I deserved that.
“Hey,” I chirped. I couldn’t come up with anything else. We walked beside each other through the halls of the academy.
There’d been students opening and closing their lockers as we passed by. Others were leaning against the arms of the grand staircase. Some of them sat on the steps as students walked up and down.
“How do you think you’ll do in the history test today?” I asked, hoping to break the tension between us.
He shrugged.
And I’m starting to see that it would be even more difficult to make him talk to me again.
Another boy with bright blonde hair and a mischievous grin came up from behind him, setting a hand on Ezra’s shoulder. “Did you hear that Krissy is having another rave tonight?”
Rave? Ezra didn’t seem like the type of person to attend those types of parties. All three of us strolled through the busy corridors of the school, but I felt like a phantom. Zack didn’t even acknowledge my presence. Much like Ezra.
“Yeah, I did. You going? I won’t go if you don’t,” Ezra exclaimed with a dazzling expression. My jaw clenched. It was incredible the way he could hide his emotions so well.
“Of course I’m going,” the boy shouted. I grimaced, his piercing voice almost shattering my eardrums.
Something inside of me broke even more.
“You seem busy, I’ll just see you later then.” I picked up my pace, leaving Ezra and his friend behind. Why did I even care if he went to that party?
Probably because some snobby Scottish girl was going to be all up on him. But would he let himself be touched like that by them? He was the son of a multimillionaire; he could do whatever the hell he wanted. But I cared. I cared, and I hated imagining him with another girl.
I let out a sharp breath.
This couldn’t be happening. I groaned, heading into my dorm and plopping face down on my pillow.
There’d been blazing whistles and glasses clinking as I pushed through customers, making sure to hold firmly to the platter in my hands. It was busier on Friday nights. The Scottish citizens had finished work, which meant they had two and a half days to be lively and celebrate.
I had come to learn in my three months here that Scots loved to rejoice in festivities.
There were many carnivals and parties held in the squares of Edinburgh.
But tonight, the festivity was within The Black Orchid, the pub I was a server at.
Although I wasn’t sure what the celebration was today.
I just hoped to please the customers enough to get extra tips.
Perhaps the many drinks they indulged in would convince them to give me more than usual.
The pub had gone quiet for a short moment before another explosion of laughter and hoots began.
I handed the plates to some of the guests before smiling widely, then returning0 to the kitchen. It had been chaos inside. Platters, cups, and utensils were dropped into the sink at every second. There’d been orders being shouted around all night. I was glad I wasn’t part of the kitchen crew.
Dealing with customers was difficult, but not as troubling as fixing up the plates weighing down on your shoulders.
“We got special customers in today! Stop what you’re doing and prepare a Cullen Skink and a Clootie Dumpling!” Miriam barked at the chefs who’d been standing by the prep table. Then she made her way to me. I was about to rush out of the kitchen when she called after me. “Lysandra!”
I breathed in, shifting in place to face her. “Yes, Miriam?”
“You’re a pretty face. Wait for the plates for our special guests and serve them well.”
“Yes, ma’am. What table are they sitting at?”
“Table Six.”
Table Six was a reserved section of The Black Orchid. Only high-profile clients were allowed into the area. I hadn’t known that Table Six existed when I first applied as a server, my colleagues showed me when I started working.
Only the most eligible employees were allowed to serve Table Six.
“Cullen Skink and Clootie Dumpling ready!” A chef yelled.
Swiftly, I grabbed a large black tray and set the plates over it.
“Excuse me! Table Six incoming!” I screeched. The others dressed in all black and a white apron pushed aside as I made my way to the swinging doors that would lead me to the front of the restaurant.
My stomach twisted within me as I neared the Table Six area.
It was at the far corner of the pub. Covered in black curtains all around, with a round booth in the middle, and the circular lamps hung above the center, at least that’s how my coworkers had described it.
As I pushed past the curtains, I saw a familiar blonde boy facing me.
The boy had been conversing with someone else.
“That girl was totally into you. Why didn’t you—”
When I examined the other boy, I realized that it was Ezra.
“Oh, that’s banging! The servant is here.
Make haste, lassie, I’m famished.” Zack motioned his hand for me to approach their table.
It maddened me just how much Zack refused to even acknowledge me.
He spoke to me as if I was some random server, instead of the girl he shared three of his classes with, and his best friend’s friend.
Ezra slowly turned toward me. There was confusion knitting his brows. I cleared my throat, setting the platter on the center of the table. “I hope you are finding everything to your liking. Would you like anything else?” I questioned.
“I want another Coke. Go fetch me another,” Zack ordered.
I drew in some air and beamed. I wasn’t fond of Zack. I observed him in some of my classes. Well, whenever he decided to even show up. Most of the time, he would be absent or arrive in the middle of class, usually complaining about a headache.
I dashed out of the Table Six area, feeling Ezra’s gaze piercing my back.
Inhaling and exhaling with every step that I took.
This was my job. I had to serve them well.
That was what Miriam told me. Didn’t matter if I liked the customers or not.
I walked through the bar table and grabbed a glass cup, filling it with Coke.
As I headed back to Table Six, the cold beverage shook between my fingers. I clenched my jaw as I opened the curtains again.
“Here’s your Coke. Have a great night. I’ll be back in a few minutes to make sure your stay is going smoothly,” I said in a monotonous tone. I’d learned that line and said it thousands of times already.
This was the first time I ached when I said the words.
Two months of working here, and I was happy that Ezra hadn’t known. But now, my secret was out. My face was flushed as I walked back to the kitchen.